The call of CONWY

A superstar castle, top-tier garden and epic scenery add up to a relaxing break in North Wales

- CHRIS MORLEY

Sitting sentry at the mouth of the river, Conwy Castle looks fresh from the pages of a storybook. Built over 700 years ago, this medieval masterpiece formed part of a ring of defences built by Edward I, designed to subdue rebellious local forces. Today the castle and kilometre-long walls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the only invaders are jolly tourists sauntering through the town's quaint lanes or enjoying a pint by the quayside.

Mighty towers

After seeing centuries of battles, Conwy Castle became a romantic mossy ruin, painted by artists like JMW Turner. An 18th-century restoration revived its splendid outline and now it sits proud as one of Wales' most admired landmarks. Tour its stone-cold battlements, linger in the best-preserved medieval royal apartments in Wales and tackle spiral staircases to the top of 21-metre-high turrets. The effort will be paid off with a heartwarming panorama of town, estuary and the mighty Carneddau Mountains (£13.10, cadw.gov.wales).