One of several castles built after the Edwardian Conquest of Wales in 1282-3, Harlech was started in 1283 by the architect Master James of St George. Directed to simultaneously build all of King Edward's Welsh castles, the architect retained a work force of 1500 and completed Harlech by 1290. Built in the concentric design previously unused in Britain, and perched atop a 60 meter cliff above the ocean, Harlech's military design was so strong the castle withstood the Welsh uprising of 1294 with a defense of only 37 men. The castle commands views for several miles along the Western coast and today's explorers can find distant sites where Harlech juts out prominently, monopolizing the modern horizon.

Click on a photograph to view an enlargement. Follow the Guide Dogs below for more Castles.