Criccieth Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Criccieth which includes a small town or village and a sandy beach
Criccieth showing a house and heritage architecture
Criccieth showing a house
Criccieth which includes a house and a small town or village
Criccieth Castle showing signage
Situated on the Cardigan Bay shore of the Lynnpeninsula in the northwest of Wales, Cricciethis known as ‘The Pearl Of Wales On The Shores Of Snowdonia’ and more than livesup to this spectacular description thanks to its setting. The views it offers,and the appeal of its south facing aspect, are enough to place a very warm glowinside you. The shoreline itself is divided in two by a rocky outcrop and the ruinsof Criccieth castle sit on this outcrop.

CricciethCastle

Towering over the rest of the landscape, the castleoffers a chance to explore the past at the same time as soaking in stunningviews both out to sea and back over SnowdoniaNational Park. The castle itself was first built in 1230 and has beenaltered and adapted by various people through the years until being partiallytorn and burned down in 1404. The surviving buildings still show some of thescars of this event. The castle houses displays and exhibits documenting thehistory of Welsh castles.

Beaches inCriccieth

The outcrop upon which Cricciethcastle is situated acts as a natural dividing point between its two beaches,both of which have their own distinct ambience and appeal.

To the west you will find Marine Beach, which ismade up mainly of pebbles. East of the outcrop is the larger beach, usuallyregarded as Criccieths’ main beach. This consistsof pebbles and sand and offers stunning views of the sea itself and themountains of the Welsh coast. Families will relishthe chance to swim, relax on the beach and explore the aquatic wildlife presentin the rock pools within easy walking distance. As an added bonus, thetemperate climate of the bay means that both of the beaches often play host tovisits from dolphins.

Landmarks

Criccieth is smallenough to successfully explore on foot and offers striking architecturallandmarks besides the aforementioned castle. These include a Lifeboat Stationwhich was built in 1854 and is still operating today, thanks to a volunteercrew of 17 and the lifeboat Doris Joan. The old town offers fascinatingglimpses of the past in the form of structures like 17th centuryfarm buildings, and, on Wellington Terrace, a trio of 600 year old cottageswhich are the oldest in Criccieth.

Around Criccieth

The location of Criccieth,on the very edge of Snowdonia, makes it anexcellent base for exploring the some of the most spectacular scenery that Waleshas to offer. The National Park itself provides stunning scenery and, in theform of Snowdonia, the highest mountain in England and Wales. More energeticvisitors can walk to the top, whilst those taking it easy may opt to ride thetrain up. Once at the peak, wonderful views in all directions include, on aclear day, the chance to see as far as Ireland.

Other attractions nearby include Portmeirion, theMediterranean style village used in cult sixties television programme ‘ThePrisoner’, and Llanystumdwy, the village where British Prime Minister DavidLloyd George grew up.

Whether you want to soak up the sun on the beach,explore the mountains and hills on your doorstep or delve into the history ofthis archetypal Welsh community, the hotels, guesthouses and campsites of Cricciethoffer the perfect base from which to explore.

The Moelwyn Hotel & Restaurant

The Moelwyn Hotel & Restaurant

3 out of 5
27-29 Mona Terrace, Criccieth, Wales
The price is £61 per night from 5 Aug to 6 Aug
£61
5 Aug - 6 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star guesthouse in Criccieth. Enjoy free parking. Popular attractions Criccieth Castle and Lloyd George Museum are located nearby.
8/10 Very Good! (343 reviews)
"This is the second time we have stayed at The Moelwyn . Always a lovely welcome. At £70 per night for the room it was fine . We were able to bring our own food in to eat at the hotel- one evening we ate fish and chips with a bottle of wine on the terrace with a lovely view of the castle and seaside ..."

Reviewed on 14 Jul 2025

The Moelwyn Hotel & Restaurant
Lion Hotel and Studio Apartments

Lion Hotel and Studio Apartments

3 out of 5
Y Maes, Criccieth, Wales
The price is £90 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
£90
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Criccieth. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (245 reviews)
A short Break.
"This was my second visit to The Lion. The hotel offers excellent service at a very reasonable rate. The staff are friendly and the food on offer is very good and at a very competitive price. I would highly recommend this hotel."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Lion Hotel and Studio Apartments
Marine Hotel

Marine Hotel

2 out of 5
Marine Cres, Criccieth, Wales
The price is £107 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
£107
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Criccieth. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Criccieth Castle and Lloyd George Museum are located ...
7.8/10 Good! (7 reviews)
"We had a wonderful one-night stay at the Marine Hotel with the family. The location is beautiful, peaceful, and just a short walk from the sea perfect for an evening stroll. The room was clean and comfortable, and the staff were welcoming. A great spot for a relaxing family getaway!"

Reviewed on 26 Jun 2025

Marine Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Pod with one double.

Pod with one double.

Bron Eifion, Criccieth, Gwynedd
Stay at this cottage in Criccieth. Enjoy laundry facilities and a hot tub. Popular attractions Lloyd George Museum and Criccieth Castle are located nearby.
Lovely views over fields to the hills
"Comfortable accommodation with everything we needed plus hot tub too! A warm welcome and a great base to explore the llyn peninsula. Chickens and rooster made us smile!"

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2024

Pod with one double.
Eisteddfa Country House and Cottages

Eisteddfa Country House and Cottages

3 out of 5
Eisteddfa Country House and. Cottages, Pentrefelin, Wales
Stay at this 3-star holiday home in Criccieth. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Criccieth Castle and Black Rock Sands are located ...
Eisteddfa Country House and Cottages
The Fanny Talbot

The Fanny Talbot

3 out of 5
High Street, Barmouth, Wales
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Barmouth. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and housekeeping. Popular attractions Ty Crwyn and Barmouth Beach are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (37 reviews)
"Nice and clean with ample car parking and good shower, a great location too positioned close to the beach and restaurants. My only feedback is the room felt abit dark as it lacked sunlight but other than this it was a great stay."

Reviewed on 1 Jul 2025

The Fanny Talbot
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Criccieth

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
14
5 - Excellent 52%
4 - Good
11
4 - Good 41%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 7%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

We used this hotel as a base whilst exploring further afield. Criccieth itself doesn't "float my boat" although I'll admit that I seem to be in a minority here.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

The castle is worth a visit whilst staying in criccieth. Although a small castle so only there for roughly 30 minutes but theres loads to read about in the museum afterwards. Stunning views from the top of the hill.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

We were very pleased with the town and hotel. We were looking for accommodation near Portmeirion and Criccieth was an ideal location with a great setting of its own.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

nice clean seaside town

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

A vibrant, busy, friendly little town with fabulous far reaching views over to Snowdonia, Harlech, Barmouth & the Llýn Peninsula.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Criccieth is a lovely spot for families with plenty of beaches and rock pools locally. We were lucky enough to see a Dolphin and a Grey Seal one evening which made our trip.

Cities near Criccieth