I love pottering around a ruin, marvelling at battlements and arrow slits, ideally rounded off with a slice of sponge in a National Trust café, like a contented nanaThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
We have so many magnificent castles here that it’s really hard to narrow the choice down to one(Image: Portia Jones )
“Blimey, would you look at the turrets on that,” I heard myself say on a blustery Saturday morning, craning my neck at a hulking stone fortress. “Imagine the view from up there.” Somewhere along the way, middle age arrived, and I entered my castle era. Once, weekends meant hangover fry-ups and reconstructing the night before, usually with help from whatever unflattering Facebook photos I’d been tagged in.
Now, I prefer a day pottering around a ruin, marvelling at battlements and arrow slits, ideally rounded off with a slice of sponge in a National Trust café, like a contented nana.
Wales is known as the “land of castles” and has more than 600 to choose from for a historic day out. You can see the 29 most impressive castles in Wales here.
Stick around for sunset(Image: Portia Jones )
I have visited many of our castles, from commanding fortresses to crumbling ruins on lonely, windswept hills, and I have enjoyed poking around these historic sites. I was recently asked by a pal what my favourite castle was, and I proceeded to yap on for ages about my top picks in Wales. (Sorry, Cathal).
We have so many magnificent castles here that it’s really hard to narrow the choice down to one, but after much coffee and introspection, I think I have arrived at a conclusion.
My current fave is an exceptionally well-preserved fortress that houses the most intact set of medieval royal apartments in Wales: Conwy Castle.
This famous fortress is exceptionally well preserved and contains the most intact set of medieval royal apartments in Wales.(Image: Portia Jones )
Part of one of Wales’ UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Castell Conwy (Conwy Castle) features a concentric design with eight towers. It forms part of King Edward I’s “Iron Ring”, a series of imposing fortresses built in Wales during the late 13th century to solidify English control after the conquest of Wales.
Here, you can investigate the inner and outer wards, which have many rooms, and explore the castle walls, which have 21 towers and completely enclose Conwy town.
This famous fortress is ridiculously well-preserved and honestly looks like something out of Game of Thrones. I have no idea why they didn’t film the fantasy series here. You would really need to alter it in any way; it looks like a dragon might land on a tower at any moment. HBO sure missed a trick.
Walking around, you’ll see that the high curtain wall and eight lofty towers rise almost as impressively as when they were built more than 700 years ago.
Known for its beauty and historical significance, the castle was named one of the ‘most beautiful’ in Europe by the influential magazine Condé Nast Traveller.
Conwy Castle is one of my fave spots(Image: Portia Jones )
Condé Nast Traveller writes: “Aside from getting us one step closer to living out our fairytale fantasies, the staggering structures showcase some of the world’s best architecture, most stunning landscapes, and maybe even a ghost story or two.
There’s perhaps no better place on earth to find awe-inspiring castles than in Europe, where it seems like you can’t visit a city or take a road trip without stumbling upon some sort of royal dwelling.”
They go on to describe Conwy as ‘gorgeous’ and its preserved state as ‘impressive.’ Well, it was built about 700 years ago. Equally astonishing is the fact that it took King Ed and his architect, Master James of St George, just four years, between 1283 and 1287, to build the castle and walls, at a cost of £15,000, which equals around £12 million today. Yikes, that’s almost as much as a seaside property in Tenby.
Like many ancient buildings in Wales, Conwy Castle is reputedly haunted, delighting ghost chasers and paranormal lovers like me. Though disappointingly, I have never seen a ghost here. Tragic.
Like many ancient buildings in Wales, Conwy Castle is reputedly haunted,(Image: Portia Jones )
Apparently, creepy sightings from other visitors include silhouettes and dark figures watching the town below from the battlements and windows. In the 16th century, King Henry VIII used the castle as a prison, so many of the sightings are believed to be past inmates.
In 2016, a team of paranormal investigators claimed they recorded the voice of a little girl spirit saying ‘don’t tell them’. Which is exactly what you don’t want to hear in a dark, echoey fortress. Unless you are a ghost nut like me.
In 2020, a man took a picture outside Conwy Castle, which he believes shows a line of phantoms led by a male ghost holding a sword, as reported by North Wales Live.
Tickets for the castle (Spectres not included) currently cost £40.00 for a family pass (2 adults & up to 3 children), and Cadw members go free. Book here.
I have visited Conwy several times (the town and the castle), and I love it a bit more each time. The castle is right in the centre of the charming coastal destination, and there is plenty here to keep you busy. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here
I have visited Conwy several times(Image: Portia Jones )
Conwy Quay is the perfect place to kick off your exploring with lobster pots, tangled fishing nets, and all the charming seaside clutter you’d hope for. Right by The Liverpool Arms (ideal for a cheeky pint, by the way), there’s even a handy info board listing the going rates if you fancy mooring your boat in the harbour.
If, like me, your vessel is “moored” in Monaco, along with my imaginary second home, there’s always the family-run Queen Victoria, a popular cruise boat that’ll take you upriver for views of the Conwy Valley or out to the estuary for sweeping scenes of Anglesey, Puffin Island, and the Irish Sea. No captain’s license is required.
Buy a beverage on board and look for herons, oystercatchers, curlews, cormorants and swans as you cruise past the medieval town.
Along the harbour, you’ll also find one of Conway’s most endearing quirks: The Smallest House in Great Britain. Recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records, the tiny red-fronted abode measures just 72 inches wide and 122 inches high and was occupied until May 1900.
It’s been passed down through the same family for more than 130 years. Its last known occupant was, rather improbably, a 6ft 3in fisherman called Robert Jones. Today, it serves as a curious attraction and twee backdrop for many Conwy snaps.
I love Conwy(Image: Portia Jones )
If you’re after a pint with a view, duck into The Liverpool Arms, the oldest traditional pub in Conwy town. It’s perched right on the waterfront, just across the road from the quay and beaches and is super popular on a balmy day with patrons spilling out into the streets. History, harbour views and a proper decent pint, what more could you possibly want?
For food, treat yourself at Dylan’s Restaurant. Founded in 2012, Dylan’s set out to celebrate the produce, character, and natural beauty of North Wales, and honestly, they’ve nailed it at this swish venture.
The standout here is the seafood.(Image: Dylan’s)
The menu is a love letter to local ingredients, sourced from all over the region, and served up in a building that’s as gorgeous as the food. From the upper floors, you get sweeping views of the 13th-century St Mary’s Church and Conwy Castle. One end of the room features a slick little bar, serving local pours like Gwinllan Conwy wines and Wild Horse Brewery beers.
Accommodation-wise, opt for a swish stay at the Quay Hotel & Spa. This destination spa hotel has striking views of the majestic Conwy Castle and estuary and is conveniently located near the Welsh towns of Conwy and Llandudno.
Over £1m has been invested in revamping and updating the Quay Hotel & Spa, which focuses on guest experience and well-being. Nearby in Deganwy, you’ll find bracing coastal walks, tea shops, a shingle and sand beach and the ruins of a stone-built fortress.
The Quay Hotel and Spa(Image: The Quay Hotel and Spa)
The hotel’s 77 bedrooms, from classic rooms to suites, feature coastal colours and hints of maritime design. Several rooms offer balconies and private outdoor space for additional luxury and space.
Extensive leisure facilities are available for guests, and the on-site Marina Spa offers luxurious pampering.
Their ambient relaxation rooms overlook the pretty Deganwy Marina, and ESPA products are used in various treatments and seasonal packages.
Indulge in a full-body salt and oil scrub, personalised facial, or revitalising back, neck, and shoulder massage. Book your stay here.