GENERAL SECTION: The Chapel of Art in Criccieth, Gwynedd, GB North Wales, UK, Europe
This page is a brief general travel guide to Criccieth

"All roads lead to Criccieth"
Public transport and routes

Criccieth is in a beautiful, unspoiled part of the British Isles, but being on a peninsula situated on the extreme west coast of Britain does make it rather isolated and inaccessible. The very reason it is so unspoilt! It takes from two to three hours to drive from Chester to Criccieth and depending on traffic conditions (M1 and M6 especially) the number of rest stops, etc. the journey from London may take anything from 5 to 10 hours.

Whichever route taken, the final miles are along narrow winding roads, so it is best to travel in daylight hours. Do not be duped by road maps of Britain: "A" roads can be anything from three-lane motorways to winding mountain roads, best driven in third gear at 30 m.p.h. (50 km/hr) or less.

Public Transport… is therefore a welcome and popular alternative and there certainly are good, frequent  local and national services to and from Criccieth, especially in the summer. Be careful to check you are using the valid timetables which change often. Booking a seat is also advisable, especially when planning a long-distance journey.

Travelling by train: The British railway system has been privatised, so there can be discrepancies in fares and timetable information. Double check any advice given! Trains directly to Criccieth are via the Machynlleth to Pwllheli "Cambrian Coastline" scenic route, which is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. There are good connections and occasional direct services to Birmingham and London.

Bicycle: Cycling on the main roads in North Wales is not recommended! However, Sustrans is co-ordinating the construction of a National Network of safe cycle paths throughout Britain. Maps are available at all good bookshops and on their web site. The Chapel of Art is on the trans-Wales Holyhead to Cardiff • Route 8 and cyclists are always given a warm welcome at The CoA.

Car: Criccieth is on the A497 between Pwllheli and Porthmadog. The Chapel of Art is opposite the free public parking space on the west side of the Castle Hill overlooking the beach.

Taxi: Take care! Not all rural taxis run on meters. Some are "cars to hire" and can charge whatever rate they wish. Always check this before taking what you believe to be a taxi. Never be rushed… or you certainly will be taken for a ride!

Air: MANCHESTER is the nearest and most accessible International Airport from Criccieth with good road and rail connections. Birmingham International Airport may appear nearer, but it is not as convenient. Also Caernarfon Flying Club at Caernarfon Airport: Tel./FAX: (01286) 830475

Water craft & boats: by tender only onto the beach west of Criccieth Castle or east to the jetty at high tide. Nearest harbours are at Pwllheli (west) and Porthmadog (east). For car ferry ports see below.

Road and Rail Routes to Criccieth:
Do you need help planning your journey to Criccieth? We have some suggested routes from all parts of the country: see here

Car Ferries:

To/From Ireland: via Holyhead with several daily services to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire. Stena Line, Sea Link and Irish Ferries are the main operators.

To/From the Continent: The nearest port to Criccieth is Kingston-upon-Hull with services to Rotterdam, however the most popular ferry ports are Dover & Folkestone with car-ferry links to Calais and other northern ports in France. The most leisurely crossing is overnight the Hamburg - Harwich route. Like a mini cruise on luxury boats with berths of various classes, restaurants and on-board entertainment. The Channel Tunnel now makes travel to Britain from the Continent possible without using the ferries. It is a Ro-Ro train service for cars and foot passengers. A lot faster, but not half as romantic!

Please see other web sites via our links page for additional travel information and maps, as well as general information.

However you travel to Criccieth, we trust you will visit The International Potters' Path outside The Chapel of Art! If you would like to tell us about your visit, please email to "make a date".

Please travel safely and bon voyage!