Criccieth is a community and neighborhood on the Llyn peninsula in the Eifionydd location of Gwynedd in Wales. The town lies 5 miles (8 kilometres) west of Porthmadog, 9 miles (14 km) east of Pwllheli as well as 17 miles (27 km) south of Caernarfon. It had a population of 1,826 in 2001, reducing to 1,753 at the 2011 census. The community is a seaside resort, preferred with family members. Attractions consist of the ruins of Criccieth Castle, which have comprehensive sights over the town as well as surrounding countryside. Close-by on Ffordd Castell (Castle Way) is Cadwalader's Ice Cream Parlour, opened up in 1927, whilst Stryd Fawr (High Street) has several bistro-style restaurants. In the centre lies Y Maes ("The Field", or town square), part of the original medieval community common. The community is noted for its fairs, hung on 23 May as well as 29 June each year, when multitudes of individuals visit the fairground and also the marketplace which spreads out via most of the streets of the town. Famous people associated with the town include the British head of state, David Lloyd George, who grew up in the neighboring village of Llanystumdwy, as well as poet William George. Group Captain Leslie Bonnet, RAF police officer, writer and also begetter of the Welsh Harlequin Duck and also his spouse Joan Hutt, musician, both lived at Ymwlch simply outside Criccieth from 1949 until their deaths in 1985. Criccieth organized the National Eisteddfod in 1975 as well as in 2003 was granted Fairtrade Town status. It won the Wales in Bloom competition annually from 1999 to 2004. The town designs itself the "Pearl of Wales on the Shores of Snowdonia".
