Caernarfonshire, also known as Carnarvonshire or, in Welsh, as Sir Gaernarfon, is a maritime traditional county of Wales, bounded N. by the Irish Sea, E. by Denbighshire, S. by Cardigan Bay and Merionethshire, and W. by Caernarfon Bay and the Menai Straits, which separates it from Anglesey. It has an area of 1,462 km² and a population of 128,000. The surface is mountaineous. A large part of the Snowdonia National Park lies in the County including Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 m. The Lleyn Peninsula is less mountaineous and contains many bays and sandy beaches. Bardsey Island is a major site for nesting seabirds. The River Conwy runs north along the E. boundary. Principal towns are Bangor, Betws-y-Coed, Caernarfon, Conwy, Llandudno, Porthmadog and Pwllheli. Sheep rearing and tourism are the main industries, the coast being much developed for the latter. For administrative purposes, the county is divided between Gwynedd to the west and Conwy to the east.

Caernarfonshire has a detached coastal portion that lies locally in Denbighshire. This was incorporated into Denbighshire for administrative purposes, and has been so shown on the map opposite.

Places of special interest: Bardsey Island (SH1221); Caernarfon Castle (SH4762); Conwy Castle (SH7877); Cricceith Castle (SH4937); Great Orme Tramway (SH7883); Gwydir Castle, nr. Llanrwst (SH7961); Penrhyn Castle (SH6071); Swallow Falls, Betws-y-Coed (SH7657); Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis (SH5859); Ty Mawr Wybrnant (SH7752).

See also

• Counties of Wales
• Unitary Authorities of Wales