SNOWDONIA INFORMATION PACK | CRICCIETH
Published on 17 Nov 2016 by Gwion LlwydCriccieth is known as “The Pearl Of Wales On The Shores Of Snowdonia”. Set around the castle, it’s a small town with beautiful beaches. Lots of walking and cycling paths allow you to fully immerse yourself in the Welsh countryside while Porthmadog and Pwllheli are just down the road. Here is our Snowdonia Information Pack | Criccieth:
ACTIVITIES
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
Snowdonia Adventures offer a great variety of activities including gorge walking, canyoning, kayaking, climbing etc.
GOLF
The Criccieth Golf Course was the home playing ground to David Lloyd George (one of the founding members) and has seen the likes of Sir Winston Churchill play there. Known for its panoramic views of the Cambrian coast, the 9th tee is said to have the most magnificent view you’ll see anywhere. Prices start from £20 for 18 holes and equipment hire is available.
WAKEBOARDING
Glasfryn Parc is 9 miles from Criccieth and a must to visit if you’re looking for a little adrenaline infused activity – wakeboarding, karting and quad biking are all on offer as well as bowling, fishing and archery for those who are looking for something a little less intense. Come rain or shine, there is something for each member of the family here.
SEGWAY TOURS
Probably not the most obvious of activities, but this offers segway as you have never seen it before; off road no less! If you’re not looking for the off-road adventure you can always have a more leisurely cruise around the 30 acres of beautiful forest. Based at The Dragon Raiders Adventure Park, they also offer paintballing on site.
RABBIT FARM
For a younger audience, this is a great place for children to get up close to rabbits, guinea pigs, puppies, goats and the like. A lovely atmosphere and homemade cakes to eat in the on-site cafe after your fun with the animals.
SURVIVAL DAYS
Bear Grills has just opened his new survival academy at the Dragon Raiders Adventure Park which offers you a chance to learn survival techniques out in the wilderness – from building fires, shelters and foraging for food, you also learn how to purify water and master obstacle courses – its an amazing opportunity for you to learn life skills that you never know when you might need.
MUSEUM
The Lloyd George Museum is based at Highgate House in Llanystumdwy, 5 mins out of Criccieth and is the childhood home of its namesake. He was Prime Minister during the First World War, introduced pensions for the elderly and gave women the vote. Furnished as it was between 1864 and 1880, it includes personal items as well as documents such as the Versailles Treaty.
BEACHES
CRICCIETH
Has two excellent Blue Flag beaches. Marine Beach, to the West of the castle is pebbly with views straight out to sea and is safe for bathing. Head West towards Pwllheli and you can walk for miles either along the beach or the path above. The main beach to the east of the castle is a mixture of pebbles and sand. A walk to the east brings you to rock pools for local wildlife.
BLACK ROCK SANDS
A 2 mile long sandy beach situated at Morfa Bychan, 2 miles from Porthmadog in North Wales. It is one of the few locations where you can take your car onto the beach. The sea along Black Rock Sands is shallow, with a gentle gradient making it ideal for swimming and bathing. Popular with windsurfers and kite-bugging. It has designated bathing and boat-launching areas.
PWLLHELI
The beaches here are mainly south facing and have been awarded the prestigious European Blue Flag Award. Glan y Mor beach is sandy and sheltered near the marina. South beach is mainly shingle and pebble and stretches the length of the attractive promenade with a play area and skate park nearby.
DAYS OUT
CASTLES
There’s a great Castle in Criccieth itself naturally and a must visit if you’re staying in the area. But there are over 600 other castles in Wales, including Harlech, Caernarfon, Beaumaris on Anglesey, Penrhyn Castle in Bangor and Dolwyddelan in Betws-y-Coed.
THE FFESTINIOG AND WELSH HIGHLANDS STEAM TRAIN
is a real treat. Starting in Porthmadog, it takes you through the mountains to Blaenau Ffestiniog offering glorious views and giving you an insight into the past.
PORTMEIRION
Clough Williams-Ellis created this little piece of the ‘Italian riviera’ in wales during the earlier part of the 1900. A visit here transports you to a fantasy world of beautiful buildings in every colour along with gardens and views that are wonderful. Famous for its filming of the Prisoner in the 60’s it is now welcomes visitors from all over the world. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes on the site along with gift shops and a shop for their famous Portmeirion dinner service. There is a private beach that visitors can enjoy.
ZIP WORLD
2 locations situated near Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bangor. Home to the fastest zipline in the world and longest in Europe. Prices start at £50 per person.
BOUNCE BELOW
is a series of underground trampolines. A train takes you down into a newly excavated cave where they have 3 huge trampolines suspended from the walls at various heights (the highest being 180ft off the ground) with a series of tunnels connecting all 3 trampolines. At £20 a head, it’s an awesome adventure!
WHITE WATER RAFTING
The National White Water Centre on the river Tryweryn in Bala offers one of the best places in the country to white water raft. The water levels are dam-controlled so it’s rapids still thunder in the summer so you will never be disappointed by the conditions.
WALKS
The walks in the surrounding area are both incredible and numerous and whilst in the area, you absolutely should take advantage of this. For more information on additional walks, we recommend having a look on the following website: www.visitsnowdonia.info
MUD AND ROUTES
is a great information resource for walking in the area. Their website www.mudandroutes.com will help get you started.
GEOCACHING
If you love a treasure hunt, you’ll be pleased to know that there are lots of geocaches hidden around the area. Children love these and and so if you’re having trouble convincing them that a walk is good fun, this could be your answer!
Here are a couple of blog articles you might be interested in too:
Our very own ‘Really Simple Walking Guide Up Snowdon’
Some suggestions from the people at Visit Snowdonia
MOUNTAIN BIKING
COED-Y-BRENIN
based just north of Dolgellau, this forest (Coed) offers mountain biking heaven. Ranging from routes for beginners to the more advanced it is fantastic. Free to get in, you can either rent a bike there or take your own. If not all the party are up for cycling, there are also wonderful walks. Take a picnic as there are lots of picnic tables or there is also a cafe that serves food.
ANTUR STINIOG
There are 4 trails, its costs £27.50 for the day as it is an uplift service and more suited to advanced riders. You will need to pre-book a space and you can hire bikes there. Again there is a cafe and other activities on offer.
TRAWS LAKE
A trail of 8 miles around Trawsfynydd lake. There is a visitors centre too where you can get a drink. Offers a fabulous bike ride or walk if you prefer.
BIKE HIRE
Glyn -y- Coed Hotel in Criccieth, Beics Menai in Caernarfon or Llyn Cycle Hire in Aberdaron are the nearest places to hire bikes.
This recent post we did on mountain biking will give you more information: SNOWDONIA STYLE ADVENTURE | MOUNTAIN BIKING
EATING OUT
PUBS: The Castle Inn, The Bryn Hir Arms and The Lion Hotel all have great traditional pub food on offer – perfect for a hearty meal after a day walking or on the beach.
RESTAURANTS: Dylans is a great place on the promenade – fantastic seafood in a fantastic environment. Tir-A Mor just by the beach is a great place to eat – enticing choice of dishes, including vegetarian, chicken, beef, lamb, and the chef’s specialty, fish. Poachers is a small, family owned and operated business, fully licensed, the varied menu features international cuisine. Mei’s Fusion Food on the high street offers a indonesian menu.
CAFES: No 46 is a coffee come gift shop offering light lunches, cakes and Tea and coffee. Blue China Tea Rooms is a great lttle tea room just up from the beach. The Tea Rooms on the High Street is another tea shop come gift shop.
TAKEAWAY – The Spice Bank in the centre of the town is situated in an old church and offers a good menu. The Royal China is the local Chinese offering.
FISH AND CHIPS: Trem-y-Gaer Chip Shop – eat in or take out, it’s always a winner!
ICE CREAM – Criccieth is the birthplace of Cadwalader’s! Say no more, it’s got to be the place to go for the holiday ice creams!
LOCAL INFO
DOCTORS
- The Health Centre, Criccieth, Gwynedd, LL52 0RR TEL: 01766 800 550
- The accident and emergency hospital is 10 mins away: Ysbyty Alltwen, Tremadog, Gwynedd LL49 9AQ61 TEL: 0 1766 510010
ATM
Many places locally only accept cash and so make sure you have enough on hand.
- Porthmadog has an HSBC, Barclays and Natwest
- HSBC : 51 Stryd Fawr, Criccieth
- BARCLAYS: Stryd Fawr, Criccieth
- The Post Office: Stryd Fawr, Criccieth, Gwynedd LL52 0BU TEL: 01766 522764
GROCERY STORES
- ALDI, Lidl and TESCO are all in Porthmadog which is a 10 min drive away. Tesco will deliver to Criccieth
- ASDA: is in Pwllheli – it is a small store mainly offering food. Asda will deliver to Criccieth
- SPAR: 62 Stryd Fawr, Criccieth, Gwynedd LL52 0HB – based on the main high street in Criccieth
TRAINS
BUSES
TAXI’S
-
- local taxi firms include:
-
- CASTLE CABS: 2 Castle Terrace, Criccieth, Gwynedd, LL52 0DY TEL: 01766 522695
- CRICCIETH TAXIS: Bryn Henlan Lon Ednyfed, LL52 0LD TEL: 01766 522726
WELSH LANGUAGE
The welsh alphabet is phonetic so once you know how to say the letters, the theory is that reading the words is straightforward; you say what you see. A little time spent familiarising yourself with the alphabet will help no end when you’re trying to navigate your way around the area…
a short, as in ‘hat’, never as in ‘ball’
b as in ‘bag’. Although is there really any other way?
c always hard as in ‘cat’, never an s as in ‘precise’
ch like the ch in the Scottish word ‘loch’, but with more phlegm
d as in ‘dog’, never as in ‘djinn’
dd a buzzy ‘th’ sound, as in ‘this’. Think angry bees with a lisp
e short, as in pen
f v. This is very, very simple, and when you get really used to it, f will play hafock with your spelling
ff f. Equally, you can ffind yourselff getting too used to ff as well
g always hard as in ‘get’, never a ‘j’ sound as in the last g in garage
ng as in ‘song’, where the g isn’t hard, like in ‘gig’, but a soft glottal stop made in your throat
h as in hat, always sounded and never silent
i as in ‘pin’
j accepted now because of the loan words from English that use it, like ‘garej’
l a ‘luh’ as in ‘lava’, but never an ‘ul’ sound as in ‘milk’
ll not as hard a sound to make as some would have you think. Raise your tongue to the top of your mouth as if you were going to say ‘el’, then make the ‘ell’ sound by blowing air round the sides of your raised tongue, instead of by using your voice. You should sound like an annoyed cat
m as in ‘mithridatize’. Or as in ‘mum’, if you want to be boring
n as in ‘nanobot’
o short as in ‘hot’, not round as in ‘hotel’
p can I have a p please Bob?
ph an English f, or Welsh ff sound, as in ‘phase’
r rolled. Some people just can’t get a rolled ‘r’ – their tongues are unable to vibrate in the right way. It’s a genetic thing, apparently,
similar to being able to roll your tongue into a tube, or turn the end upside down. Honestly, some people can, but my tongue’s not that prehensile. Roll if you can, don’t if you can’t
rh hr. Make a huffy, breathy sound before your rolled ‘r’
s always soft as in ‘sit’, never a ‘z’ sound as in ‘juxtapose’
t as in ‘top’. Can it get any simpler?
th as in ‘think’, softer and less buzzy than dd
u If you had stepped in something disgusting and made a kind of ‘eugh’ noise, the vowel ‘eu’ sound would about approximate
w oooooo
y ok, y breaks the rule that Welsh is phonetic. As a single syllable word, y is like ‘uh’, on the last syllable of a multisyllabic word it’ an‘u’ or ‘ee’, and anywhere else it’s like the unstressed, indeterminate noise of the final e in ‘garden’ or ‘letter’. Ysbyty (hospital) is the perfect example.
USEFUL PHRASES
Welcome: Croeso
How are you? Sut mae / Ti’n iawn
Good morning: Bore da
Good Afternoon: P.nawn da, prynhawn da
Good evening: Noswaith dda
Good night: Nos da
Cheers / Good Health! Iechyd da!
Do you speak welsh? Ydych chi’n siarad Cymraeg?
How do you say…. in welsh? Beth ydy….yn Cymraeg?
Thank you: Diolch
I love you: Dw i’n dy garu di
Happy Birthday: Penblwdd Hapus
and a couple of funny ones….
Microwave: popty ping
‘Might as well’: Man a man a mwnci
DIRECTORY OF PLACES LISTED:
ANTUR STINIOG
http://www.anturstiniog.com/
01766 238 007
Canolfan Beicio Antur Stiniog, Ceudlyllau Llechwedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, LL41 3NB
BEAR GRILLS SURVIVAL DAYS
http://www.dragonraiders.co.uk/
01766 523119
Dragon Raiders Activity Park, Gwynfryn Lodge, Llanystumdwy, Criccieth, LL52 0LR
BEICS MENAI
www.beicsmenai.co.uk
01286 676804
1 Slate Quay, Caernarfon LL55 2PB
CADWALADERS
http://www.cadwaladers.co.uk/
01766 523665
The Iris, Castle Street | Castle Street, Criccieth LL52 0DP
CAFFI CWT
Y Maes, Criccieth LL52 0DA
COED-Y-BRENIN
COED-Y-BRENIN
01341 440747
For Sat Nav/GPS/Mapping Services use: LL40 2HY. OS Grid Reference: SH 725 268
CRICCIETH GOLF COURSE
http://www.cricciethgolfclub-northwales.co.uk
01766 522154 –
Lon Ednyfed, Criccieth, Gwynedd, LL52 0PH
DYLANS
www.dylansrestaurant.co.uk
01766 522773
Maes Y Mor, Criccieth, Gwynedd. LL52 0HU
FFESTINIOG RAILWAY
http://www.festrail.co.uk
01766 516000
Postcode: LL49 9NF, Grid Reference: SH 57131 38419, Lat./Lng.: 52.924122/-4.1266580
GLASFRYN PARC
http://www.glasfryn.co.uk/
01766 810 000
A499 Caernarfon Road, LL53 6PG
GLYN Y COED HOTEL
www.glynycoedhotel.co.uk
01766 522870
Porthmadog Road, Criccieth LL52 0HP
GRANVILLES
01766 522506
28 Stryd Fawr, Criccieth, Gwynedd LL52 0BT
LLOYD GEORGE MUSEUM
Lloyd George Museum
01766 522071
Llanystumdwy, Criccieth, Gwynedd LL52 0SH
LLYN CYCLE CENTRE
www.llyncyclehire.co.uk
01758 760 532
Aberdaron
MEIS FUSION
meisfusionfood.wordpress.com
01766 522048
28 High Street, Criccieth LL52 0BT
NATIONAL WHITE WATER CENTRE
http://www.ukrafting.co.uk
01678 521083
Use SatNav, LL23 7NU
No 46 COFFEE SHOP
No 46
01766522252
46 High Street, Criccieth LL52 0EY
POACHERS
http://www.poachersrestaurant.co.uk/
01766 522512
66 – 68 High Street, Criccieth LL52 0HB
PORTMEIRION
http://www.portmeirion-village.com/
01766 770000
Minffordd, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, LL48 6ER
RABBIT FARM
www.rabbitfarm.co.uk
01766 523136
Dwyfor Ranch, Llanystumdwy, Criccieth LL52 0SU
SEGWAY TOURS
http://www.dragonraiders.co.uk/
01766 523119
Dragon Raiders Activity Park, Gwynfryn Lodge, Llanystumdwy, Criccieth, LL52 0LR
SNOWDONIA ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
http://www.snowdoniaadventureactivities.co.uk/
01341 247151 / 07976662414
THE BRYN HIR ARMS
https://www.facebook.com/brynhirarms.criccieth
01766 522493
24 High Street | Criccieth
THE CASTLE INN
www.thecastleinn-criccieth.co.uk
01766 523515
1 Parciau Terrace | North Wales LL52 0RW, Criccieth LL52 0RW
THE LION HOTEL
http://www.lionhotelcriccieth.co.uk
01766 522460
Y Maes, Criccieth LL52 0AA
THE ROYAL CHINA
01766 522888
61 High St, Criccieth LL52 0HB
THE SPICE BANK
01766 522277
The Old Bank Building | High Street, Criccieth LL52 0BS,
TIR- A -MOR
http://www.tiramor-criccieth.co.uk/
(01766) 523084
1-3 Mona Terrace, Criccieth LL52 0HG
TRAWS LAKE
TREM-Y-GADER
01766 523504
High Street, Criccieth LL52 0BU
ZIP WORLD
http://www.zipworld.co.uk
01248 601 444 choose option 2
Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, LL41 3NB
