Criccieth is a town and area on the Llyn peninsula in the Eifionydd location of Gwynedd in Wales. The town exists 5 miles (8 km) west of Porthmadog, 9 miles (14 kilometres) eastern of Pwllheli as well as 17 miles (27 kilometres) south of Caernarfon. It had a population of 1,826 in 2001, lowering to 1,753 at the 2011 census. The community is a seaside resort, prominent with family members. Destinations include the damages of Criccieth Castle, which have considerable sights over the town and also surrounding countryside. Neighboring on Ffordd Castell (Castle Way) is Cadwalader's Ice Cream Parlour, opened up in 1927, whilst Stryd Fawr (High Street) has a number of bistro-style dining establishments. In the centre lies Y Maes ("The Field", or town square), part of the original medieval town common. The community is noted for its fairs, held on 23 May and also 29 June every year, when multitudes of people visit the fairground and also the market which spreads with most of the streets of the community. Famous people associated with the town include the British prime minister, David Lloyd George, that matured in the nearby village of Llanystumdwy, as well as poet William George. Group Captain Leslie Bonnet, RAF police officer, writer and mastermind of the Welsh Harlequin Duck as well as his spouse Joan Hutt, musician, both lived at Ymwlch simply outside Criccieth from 1949 till their deaths in 1985. Criccieth hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1975 and in 2003 was granted Fairtrade Town standing. It won the Wales in Bloom competition each year from 1999 to 2004. The community styles itself the "Pearl of Wales on the Shores of Snowdonia".