Cadw Explorer Pass

Conwy Castle is easily the most spectacular of all the castles in North Wales (and cost the most to build, too!). The castle was built for Edward I by Master James of St George, and is one of the most impressive surviving medieval fortifications in Britain.

Plas Mawr, which translates to “Great Hall” in English is an Elizabethan townhouse located within the walls of Conwy. Plas Mawr dates back to the 16th century, was built by the merchant Robert Wynn and completed in 1585.

A World Heritage Site, Beaumaris Castle is regarded by UNESCO as one of the finest examples of late 13th century military architecture in all of Europe. It is also known as the most “technically perfect” castle in Great Britain, with almost perfect symmetry in its architecture.

Probably the most famous of all the many castles in Wales, and for good reason – its sheer scale dwarfs the others, and the town walls are still remarkably intact. Tourists can walk along a small part of the walls, which offers some fantastic views over the town. Also houses the museum of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Criccieth Castle was constructed on the headland between two beaches, meaning it watches over the town from above like a sentinel. Rather a lot of the original structure is still intact, allowing visitors to see an almost complete picture of what the castle would have looked like all those centuries ago, with their imaginations filling in the gaps.

A roughly hewn edifice of stone, standing alone on a mound overlooking the surrounding countryside and mountains – this is Dolwyddelan Castle. It offers up the best of both worlds: the man-made impressiveness of this defensive installation, as well as the natural beauty of the Snowdonian peaks.