LOCAL ATTRACTONS
There's so much to see and do in the area that we couldn't fit it all onto this page. Mark & Louise at Awel Mor have plenty of literature to hand so please ask don't hesitate to ask for suggestions. But, here's a few to whet your appetite.
Portmeirion.
Just 9 miles away to the famous tourist village designed and built by Sir Clough Williams Ellis between 1925 and 1975. The village was also the filming location for the 1960's cult television series The Prisoner. www.portmeirion.wales
Porthmadog. Just a 10 minute drive away, Porthmadog was the main port in Wales for shipping slate to the rest of the United Kingdom during the Industrial revolution. Now a lovely little seaside town, it's also the starting point for both Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. www.festrail.co.uk
Llanystumdwy. A small village just outside Criccieth where former Prime Minister David Lloyd George lived until he was 16. The village is also his final resting place. The Lloyd George Museum is dedicated to the life and times of Lloyd George and is less than 2 miles away from Awel Mor. LloydGeorgeMuseum
Snowdonia National Park. Awel Mor commands magnificent views across the bay to the Snowdonia National Park. The park covers 823 square miles of beautiful countryside and rugged mountains. Snowdon, the highest mountain in England & Wales and is close to the town of Llanberis and can be ascended either by foot (with care and proper equipment) or by the Snowdon Mountain Railway. (advance booking advised) www.snowdonrailway.co.uk
The Llyn Peninsular. The Llyn Peninsular extends 30 miles into the Irish Sea, just to the north of Cardigan Bay. The further west you travel the more remote the landscape becomes. The peninsular is also home to the seaside towns Abersoch and Pwellheli as well as Bardsey Island. TheLlynPeninsular.
Surf Snowdonia. If you fancy a little surfing then North Wales has the UK's first commercial artificial surfing lake. Surf Snowdonia is located deep in the Coney Valley and is an hours drive away. SurfSnowdonia
Beaches. Criccieth alone has 2 blue flag beaches of its own but beautiful beaches is something that North Wales isn't short of. Harlech sands, Black Rock Sands, Borth-y-Gest, Abersoch and Pwllheli are just a few. www.GoNorthWales.co.uk has a good guide to lots of beaches in their area.
Castles. Wales has between 500 and 641 castles (depending on who you talk to!) and in North Wales you're never far from one, and some of the most impressive are within an hours drive from Criccieth. Starting with one at the end of Marine Terrace. This one was initially built by Llewelyn the Great somewhere between 1230 and 1280. The castle was in English hands in 1404 when Owain Glyndwr burned the towers. Owain was the last native Welsh Prince of Wales and disappeared following the siege of Harlech Castle which can be seen across the bay. Cadw looks after the Welsh Castles and more information can be found at Cadw.gov.wales. Other castles in North Wales include Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech, Dolwyddelan and Beamuaris to name a few. Check out the Cadw website.