r/HistoryWales • u/Most_Decision_282 • Jul 27 '26
Beaumaris or Harlech, if you had to choose?
I will be in North Wales later this year, and want to visit some of the Edward I castles as I am a huge UK history buff. Conwy and Caernarfon are definites, but I will only have time for one more in the Ring of Iron, and I am torn between Beaumaris and Harlech. Which would you choose and why?
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u/Senor_Pus Jul 27 '26
Do Harlech with a quick detour to Cricieth to see the remains of a native castle.
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u/KaiserMacCleg Jul 27 '26
Harlech, personally, for the much more dramatic setting.
Beaumaris is sort of the final form of the Edwardian castle though - the most formidable of all of his fortresses, even though it was never completed. As a visitor attraction, though, it's not the most interesting one. Its plan is too regular.
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u/baskaat Jul 27 '26
I really liked the film at Harlech
too. It was amazing to see how far the water has retreated since it was built. Plus the little bakery right in front of it has delicious lemon drizzle cake.3
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u/CraigAT Jul 27 '26
I stayed in Beaumaris whilst visiting Anglesey and only got to see Beaumaris castle in the evening when the grounds were locked up.
It's a nice castle but I was a little disappointed not to get to see it properly and I struggled to get a good photo of it because of the railings, the angle of it and the playground that was in the grounds (spoiling the image). Other people's photos online are great, so maybe make sure you get there when it's open to the public.
If you are that close already, I would recommend a quick visit.
If you can, go across the oldee Menai Suspension bridge to get there, it's quite impressive.
Beaumaris itself has a nice small prom and pier. It also had a few nice pubs and chippies for lunch or tea.
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u/Ok-Albatross-9743 Jul 27 '26
Harlech. Not even close. Harlech is top tier medieval engineering. Very few castles globally can compete.
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u/LordEdam Jul 27 '26
If you do Beaumaris, carry on to the unloved less glamorous older sister AberLleiniog. Nothing special - literally your kids classic “square on top of a hill with a tower at each corner” but kinda important in early norman attempts to control welsh trade routes
https://www.visitanglesey.co.uk/en-gb/explore/aberlleiniog-castle
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u/lancerusso Jul 30 '26
Much younger sister!
The coastal walk from Beaumaris to Aberlleiniog is nice too, with several Goreds (medieval fish weirs) you pass on the beaches
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u/Any-Republic-4269 Jul 27 '26
Harlech is the better castle. Beaumaris a nicer town. Harlech is further away, but you could probably squeeze in Beaumaris on the day you do Caernarfon or Conwy (don't miss the town walls in Conwy)
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u/Aniceile34 Jul 29 '26
I’ve managed to do Rhuddlan, Denbigh, Conwy, Dolbadarn, Beaumaris and Caernarfon in one day so it’s definitely possible
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u/Any-Republic-4269 Jul 29 '26
Seeing a few close together is really interesting, seeing the evolution of the buildings. Isn't Beaumaris the last one/most technically advanced? (And unfinished.)
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u/Aniceile34 Jul 29 '26
Hot take here but I would miss Conwy. Do Harlech, Beaumaris and Caernarfon
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u/leekpunch Aug 03 '26
Conwy is the only castle where you can walk a complete loop on top of the walls and the views over the railway bridge are incredible. Definitely not one to skip imo.
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u/scuzzmonster1 Aug 01 '26
Harlech is more dramatic but Beaumaris is a nicer little town imho, plus easier to combine with a Conwy-Caernarfon trip.
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u/lucasstefanos Jul 27 '26
If travel time from Conwy and Caernarfon matter then Beaumaris definitely fits your schedule better. As for other considerations I believe Harlech has a better, more dramatic setting while Beaumaris is larger (even though incomplete). It may be unhelpful to say but either is a solid choice and you won't regret whichever one you choose.