Staying Close to Base (Betws-y-Coed)

Having driven in excess of 200 miles to get from Wiltshire to North Wales on the Friday, and then spent the weekend doing two lengthy exploration trips, by the time Monday dawned, grey and with the promise of some rain, we didn't feel much like being very adventurous, so decided instead to stick close to base.

A short drive along some country lanes brought us to a little off-the-beaten-track village called Ysbyty Ifan, where we found this delightful bridge

and these rather delightful structures.

The main object of our short travels was Conwy Falls. The rain held off, but the Falls were surrounded by dripping trees, so even though we couldn't get very close, we still got pretty damp.

After lunch the weather brightened up a bit, so we took a short circular walk from the digs along the Afon Llugwy

(click on this picture to see flood debris stuck in the tree trucks!) to its confluence with the Afon Conwy

 a very pleasant walk which just happened to also skirt the local golf club.

GM had some fun skimming pebbles

A thoroughly enjoyable ramble and a slightly less frenetic day. After tea we had a visitor.

The forecast for tomorrow is better so we are off to Anglesey, for a trip back in time - to my childhood.

Snowdonia

As soon as we had booked our week's holiday in North Wales I asked the Green Man if we could take the train to the top of Snowdon. He found the website and looked up the price of the tickets, £27.00 each return on a diesel train or £35.00 each return on a steam train, which seemed to us (excuse the pun) a little steep, so we decided against it. I was mildly disappointed at the time, as I've never been up a mountain, and probably wont have another opportunity - at least for a long while - but as it turned out it was the right decision, for the whole of the short week we were in the vicinity we were unable to see the top of the mountain because her head was in the clouds!

On the second day we drove through Snowdonia on our way to Caernarfon, where we boarded the Welsh Highland Railway for the short train ride to Dinas,

where we alighted, had a look around at the few bits and pieces next to the station,

then found the Welsh Coastal Path which runs alongside the railway, and walked the three miles back into Caenarfon.

The weather wasn't wonderful, it was overcast and dreary, but the rain held off, so we enjoyed the walk and the scenery. On arriving back at Caernafon we did a quick spot of food shopping, then headed back towards base at Betws-y-Coed, driving once again through Snowdonia, conditions worsening all the while.

So pleased we didn't spend in excess of £50 to take a train ride into that!!

More of Wales

Warning: this post is photo heavy!

Our first full day started wet, but gradually dried up, and although not warm, at least it was partially sunny. On our list of "things to do" we had "trip to the coast" and "visit a castle", so we decided to kill two birds with one stone and headed off northwards to visit Conwy Castle, then head into Llandudno for lunch.

Conwy Castle (click to find out more)

Llandudno

then I let Rog have the camera (he usually manages to take a photo that flatters me!)

Found a Wetherspoons for lunch, this one is a converted theatre, called the Palladium (click the link to see photos), the interior was amazing.

Back to Betws-y-Coed and a short walk from our digs to the Railway Museum at the still operational railway station.

then back to the digs to put our feet up and enjoy a quiet evening.

 Tomorrow - Snowdonia (probably another picture heavy post)