Criccieth
Criccieth is a town as well as community on the Llyn peninsula in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd in Wales. The town exists 5 miles (8 kilometres) west of Porthmadog, 9 miles (14 km) eastern of Pwllheli and 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 households. Attractions consist of the ruins of Criccieth Castle, which have substantial views over the community as well as bordering countryside. Nearby on Ffordd Castell (Castle Way) is Cadwalader's Ice Cream Parlour, opened in 1927, whilst Stryd Fawr (High Street) has several bistro-style restaurants. In the centre lies Y Maes ("The Field", or community square), part of the initial medieval town common. The town is kept in mind for its fairs, held on 23 May and 29 June every year, when lots of people check out the fairground and the marketplace which spreads out through many of the streets of the community. Famous people associated with the town include the British prime minister, David Lloyd George, who grew up in the close-by town of Llanystumdwy, as well as poet William George. Group Captain Leslie Bonnet, RAF policeman, author and also mastermind of the Welsh Harlequin Duck and his spouse Joan Hutt, artist, both lived at Ymwlch simply outside Criccieth from 1949 up until their deaths in 1985. Criccieth hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1975 and in 2003 was given Fairtrade Town standing. It won the Wales in Bloom competition every year from 1999 to 2004. The community designs itself the "Pearl of Wales on the Shores of Snowdonia".
