Holyhead and Bangor, United Kingdom
About This Stop
Our Welsh adventure started from the port town of Holyhead, where we began our journey to explore one of Wales' most magnificent castles. From Holyhead, we made our way to the charming town of Bangor, which served as our gateway to the famous Caernarfon Castle. The journey itself became part of the adventure as we navigated the Welsh public transportation system.
Once we arrived in Bangor, we initially planned to take an Uber or taxi directly to Caernarfon Castle. However, our ride never showed up, leaving us momentarily stranded at the train station. Fortunately, we encountered an incredibly helpful and friendly staff member working at the train station who came to our rescue. He cheerfully suggested that we simply take Bus 5, explaining that it was not only easy but also very affordable - costing only around $5 for the journey.
The bus ride to Caernarfon turned out to be quite cool and enlightening, as it took us through various parts of the local Welsh towns and countryside. This gave us a wonderful opportunity to see how the locals lived and to experience the authentic Welsh landscape from ground level, rather than just rushing past in a private vehicle.
When we finally arrived at Caernarfon Castle, we were absolutely blown away by its massive scale and impressive medieval architecture. This is a truly enormous castle that immediately reminded me of scenes from the classic fantasy movie Willow. The sheer size and grandeur of the fortress was breathtaking, with its imposing walls, towers, and defensive structures creating an atmosphere that transported us back to medieval times.
We spent considerable time exploring the castle grounds, walking around the extensive defensive walls and systems, and really getting a feel for how this fortress would have functioned in its heyday. The castle's design and layout were fascinating to explore, with multiple levels, courtyards, and strategic defensive positions that showcased the military engineering brilliance of the era.
One of the highlights of our visit was the incredible museum that was built directly into the castle walls. I took an extensive tour of this museum, which was absolutely fascinating and provided deep insights into the military history of Wales. The exhibits focused heavily on the Welsh military traditions, including detailed displays about the Welsh Highlanders and their role in defending this region throughout history. The museum really brought the castle's history to life and helped us understand the broader context of Welsh military heritage.
After spending as much time as we wanted exploring every nook and cranny of this magnificent castle, we made our way back to the bus stop for our return journey. We had a little bit of time to spare, so we decided to explore the local area around the bus stop. We discovered a small grocery store that had a distinctly European feel and reminded me a lot of the shops we had encountered during our travels in Germany. Everyone grabbed a little treat and snack for the journey back, which turned out to be a delightful way to sample some local Welsh goodies.
The return trip was just as pleasant as our arrival. We took the bus back to the train station, then caught the train back toward the ship. Once we returned to Holyhead, we took a few minutes to walk around the port town and get a feel for the local atmosphere before heading back to our ship. The entire day had been a fantastic exploration of Welsh history, culture, and hospitality, making it one of our most memorable and educational stops of the entire cruise.
Once we arrived in Bangor, we initially planned to take an Uber or taxi directly to Caernarfon Castle. However, our ride never showed up, leaving us momentarily stranded at the train station. Fortunately, we encountered an incredibly helpful and friendly staff member working at the train station who came to our rescue. He cheerfully suggested that we simply take Bus 5, explaining that it was not only easy but also very affordable - costing only around $5 for the journey.
The bus ride to Caernarfon turned out to be quite cool and enlightening, as it took us through various parts of the local Welsh towns and countryside. This gave us a wonderful opportunity to see how the locals lived and to experience the authentic Welsh landscape from ground level, rather than just rushing past in a private vehicle.
When we finally arrived at Caernarfon Castle, we were absolutely blown away by its massive scale and impressive medieval architecture. This is a truly enormous castle that immediately reminded me of scenes from the classic fantasy movie Willow. The sheer size and grandeur of the fortress was breathtaking, with its imposing walls, towers, and defensive structures creating an atmosphere that transported us back to medieval times.
We spent considerable time exploring the castle grounds, walking around the extensive defensive walls and systems, and really getting a feel for how this fortress would have functioned in its heyday. The castle's design and layout were fascinating to explore, with multiple levels, courtyards, and strategic defensive positions that showcased the military engineering brilliance of the era.
One of the highlights of our visit was the incredible museum that was built directly into the castle walls. I took an extensive tour of this museum, which was absolutely fascinating and provided deep insights into the military history of Wales. The exhibits focused heavily on the Welsh military traditions, including detailed displays about the Welsh Highlanders and their role in defending this region throughout history. The museum really brought the castle's history to life and helped us understand the broader context of Welsh military heritage.
After spending as much time as we wanted exploring every nook and cranny of this magnificent castle, we made our way back to the bus stop for our return journey. We had a little bit of time to spare, so we decided to explore the local area around the bus stop. We discovered a small grocery store that had a distinctly European feel and reminded me a lot of the shops we had encountered during our travels in Germany. Everyone grabbed a little treat and snack for the journey back, which turned out to be a delightful way to sample some local Welsh goodies.
The return trip was just as pleasant as our arrival. We took the bus back to the train station, then caught the train back toward the ship. Once we returned to Holyhead, we took a few minutes to walk around the port town and get a feel for the local atmosphere before heading back to our ship. The entire day had been a fantastic exploration of Welsh history, culture, and hospitality, making it one of our most memorable and educational stops of the entire cruise.
Location
Photo Gallery
