Criccieth Holiday Cottages
Criccieth is known as “The Pearl Of Wales On The Shores Of Eryri (Snowdonia)”. Set around the castle, it’s a small town with beautiful beaches. Many walk and cycle paths allow you to fully immerse yourself in the Welsh countryside while Porthmadog and Pwllheli are just down the road.
CRICCIETH
This beautiful little Welsh coastal village on Pen Llŷn (the Llŷn Peninsula) seemingly has it all: ocean rollers, mountain views, and an imposing medieval castle to watch over it all.
On the original Victorian steam train line, Criccieth has long been a destination for families looking to get away from it all. It is an easy-living town that has retained all of its old school charm.
Think rock pooling, castle ramparts, delicious fish and chips and ice cream. You’ll find traditional Welsh tearooms, plenty of great places to eat out, independent shops, and some wonderfully browsable galleries and antiques.
Things to do in Criccieth
Criccieth Castle – a spectacular coastal fortress in the centre of town – is a great place to start exploring the town. Built in the 13th century by Llywelyn ap Iowerth (Llywelyn the Great), the ruins have plenty to tell us about the fortunes of war. Visit for the fascinating museum and enormous views over Cardigan Bay.
The castle’s rocky headland separates Criccieth’s two beaches. The main beach to the east of the castle is a mixture of pebbles and sand. South facing, it has great views across Cardigan Bay towards Harlech. The pebbly west beach is a shallower shelf, and safer for swimming.
Criccieth sits on the Wales Coast Path and there is some great walking to be done from the centre of town. Follow the nine-mile coastal route to Pwllheli, taking in Lloyd George’s birthplace – and a small museum – in the tiny village of Llanystumdwy.
The Ffestiniog Heritage Railway and Welsh Highland Railway is based in nearby Porthmadog. Jump on board in the centre of town to enjoy a nostalgic journey through spectacular mountain landscapes.
A little further on from Porthmadog, you’ll find Portmeirion Village. Designed by Welsh Architect Clough Williams-Ellis in the early 20th century, it is a wonderfully eccentric collection of Riviera-inspired houses, ornamental gardens, and colour washed villas.
Off the beaten track ideas:
Explore secret beaches – Criccieth sits at the gateway to Pen Llŷn, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a real gem of the British Isles. One of the least explored parts of Wales, it is the kind of place where you can take a picnic to a ‘secret’ cove or beach and feel like you have the whole place to yourself – because you probably will. Head to Pen Llŷn’s Porth Iago, Porth Oer (Whistling Sands) and Porth Ysgo to enjoy some of the best ‘secret’ beaches’ in the UK. A pint on the sandy beach in front of the Ty Coch Inn at Porthdinllaen should be an obligatory part of any holiday to Pen Llŷn.
Take on Cnicht – aka the Welsh Matterhorn – for breathtaking mountain scenery and one of Snowdonia’s best 360-degree summit panoramas. Around 12 miles from Criccieth, Cnicht’s pointed summit has earned it the name the ‘Welsh Matterhorn’, albeit a somewhat smaller version (689m as opposed to a whopping 4,478m).
Criccieth lies at the gateway to Pen Llŷn (the Llŷn Peninsula), on the shores of Cardigan Bay. It is perfectly placed for exploring this part of North Wales, with Porthmadog, Pwllheli, and Abersoch all within a short drive.
There are some great restaurants and cafés in Criccieth. A couple of our favourites are the No. 46 Coffee Shop and the Idris Café, both on the high street. For a memorable restaurant experience, you can’t miss Dylan’s Art Deco splendour and award-winning menus on Criccieth seafront. Other favourites include the Tir a Mor in Criccieth, and The Moorings in nearby Borth y Gest.
Criccieth is 16 miles from Zip World Llechwedd in Blaenau Ffestiniog. A truly unique location that is steeped in history, it is the ideal weatherproof destination in North Wales. Family-friendly adventures at Zip World Llechwedd include underground zip lines, golf, trampoline nets, and a deep mine tour. There is also an above-ground zip line course.
