Harlech is a small coastal town in North Wales that’s best known for its dramatic castle ruins, sweeping sandy beach, and panoramic views of the coastline.
I was shocked by the size of the town which feels almost like a village, but there was no shortage of things to do in Harlech and the surrounding area as I’ll share in this guide.
1. Visit Harlech Castle
Of course, the best thing to do in Harlech is to visit the iconic castle which is part of King Edward I’s ‘Ring of Iron’ castles across North Wales.
The castle is a ruin but you can still get a feel for how it would have been in its prime. You can climb to the top of one of the towers, walk along the walls, and explore the gatehouse. The most impressive thing about this castle is its location, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea in one direction and Snowdonia in the other.
The castle is managed by CADW so members can visit for free. Entry is via the visitor centre where you’ll first be shown a short video depicting the castle’s history. However, if you’re a history buff like me, I would recommend reading up a little about the history of Harlech Castle before visiting as the video wasn’t very detailed.
The visitor centre also has a shop, toilets and a café with a great view of the castle. Look out for the Two Kings statue outside which is inspired by the Mabinogion story of Branwen. There’s a full description next on the plaque next to it.
See my full Harlech Castle visitors guide to find out more.
2. Drive (or walk) down Ffordd Pen Llech, the world’s steepest street
Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s steepest street. Or, at least it did until the rules on how steepness is measured changed and the accolade was lost to a street in New Zealand
It’s not surprising that Harlech, which means "on a slope" or "beautiful slope", is home to such a street.
Nonetheless, I can confirm from my own experience that this street, with a gradient of 37.45% (or 28.6% according to the new measurements), is extremely steep. So make sure you have good breaks if you decide to drive down it! The street is really easy to find from the castle but just in case, here’s a Google Maps pin.
3. Pick up some local delicacies from The Old Cheese Market
The Old Cheese Market (or Yr Hen Farchnad Gaws to use its Welsh name), was the site of a cheese market back in the 18th century and has now come full circle as you can once again buy cheese here, along with many other local delicacies.
The building is now home to a deli selling cheese, fresh bread, pastries, fresh meats, local preserves, wine, and more. I had the best pork, apple, and stuffing pie which was so delicious that I didn’t even manage to photograph it for you before eating it (sorry!). But I highly recommend you check it out for yourself.
Note: some online sources say this is temporarily closed but when I visited in April 2023 it was open in all its glory. It’s right next to the castle so you won’t be going out of your way to check.
4. Relax on Harlech Beach
One of the biggest things I love about Harlech is that you have Snowdonia national park on one side, whilst still being able to enjoy Harlech Beach on the other.
The best place to park is at Ffordd Glan Mor pay and display car park and then there’s a short path across the golf course and over the dunes onto the beachfront. It’s a golden sandy beach that’s great for relaxing and safe for swimming. However, there's no lifeguard here so only swim if you’re a confident swimmer.
To the north of the beach is Morfa Harlech Nature Reserve where the dunes provide the perfect habitat for plants and wildlife. Here, you might spot some rare flowers such as the three-coloured dune pansy or scarce butterflies such as the common blue butterfly and small copper butterfly.
If you’re lucky, you might get to see the Maid of Harlech, a WWII fighter plane that crash-landed on the beach in 1942. However, the wreckage is buried 2 metres below the seabed so conditions have to be perfect for it to be revealed. In fact, you’d have to be very lucky as it’s only uncovered once every few years, so don’t be surprised if you find a plane while building your sandcastles. Unfortunately, this was nowhere to be seen during my visit.
5. Hear the history of Meirion along Meirion’s Trail
Meirions trail is a series of storytelling chairs found around Harlech, the very first is found in the playground near the bridge to enter Harlech Castle.
As you sit in each chair, you’ll hear the stories of Meirion, a figure from Welsh mythology who, according to legend, founded the Kingdom of Meirion, which went on to become a county of Wales. Since 1996, this has been known as Gwynedd.
There are five chairs in total, spread out over a distance of 2 miles, so a little bit of legwork is required in between each. When you arrive at each, sit in or near the chairs as you play the stories which can be found here. A written version of the stories is also available using the same link.
Allow 1-2 hours to complete the trail and listen to all of the stories.
6. Tour an old mine at Llanfair Slate Caverns
In the small village of Llanfair, just 5 minutes south of Harlech by car, you’ll find the old Llanfair slate caverns which hold some of the oldest slate in the world and many old buildings across Britain might still have slate from this mine on their roof.
Although no longer in use, the mine is now open as a visitor attraction so you can grab a helmet and torch and wander around for yourself. I was surprised to find the mine exactly as it was left when the miners were last here.
Although you don’t have a tour guide, there is plenty of information on your way around. You’ll end the tour in a huge cathedral chamber.
This activity is both dog-friendly and family-friendly, although it’s only open during the peak season from Easter until the end of summer and briefly during October half term. There is no need to book ahead but you can check the latest prices on their website.
7. Walk through the woodlands to Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls
Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls are located on the Nantcol Waterfalls Campsite about a 10-minute drive from Harlech via Llanbedr. The campsite is great if you’re looking for somewhere to stay but you don’t have to be staying here to visit the waterfalls.
There are three different walks at the site:
- Nature trail – a kid-friendly loop where you’ll see different species of trees with information about them.
ㅤ - Riverside walk – the best trail to take which includes Nantcol Waterfalls. This route includes part of the woodland walk. They advise 1.5 hours but I’d suggest allowing at least 2 hours for the walk.
ㅤ - Woodland Walk - stroll through a mature woodland passing a derelict homestead.
8. Pet animals at the Children’s Farm Park
Children’s Farm Park near Harlech is a small family-run farm where you can go to pet goats, rabbits, and ponies. They have an indoor and outdoor play area as well as a café so you can spend a couple of hours here.
This is directly next to Llanfair Slate Caverns mentioned earlier (I think they may be the same owners?) so you can do the two together.
Unfortunately, they were closed when I visited Harlech so I don’t have first-hand experience, but I heard several great reviews from friends who have visited. They are only open during peak visitor times, from Easter onwards.
9. Hike to the Bronze-Age cairn at Bryn Cader Faner
The strange ring of stones shown here is Bryn Cader Faner which means 'the hill of the throne with the flag'. Still not clear what they are? Me neither. These 18 jagged stones sticking out of the ground are thought to date back as early as the 3rd century, making them far older than Harlech itself.
However, getting there is no mean feat. They are so it’s a 5km walk in each direction, and it’s not flat either. But if you’re up for the challenge, you can also spot several other ancient stone circles and burial sites on the way too. You can find the route here.
10. Walk the Moel Y Sensigl Circular
If you’re not up for the difficult hike to Bryn Cader Faner, this 6km circular trail might be a little easier to stomach. The moderate route takes around 2 hours and includes some epic views of the castle and town along the way.
Some of the trail is paved pathway but there are also grassy and muddy sections so hiking boots are required. It can get quite overgrown too so I’d also recommend long trousers. Keep in mind that there are stiles and a wall with barbed wire to cross.
You can find the full route here.
11. Explore the Italian-style village of Portmeirion
The unique village of Portmeirion is just a 20-minute drive from Harlech and was featured as one of my top things to do in North Wales, so it makes a great day trip.
Portmeirion is a very unique place as it’s been designed to look like an Italian village. So, if you ever wondered what Italy would look like with the mountains of Snowdonia in the background, this is the place to go.
The village itself is a work of art, with brightly coloured buildings, ornate statues, and quirky details everywhere you look. There are also extensive gardens you can walk around with lots of different trails and hidden gems along the way.
Also at Portmeirion are places to eat, shops, a spa, and you can even stay here in a castle if you wish.
Portmeirion is a great day out for families, couples, and solo travellers too. However, keep in mind that dogs aren’t allowed. It’s open year-round, however, they have reduced facilities during off-peak season.
12. Experience the Harlech Nature Trail
The Harlech Nature Trail is a short 30-40 minute walk that starts and ends in Harlech. The walk is through a small woodland area and along the route you should be able to spot seven small boards with animals painted on them.
Of course, being a woodland area there are actual animals to spot too. Look out for birds and squirrels along the way. The walk is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs as it’s a muddy path with steps.
The route begins near the main car park in Harlech and is well-signposted, but you can also view the route here.
13. Tee off at Royal St Davids Golf Course
I wouldn’t typically include a golf course in my articles of top things to do (despite me being a keen golfer), however, Royal St David’s golf course is different since it’s one of the top golf courses in the country. Don’t just take my word for it, the experts over at Top 100 Golf Courses also agree.
It gets its royal status from King Edward VII. Later, his grandson, Edward VIII, also known as the Duke of Windsor, was captain of the club while he was Prince of Wales.
Related Questions
Is Harlech worth visiting?
Yes, Harlech is well worth visiting due to its historic castle and great beach. However, you could easily see everything in Harlech in one day so you might want to consider staying in Porthmadog or somewhere in Snowdonia and making a day trip.
How long does it take to go around Harlech Castle?
Harlech Castle takes around 30 minutes to visit which includes walking around the walls and climbing to the top of the tower. It's a ruin so there isn't much else to see. It's still worth the entry fee.
Published: 10 April 2023 · Last updated: 23 May 2023