Colours, Castles and Courage!
The ancient walled town of Caernarfon is due a revamp as the main streets are to be repainted and adorned with over 300 hanging baskets in an ambitious project to give the town a new splash of colour and enhanced life.
The historic castle town is an absolutely huge draw for tourists from across the UK and beyond. While Caernarfon lost its railway in the 1970s, it remains highly accessible by road and continues to thrive as a destination steeped in culture and character. It is also famously the most Welsh-speaking town in Wales, where the sound of the native language is part of everyday life.
Walking through Caernarfon, visitors are welcomed by flagpoles proudly flying Y Ddraig Goch (The Red Dragon), alongside flags honouring the Welsh princes such as Llewelyn and Owain Glyndŵr, and the banner of St David. These colours are more than decoration – they are symbols of identity, history, and community pride.
A Spirit of Enterprise and Community
The town shows fantastic entrepreneurial and community spirit. Over 320 businesses have contributed by paying an extra 1% on their rates to form Hwb Caernarfon – a cooperative project designed to boost prosperity and breathe new life into the town.
Led by a board of volunteers, Hwb Caernarfon has launched creative initiatives such as painting shop fronts and installing hundreds of hanging baskets. These changes aim to brighten the town centre and create a more welcoming environment for locals and visitors alike. It is a reminder that Caernarfon is not only a place of history but also a living, breathing community committed to progress.
A New Age of Caernarfon
The manager of Hwb Caernarfon, Gavin Owen, explained that Gwynedd Council asked local businesses to support the idea of a Business Improvement District. The goal is to deliver a facelift for the town, ensuring it continues to prosper for generations to come.
Practical measures are already underway. Plans include the launch of a new website dedicated to promoting Caernarfon, vinyl displays on empty shop windows to highlight local attractions, and even the reopening of the tourist information centre. Free public Wi-Fi is also on the agenda, ensuring Caernarfon remains connected in the digital age.
The three-year marketing plan includes a host of events designed to draw visitors and enrich community life. These include the popular Gwyl Fwyd Food Festival, a carnival, pirate weekend, Christmas fair, and even a New Year concert. Such events will not only bring the town together but also attract visitors who wish to experience the best of Caernarfon’s culture and hospitality.
Creative Solutions for Everyday Challenges
In true Caernarfon spirit, even challenges are met with innovative solutions. To address the persistent problem of seagulls in the town centre, Elsa the eagle owl has been recruited to patrol the streets for six weeks, helping to deter the birds in a natural and memorable way.
Meanwhile, the town council has pledged to increase the frequency of grass cutting and waste collection, adding an extra 200 hours of street cleaning annually. They are also reviewing the condition of bus shelters, and assessing whether more rubbish and dog fouling bins are required. These improvements may seem small, but they make a significant difference to the quality of life for residents and the experience of visitors.
Looking Ahead
All this is fantastic news for Caernarfon – the town that our
Snowdonia hotel proudly calls home. The combination of heritage, community drive, and fresh investment makes Caernarfon an ever more vibrant place to visit. With its castle walls, historic streets, and colourful future, the town continues to thrive as one of Wales’ most iconic destinations.
Whether you come for history, culture, or simply the warmth of its people, Caernarfon promises an experience like no other. The efforts of its community ensure that visitors will always find a town that honours its past while embracing the future.