Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire, also known as Carnarvonshire or, in Welsh, as Sir Gaernarfon, is a maritime County bounded N. by the Irish Sea, E. by Denbighshire, S. by Cardigan Bay and Merionethshire, and W. by Caernarfon Bay and the Menai Straits, which separates it from Anglesey. Area 361,156 acres. Population 128,000. The surface is mountaineous. A large part of the Snowdonia National Park lies in the County including Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales (3560 ft). The Lleyn Peninsula is less mountaineous and contains many bays and sandy beaches. Bardsey Island is a major site for nesting seabirds. The River Conwy runs north along the E. boundary. Principal towns are Bangor, Betws-y-Coed, Caernarfon, Conwy, Llandudno, Porthmadog and Pwllheli. Sheep rearing and tourism are the main industries, the coast being much developed for the latter.Places of special interest: Bardsey Island (SH1221); Caernarfon Castle (SH4762); Conwy Castle (SH7877); Cricceith Castle (SH4937); Great Orme Tramway (SH7883); Gwydir Castle, nr. Llanrwst (SH7961); Penrhyn Castle (SH6071); Swallow Falls, Betws-y-Coed (SH7657); Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis (SH5859); Ty Mawr Wybrnant (SH7752).
