Criccieth is a beautiful seaside resort town on the south side of the Llyn Peninsula with splendid views over Cardigan Bay. Well known as the ‘Pearl of Wales on the Shores of Snowdonia’, this stunning Victorian town is popular among tourists who book coach holidays to Criccieth for its attractive beaches and its traditional welsh charm.

It is home to a medieval castle, built by the Welsh in the mid-thirteenth century but later taken by Edward I who incorporated it into his ring of castles designed to maintain Norman control. It was captured by Owain Glyndwr in the uprising of 1404 and the scorch marks from that battle can still be seen! The castle headland divides the town into two with a pebbly beach to the West and a lovely sheltered mainly sandy beach to the East. The town began developing as a seaside resort in the 1800’s when the Welsh Coast railways were established. Since then, Criccieth has become a popular tourist destination for those who enjoy relaxing coastal breaks in the UK.

Even though Criccieth is a small town with a small population, it is full of character and there are plenty of things to see and do. Each year the town attracts water sport enthusiasts and it home to the famous Cadwaladers ice cream, which was first produced in the 1920’s. Why not visit the traditional Welsh tearooms, or pop into the local delicatessen that offers a delicious range of delicious meat, cheese, chutneys and jams? Or take a stroll around the quirky boutique stores that sell Fairtrade clothing, candles and soap.
Nearby is the village of Llanystundwy, which boasts a museum devoted to David Lloyd George, the “Welsh Wizard”, whose family once lived in Criccieth. The countryside around Criccieth is breath taking with fabulous coastal views over Cardigan Bay, awesome mountain scenery in Snowdonia and delightful gardens and castles at every turn. There are not many places in the UK that can boast sea, snow-capped mountains and a majestic medieval castle as a backdrop. Ask anyone what they love about Criccieth and the answer is always the same – “It never changes.”