More on the Romans and the Menai Strait

Caernarfon was one of the most westerly points the Roman occupation reached and the ruins of their fort, Segontium, can still be visited a little way outside the town centre.

To complete their invasion of North West Wales they had to overcome the major obstacle presented by the Menai Strait to reach Anglesey.

The treacherous nature of the water and the ferocity of the forces amassed on the shore opposite Caernarfon resulted in a difficult and bloody episode. Read more.

Ferries plied their trade between the mainland and Anglesey at various points along the Strait until 1930, despite the building of the Menai Suspension Bridge by Thomas Telford at Bangor in 1826, and Stephenson's Britannia Bridge in 1850 for trains (and now road traffic, too).

The ancient town walls are on your left (more on these later in the walk) and the green area ahead is Coed Helen Park, a reminder of Helen, the wife of Roman general Magnus Maximus, also known as Maxen (Macsen in Welsh).

Continue along the Promenade as far as the Anglesey Arms and then onto the footbridge on your right.