Experience the best of Caernarfon

Caernarfon Castle, begun in 1283 by Edward I, dominates the town, its banded stone walls and towers standing above the river. The castle was the setting for the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969, and the castle and town walls are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Segontium, a Roman fort on the edge of town, shows a much older history.

Snowdonia, Eryri in Welsh, lies to the south-east, and Mount Snowdon, at 1,085 metres, is the highest mountain in Wales. The Menai Strait separates the mainland from Anglesey, and the Menai Suspension Bridge, built by Thomas Telford in 1826, carries road traffic across it. The National Slate Museum at Llanberis, a short drive away, tells the story of the quarries that once dominated the area.

Welsh food includes Welsh lamb, cawl, a hearty stew, laverbread, seaweed cooked down into a dark purée, and Welsh cakes baked on a griddle. The weather is mild and wet, with frequent rain and wind. June to August has the longest days and the best chance of walking on the mountains.