Have a Historical holiday!
If you’re interested in history then North Wales has a lot to offer you. From your base at the Shepherd’s Hideaway you can visit a range of castles, prehistoric sites and much more.
A (very) brief history…
Underlying the landscape of North Wales is over around 600 million years of Earth history.
Hidden in the geology and foundations of the region, which includes some of the oldest rocks to be found in the principality, is a detailed record of some of the most fundamental events which occurred during the formation of southern Britain.
These events include the birth, life and death of Iapetus – an ancient ocean and the evolution of 450 million-year-old (Ordovician) volcanoes which were responsible for the deposition of ash and lava over the area which was to become Snowdonia.
Following these initial depositions were the dramatic changes to the landscape effected during the last ice age with the peak activity around 22 000 years ago, when glaciers carved the spectacular valleys and cwms of the Snowdonia National Park.
Since its formation, North Wales has seen ice caps, volcanoes, and earthquakes. These developments are what makes Snowdonia so distinct and the region so mineral rich.
It’s those minerals which later put North Wales on the map. Mining began in North Wales during the Bronze Age, that’s around 4,000 years ago. The Great Orme Copper Mine was then the world’s largest mine.
A coast of castles…
Let us then take a big jump ahead to the time of Edward I, around 800 years ago. King Edward I built stone castles across North Wales known as the Iron Ring. Castles were built at Conwy, Caernarfon, Beaumaris and Harlech – all of which still exist, are magnificent and can be visited today. Criccieth castle also offers a further location for you to explore.
Rhuddlan Castle – Our nearest castle…
Rhuddlan Castle is another attributed to Edward I. For many centuries, Rhuddlan had been a fought over and a strategic location. Fights over the area lead to a great deal of bloodshed. Edward’s hold over the area persisted long enough to build a well-fortified symmetrical castle, showcasing the latest in ‘walls-within-walls’ technology. The work in delivering this castle included the diversion of the River Clwyd for over 2 miles in order to allow the castle to be serviced by ships.
The Victorian era…
More recently tourism has been a huge factor in North Wales. The turn of the 19th century saw a new form of health tourism, and towns such as Rhyl and Llandudno have become extremely popular. The town of Llandudno still holds its Victorian feel today and provides excellent opportunities for a stroll on the promenade!