
Castell Harlech is the place to visit in Harlech
Castles or historic places make up 3 of the 5 places on the list. The built-up area itself has one place on our list; 4 others are within 5 km of its edge. Our list counts 2 places looked after by Cadw. Day-trippers head 33 km out to Caernarfon.
The best known in Harlech
Close behind Castell Harlech are 2 historic sites, an attraction and a museum.
Castle · CadwCastell Harlechin townHistoric siteHistoric site · CadwFfridd Fron Kerb Cairn4.7 km outside town, to the eastHistoric siteHistoric siteLlanfair Slate Caverns800 m outside town, to the southAttractionAttractionChildren's Farm Park & Play Barn1 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumLasynys Fawr1.5 km outside town, to the northeastEach has a page of its own: what it is, who runs it, the weather month by month and what else is near it.
The layout
To the south is where most of the 4 lie.
The dashed line is Harlech’s built-up area; orange marks its middle (where most people live). Numbers match the list below. © OpenStreetMap contributors · ONS built-up area 2022
Which kinds
Castles or historic places lead the count with 3 of 5.
Green: inside Harlech. Grey: within 5 km of its edge.
2 places are cared for by Cadw (Castell Harlech and Ffridd Fron Kerb Cairn).
Everything on the list
The town has one; within 5 km of its edge, the list finds 4 more.
The one inside Harlech comes first, then the places within 5 km, close and well known first. Churches and listed buildings are on the History page, not here.
22 listed buildings and 1 scheduled monument are on Harlech’s History page → · Parks, footpaths and green space in Harlech →
Out of town
Start with Caernarfon, 33 km off, the best known of 12.
FortCaernarfon33 km north
Castle · CadwCastell Caernarfon33 km north
Castle · CadwCastell Cricieth10 km northwestCastleCastle · CadwCastell Dolbadarn28 km northCastleCastle · CadwCastell Dolwyddelan25 km northeastCastleCastle · CadwCastell y Bere25 km southCastleCastleDinas Emrys18 km north
Heritage railwayWelsh Highland Heritage Railway7.7 km north
Abbey or priory · CadwCymer Abbey18 km southeastHeritage railwayHeritage railwayWelsh Highland Railway21 km north
MuseumWelsh Slate Museum29 km north
Heritage railwayFairbourne Railway19 km southPlaces well known beyond Harlech (Wikipedia articles in several languages, published visitor counts, or a National Trust, English Heritage or Cadw property), close and famous first. Distances are straight lines from the middle of the town.
Practical questions about Harlech
What are the main attractions in Harlech?
The place to visit inside Harlech’s built-up area is Castell Harlech. In all, 1 place to visit is mapped inside the town, and 4 more within 5 km.
Does Harlech have a museum?
1 museum or gallery is in or within 5 km of Harlech: Lasynys Fawr.
Is there a National Trust or English Heritage property near Harlech?
Yes. In or within 5 km of Harlech, 2 places are cared for by Cadw (Castell Harlech and Ffridd Fron Kerb Cairn).
What are the best-known days out near Harlech?
Within 40 km: Caernarfon (33 km), Castell Caernarfon (33 km), Castell Cricieth (10 km), Castell Dolbadarn (28 km).
Where are Harlech’s historic buildings listed?
Harlech has 22 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I. They are on its History page, from Cadw’s list, not repeated here.
How is this list made?
From OpenStreetMap (museums, galleries, zoos, theme parks and attractions, castles, forts and abbeys, and historic houses and gardens that are open to visitors) and Wikidata (what each place is, who runs it, its website and visitor counts). A place counts for Harlech when it is inside the ONS 2022 built-up area, and as nearby within 5 km of its edge. Opening times and prices are not shown: check the official site.
Places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database Licence) and Wikidata (CC0), placed in the ONS 2022 built-up area (Open Government Licence v3.0). Visitor counts are the latest Wikidata gives, with their year.
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (8)
- Castell Harlech: Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Caernarfon: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Castell Caernarfon: Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Castell Cricieth: Barry Skeates from newbury, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Welsh Highland Heritage Railway: Nigel Cliff, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Cymer Abbey: Dorothea Witter-Rieder, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Welsh Slate Museum: Talsarnau Times, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fairbourne Railway: Dorothea Witter-Rieder, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.