Book : Street Atlas
Anglesey, Conwy, and Gwynedd.
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Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon Tel: 01286 67761. Caernarfon is
possibly the most striking medieval monument in Wales, with its
scale and commanding presence. Its unique polygonal towers, intimidating
battlements and colour-banded walls were designed to echo Constantinople,
the imperial power of Rome. Begun in 1283, its symbolic status
was emphasized when Edward's son , the first English Prince of
Wales, was born here in 1284. In 1969, the castle was the setting
for the Investiture of HRH Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.
Location: In the centre of Caernarfon.
Penrhyn Castle, Bangor,
Gwynedd LL57 4HN. Tel: 01248 353084. 19th-century fantasy castle
with spectacular contents and grounds. Magnificent views over
Snowdonia, a unique furniture collection and the best private
art collection, in context, in Wales. Large gardens and grounds
with formal Victorian walled garden, Dolls museum, extensive
Victorian kitchens, railway museum and adventure playground.
National Trust. Charges apply. www.nationaltrust.org.uk. About
9 miles northeast of Caernarfon.
Cochwillan Old Hall, Tal-y-Bont, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 3AZ. Tel:
01248 355 853. The hall is considered one of the best examples
of a Welsh medieval estate centre and it survives almost unaltered.
The most striking feature of the late 15th century hall house
is the roof of three bays, divided by trusses of hammer-beam
type. The moulded hammer-beams have embattled crests and plain
ends with pinholes in them; as these probably originally carried
carved heads or heraldic shields, new shields have been fitted
to harmonize with the ancestry of the old families of Cochwillan.
About 9 miles northeast of Caernarfon.
Segontium Roman fort and
museum, Llanbeblig Road, Caernarfon LL55 2LN. Tel : 01286 675625.
The Segontium Roman fort was an auxiliary fort built by the Romans
when they spread their conquest of Britain into Wales, and dates
back to 77 AD.The museum tells the story of the conquest and
occupation of Wales and contains fine examples of the finds excavated
from the Segontium site. www.nmgw.ac.uk. Location: In the centre
of Caernarfon.
The Llanberis Lake Railway, Gilfach Ddu, Llanberis, Caernarfon,
Gwynedd. LL55 4TY. Tel: 01286 870549. The Llanberis Lake Railway
offers unrivalled views of the mountains of Snowdonia from viewpoints
quite inaccessible by road, all for a modest price. Starting
at Gilfach Ddu station in the Padarn Country Park, the trip begins
with a ride on the recently opened extension up to Llanberis
Village, passing the Welsh Slate Museum and historic Dolbadarn
Castle on the way. www.lake-railway.co.uk. About 6 miles east
of Caernarfon.
ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN (VISITOR
CENTRE) LLANBERIS, Dinorwig Power Station, Llanberis, Gwynedd,
LL55 4TY. Tel: 01286 870166. Set against a magnificent backdrop
of the towering mountains and the magnificent scenery of Snowdonia,
Electric Mountain is First Hydro Company's Visitor centre in
Llanberis. Its split level layout contains a gift shop and café
and is the starting point for the tour of Dinorwig Power Station.
www.fhc.co.uk. About 6 miles east of Caernarfon.
National Slate Museum, Llanberis, Gwynedd LL55 4TY. Tel: 01286
870630. The National Slate Museum at Llanberis invested a £1.6
million lottery grant into bringing back to life the inheritance
of the north Wales slate industry, which roofed the industrial
revolution. The Museum building is sited in the Victorian workshops
built in the shadow of Elidir mountain, site of the vast Dinorwig
quarry. About 8 miles east of Caernarfon.
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Travel information
: Caernarfon.
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