North Wales & Snowdonia

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Port Meirion

Italian style village on a private peninsula. Designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis ‘to  my own fancy, on my own chosen site’.

Splendidly bizarre and in a spectacular location, the site also seems to enjoy a micro climate, with flowers surviving later into the year than other spots not far away.
Many of the properties can be booked for short stays and there is also a hotel down by the bay side, full details here…

If you are not resident there is an entrance charge (£8 currently) and there are on site catering facilities. The catering is fairly ‘standard’, with only a canteen/ self service being open when we visited, although this was November and so perhaps not too surprising.

Wales – near Porthmadog

Wales – Menai Straights and bridge

Llandudno

Unlike most British seaside resorts, Llandudno retains its Victorian charm, and seems to have been spared the tat that passes for amusement in other places along our coasts.
The buildings are well maintained and many retain their Victorian entrance canopies, similarly, many of the shops also retain Victorian street canopies; which makes the whole place look rather elegant.

If there is a  downside to this restrained development, it is that the town appeals to an older crowd and can be rather quiet. To be fair, there was enough open for our needs, and it was a Wednesday in November, I doubt any tourist town on our coasts would have been busy. I’ll check again when the weather picks up.

Caernarfon

Probably the best known of the Welsh castles. Building started in 1283, extensive renovation carried out in the 19th C, when the town and locality grew rich on the slate business.

Many people will remember the castle as being the location of the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969, this drew a TV audience of over 500 million and was probably the first global mass TV event. In the picture below, the slate circle marks the spot…

Caernarfon details here.

Snowdonia – Llanberis Pass

Llanberis is the start point for the Snowdon Railway, which opened in 1896. The railway takes you to the summit (approx 5 miles, 1085m high), but advance booking is recommended, its closed after October, consult site here for details.

Half way over the Llanberis pass is a break point with Cafe, they do however have a £5 parking charge, which rather puts you off popping in for a quick cuppa! Maybe in the Summer it gets busy, but in November a £5 up front charge seems rather excessive.

 

Highly recommended hostel in Snowdonia – Plas Curig