This year’s Heritage Trust Network conference is in the stunning setting of Caernarfon, with its vibrant historic town centre and castle. Have a read of our guide to the town to help with the planning of your trip!
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Download a PDF of the full guide.
Caernarfon is a predominantly Welsh speaking, historic town in North Wales. The town is small and easily navigable by foot as all venues included in the Heritage Trust Network Conference are within walking distance. Caernarfon has an interesting history as Caernarfon Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) was built by Edward I and so there is contested history about the castle being English in Wales. It remains an important part of the architecture of the town, including the castle walls which shape parts of the town.
This guide will help you to plan your journey to Caernarfon, decide where to stay and which other areas you may like to visit. If you are making the trip longer, there are suggestions for places to visit and recommendations for where to eat and drink in the town. While you do not need to use Welsh while visiting, since Caernarfon is predominantly Welsh speaking, there are some helpful words and phrases in this guide with which you may want to familiarise yourself to be more prepared.
This Google Map shows the locations of all venues included in the conference to help you find them easily,
How to get there:
We support travelling to Caernarfon by public transport as it has a lower carbon footprint. However, there are a number of ways to travel.
By train:
- The closest train station to Caernarfon is Bangor. You can check train journeys to Bangor here: https://www.traveline.cymru/ and https://nationalrail.co.uk/
- There is a bus from Bangor Station to Caernarfon, the 5C, which takes approximately 30 minutes. You can pay using contactless card on the bus and a one-way journey is approximately £4.60. You can check the bus times here: https://bustimes.org/services/5c-bangor-caernarfon
- In November, the bus runs roughly every 20 minutes and the last bus from Bangor is at 22:45.
- The bus stops (from Bangor to Caernarfon and from Caernarfon to Bangor) are indicated on these maps:
By plane
- The nearest airports are Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport
By boat
- You can travel from Ireland to Holyhead which is 30 minutes by train from Bangor and then you can take the bus as shown above
- See the ferry timetable here: https://www.directferries.co.uk/holyhead_dublin_ferry.htm
By car
- From the M56, take the North Wales Expressway A55 towards Gwynedd. If you’re driving from the south of England, take the M40 and the M54 (toll charges apply), or the M1 then the M6.
- Plan your route here: https://www.theaa.com/route-planner/route
Local taxi company phone numbers:
- Trev Taxis: 07900 202214
- Go Ahead Taxis: 07760 288009
- Vantage Taxis: 07379 501112
- Cals Taxis: 07922 803000
Where to stay:
There are a number of hotels and guest houses in Caernarfon.
The Celtic Royal Hotel (https://celtic-royal.co.uk/) is an historic hotel with spa facilities.
We have secured a set rate for conference attendees with the Celtic Royal which is a discounted B&B rate of:
- £99.00 per night single occupancy
- £109.00 per night double/twin occupancy
- Free cancellation until midday 2 days prior to arrival (credit card required for each room at the time of booking to guarantee)
To book this rate, please book by phone on 01286 674477 and quote the discount code: HERITAGE2022
We recommend that you check Booking.com for listed prices before using our secured set rate to ensure you get the best price at time of booking.
Other options include:
- Bron Menai https://bronmenai.co.uk/
- Victoria House https://www.victoriahouse.wales/
- Totters Youth Hostel https://www.totters.co.uk/
- Ty Castell https://www.tycastell.cymru/
- Tegfan Guest House http://tegfan-guesthouse.hotels-wales.com/en/
- Travelodge https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/392/Caernarfon-hotel
- Anglesey Arms https://anglesey-arms.business.site/
- Other holiday homes are available at https://www.booking.com
Where to eat:
There are a number of restaurants, pubs and cafes in Caernarfon. Below is a selection with links to their websites. Thanks to Lletty Arall, a community hostel, for pulling together an excellent guide. We have taken some suggestions from them to share with you here.
Restaurants/pubs
- Wal http://www.walrestaurant.co.uk/ – Italian restaurant. There is an arched wall which runs through Wal which is believed to date back to Roman times, and is the same stone as that used to build Caernarfon’s castle.
- Ouzo & Olive https://goo.gl/maps/nXctkytVSK4hY8nK6 – Greek restaurant
- Villa Marina http://villa-marina.co.uk/ – Italian restaurant
- Sheeps and Leeks http://www.sheepsandleeks.cymru/ – Welsh restaurant
- Tŷ Castell https://www.tycastell.cymru/ – Restaurant with Welsh Tapas Menu
- The Four Alls http://www.thefouralls.org/ – Pub serving food
- Fu’s http://www.fusrestaurant.co.uk/page3.htm – Cantonese Restaurant
- The Old Courthouse https://www.theoldcourthouse.org.uk/ – Restaurant and Tearoom
Cafes
- Galeri – our conference venue has a café open to the public
- Tŷ Winsh https://ty-winsh.business.site/
- Bonta Deli https://bonta-deli.business.site/
- Scoops http://www.scoopscaernarfon.com/
- Gray Thomas http://www.gray-thomas.co.uk/
- Palas Caffi https://goo.gl/maps/DoDcTUvvAHrhGnEX8
Other places to visit:
If you choose to extend your stay around Caernarfon, there are plenty of sites you may want to visit in the area including UNESCO World Heritage sites, Heritage Trust Network members and recreational activities. Here are some suggestions depending on where you will be travelling to and from.
For those travelling on the A5 from south of England and Midlands
- Wyrcws, Llanfyllin, Powys (Llanfyllin Y Dolydd BPT, Heritage Trust Network member)
For those travelling from north of England along the A55:
- John Summer’s Steelwork (Enbarr Foundation Heritage Trust Network member), Shotton, Deeside
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, UNESCO World Heritage site, near Llangollen
- Gwrych Castle, (former Heritage Trust Network member, as seen on last two series of I’m a Celeb) Abergele, Conwy
- Conwy Castle and Harlech Castle, Cadw site. Part of Edward I castles and town walls. UNESCO listing
- Slate Landscape of North Wales is a new UNESCO World Heritage Site with routes of quarries.
Other recommendations include:
- Restaurants located in historic buildings in Llangefni, Llandudno, Menai Bridge and other locations: https://dylansrestaurant.co.uk/restaurant/locations
- Snowdonia National Park https://snowdonia.gov.wales/
- Slate quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog which hosts Zip World https://www.zipworld.co.uk/adventure/bounce-below
- A range of breweries in North Wales Aber Falls Distillery, Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd and more at https://www.gonorthwales.co.uk/food-and-drink/micro-breweries
Some helpful Welsh words and phrases:
You do not need to use any Welsh while you are visiting Caernarfon as the conference will be bilingual so any Welsh presentations or videos will be translated into English. However, it may be useful to make yourself comfortable with a few phrases which you will probably hear while you are there. Here are a few helpful words and phrases with pronunciation which you may want to familiarise yourself with.
“Bore da” – meaning, good morning. Pronounced: ‘bore-ray-dah’
“Sumai?” – meaning, how are you? Pronounced: ‘Su-mei’
“Diolch” – meaning, thank you. Pronounced: ‘Dee-ol-ch’
“Croeso” – meaning, you’re welcome Pronounced: ‘Croe-soe’
“Prynhawn da” – meaning, good afternoon. Pronounced: ‘Prin-how’n-dah’
“Nos da” – meaning, good night. Pronounced: ‘Nohs-dah’
“Hywl!” – meaning, Goodbye! Pronounced: ‘Hoyl’
“Iechyd da” – meaning, Cheers Pronounced: ‘Yeah-chyd-da’ (ch as in loch)
“Gwin” – meaning, Wine Pronounced: ‘Gween’
“Cwrw” – meaning, Beer Pronounced: ‘Koo-roo’
Download a PDF copy of this guide.
See you there!
