17 BEST Castles in North Wales To Visit [With Map]

North Wales is where you'll find some of Wales' finest castles, including four that have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Most of the Welsh castles weren't even built by the Welsh. Many can be traced back to Edward I’s conquest of Wales in the Middle Ages although they have changed hands many times.

As a Welshman, I've visited most castles across Wales during my life. In this guide, I've curated a list of the best castles in North Wales that you can visit.

Map

Here is an interactive castles in North Wales map.

*Note: For this guide, I will include the counties of Gwynedd, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Conwy, and Anglesey as North Wales.

---

Best Castles in North Wales

1. Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle was built in the 13th century by Edward I and his architect James of St George in just four years as a replacement for Deganwy Castle just across the estuary. The fortress itself is well-preserved and contains the most intact medieval royal apartments in Wales.

The original castle was white and, if you look closely, some of the remains of the original render can still be seen on the walls today.

The castle has a figure of 8 layout with the front half acting as the outer keep and the rear half which sits against the river, acting as the inner keep.

The CADW-managed castle is open to the public where you can explore the ruins for yourself. The curtain wall has eight towers which allow you to walk up to the highest point in the town centre where you'll be rewarded with incredible views across the estuary.

As well as the castle, Conwy's medieval town walls are also very well preserved and you can walk around the top of them.

Conwy Castle and town walls, along with the castles at Harlech, Caernarfon, and Beaumaris are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (source: UNESCO).

---

2. Harlech Castle

Another of Edward I’s spectacular castles in North Wales is Harlech Castle which stands on a rocky outcrop with views across Harlech Beach and Cardigan Bay.

This castle took seven years to build between 1282 and 1289. It has a traditional concentric design which means that it has an outer wall and an inner wall. This added an extra layer of protection and, combined with its location, is why it gained a reputation as an almost impregnable fortress

When the castle was built, the sea came much closer to the base of the castle than it is now. There would have been a water gate which allowed supplies to be brought in from the sea and up the 108 steps which climbed the steep rock face.

The water gate came in useful as the castle fell under siege several times, most famously during the Wars of the Roses when it endured a seven-year siege, considered the longest in British history. The famous Welsh song, ‘Men of Harlech’, was composed during this siege.

Today, Harlech Castle is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is managed by CADW. There's a small visitor centre at the entrance and you can cross over the new bridge to explore the ruins.

---

3. Caernarfon Castle

Another of Edward I’s castles that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site is Caernarfon Castle.

The fortress dominates the market town of Caernarfon in North Wales where it sits on the bank of the River Seiont as it enters the Menai Strait.

This strategic location allowed it to protect the southwest entrance of the Menai Strait, the stretch of water between mainland Wales and its largest island, Anglesey.

The castle and Caernarfon's town walls were built together, a huge project that took 47 years to finish and cost £25,000 (source: CADW) (approximately £23 million in today's money).

The castle was built on the site of a former motte and bailey castle that stood here. This means that the ground level of the interior is raised.

This is why one of the old entrances, Queens Gate, appears to be halfway up the castle wall. It would have had a stone ramp to reach it when it was in use but is now a balcony where you can look over Y Maes, the main town square.

The castle is managed by CADW and is open to the public. It's one of the more expensive castles to visit but it's worth it as there's lots to do inside. You can easily spend a few hours here.

You can climb the towers, wander along the castle walls, and see the spot where Prince Charles, now King Charles III, was invested as Prince of Wales.

There are also two museums inside. The first is the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, one of my favourite museums in Wales, which tells the 300-year history of the oldest infantry regiment in Wales.

The second is a museum about the Prince of Wales, a slightly controversial role given that it has never been held by a Welshman.

---

4. Beaumaris Castle

The final castle that makes up the UNESCO Heritage Site is Beaumaris Castle which is found on the isle of Anglesey just off the coast of North Wales.

Whereas Caernarfon Castle was built to protect the southwest entrance of the Menai Strait, Beaumaris protects the northeast entrance.

Constructed after Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech, Edward I and his architect James of St George had learned much about the construction of the fortress and this blank canvas provided them with the perfect opportunity to put what they had learned into practice.

The result was a massive fortress with four concentric rings surrounding it as well as a water moat and its own dock.

Beaumaris Castle has the nickname 'the greatest castle never built' because it was never actually finished. Due to a lack of funds and more pressing issues for Edward I in Scotland, building work ceased in the 1320s.

Today, the castle is managed by CADW as a paid visitor attraction. You can't see much of the castle from the outside so you'll need to buy a ticket to fully appreciate it.

Inside, you can wander the passages, hang out in the inner keep, walk along the walls, and climb the gatehouse tower for views across Anglesey and Snowdonia. I recommend taking a picnic as the inner ward is a great place to enjoy it on a sunny day.

---

5. Chirk Castle

Chirk Castle was another fortress built in the 13th century during Edward I's conquest of Wales, however, it's not part of the UNESCO site with the previous four castles. From the 15th century, it became home to the Myddelton family for over 400 years until falling into the hands of the National Trust.

Inside the castle, there are only a few areas that you can actually visit such as the courtyard, the servant's hall which has been furnished as it would have looked back when the Myddelton's lived here, and one of the towers.

For me, the highlight of visiting Chirk Castle was exploring the vast gardens which contain manicured lawns, shrub and rose gardens, lime trees, and the iconic statue of Hercules. The castle is right near the border with England so you can also enjoy incredible views across the Cheshire and Shropshire plains.

Chirk Castle is part of National Trust and free for members. For non-members, the castle and gardens are paid but the wider parkland is free for everyone and contains several scenic walks.

---

6. Gwrych Castle

Gwrych Castle, located just outside of Abergele, is somewhat an imposter among North Wales castles.

Although it looks like a medieval castle, it was built much more recently in the 19th century. Butt he architecture was designed to replicate something much older.

Being so 'modern', it was never used for defensive purposes and was always intended to be an elaborate country house, built by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh who was a descendent of the Lloyds of Gwrych.

If you recognise the castle, that's because it shot to fame in the UK when it was used as the filming location for the ITV reality show 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here' for two years over lockdown.

Today, Gwyrch Castle is owned by the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust and is open to the public for visiting.

If you want to see the castle in a different light, they also run ghost tours where you might come across the 'lady dressed in red' that haunts the corridors.

---

7. Criccieth Castle

Criccieth Castle sits at the mouth of the Llyn Peninsular in North Wales. It stands on a rocky headland, dominating the small town of Criccieth, flanked by two beaches on either side and stunning coastal views.

Unlike most Castles in North Wales, this one was actually built by the Welsh and not the English.

It was built by Llywelyn the Great in the 13th century and originally only included the immense gatehouse and stone towers. Later, his grandson, Llywelyn the Last, added the outer ward, two new towers and curtain walls.

However, the castle was taken by Edward I during his conquest. He added a stone-throwing machine to the north tower to deter Welsh rebels from attacking.

Ironically, as well as being built by the Welsh, it was also destroyed by the Welsh when the towers were burned by Owain Glyndwr during his revolt.

Today, Criccieth Castle is owned by CADW who have a small visitor centre at the bottom of the hill. You can then head up to the castle where you can enjoy incredible coastal views from the ruins.

---

8. Penrhyn Castle

You'll notice that Penrhyn Castle looks far more modern than the other North Wales castles on this list.

That's because the current building was only constructed in the early 19th century to replace an earlier manor house that stood here.

The building was designed in a Neo-Norman style which attempted to replicate the architecture of earlier Norman castles, although still looks quite distinct.

Penrhyn Castle was never used for defensive purposes. It was the home of the Pennant family. They were a controversial family, having made their fortunes in sugar plantations in Jamaica which relied on slave labour, and later owning Penrhyn Quarry in North Wales which had poor working conditions and low pay.

Today, Penrhyn Castle and Gardens are owned by the National Trust and open to visitors.

You can see the lavish family rooms, the Victorian kitchens, the servants' quarters, and wander the extensive gardens which evolve with the seasons.

Onsite, there is also the Penrhyn Railway Museum which houses some of the equipment that was used at Penrhyn Quarry (once the largest slate quarry in the world) including old locomotives, a horse-drawn fire engine, and coaches.

---

9. Castell Dinas Brân

Nestled upon a picturesque hill overlooking the market town of Llangollen, stands the remarkable ruins of Castell Dinas Brân. Although only ruins remain today, during its heyday, the castle would have been grand and luxurious.

The castle was built by the Princes of Powys Fadog which was the northern part of the old Kingdom of Powys. The stone castle was built in the 1260s, although a wooden structure probably stood here much earlier.

Howeevr, Castell Dinas Brân was burned down by its own garrison in 1277, less than 20 years after being built. This was during a period of unrest to prevent it from being captured and used by English forces.

Although partially repaired by King Edward I, it was abandoned in 1282 in favour of Holt Castle which was built nearby.

Castell Dinas Brân is at the top of a hill and the only way to reach it is by walking up. It takes 30-40 minutes to reach the castle from the centre of Llangollen. Although not a long walk, it is quite steep at points so I would give it a moderate difficulty rating.

As the castle is mostly in ruins, there's no charge to visit.

---

10. Rhuddlan Castle

Rhuddlan Castle is yet another fortress built by Edward I. It was one of his earlier castles in North Wales and the first to use a new concentric design which had a wall within a wall for extra protection.

While most Edward I's castles were near the coast where they could be easily supplied in the case of a siege,, Rhuddlan is several miles inland so would rely on the river instead. However, to construct the castle exactly where the king wanted it, his builders had to move the river.

It was at this castle that Edward declared he would appoint ‘a prince who was born in Wales, could speak no English, and whose life and conversation nobody could stain'. He was referring to his son, who was later born in Caernarfon and became Edward II.

Today, Rhuddlan is managed by CADW and is open to visitors during the peak visitor season.

---

11. Dolwyddelan Castle

Isolated in the beautiful North Welsh countryside Dolwyddelan Castle is a truly peaceful ruin. This 13th-century fortress sits at the top of a small hill from which you can enjoy the views across Eryri National Park (Snowdonia).

It's thought that the castle originally consisted of one small tower, which was built by the Princes of Gwynedd as a stronghold for the area. However, when it was taken by Edward I, he increased the size of the tower and added a second.

There is no dedicated parking at the site so I recommend that you park on the layby on the A470 which has a public footpath directly up to the castle.

The castle is free to visit so you can walk up the hill and admire it from the outside whenever you like, however, due to concerns about the safety of some parts of the upper areas, the inside is only open a few days per week. You can find out the latest opening times and other visitor information on the CADW website.

---

12. Denbigh Castle

Denbigh Castle sits atop a rocky outcrop over the Vale of Clwyd in North Wales.

It was the royal residence of Dafydd ap Gruffudd, the last native prince of Gwynedd. However, after Dafydd attacked nearby Hawarden Castle which was under the control of King Edward I, the king retaliated by taking Denbigh Castle.

The King's commander, Henry De Lacy, set about building a large stone fortress with tower walls on top of what had been Dafydd’s stronghold. However, halfway through this renovation work the castle was attacked by Welsh forces and taken back.

Denbigh Castle is owned by CADW. As well as the ruins, it's home to a small exhibition with information about the castle's history. To reach the entrance, you must quite literally follow in the footsteps of medieval soldiers and cross the drawbridge into the triple-towered gatehouse.

---

Other Castles in North Wales

13. Bodelwyddan Castle

If visiting isn’t enough and you want to stay in a castle in Wales, then Bodelwyddan Castle near Snowdonia in North Wales is my top pick. The castle is a Grade II listed Victorian folly set within its own peaceful estate, complete with a luxury hotel, more on that later.

There has been a castle on the site since 1460, however, the structure was completely rebuilt in 1830 in the Victorian Gothic style by Sir John Hay Williams. It was Sir John who also established the impressive formal gardens. 

During World War One the Castle acted as a hospital and the grounds were used by the army as a training centre for trench warfare. After this, the property became a girl’s school for a while. 

The hotel has its own heated indoor pool as well as the Elwy Lounge and Mulberry Coffee Lounge. There is 200 acres of parkland and your stay here includes free entry to the National Portrait Gallery’s Victorian Collection. 

---

14. Dolbadarn Castle

Dolbadarn Castle was built by Llewelyn the Great, right alongside Llyn Padarn to protect the important route from Caernarfon on the North Wales coast to the upper Conwy Valley.

Today, all that's left is the large round tower which would have been the castle keep, standing 15m (50ft) high. You can visit the castle and walk up to the first storey where you'll get an unspoilt view of the lake and the town of Llanberis.

Dolbadarn Castle is free to visit. It's walkable from the centre of town or there's a pay-and-display car park adjacent to it which costs £5. Find out more about visiting here.

---

15. Flint Castle

Flint Castle was one of the first fortresses completed by Edward I during his Conquest of Wales. He chose this location as it was close to Chester, accessible by the River Dee, and commanded a ford to England.

The structure of the castle included a massive stone keep, curtain walls, a three-storey corner tower, and an inner moat with a drawbridge.

Flint Castle played an important role in the demise of the Lancastrian dynasty as it was here In 1399, that Richard II fell into a trap set by his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, and was forced to abdicate the throne. This dramatic meeting is immortalised in Shakespeare's Richard II.

It was also involved in the English Civil War when it was slighted by Parliamentarians. This is why it remains a ruin today. The castle is owned by CADW and is free to visit.

---

16. Aberlleiniog Castle

Not far from Beaumaris Castle, although built much earlier, is Castell Aberlleiniog, also known as Aberlleiniog Castle. It was built in the late 11th century by Hugh d'Avranches, the 1st Earl of Chester, as a strategic Norman motte-and-bailey fortress.

It's located on the isle of Anglesey but would have been within direct sight of Hugh d'Avranches' other castle on the mainland, Abergwyngregyn Castle (which no longer exists). This would have allowed visual communication between the two.

Within a decade of the castle being built, a successful siege by Gruffudd ap Cynan in 1094 drove out the Norman invaders and Anglesey remained under Welsh control until the arrival of Edward I two centuries later.

At this point, Castell Aberlleiniog was likely abandoned in favour of the impressive new Beaumaris Castle.

---

17. Castell y Bere

Castell Y Bere is a remote ruin located on a rocky outcrop at the foot of Cader Idris in southern Eryri (Snowdonia). The castle was short-lived, being both built and destroyed in the same century.

It was built in the early-13th century by Llywelyn ap Lorwerth, better known as Llywelyn the Last, a Welsh prince striving for independence against English rule.

But in 1282, it fell to English forces under Edward I who expanded the castle to include a small town.

However, before the century was over, a revolt by the Welsh under the leadership of Madog ap Llywelyn saw the castle besieged and burnt down. The castle was never repaired.

Today, it's under the care of CADW but is free to visit.