Caernarfon, Wales Coast Path

Returning to the mainland, across the Menai Strait, I arrived in the royal town of Caernarfon. Rich in natural resources, Caernarfon was occupied by the Celtic Ordovices tribe. When the Romans invaded Britain, they built the fort Segontium to control the Celts. After the Romans' departure three centuries later, Caernarfon joined Gwynedd. William the Conqueror's attempt to invade the town in the 11th century by building a motte-and-bailey castle failed. This was largely due to the rugged terrain and logistical difficulty, further hampered by limited resources and local resistance. 

The town remained independent until Edward I's conquest of Wales in the 13th century, when he promptly built Caernarfon Castle as part of his "Ring of Iron" chain of fortifications. While visiting the castle, Edward's wife, Eleanor of Castile, gave birth to an heir, Prince Edward. At age seven, the young Edward was bestowed with the title of Prince of Wales. This tradition continues today, with Prince William as King Charles III's eldest son carrying the title. 

Building the castle took nearly fifty years, with the works progressing in stages. Once completed, it was the largest and most formidable fortification in Wales. The castle's layout was driven by the lie of the land, ending up as a figure-eight narrow enclosure. It was dotted with multiple towers along its curtain wall and a drawbridge at the King's Gate, the main entrance from town. A wall encircling and connecting the town to the castle walls was built to extend its defensive structure. In 1284, Caernarfon effectively became the capital of north Wales and the seat of the English government. 

Tensions continued between the English and Welsh, with revolts erupting over the following centuries until the accession of the Tudor House to the throne in 1485, who were of Welsh origin. The castle's importance waned as hostilities eased with the Tudor's rule. Consequently, it suffered neglect, with its domestic buildings stripped of valuables and the roofs and timber decaying. Major repairs and conservation efforts began in the 1870s to restore the castle. Caernarfon joins Beaumaris and Conwy as the third property in the "Ring of Iron" to be added to the World Heritage Site register. 

The town maintains much of its medieval roots in both layout and preserved sections of the town walls. With a high concentration of Welsh speakers, the culture is actively nurtured and illustrated in its bilingual street signs. 

After a leisurely stroll to the waterfront, I took in the lovely view of Anglesey across the strait before gradually departing the town along the waterside to resume my journey.