Trip Information

 

The castles and town walls of King Edward in Gwynedd are collectively a World Heritage Site (WHS). The four castles that make up the WHS are Conwy, Harlech, Caernarfon and Beaumaris. They are a WHS due to their military architectural significance and are strategically situated around the coast of North West Wales. The sea would have been an important means of transport and communication during the Medieval time they were built.

 

During this trip we challenge you to link the castles by sea and in so doing take a step back in time to experience these castles and approach these castles from a coastal vantage point. Due to the length of coastline with no castles around the Llŷn Peninsula and the committing nature of the headland we will shuttle you and your kayaks from Criccieth to Caernarfon.

 

This trip offers a range of sea kayaking conditions including areas with tidal flow and a short open crossing. These will form part of the challenge for the intermediate paddler. But rest assured we have planned the trip to make use of the tide so it will be to our advantage. Time is built into the schedule to allow you to visit each of the castles we visit en route. During the journey you will enjoy stunning views of the mountains of Snowdonia and the hills of the Llŷn Peninsula.

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Given the unpredictability of the weather we plan to commence the journey at Harlech and finish at Conwy, however, if the weather conditions dictate we may need to reverse or amend this plan. 

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This trip will be led by Anita Daimond who has previous experience of interpreting the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward of Gwynedd she is also familiar with the geomorphological changes that have changed the landscape around the castles since their construction. She will support you to extend your interest and knowledge to the extent that suits you during your trip.