Criccieth

Criccieth
  • Cricieth
The ruins of Criccieth Castle dominate the town
Criccieth is located in Gwynedd
Criccieth
Criccieth
Location within Gwynedd
Population1,753 (2011)
OS grid referenceSH505385
Community
  • Criccieth
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCRICCIETH
Postcode districtLL52
Dialling code01766
PoliceNorth Wales
FireNorth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Gwynedd
52°54′58″N 4°14′10″W / 52.916°N 4.236°W / 52.916; -4.236

Criccieth, also spelled Cricieth ([ˈkrɪkjɛθ] ⓘ), is a town and community in Gwynedd, Wales, on the boundary between the Llŷn Peninsula and Eifionydd. The town is 5 miles (8 km) west of Porthmadog, 9 miles (14 km) east of Pwllheli and 17 miles (27 km) south of Caernarfon. It had a population of 1,826 in 2001,[1] reducing to 1,753 at the 2011 census.[2]

The town is a seaside resort, popular with families.[3] Attractions include the ruins of Criccieth Castle, which have extensive views over the town and surrounding countryside.[4] Nearby on Castle Street is Cadwalader's Ice Cream Parlour, opened in 1927,[5] and the High Street has several bistro-style restaurants.[3] In the centre is Y Maes, part of the original medieval town common.[6]

The town is noted for its fairs, held on 23 May and 29 June every year, when large numbers of people visit the fairground and the market which spreads through many of the streets of the town.[7]

Criccieth hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1975,[8] and in 2003 was granted Fairtrade Town status.[9] It won the Wales in Bloom competition each year from 1999 to 2004.[10]

The town styles itself the "Pearl of Wales on the Shores of Snowdonia".[11]

  1. ^ "Census 2001". Archived from the original on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  2. ^ "Town/electoral ward population 2011". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Visit Wales : Criccieth Accommodation".[dead link]
  4. ^ "Cadw : Criccieth Castle". Archived from the original on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  5. ^ Cadwalader's Ice Cream : About Us
  6. ^ Eira and James Gleasure, Criccieth : A Heritage Walk, 2003, Cymdeithas Hanes Eifionydd Archived 29 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Wales, 28 pages
  7. ^ "CRICCIETH". www.ccbsweb.force9.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  8. ^ "Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru : Eisteddfod Locations". Archived from the original on 23 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Fairtrade Foundation : Fairtrade Towns". Archived from the original on 1 February 2010.
  10. ^ Criccieth in Bloom : Trophies[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "CRICCIETH". www.ccbsweb.force9.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.