Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Conwy

Conwy is a small and historic town in Gwynedd in North Wales. It lies between the wooded estuary of the River Conwy and Snowdonia, and is 3 miles from the popular seaside resort of Llandudno.

It is one of the best preserved mediaeval towns in Europe, and fully deserves its World Heritage Site status.

The town's original name was Aberconwy.

Conwy Castle is, like those at Caernarfon and Beaumaris, one of the castles built by Edward I as part of his Iron Ring. It is now looked after by Cadw.

The fortified Town Walls, built at the same time, still enclose most of the town, and there is a walkway around most of their length.

St. Mary and All Saints Church, built in the 14th century, is on the site of the Cistercian Aberconwy Abbey.

Aberconwy House, also 14th century, is built of stone and timber and was a merchant's house. It is in the care of the National Trust.

Plas Mawr is another old house, built in the Elizabethan period.

The tiny Smallest House in Britain stands on the busy quayside.

Also within the old town is the quirky Teapot Museum.

The castle was painted by J. M. W. Turner in 1803.

The estuary is spanned by Thomas Telford's suspension bridge of 1826 and Robert Stephenson's tubular railway bridge of 1848.

The Treaty of Aberconwy in 1277 ended the war between Edward I and Llewelyn the Last, whose territory was greatly reduced to land to the West of the River Conwy.

Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby is available to lead Guided Walks around Conwy for groups.