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The Great Britain Guide

Castles · North Wales

Edward I's ring of iron: the great castles of north Wales

Four UNESCO World Heritage castles, each within an hour's drive of the next.

When Edward I conquered Gwynedd in 1283 he ringed the coast with four monumental castles: Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris. They are the largest and most ambitious medieval fortifications in Britain — and together they form a single UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can see all four in two days.

Places in this guide

Conwy Castle

Castles · North Wales

Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle — castle in Conwy, North Wales.

Caernarfon Castle

Castles · North Wales

Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon Castle — castle in Caernarfon, North Wales.

Harlech Castle

Castles · North Wales

Harlech Castle

Harlech Castle — castle in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales.

Beaumaris Castle

Castles · North Wales

Beaumaris Castle

Beaumaris Castle — castle in Beaumaris, Anglesey, Wales.