The town of Caernarfon is steeped in history, and you don’t have to look far to see evidence of this. Most obviously is the mighty Caernarfon Castle which was constructed between 1283 and 1330 – for around £25,000. A very small price in today’s economy for a castle!
Caernarfon is a royal town and port, with just under 10,000 residents. It’s a short distance from the Snowdonia National Park, making it a popular place to stay with visitors who want to explore this fantastic natural area.
The name of the town originates from the Welsh word ‘caer’, which translates to stronghold or citadel. ‘Arfon’ is derived from the land division which once existed where the town of Caernarfon is situated.
Caernarfon is part of the Gwynedd County, which has the highest proportion of Welsh speakers. The place with the greatest percentage of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd is actually the town of Caernarfon (including its surrounding areas), with over 86% of residents being able to speak the language fluently!
Photo Credit: Smabs Sputzer @ Flickr
Within Caernarfon, you’ll find a variety of historical places to visit. Only a small portion of the town walls are accessible to the public, but you can explore the castle to your hearts content. With so many towers and ‘hidden’ areas within the castle, it’s not unusual for visitors to spend hours exploring it.
There’s also a military museum which can be found within the castle, with an informative variety of exhibits focused on the Royal Welch Fusiliers army regiment and its 300 year history.
Passing through Caernarfon is the Welsh Highland Railway, which runs from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. Visitors can enjoy a scenic journey through the Snowdonia National Park in a traditional narrow gauge steam train.
There’s plenty to do in Caernarfon and its surrounding areas, so why not take some time to visit this historical town? We’ll be glad to welcome you into our 16th century inn which offers a variety of food and a great selection of ales from independent breweries.