The Complete Guide to Criccieth Castle: Built by Two Welsh Princes
Criccieth Castle Guide 2026: Tickets, History, Tours & Visitor Tips
Ready to visit? Book your Criccieth Castle tickets directly with Cadw — booking online guarantees a 5% saving on the gate price. Check the opening times below carefully before you travel.
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Criccieth Castle (Castell Cricieth) tells one of the most layered stories of any castle in this series: built across two generations by a grandfather and grandson, both Welsh princes, captured by Edward I, and finally burned by Owain Glyndŵr’s rebels in 1404. Its dramatic headland setting between two beaches later inspired the painter J.M.W. Turner. This complete guide covers everything you need for a 2026 visit — tickets, opening times, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see.
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Criccieth Castle history: two princes, one headland
Criccieth is unusual even among the Welsh-built castles in this series, since it was raised across two generations by two of medieval Wales’s most powerful native rulers. Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) built the immense gatehouse, flanked by distinctive D-shaped stone towers. Decades later, his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last) extended the castle further, adding the outer ward, curtain walls and two further towers.
Even this formidable, twice-strengthened fortress couldn’t withstand Edward I’s conquest. Once captured, the English king made his own additions, equipping the north tower with a stone-throwing siege engine to deter any future Welsh attacks on the castle he now held.
For wider context on Wales’s castle-building history, see our guide to how many castles there are in Wales.
Owain Glyndŵr and the burning of Criccieth
Criccieth remained in English hands until 1404, when it fell to the forces of Owain Glyndŵr during his uprising against English rule. Without a garrison to defend it, the surrounding town reverted entirely to Welsh control. The castle’s towers were burned during the attack, leaving the distinctive reddened scorch marks on the stonework that are still visible today.
By the time the artist J.M.W. Turner visited in the early 19th century, Criccieth had long settled into picturesque ruin — and its dramatic headland setting, framed by two beaches and the sweep of Cardigan Bay, moved him to paint it.
Criccieth Castle tickets & prices 2026
You can purchase tickets on arrival or book online to save 5% — online ticket prices are non-refundable. Book directly with Cadw here.
| Ticket category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.20 |
| Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) | £26.20 |
| Family (1 adult + up to 3 children) | £18.00 |
| Senior (65+) | £7.30 |
| Junior (5–17) / Student | £5.70 |
| Official members | FREE |
| Under 5s | FREE |
| Disabled visitor & companion | FREE |
Last entry is 30 minutes before the gates close. Criccieth Castle is closed on 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January, in addition to its regular weekly closures below.
Criccieth Castle opening times
| Period | Opening hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| 30 March – 1 November | 10:00 – 17:00 | Tuesdays & Wednesdays |
| 2 November – 29 March | 10:00 – 16:00 | Monday – Thursday |
As with Denbigh Castle, Criccieth is only open four days a week for most of the year, and just three days a week in winter. Last admission is always 30 minutes before closing.
Explorer Pass: best value for multi-castle visits
If your trip includes several castles, a Cadw Explorer Pass usually pays for itself. It covers entry to all of Cadw’s staffed heritage sites, including Criccieth, Harlech, Caernarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris and Denbigh.
See our Caernarfon Castle guide for the current 3-day and 7-day Explorer Pass prices, which apply across all Cadw sites including Criccieth.
Discounts & concessions
£1 Universal Credit tickets
Criccieth Castle offers £1 tickets to visitors in receipt of qualifying Universal Credit or other named benefits, bookable in advance on the official Cadw website only. Children under 5, and disabled visitors with a companion, don’t need tickets at all.
Blue Light Card & military veterans
Blue Light Card holders and HM Armed Forces personnel and veterans get a 10% discount at the gate on production of valid ID. This isn’t available on online bookings — pay in person to claim it, or weigh it against the 5% online booking saving depending on which is worth more for your group.
Criccieth Castle parking, postcode & directions
Sat-nav postcode: LL52 0DP. There’s no designated car park for the castle itself — visitors typically use free spaces on the main street. A larger pay-and-display car park run by the local authority sits around 400 metres away along the esplanade, near the beach.
By road: the A497, reached from either Porthmadog or Pwllheli.
Getting to Criccieth Castle
Criccieth is one of the most easily reached castles in this whole series by public transport, with both a station and a bus stop just a couple of minutes’ walk away.
By train
Criccieth railway station is just 400m (440 yards) from the castle, on the Shrewsbury–Machynlleth/Pwllheli line, served by Transport for Wales.
By bus
The nearest bus stop is just 200m (220 yards) from the castle, served by route 3 between Porthmadog, Criccieth and Pwllheli.
By car
Via the A497 from Porthmadog or Pwllheli. See parking details above.
By bike
National Cycle Network Route 8 passes directly through Criccieth.
What to see inside Criccieth Castle
The gatehouse and D-shaped towers
Llywelyn the Great’s original gatehouse, flanked by distinctive D-shaped towers, remains the castle’s most imposing feature — and the reddened scorch marks from the 1404 fire are still visible on the stonework today.
The outer ward and curtain walls
Added by Llywelyn the Last a generation later, these defences show how the castle grew to meet the escalating conflict between Welsh princes and the English crown.
The headland views
Once at the top, the route levels out, opening up genuinely spectacular views over the town, two beaches, and the wide sweep of Cardigan Bay — the same vista that drew Turner to paint the ruin.
The on-site exhibition and video presentation
An exhibition and video presentation within the visitor centre cover the castle’s construction by two generations of Welsh princes, and its eventual destruction in the Glyndŵr rising.
What else to do near Criccieth: nearby attractions & cafés
Pennarth Fawr
Around 5 miles from Criccieth, this rare surviving stone-built medieval hall house has impressive timbered supports and is free to visit.
St Cybi’s Well
A short drive away, this hidden holy well may have pagan origins predating its association with the Welsh saint.
Harlech Castle
See our Harlech Castle guide for the site of Britain’s longest siege, just 6.48 miles up the coast.
Cafés & refreshments
Criccieth town, right by the castle, has a good choice of independent cafés and a well-regarded fish and chip shop, along with several other restaurants within a short walk.
Dogs & accessibility
Is Criccieth Castle dog friendly?
Dogs on short leads are welcome to access the ground floor levels of the site. Please don’t let dogs eat any vegetation around the site, some of which can be poisonous.
Accessibility
Cadw rates the terrain at Criccieth Castle as Level 3, Moderate. Specific access notes:
- The climb up: The main route from the visitor centre to the castle is genuinely steep, though a handrail helps, and several alternative paths offer different views of the beach on the way up.
- At the top: Once you reach the castle itself, the remaining route is relatively flat.
- High winds: This is an exposed coastal headland — stay within the castle boundary and away from the grass-banked edges, which can be slippery when wet.
- Mobility scooters: The surface includes gravel paths and cobbles that can be challenging for some scooters — check suitability before your visit, or contact Cadw in advance.
- Hearing loop: A portable induction loop is available on site.
See Cadw’s own Criccieth Castle access guide for full detail, or contact the site directly ahead of your visit: 03000 252239 / Criccieth.Castle@gov.wales.
Where to stay near Criccieth Castle
Criccieth itself has a good range of seafront hotels, guesthouses and holiday cottages within easy walking distance of the castle, with the wider Llŷn Peninsula offering plenty more choice for a longer stay.
Book your Criccieth Castle break
Find hotels, cottages and B&Bs within easy reach of Criccieth Castle.
North Wales holiday cottages →For wider recommendations, see our guides to North Wales and short breaks in Wales.
Visitor tips for Criccieth Castle
- Double-check the opening days before you travel — like Denbigh, this castle has regular weekly closures, not just annual ones.
- Book online for the 5% discount if you already know when you’re visiting.
- Take the train if you can — Criccieth station is just 400m from the castle, one of the closest of any site in this series.
- Wear proper footwear for the climb — the initial route up is genuinely steep, though it levels out at the top.
- Hold onto hats and loose items on windy days — this exposed headland setting is genuinely blustery.
- Allow 45 minutes to an hour, more if you linger for the views over Cardigan Bay.
- Combine with Harlech Castle, just 6.48 miles up the coast, for a full day exploring two very different sides of the same medieval conflict.
Frequently asked questions about Criccieth Castle
What days is Criccieth Castle open?
From 30 March to 1 November, Criccieth Castle is open Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays), 10am to 5pm. From 2 November to 29 March, it’s open Friday to Sunday only (closed Monday to Thursday), 10am to 4pm.
How much do Criccieth Castle tickets cost in 2026?
Adult £8.20, Junior (5–17) and Student £5.70, Senior (65+) £7.30, Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) £26.20, Family (1 adult + up to 3 children) £18.00. Children under 5, official members and disabled visitors with a companion enter free. Booking online saves 5%.
Who built Criccieth Castle?
Criccieth was built by two generations of Welsh princes. Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) built the original gatehouse and D-shaped towers, and his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last) later extended it with an outer ward, curtain walls and two further towers. Edward I captured the castle during his conquest of Wales.
Why did Owain Glyndŵr burn Criccieth Castle?
In 1404, Owain Glyndŵr’s forces captured Criccieth Castle during his uprising against English rule and set fire to its towers, leaving reddened scorch marks still visible on the stonework today. Without a garrison to defend it, the surrounding town reverted to Welsh control.
Is Criccieth Castle near a train station?
Yes, Criccieth railway station is just 400m (440 yards) from the castle, on the Shrewsbury-Machynlleth/Pwllheli line.
Is Criccieth Castle dog friendly?
Dogs on short leads are welcome on the ground floor levels of the site.
Is Criccieth Castle wheelchair accessible?
Cadw rates the terrain as Level 3, Moderate. The initial climb from the visitor centre up to the castle is genuinely steep, though the route levels out once you reach the top. A portable hearing loop is available, and disabled visitors with a companion enter free.
How long should I spend at Criccieth Castle?
Most visitors need 45 minutes to an hour, though the views over Cardigan Bay are worth lingering for on a clear day.
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Pembrokeshire-born travel writer and founder of Wales.org. Born in Haverfordwest, now based in Hertfordshire — covering Welsh castles, national parks, festivals and family staycations across all 22 Welsh counties.
