Conwy Castle Attractions

Conwy Castle stands at the mouth of the River Conwy in North Wales and is one of the most majestic of all the castles in the region. The castle was constructed during the time of King Edward I of England as part of his 'iron ring' to enclose the Welsh uprisings from the mountains of Snowdonia. Conwy Castle was built on a natural rock formation giving it superior height over the nearby town and the castle consists of six towers enclosing the curtain wall. Access to the castle is via the Cadw visitor centre which is situated opposite the castle with access across a busy road via a foot bridge. Although almost 1000 years old Conwy Castle is very well preserved despite numerous attempts to strip it of its riches over the centuries. Once across the access bridge there is a short walk up to the main gate and then into the castle proper. Inside the walls most of the original buildings have gone however you can see the layout from the remaining foundations and get an idea of what the castle must once have looked like from the useful tourist signs dotted around. A particularly well preserved section is located to the right of the main entrance and was once the great hall. Whilst the floors of Conwy Castle's great hall have long since collapsed you can look around and really get a feeling for the knights of the middle ages. The most fun in Conwy Castle comes once you start climbing the various staircases to get access to the towers and walls. You'll get a terrific view of the town below and the Conwy river as well as the original suspension bridge which was built by Thomas Telford in 1826. Before the bridge was built the only way across the river was via a ferry boat that operated once a day making journeys across North Wales very long indeed. google_ad_client = "pub-2311940475806896"; /* 300x250, created 1/6/11 */ google_ad_slot = "0098904308"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; After you've done exploring the castle you can visit the Suspension Bridge which is operated by the National Trust. From the tallest of Conwy Castle's towers you can see the distant town of Llandudno and its most famous landmark the Great Orme or in the other direction see for miles up the Conwy river as you began to truly understand the strategic importance of the castle at Conwy. Whilst Conwy Castle is obviously Conwy's largest attraction both in terms of size and visitor numbers there are many other things to do in the town. Conwy is one of the few fully walled towns in Wales where you can still get access to walk around the majority of the walls. You can start near the castle and follow the walls along towards the highest point. Unfortunately you'll have to leave the walls for a while as you pass Conwy railway station and rejoin them as you ascend to the highest section. Take a breather here, you'll probably need it, and look around to get a terrific view of the castle across the town rooftops. From the highest point of the walls its all literally downhill as you follow the walls towards the quayside. Some of the best preserved sections of the wall are here and as you reach the quay take the chance to go to the very end of the walls and look across the river towards Deganway with its newly built marina. Getting off the walls drops you nicely onto the quayside for a pleasant walk along the waterfront. There's plenty of places to grab refreshments along Conwy quay from ice cream vans to chip shops. If you fancy a drink after all the walking the Liverpool Arms is located on the quay and is a very popular pub especially in warm weather. Conwy quay is also home to the smallest house in Great Britain which you can visit for a small charge. The house has only two rooms and always has an attendant outside dressed in traditional welsh dress. A little further along the quay side is the Conwy Mussel Museum which highlights the towns most popular fishing catch. Inside you can learn the history of mussel fishing in Conwy and take a look at some of the equipment used. If you fancy an alternative view of Conwy Castle and the river then hop on board the Conwy River Cruise which takes you out for a half hour journey past the castle and under the suspension bridge. With so much to do you may be wondering whether you'll have any time left to take in Conwy's other attractions but if you do have the time then walk through the arch on the quay side and have a walk around the town. Close to the quay is Aberconwy House which is the only medieval house in Conwy that is still standing. The house is operated by the National Trust and dates back to the 14th century. Another historic building worth a visit in Conwy is Plas Mawr which are located just a short walk away. Plas Mawr was built during the 15th century as a large medieval hall by Robert Wynn, a well travelled courtier of the time.

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