Continuing northward through Wales, we stopped to admire the majesty of Caernarfon Castle. The original Norman castle on this site was replaced in 1283 when King Edward I began building his stone structure.

The walls were built to suit the lie of the land which resulted in the internal grounds being shaped like a figure eight. The towers within the walls were not the usual round ones of other Edwardian castles but polygonal, each with a different number of sides.

All were accommodation towers, the grandest being the ten-sided Eagle Tower. It has three turrets which were once decorated with stone eagles that have since weathered away.

Walkways within the castle allowed for a closer look at the workmanship.

From above we gained a different perspective of the towers

and could really appreciate the expanse of the castle.

The views of the River Seiont

and harbour were captivating.

I would love this pair of cannons for our driveway entrance.

Long before there was a castle, the Romans built a fort nearby to defend the north Wales coast. Established around 78AD, Segontium held about a thousand soldiers.

The fort was abandoned in the 4^th century and there is not much left to see of the ruins.

The stone was plundered and used to build King Edward’s Caernarfon Castle.