So many castles in Wales, hard to choose a favorite, as if that's even applicable. Of the six I…read morevisited along the Northern Welsh coast the one thing that stands out for me at Criccieth Castle is the fact that is hasn't undergone full restoration yet (as of this date); yet seems just as intriguing as other structures that have undergone resto. The view of the ocean is magnificent as are the walks along the beach, small shops and *eateries that quietly survive well just adjacent (*see review for the chip shop just down the lane). In brief, Cricceith Castle has some interesting historic installments, but it isn't going to be that dramatic reenactment experience with banners, drums and pomp; rather it's worth the visit in light of their natural absence and parking isn't a hassle either.

Unlike many of the castles of North Wales the one in Criccieth wasn't built, initially at least, by…read moreEdward I but it's instead believed to have been built by Llewelyn The Great in the early 13th century. Edward captured the castle in the late 13th century and added to it and these days it's not really known for certain which of bits that remain are Welsh and which are English. To be honest there isn't a great deal to see here, unlike the castles at Caernarfon and Conwy there's not all that much left to explore. You can't for example climb any towers. However this is reflected to some extent in the reasonable admission prices and in any case we should all make time to celebrate our heritage so it's a must visit if you're in Criccieth. What you also get is some of the most spectacular views you could imagine. The castle is perched on a headland from which you can see pretty all the coastline of West Wales right the way down to Pembrokeshire. Make sure you visit on a sunny day to make the most of the views. As an added bonus the building at the entrance also has a display about the life and times of Gerald of Wales (look him up on Wikipedia!).

On my to do list of must sees in liverpool was the Three Graces - The fundamental international…read moresymbol for Liverpool, is the Royal Liver Building, as well as The Cunard and the Port of Liverpool buildings. They are all side by side located on The Pier head in Liverpool. Stunning architecture, all majestic in their own right.

This is the first building you see when your ship arrives at the cruise port. One of the famous…read moreThree Graces it stands out more than the other two. On top of the two towers of the building are statues of Liver Birds which are said to be good luck to sailors and the city. probably one of the most iconic buildings in Liverpool. It is a must see when you visit.

Regarded by many as the best preserved Elizabethan town house in the UK, this historic gem is well…read moreworth a visit. It contains a wealth of decorative plasterwork and woodwork. History The house was built by Robert Wynn, a younger son of John Wynn of Gwydir Castle. He had served with the British Ambassador in Bruges, and travelled around the Continent. When he retired to Conwy, aged 50, he built himself a town house incorporating the latest features and styles, reflecting his prestige. It was built 1576-1585. After his death, a dispute over his inheritance meant the house was eventually split into a lodging house, and also functioned as a school, and then the headquarters of the local antiquarian society, before being taken over and restored by Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments). The house This large building occupies a whole block of Conwy's streets. The main frontage consists of an elaborate gatehouse, courtyard and then the main house, which has its own courtyard and garden. The exterior has been plastered and limewashed, as it would have been originally. Inside, the rooms are a mixture of the 'working' rooms of the house kitchen, storage rooms, servants' quarters and so on, and the grander rooms intended for Wynn and his family. These have impressive fireplace mantels and panelling, and particularly large expanses of decorative plasterwork. In many places this is highly coloured, and includes decorative friezes of coats of arms, Tudor roses and other heraldic devices (and above all, Wynn's initials, RW, which appear everywhere). Another recurring motif is that of naked caryatids, carrying bowls of strawberries on their heads. They wear loincloths of leaves, and cover one breast, leaving the other bare. The plasterwork images are often touchingly naive and primitive, as local plasterers tried their best to reproduce unfamiliar images copied from pattern books. The house also has some impressive furnishings, although these have been sourced separately and are not original. In the attic, one room is furnished as it would have been in the early 19th century, as the home of a lodger, a washer-woman. Practicalities There is a guided audio tour available, which is well worth using, although the Tudor jingle which precedes each section may get irritating after a while. There are also static presentations on aspects of Tudor and later life. Access for those with restricted mobility is limited, due to the presence of stairs and uneven floors. There is also a shop at the entrance selling the usual cards, books and gift items.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed touring this Elizabethan house. When you first go in they actually…read morehave clothing you can try on from that period. I would highly recommend visiting.

I very much enjoyed the journey to this Roman relic on the outskirts of...just about everything…read more That said, this wasn't such an easy place to find - the comments on the Prestatyn tourism display tells you to watch for the signs, whereas I can confirm there are no signs in either direction. To get there, take Meliden Road and then look for the residential Melyd Avenue on your right. You will find the ruins inconspicuously at its end. I had just come to Prestatyn from Chester, which of course has many remnants of its Roman past, but I really found this site to be as special, if not even more so, than that celebrated city. Perhaps it was the journey to get there. As it is, a helpful display explains the functionality of the baths, and there are some benches to sit and ponder the scene from millennia ago. I walked here from Prestatyn High Street, and it took me about a half-hour. If you're doing the same, consider venturing on just a few more minutes down the road to Meliden which has a lovely parish church from medieval days, in case you feel like entering another historical epoch.

A nice little walk through Beddgelert takes you to Gelert's Grave, the final resting place of the…read morelegendary dog Gelert, who belonged to Prince Llwelyn the Great. I would recommend people to stop here and take a look at this interesting monument. It's a nice stroll through some fields of sheep and takes you to an interesting piece of Welsh lore.

In the heart of beautiful Snowdonia lies the lovely village of Beddgelert named after the Welsh…read moretale of the noble dog, Gelert. In Beddgelert there is a tourism centre, many gift shops, eateries and a beautiful walk where you can visit Gelert's grave and read about his tale. There is also a lovely sculpture of Gelert in a nearby pen (protecting it from getting defaced). For a dose of fresh air, gorgeous views and Welsh culture, Beddgelert is definitely worth visiting if you're in the Snwodonia area.

New shops/cafes opening up now though, so this may change.read more

This is a charming little site in the beautiful quayside area of Conwy, a must-visit town in…read morenorthern Wales. I'm 5'3" for scale.

I've not been inside, but it's pretty darned cute from the outside. And yes, it's a wee (meaning…read moresmall for my fellow Americans) house! Lol... How could I not award 5 enthusiastic stars to The Smallest House in Wales (Great Britain?)

Aberconwy House is technically speaking the oldest dateable house in Wales, and certainly the…read moreoldest surviving house in Conwy itself. The lower floors date from the 14th centuries, and the upper floors from the mid-16th century. During its long life, it has had many incarnations, including a mediaeval merchant's house, a coffee shop and Temperance Hotel. It was acquired by the National Trust in 1934. Different rooms are furnished in different styles and periods, and include a kitchen, parlour, drawing room, and hotel bedroom. There is a video presentation on the history of the house, and in the basement a National Trust shop.

A great way to spend Easter Sunday. Or any other Sunday…read more This is a splendid victorian gothic castle built on the site of a medieval one. In fact the original chapel was ripped out and used to make a ruin elsewhere in the grounds! It took 18 years to build and I could see why, the detailed craftsmanship that's gone into it is incredible. 10 years on the staircase alone! Once it was finished Queen Victoria graced the place with her presence too. The staff in the house were very helpful and informative about the castle and the Penhryn family. I was shocked to learn the family only came here a couple of times a year for shooting and hunting. Perhaps the photo in the entrance hall with half the Royal family of the time should have clued me in. There's plenty to see and there were fun Easter activities for the kids as it was easter. Naturally there's a very nice gift shop and tea shop as it's a National Trust property. I had a good carrot and coriander soup with a solid wedge of bread. I also had to have a slice of coffee cake after seeing it. This was moist with plenty of walnuts but needed more icing. I didn't get to see much of the grounds as the mist had come down but I really enjoyed what I did see.

The Penrhyn Castle is located a bit outside of Bangor. If you take a bus to Llanduddno it's a 15…read moremin. ride (and it cost about £1,50 one way (August 2014)). As said before: if you go by bus, wear good schoes, because it's a 15-20 minutes walk to the entrance. But it's worth the walk through the old forest. It's a very beautiful forest, with some walls made of slate, later on I will tell you why they are made of Slate. If you arrive at the ticket office, you can only one way: go through the ticket office. There were some nice, friendly, young people, who were so excited about Penrhyn Castle, they were almost glowing. I bought a ticket for the castle (including the railwaymuseum) and the gardens. I walked up the hill, and enjoyed the view over the bay, and to see the 19th century Castle just pop up out of the landscape. For some reason, it looked like it was hidden very carefully, but I couldn't find anything to prove that statement. I walked to the entrance of the castle waiting for the doors to open at noon. It was wonderful to be one of the first to have a look around. I took the map, and followed the numbers. Sometimes people who were behind me, suddenly were in front of me (after a few chambers), and I figured out that they had taken some short cuts. Which is actually a shame, as all the rooms and chambers are unique, with their own style, wallpaper (sometimes from cloth, sometimes carved wood or stonecutted). I loved the Castle, and the hosts were very friendly and eager to tell you about the room I was in. Some noticed that I was really interested (or just asked me) and with one of them I chatted about paintings and the collection for 15 minutes, and learned a lot. It's impossible to describe the chambers and the rooms. But I promise you that you will like the windows which were very colourfoul, and the greatness of the fact that everything was hand made. The chambers are original and the painting collection is unique and suits the character of the building. I spend about 1,5 hour in the castle, as it became a bit more busy, than it was at first. It was a bit of a maze to find the Railway Museum, and I got lost and went into the Ice Tower, and the toilet. Then I figured out that the museum was in the stables, and was pretty small. But the collection was beautiful. One of the engines was used on another estate of the original owner in London. Others were used to mine Slate (were there was plenty examples of), near the castle. And others were used on a local railwayline. Most of the engines were bought in the 1960's, and were cleaned and restorated. I especially loved the railcycle. So it can't get much better then this unique castle. So go there, and enjoy this piece of heritage.