Beaumaris castle, on the island of Anglesey was the last of the great castles to be built by Edward I. Some visitors find Beaumaris something of a disappointment as it was built on flat ground and lacks the spectacular setting of Conway or Harlech. What it lacks in grandeur it makes up for in beauty – Beaumaris if seen from the air is almost completely symmetrical with both an inner and outer defensive wall, and in some ways is considered the pinnacle of medieval castle construction. Today swans and ducks glide gracefully around the moat and it is hard to imagine the castle in more warlike times. If you visit Beaumaris, don’t miss the chapel located in Chapel Tower with its stunning vaulted ceiling and distinctive pointed windows.
Most of the castles can easily be explored on your own, or you can usually join a walking tour group. They all have well stocked gift and souvenir shops. If you do plan on visiting more than one castle, consider buying one of the Welsh heritage passes, valid for different lengths of time.
A Real Taste of Castle Life...
Finally, for a real taste of castle life, another of Edward’s castles, Ruthin was the first castle in Wales to come up with the idea of hosting medieval banquets for visitors. Here you are expected to leave your table manners at home as you eat with your fingers from wooden bowls and join in the general merriment and rowdiness accompanied by the resident jesters. It’s an experience not to be missed – Ruthin castle will even allow you to get married on their grounds if you want a unique wedding location.
Today, the Welsh castles still stand watch over this now peaceful part of the United Kingdom as they have done for centuries. Care of Edward’s castles falls under the protection of the Welsh organization Cadw, which means “to keep” in Welsh. They are responsible for conserving and protecting some of the greatest medieval masterpieces in the world – and ensuring they can be appreciated for another 700 years.