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A taste of Welsh water

Practical Caravan

June 2023

Winding rivers, coastal castles and mountain walks provide Susan Taylor with plenty to enjoy on a tour of North Wales

WALES IS FAMOUSLY a land of castles – not only those built of stone which have stood the test of time, but also of far more temporary constructions, made of sand and washed away by the rippling tide.

On a recent visit to its spectacularly beautiful north, I also discovered that Wales is a land of water (and of railways, but that’s a story for another day) – from the sea demolishing those sandy structures, to the moats surrounding castles of stone, and from the gently meandering rivers to the wildly cascading waterfalls.

Caernarfon cobbles

We started our trip at the small but friendly Is-Helen Farm Caravan Park in Caernarfon, a convenient 20-minute walk from town via the Aber Swing Bridge (whose gates are locked at 11pm prompt, no exceptions) over the first of the several rivers that we encountered – the Seiont – which brings you right up to the doors of one of those hugely impressive castles.

Despite the persistent rain (yes, Wales is definitely a land of water!), we were keen to get our first taste of Caernarfon, so quickly settled on our pitch, donned waterproofs and set off to explore.

A bustling market town with narrow cobbled streets, built around a natural harbour, Caernarfon has splendid views over the mighty Menai Strait.

Standing admiring this view, I could imagine it on a warm summer day, with seagulls wheeling overhead and children crabbing or eating ice cream.

Today it was just damp! But nevertheless, we spent a happy afternoon wandering around the streets, shops and castle.