As daffodils emerge in the grounds, toads return to the Top Terrace of the Walled Garden and the castle reopens its doors following its annual winter clean, there could be no clearer sign that spring has arrived at Penrhyn Castle.
Penrhyn Castle reopens its doors on 1 March and visitors are invited to celebrate St.David’s Day by taking a spring walk among the hundreds of daffodils starting to emerge that surround the Keep and spill into the Lime Grove. Inside, they can explore the luxurious Victorian family rooms, wander through the Victorian Kitchens and discover the locomotives cared for in its Railway Museum.
As visitors walk up towards the castle and enjoy scenic views towards Eryri (Snowdonia), they can also explore a series of new displays that tell the story of the relationship between the vast wealth of the Penrhyn Estate and its dramatic surroundings.
As part of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales, Wales’ newest designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the spectacular backdrop is not only scenic but historically relevant as it looks across the land once owned by Penrhyn’s Pennant family, and on to both their slate quarries and the port where slate was exported.
These new displays highlight the shared history of the area and Penrhyn Castle’s role in the slate story, and it encourages visitors to look ‘Beyond Penrhyn’ to understand some of its history.
Rhian Cahill, Visitor Experience and Operations Manager at Penrhyn Castle, said;
‘The quarry’s history is an integral part of Penrhyn Castle’s past and I’m so glad these new displays will help share that story. They have been developed as a result of conversations we have been having and will continue to have with our local community.’
For those wanting a deeper knowledge of the castle’s local history, visitors can book onto leisurely walking tours led by archaeologist Rhys Mwyn from Penrhyn Castle to Llandygai on Saturday mornings on March 4, 11 and 18, costing £8 per head. These bilingual tours come as a part of Bangor yn Dathlu (Bangor Celebrates) St. David’s Day and will be a chance to discover more about the local history found right at the castle’s doorstep.
Penrhyn Castle will be open between 10am and 4pm every day from March 1st.
