School groups are very welcome at Pembroke Castle, and part of this allure may come from the unique brass rubbing program that children are invited to participate in. However, any visitors to Pembroke, young or old, will come away with a beautiful impression of a unique part of Wales' past.

For a second unforgettable experience, try a visit to Harlech Castle, located in the historical area of Gwynedd in the town of Harlech. The castle is a grand sight, stuck precariously on the rock that adds naturally to its foundation. English King Edward I, the "Longshanks" of British fame, constructed Harlech Castle late in the 1200s as a sentinel over Snowdonia. He made it extremely defensive, but it still eventually fell to the native Welsh in the form of Owain Glyn Dwr, the leader of a rebellion. This castle has also seen in its long years part of the epic struggle known as the Wars of the Roses.

Although many of the castle walls are in ruins, journeying through the ancient stone walkways will give the visitor a sense of what it was like to live in such a powerful structure. The great hall, now a shell of its former glory, echoes the gloomy warfare of the past. The gatehouse still stands, along with Harlech's most curious feature; the "Way from the Sea," a set of stairs, strongly defended, that led down to the base of the foundation rock. This was a trek of nearly two hundred feet.

Those who search for Harlech will find this striking piece of Welsh architecture on the ledge above the Tremadog Bay, located in the scenic wonderland of Northern Wales.