It’s difficult to decide where to begin as I had so many adventures in Wales, but I think the most interesting for you would be focusing on the north country. This is where the greatest fortresses lay, the most dramatic scenery, and the strongest outpost of official Welsh speakers. I was here in 2019 meeting up with my Dad fresh from leading a tour group in Italy. We hit some of our favorite spots in England, saw some new things, and then headed over to spend a few days exploring North Wales.

We based ourselves in Caernarfon on the northwest coast which is a perfect base to discover the wider region and the legendary Snowdonia. Putting ourselves here had a double bonus in addition to its stunning medieval castle and quaint town; Caernarfon has the highest percentage of local Welsh speakers than any city in Wales. The royal town of Caernarfon has deep roots in Welsh history, stretching back to pre-history and upwards of 90% of the city’s population count Welsh as their first language. This was none more apparent than in the hotel/restaurant we were staying.

‘The Black Boy Inn’ (not making this up) is THE place to stay in Caernarfon for its charming historic character and epicenter of local Welsh nightlife. Everywhere we turned people were hanging out in little nooks, drinking pints at the bar, and sitting next to a fireplace chatting in Welsh. If you haven’t heard Welsh spoken before I HIGHLY recommend taking a moment after reading this story to hear it for yourself. Just type in ‘Welsh speakers’ in Youtube and a few videos will popup. It’s one of the most ancient languages in the entire world going back, in one form or another, more than 5,000 years.

Our first stop was exploring the absolutely gigantic and picturesque Caernarfon Castle. Caernarfon Castle is recognized around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. Full stop. I’ve been here twice now and the second time was even more exhilarating than the first. The north of Wales was always a vestige of Welsh culture and it was here that one of the last Princes of Wales defied the English King, Edward I, which led to his execution and the building of Caernarfon Castle.

The mighty castle sits right along the coast, which offers great views of the town, the sea, and surrounding landscape. Nearly the entire castle is open to wander and explore. I walked, strolled, and strutted around that entire castle and it was glorious. You can climb just about every tower and most of the interior is still in tact which gives you a real feeling of what life would have been like in its heyday. Another fun side note; this is the place where Prince Charles, and all prior future Princes of Wales, officially received their title.

The small market town of Conwy just a few miles from Caernarfon on the northern Welsh coast is another gem worth seeing. We went here to enjoy the beautiful coastal landscape while admiring yet another giant castle and walled city. Another of Edward I’s attempts to quell the unruly Welsh, Conwy Castle isn’t quite as grand and well preserved as the one at Caernarfon but it’s still just as imposing. We took in the castle, flew our drones around, walked the town walls, and then got a pint and bite to eat at the waterfront pub ‘The George and Dragon.’ This is Wales.

Next, we headed over to the Isle of Anglesey. A place of unparalleled beauty and amazing adventures, Anglesey is a place that inspires and appeals to all the senses. We discovered a rich history, vast sweeping landscapes, tasty local foods, and a fun cultural heritage. This was some of the best drone flying we did during the trip and it really allowed us to get a unique perspective of the area. Desolate lighthouses, coastal cities like Holyhead, wide beaches, more castles, and five thousand year old stone circles were all part of the experience. The Isle of Anglesey is also home to one of the longest place names anywhere in the world – ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’ which is a train station in the village of ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyll’…try pronouncing that name!

Last, but certainly not least, is the mythical Snowdonia National Park. In northern Wales lies the large tract of protected land that has inspired poets and song writers for centuries. The dramatic and rugged terrain dotted with tiny charming villages is like something out of a storybook. There are many ways to enjoy this spectacular terrain, but the true rite of passage is of course climbing to the top of Mt. Snowdon.

If you’re not feeling up to the challenge you may take the local steam train most of the way, but if you’re physically able don’t cheat yourself of the climb up. The trick is finding the right weather to not only make the climb but also enjoy the views once at the top. We took one of the more difficult paths up, Miners Way, and luckily had mostly clear weather all the way until we reached the summit. Unfortunately, once we reached the summit the views were clouded over by a thick layer of fog. It was still worth the climb, and we were able to stand on the highest peak in both England and Wales. Beautiful.