“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Vincent van Gogh
I would like to declare that I have found my little piece of heaven and it is in Wales, over the glorious Easter bank holiday I got in my car and just drove, I knew I wanted to go to Wales but I wanted to discover somewhere new. With no map and my terrible sense of direction, I discovered Criccieth and it must have been fate, before I even got out of my car I was in love!
Driving in I was grated with a breathtaking view overlooking the bay with their castle in the background keeping guard over rows and rows of pastel coloured houses! What more could you ask for in a little town? Well let me tell you, you can ask for it to be crowd free too! I had no idea how I got so lucky but this little piece of Welsh heaven felt undiscovered except for locals and families that looked like they had been visiting for the last decade.
I mean look how happy I was! Also, side note, my dress matched the pastel houses and just to brag a bit I found the dress two weeks ago in a charity shop for £5. It screams 80’s in the best possible way, I am pretty sure I even had a kids version of the dress in the 80’s (yes I am that old I can remember the 80’s), now if I could just find it in several colours I would be very happy indeed.
So the beach isn’t a great beach but with views like this who needs sand anyway?!
The hills overlooking the sea were filled with people having picnics, from couples tucked away behind rocks sneaking kisses and giggles to families enjoying the peace and quiet that is rarely found during half terms to old ladies catching up on the weekly gossip. They all had one thing in common, they had all found their little pieces of seclusion on what normally feels like one of the busiest weekends of the year.
“There’s a heaven on earth that so few ever find, though the map’s in your soul and the road’s in your mind” Dan Fogelberg
Criccieth castle is situated on a rocky promontory overlooking Tremadog Bay, Criccieth Castle was built as a statement of power by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth. The site was later upgraded by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and then the English following the Second War of Welsh Independence. Besieged on several occasions it was finally destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr.
Still looking very happy with myself! But also right before this picture, the coast guard flew over in their helicopter and I swear it was so low that I could almost like the pilot in the eye, I don’t think I have ever seen a helicopter so close up before, I was a lot geeky about it!
The design was so impressive, that when the castle finally fell to the English in 1283, during the fall of Gwynedd, it was not destroyed but rather was upgraded with additional towers and the gatehouse was enlarged so that it could accommodate stone-throwers on its battlements. This makes the gatehouse perhaps the best example of Welsh-constructed defences and testament to the fact that Gwynedd was once its own affluent kingdom. Today, while most of the castle remains in ruins (as a result of Glyndwr Rebellion in the 15th century), the gatehouse still stands intact, where it serves to loom up before visitors.
Can you see the rainbow street? More importantly, can you guess which house I wanted?
Even the houses that weren’t painted pretty colours were all still pretty and pocket sized.
Hello, rainbow street of dreams, I call dibs on light pink or coral house overlooking the sea!
Yep this one is definitely my house, how perfect does it look, I can see me sat on the front with a glass of wine watching the sunset in summer.
Before I knew it, it was time to head home but not before looking for places to stay during the summer because honestly, it could be my new favourite place on earth. Not to mention I didn’t get to try the ice cream so really it would be nothing but rude not to return. Have you visited Cricceith? If not you have to go but keep it a secret just between us!
