Conwy Bird Trail
In collaboration with the Carneddau project, art workshops were held to support the design and creation of copper bird sculptures. These were installed on buildings of significance around the town to create a trail. A local artist was commissioned to create a beautiful map which will lead you to the various sites and give you some information on the buildings chosen.
Conwy Culture Centre was included in the trail and has a large copper corvid and three cranes for you to find and enjoy. The cranes were added as a nod to the Cranes of Peace project and all three have lines from the project’s specially commissioned poem in English, Welsh and Japanese.
You can pick up a map from Conwy Library or scan the QR code for a digital map and more in depth information on Conwy’s buildings of significance.
Download the map to follow the trail! ⬇️
Conwy Bird Trail – Route
- Conwy Culture Centre
- York Place
- Plas Mawr
- Royal Cambrian Academy Gallery
- Conwy Mussel Centre
- 27 Castle Street – Tan y Ddraig
- Vicarage Gardens Car Park
- Tourist Information Centre
- The Vicarage, St Mary & All Saint’s Church
- Britain’s Smallest House
1. Conwy Culture Centre
Situated where the former Ysgol Bodlondeb was built in 1897, the Culture Centre is now a place for locals and visitors after being re-built in 2019. The Culture Centre houses the Conwy Archives and Conwy Library, in addition to a café and sensory garden.
There are nearly 150,000 unique archive and museum artefacts that tell the story of Conwy County. The collection is accessible to locals and visitors for research, expression of interest and taking part in a range of arts and heritage projects.
Head to the back of the building to see if you can spot one of the Corvids from the Bird Trail.
Can you spot the three Cranes?
Why Cranes?
Inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, the congregation of St Mary’s Church, Conwy have been working with Pensychnant Conservation Centre to create a community art installation of more than 1000 origami peace cranes. These cranes were displayed in St Mary’s Church from the Summer to Autumn of 2024.
To learn more about this amazing project, visit https://caruconwy.com/outreach/cranes-of-peace-community-art-installation/.
Take a closer look at the engravings on the Cranes and see if you can spot the Welsh, English or Japanese words and artwork.
2. York Place
York Place is named after Dr John Williams, Archbishop of York, who played an important role during the Civil War between King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell. Archbishop Williams was born in Conwy but only parts of the walls of his home, called Parlwr Mawr, remain. After a turbulent political career, the Archbishop spent the last years of his life in North Wales. He died of quinsy in 1650, whilst staying with the Wynns of Gwydyr.
See if you can find the copper bird hovering above York Place!
3. Plas Mawr
The beautiful Plas Mawr (Large Hall) was built as a townhouse for Robert Wynn of Gwydyr Castle, between 1576 and 1580. You can see his coat of arms and the date above one of the windows and you won’t have to look far for further clues as Wynn’s initials – R.W. – can be found all over Plas Mawr’s vividly painted ornamental plasterwork.
It’s a very impressive house and signs the wealth and importance of the Wynn family who made their fortune at the Tudor court. Since then, it has been used as a courthouse, a school, a gallery and now an attraction ran by Welsh Heritage Agency, CADW.
For further information about Plas Mawr, including opening times and events, please visit:
4. Royal Cambrian Academy Gallery
Conwy’s Royal Cambrian Academy is a highly respected, long-standing gallery devoted to artistic excellence in Wales. Its exciting programme of exhibitions features a mix of historical and contemporary work by painters, printmakers, sculptors and craftspeople.
The RCA was founded in 1881 by a group of Welsh artists, some of whom had been involved in the establishment of an “artists' colony” in Betws-y-Coed. The Academy moved to this converted chapel, from Plas Mawr where it was originally located, in 1993.
For further information about the Royal Cambrian Academy, including exhibitions, workshops and opening times, please visit:
5. Conwy Mussel Centre
At the far end of the quay, you'll find Conwy Mussels, a mussel purification facility, shop and information centre.
There has been a mussel industry here since Roman times and today Conwy mussels are justly famous. Legend has it that Sir Richard Wynn gave a Conwy pearl to Charles ll's Queen, which is still in the Crown Jewels.
Inside the building, you'll find information panels about the long history of the mussel industry in Conwy. There is also a History Point QR Code on the left side of the building including fascinating stories about the mussel industry.
For further information about the Conwy Mussel Centre, including opening times, please visit:
6. Tan y Ddraig - 27 Castle Street
The loft door and covered cart entrance facing the road are both unusual features of 27 Castle Street, and they give us a hint about the building’s former use. It was occupied by a firm of solicitors in the early 1880s, before becoming the offices for Davies and Parry Auctioneers in 1884. By the early 1900s it was a shop and warehouse for John Roberts, a corn and flour merchant. You can almost imagine him throwing bags from the loft door, down to the waiting carts below!
In 1908, John married Margaret Williams who owned the Emu Restaurant, also on Castle Street. Their marriage was a grand occasion, with Margaret wearing a brown dress and a large hat decorated with ostrich plumes. The list of wedding gifts they received was printed in the newspaper and included a pair of sheets and a set of hall brushes! Margaret’s business was so successful that John went to work for her as a confectioner.
By 1911, 27 Castle Street was the base for Edwards John & Co, Hay and Straw Dealers. It changed hands many times after that and over the last 100 years the building has been used for different businesses such as a tea garden, a model shop, a gift shop and a motorcycle dealer. Today it is occupied by Tan y Ddraig Ceramic Café, continuing the beautiful town of Conwy’s long tradition of inspiring artists and creatives.
7. Vicarage Gardens Car Park
Conwy Castle was built by King Edward I after he defeated Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, in 1284.
Edward I went to some lengths to build his castle in this strategic position. More than 1500 people were employed in its construction and it was completed in just four years. It had eight towers and originally it was painted white. It must have been an imposing sight, sending a strong message to the Welsh people that Edward was now in control!
Some say it’s the most magnificent of Edward l's Welsh fortresses. To get the full picture, head for the battlements where the views across the mountains and sea are breathtaking.
Look for the square holes in the stonework of the towers. It’s likely that these were scaffolding holes, but they are now used by Jackdaws (and Pigeons) as nesting places. Traditionally, people born within Conwy’s town walls are known as “Jackdaws”!
Conwy Castle has been part of the Castles and Town Walls of Edward I World Heritage Site since 1986.
To find out more about Conwy Castle, opening times and admission fees, please visit:
8. Tourist Information Centre, Conwy
Whether you want information about local attractions or assistance with booking accommodation, the friendly staff at Conwy’s Tourist Information Centre can help. They offer:
- Attraction information
- Itinerary planning
- Event information
- Public transport information
- Books, maps, and publications
- Gifts and souvenirs
- Accomodation booking service
- Local theatre bookings
- Local coach bookings
- Event bookings
You’ll find the Tourist Information Centre opposite the car-park adjacent to the castle walls. While you’re there, take a good look around the exterior of the building. Can you spot a copper bird?
For more information about the Tourist Information Centre, visit here.
9. The Vicarage, St Mary's & All Saint's Church
The Cistercian Abbey of Aberconwy originally stood on this site, and the 13th-century Welsh Prince, Llywelyn ap lorwerth, was buried here. After the Conquest of Wales, King Edward I negotiated with the monks to move further up the Conwy Valley to Maenan. The abbey was rebuilt over the following centuries so little of the original building remains.
The church is open for visitors and inside you’ll find a beautiful 15th-century rood screen, family tombs of the Wynns of Gwydyr, and a bust of John Gibson, the Victorian sculptor.
As you enter the churchyard you will see the “We are Seven” grave. This is the title of a poem by Wordsworth which, legend has it, he wrote after a conversation with a child he met here. The “seven” refers to the child and her siblings, alive and dead. Some people say the grave was given the name of Wordsworth’s poem after it was published, to attract tourists. If that’s true, it worked!
See if you can find the copper bird in the courtyard of the church!
For more information about the church and opening times, please visit: www.caruconwy.com
10. Britain's Smallest House
Despite its size, Britain’s Smallest House on the quay can’t be missed due to its bright red exterior. The house measures just 180cm x 300cm. It’s this size because the houses that were being built along the town walls from either end didn’t quite meet up, and the gap was filled with this tiny house. It was lived in until May 1900 when the last occupant was a 6ft 3in fisherman named Robert Jones. Before then, an elderly couple lived there. Robert gave his occupations variously as a gardener, labourer and a fisherman, and was the last person to live in “Smalls”, as it was known by everyone.
“Smalls” may be tiny but it’s extremely practical – there’s just enough room for a single bed, a fireplace and a coal bunker! The Guinness Book of World Records officially confirmed the house’s status as the Smallest House in Great Britain in the early 1920s.
The house has remained in the ownership of Robert Jones’ family ever since and is currently owned by his great-great-granddaughter.
For further information about Britain’s Smallest House, including opening times, please visit: