Exploring
n o f r a Caern
For several years we had a caravan near Caernarfon at the village of Waunfawr and went to it most weekends during the holiday season. During that period we got to know Caernarfon very well as it was our main area to get the shopping we needed. But my association with the town goes back much further than that and dates from a school trip we were taken on to the magnificent castle in my early secondary school days. And down the years I have passed through the town or stopped off in it on many, many occasions – and still do so now when I can usually be found in the café at the Morrison’s store enjoying a hot chocolate and a bacon buttie after a day on the Snowdonian hills that border the Caernarfon to Beddgelert road. This often occurs during the colder winter months when the warm drink is much appreciated! But Caernarfon is a
day Caernarfon caters for the tourist trade in a big way as
delight to visit at any time of the year and attracts tourists
visitor’s flock to the town winter and summer alike. There are
on a year round basis. They are drawn by the town’s narrow
plenty of guest houses, inns and pubs, hotels, restaurants and
streets and its stylishly redeveloped and classy waterfront
shops. Most of the shops are to be found either in the centre
along with its spectacular castle.
of the town around Pool Street (which is pedestrianised and is the town’s main shopping street) and Castle Square (most
Geographically Caernarfon is located on the southern shore
commonly known as the ‘Maes’) which is the market square
of the Menai Straits opposite the Isle of Anglesey. It lies at the
for the town with a market being held there every Saturday
mouth of the River Seiont where it flows into the Menai Straits
throughout the year. Market Square was re-vamped in 2009
and creates a natural harbour which is always colourful with
at a cost of £2.4 million.
boats. Caernarfon is on the A487 approximately 8.6 miles/13.8 km south west of the city of Bangor and has a population
There are also shopping areas on Victoria Dock (Doc Fictoria)
of around 10,000 permanent residents. The mountains of
which was opened in 2008. The majority of the residential
Snowdonia border the town to the east and south east.
and retail sections of Victoria Dock is built directly beside a
Porthmadog is 19.4 miles/31.2 km away to the south while the
popular Blue Flag beach marina. It contains lots of residential
Alpine village of Llanberis in Snowdonia is eight miles/12.9
homes, bars and bistros, cafés and restaurants, shops
km to the east. The town is easily accessed by car and a good
and stores as well as a maritime museum and an award
bus network connects it to surrounding towns. Five railway
winning arts centre. Victoria Dock is stylish and modern and
stations have serviced Caernarfon down the years but the
very popular with locals and tourists alike. There are also
main line was shut and the track lifted in 1964 and 1965. The
numerous restaurants, public houses, inns, guest houses
current railway station is the northern terminus of the narrow
and hotels located in and around the town walls. These walls
gauge Welsh Highland Railway which opened on 11th October
include eight towers and two twin towered gateways and
1997. It is a spectacular line built mostly for the tourists and
form a complete circuit of around 2,625 ft./800 metres around
the station itself was modernised in 2018 and 2019. Modern
Caernarfon’s old town. They were built between 1283 and 1285
NWM 2022 Page 19
