Caernarfon

Ancient stone walls rise from the Menai Strait, their honey-coloured ramparts creating one of Britain's most complete medieval fortresses. Caernarfon's towering castle dominates this historic Welsh town, where narrow streets wind between traditional shops and the constant cry of gulls echoes off weathered battlements.

The town proper feels wonderfully lived-in rather than preserved in aspic. Local cafes serve proper Welsh cakes alongside morning coffee, while the Saturday market brings farmers down from Snowdonia's foothills. Beyond the tourist trails, you'll find genuine pubs where conversations flow in both Welsh and English.

Venture just outside town and the landscape opens dramatically. Caernarfon Airport sits on the coastal plain, home to the Airworld Aviation Museum where vintage aircraft tell stories of wartime heroics. The twin lighthouses at Goleudy Tŵr Mawr and Goleudy Tŵr Bach guide vessels through treacherous waters, while ancient Caer y Belan offers cracking views across to Anglesey.

Getting here's straightforward enough - the A487 sweeps in from both Bangor and Porthmadog, though the train service from Chester provides a more relaxing journey through Snowdonia. From nearby holiday parks like Glan Gwna or Coed Helen, you're perfectly positioned to explore both the castle town and the surrounding countryside, with Snowdon's peaks visible on clear days and the Anglesey bridges just minutes away. The combination of medieval grandeur and working Welsh town makes this corner of Gwynedd something rather special.