| > | | | | motte-and-bailey castle and later tower, which |
| The Llyn Peninsula - or Snowdon's Arm - is a | | | | overlook the town. Herring was once Nefyn's |
| beautiful finger of land that stretches out from | | | | main produce; a local saying is that Nefyn herrings |
| Snowdonia into the Irish Sea. This dramatic | | | | have backs like farmers and bellies like publicans! |
| 24-mile stretch of mountainous terrain has been | | | | 5. Morfa Nefyn |
| populated for thousands of years, and remnants | | | | Morfa Nefyn is home to one of the UK's most |
| of its ancient past can be seen in the hill forts and | | | | famous and picturesque golf courses, which |
| burial chambers that dot the landscape. In early | | | | provides access to the beach at Porthdinllaen. |
| times the mountains of the Llyn Peninsula - a | | | | Morfa Nefyn's other famous feature is The Cliffs, |
| chain of long-extinct volcanoes - provided shelter | | | | a cliff-top restaurant renowned far and wide for |
| from the elements and protection from invaders. | | | | its beautiful sunset views and delicious gratin of |
| With the passing of time the threat of invasion | | | | locally-caught crab. |
| has passed, but the Llyn Peninsula's landscape and | | | | 6. Criccieth |
| position have since provided protection for one of | | | | Criccieth is a charming seaside town with medieval |
| the region's most valuable assets: the Welsh | | | | roots, dominated by its castle which juts out over |
| language. Over 80% of the Llyn Peninsula's | | | | the sea between two sandy beaches. Excellent |
| population still use Welsh in everyday | | | | selection of little shops, pubs and restaurants, and |
| communication, making this region one of the | | | | home to Cadwalader's high quality ice cream that's |
| most Welsh-speaking in Wales. | | | | been made in Criccieth from a secret recipe since |
| The language, the dramatic landscape, the myths | | | | 1927. |
| and legends, the sense of community and ancient | | | | 7. Pwllheli |
| traditions... all these things give the Llyn Peninsula | | | | This old market town was granted the Royal |
| its unique personality, a big attraction to travellers | | | | Charter by the Black Prince in 1355 in recognition |
| in search of the "real" Wales. | | | | of its trading importance. A former fishing port |
| To get you started, here are ten spots on the | | | | and shipbuilding centre, Pwllheli is now a popular |
| Llyn Peninsula that you won't want to miss. | | | | seaside resort which boasts the biggest, most |
| 1. Porthdinllaen | | | | modern marina in Wales. Great for traditional |
| It's hard to believe that this tiny village, set on a | | | | seaside treats like chips, ice cream and |
| sheltered, sandy, crescent-shape beach, was once | | | | amusements, but also for boat trips - look out for |
| one of the busiest ports in North Wales, almost | | | | seals and dolphins, often seen in the waters off |
| chosen as the ferry crossing port to Ireland. To | | | | Pwllheli. |
| get to Porthdinllaen, walk along the beach or | | | | 8. Abersoch |
| through the golf course. Soak up the amazing | | | | The sandy beaches of Abersoch - a popular |
| views and enjoy a pint at the Tw Coch Inn right | | | | watersports resort - are separated by a |
| there on the beach. | | | | sheltering headland. Abersoch has risen from quiet |
| 2. Trefor | | | | fishing village to major yacht harbour, whose main |
| Bypassed by the main road, Trefor - at the foot | | | | focus is its yacht club. There's also a hovercraft |
| of Yr Eifl - is easy to get to but often overlooked | | | | centre, pony trekking and an activity park with a |
| by tourists. The quarry on the mountainside - | | | | maze, and the village is a base for six circular |
| whose granite paves streets all over the world - | | | | walks ranging from under a mile to over nine |
| looks down over the village, which was | | | | miles. |
| purpose-built in the 1800s to house quarrymen. | | | | 9. Aberdaron |
| Trefor's sand and pebble beach offers stunning | | | | Historic, picturesque fishing village, the last stop |
| views of the surrounding mountains, and its small | | | | for medieval pilgrims en route to Bardsey. |
| harbour and slipway are ideal for launching small | | | | Aberdaron has its roots in the Age of Saints, the |
| boats. | | | | site of the original 6th century church now |
| 3. Tre'r Ceiri | | | | occupied by its 15th century successor. One of |
| On the other side of Yr Eifl, on its easternmost | | | | the oldest buildings in Aberdaron is a cafe - Y |
| peak, is the Iron Age hill fort Tre'r Ceiri. "The | | | | Gegin Fawr - which was built around 1300 for the |
| most impressive and dramatic of all British hill | | | | refreshment of pilgrims. To make your own |
| forts," says archaeologist James Dyer, who's | | | | pilgrimage to Bardsey, hop on a boat at Porth |
| probably seen a few. The site is surrounded by a | | | | Meudwy. |
| defensive wall, three metres high in places, | | | | 10. Bardsey |
| protecting the remains of 150 circular stone huts. | | | | The whole of Bardsey Island - Ynys Enlli in Welsh |
| The views are amazing; on a clear day you'll see | | | | - is a nature reserve. Medieval Rome decreed |
| the Preseli Hills in South Wales and the Wicklow | | | | that three pilgrimages to Bardsey equalled one to |
| Hills in Ireland. | | | | Rome, and it's claimed that 20,000 saints are |
| 4. Nefyn | | | | buried there. Bardsey's monastery was founded in |
| Ancient fishing town which hosted King Edward I's | | | | 515AD by the Breton-born missionary, Cadfan. As |
| celebrations after his 1284 conquest of Wales. | | | | well as its rich variety of wildlife, Bardsey is home |
| According to tradition, there were so many | | | | to the rarest apple in the world - Afal Enlli - which |
| revellers at the feast, the floor collapsed under | | | | was grown in a monastery orchard on the island |
| their weight. The town predates Edward by | | | | a thousand years ago. |
| several centuries, evidenced by remains of a | | | | |