Started in 1295, Beaumaris was the last of Edward I’s great castles of North Wales and today it's deservedly a World Heritage site. With swans gliding on its water-filled moat, it’s definitely got the wow factor. This is what every sandcastle maker unknowingly aspires to. The four successive lines of fortifications and concentric ‘walls within walls’ make it the most technically perfect castle in Great Britain, even though it was never fully completed.
The overall effect may seem more fairy tale than horror story, but the massive gates with their murder holes (used to pour boiling oil on invaders), hint at its dark past. The walk along the top of part of the inner wall gives super views of the castle layout and the breathtaking scenery that surrounds it. Look out for the old latrines (marginally less unpleasant than the murder holes for those walking below) and the arrow slits in the wall for picking off unwelcome visitors.
