One of the highlights of visiting Conwy is its town walls which are some of the most intact medieval town walls in Wales. These aren’t just for looking at, you can take a stroll along the walkway which runs around the perimeter of the town centre.
When I visited, there wasn’t a lot of information available, so I’ve put together this handy guide with the walking route, a few things to look out for on your way around, and some fun facts too.
About the Town Walls
Conwy Town Walls were originally built in the 13th century by King Edward I as a way of subduing the Welsh in his newly conquered territory. The walls were built at the same as Conwy Castle and together, they cost him £15,000 which was a big investment at the time.
Originally, they would have been around 1.3km (about 0.8 miles) in length but the section along the quayside. There were 21 towers along the walls, spaced at about 45m intervals.
Whilst most of the walls are in good shape, the wall and towers along the quayside have largely been demolished or now form part of other buildings.
The walls are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Conwy Castle and several other castles in North Wales. There is a walkway along the top of the walls which is open for visitors to walk along.
Conwy Town Walls Walk
The walk around Conwy town walls is about 1.1km (0.7 miles) and takes just 20 minutes to walk around the length from Conwy Castle on one side to Berry Street on the other side.
One section which runs over the railway tracks is inaccessible so you will have to leave the wall at Mill Gate and take the footpath through the town until you rejoin near the railway station.
I’ve created the below town walls map which outlines exactly where the walking route is. The green sections are where you walk along the castle walls and the red section is where you take the footpath through the town. You can see the route on Alltrails too.
Visitor Information
Where To Park?
The best place to park for visiting the town walls is at Vicarage Gardens Car Park, however, if this is full, you can also use Morfa Bach Car Park. Both of these are pay-and-display car parks owned by the council. You can leave your car here all day while you explore the town.
Where is the Entrance to Conwy Town Walls?
There are multiple entrances to Conwy Town Walls but the best places to join the walk are in the Vicarage Gardens car park at the back left near the tree or at the end of Berry Street near the Smallest House in Great Britain.
Here is a Google Maps pin to the start of the walk.
How Much Are the Conwy Town Walls?
There is no charge to walk along Conwy town walls. They are managed and maintained by CADW who also manage Conwy Castle.
Opening Times
Conwy Town Walls are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the tower at Mill Gate is locked at the same time as the castle which can be anywhere between 4pm and 6pm depending upon the season.
Things To Look For Along the Walls
1. LNWR Crane
When you join the town walls at Vicarage Gardens car park, you’ll be able to spot the LNWR crane just outside of the walled town. This is a manually operated crane with a long timber arm and pulley.
The structure rotates on the base which would have been located in one of the yards of Conwy railway station.
2. Public Latrines
On the stretch of walls just after Mill Gate, there are 12 private toilets. As I mentioned earlier, you can’t walk along this section any more, but you can see them from below near Mill Gate. Here is a Google Maps pin of where to stand.
These were special toilets for King Edward I’s civil servants such as those running the army and the castle’s finances. They discharged waste into a stream below. They cost £15 each which is about £45,000 in today’s money.
3. The Watchtower
The watchtower, also known as tower no.13, is the tallest point on the town walls. It sits diagonally opposite the castle and provides the best vantage point across the town as you can see from the photo I took above. It is next to Upper Gate.
4. Jackdaws
As you walk around, look out for Jackdaws, a species of black bird closely related to, but slightly smaller than, crows and ravens. They are often seen around the castle and town walls.
People born inside the walled town are known as Jackdaws after these birds. For many years, there was a special society for Jackdaws who would help the local community. But with more people being born in hospitals outside the town walls, membership dwindled and the society stopped in 2011.
Conwy Town Walls History
Conwy town walls were originally built in the 13th century by King Edward I as a way of subduing the Welsh in his newly conquered territory. The walls were built at the same as Conwy Castle and together, they cost him £15,000 which was a big investment at the time.
The walls were built between 1283 and 1287. They were designed by James of St. George, the King's master mason, and were very sophisticated for their time.
Originally, they would have been around 1,300km (about 0.8 miles) in length because they ran all the way around the town and across the quayside area to create a fully enclosed area. There were 21 towers and 3 gatehouses, mostly semi-circular, and strategically placed to provide overlapping fields of fire.
The walls have played an important role in the defense of Conwy over the centuries and were used as a military stronghold during the English Civil War.
However, since Tudor times when Henry VIII united England and Wales, the need for such defences dwindled. Over the centuries, the walls fell into disrepair with locals discarding waste into the ditches and some of the stone robbed for other buildings.
At the beginning of the 20th century, one tower was resorted and a part of the walkway opened up to tourists.
This proved popular and, by the middle of the century, there was a big effort to conserve and protect the walls. Many of the buildings that sat against the walls were removed and sections that had been changed were reverted to the original design.
In 1986, Conwy town walls were designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes Conwy Castle, Beaumaris Castle, Caernarfon Castle and Town Walls, and Harlech Castle.
Today, the walls are one of Conwy's most popular tourist attractions and are managed by CADW, part of the Welsh government.
Published: 18 September 2023