Feltwell
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Is the trip with or without kids Vicky?
- Thread starter Gareth Hughes
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vicky whitworth
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Hi Feltwell, it's without kids. Just the two of us - me and the old man. We're not so old we're not contemplating a trek up Snowdon though. In face we like active things as well as historic things, and woollen mills.
Any suggestions much appreciated for places to visit and places to stay.
Vicky
Any suggestions much appreciated for places to visit and places to stay.
Vicky
Feltwell
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A few quick thoughts - if you're intending to walk up Snowdon then the National Slate Museum at Dinorwic is close by, and is both interesting and free. A few hundred yards from there is a visitor centre for the pumped storage power station, you can take a tour - interesting or terminally dull depends on your perspective, kids certainly like the novelty of going inside a mountain in a bus, I like it from a geeky engineering perspective......
Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog is nice for a bracing walk on the beach (there are 2 access points, go to the one at the far end.) Porthmadog itself is best avoided apart from the Ffestiniog railway, the journey up to Blaneau Ffestiniog is very pleasant and scenic right up until you get to Blaneau Ffestiniog itself! (Even the National Park has a hole in it - around Blaneau Ffestiniog!)
Harlech castle is very imposing and well worth a visit if castles are your thing, as is Criccieth castle. Portmeiron village should be nice out of season, especially as you're kid-free - it's not somewhere I'd go with my young brood or at the height of summer.
Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog is nice for a bracing walk on the beach (there are 2 access points, go to the one at the far end.) Porthmadog itself is best avoided apart from the Ffestiniog railway, the journey up to Blaneau Ffestiniog is very pleasant and scenic right up until you get to Blaneau Ffestiniog itself! (Even the National Park has a hole in it - around Blaneau Ffestiniog!)
Harlech castle is very imposing and well worth a visit if castles are your thing, as is Criccieth castle. Portmeiron village should be nice out of season, especially as you're kid-free - it's not somewhere I'd go with my young brood or at the height of summer.
Penners
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I was vaguely involved in the construction of the Dinorwic pumped storage scheme in the '70s, and I can tell you that it's far from terminally dull. The whole concept of it is fascinating, and the scale of the scheme - located inside a hollowed-out mountain - really impressive.Feltwell said:
I'm sure your "old man" would enjoy it.
As there is often an overlap between the interests of this forum, and general 'Green' issues, including 'Green Building', you may be interested to visit the Centre for Alternative Technology, near Machynlleth.
Otherwise, if you are concentrating on North Wales, and like coastal walks and unspoilt countryside (no mountains, but you need a break after Snowdon) several days could be happily spent on Anglesey, which contains many hidden delights missed by those who just travel the main road through to Holyhead. Beaumaris is pleasant little town with a castle, and then explore the corner of the island behind it down to Penmon, overlooking Puffin Island. Or else the SW corner - starting with Plas Newydd and on to Newborough (Niwbwrch) and Llanddywyn Island.
Otherwise, if you are concentrating on North Wales, and like coastal walks and unspoilt countryside (no mountains, but you need a break after Snowdon) several days could be happily spent on Anglesey, which contains many hidden delights missed by those who just travel the main road through to Holyhead. Beaumaris is pleasant little town with a castle, and then explore the corner of the island behind it down to Penmon, overlooking Puffin Island. Or else the SW corner - starting with Plas Newydd and on to Newborough (Niwbwrch) and Llanddywyn Island.
vicky whitworth
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Thank you for the suggestions. We have been thinking Anglesey might be nice. We're struggling to find B&Bs (I'm afraid we only like luxury) in remote spots - far from main road. Any further thoughts much appreciated.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Feltwell
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Can't help with accomodation I'm afraid. Whilst I've been to North Wales many, many times over the years, it's always been staying on a campsite.
Flyfisher
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Old or not, there's no need to walk - just drive up there: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14780841vicky whitworth said:
But before dismissing such things as the modern-day lunacy of 'Chelsea Tractor' drivers, such pursuits are hardly new:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-14793169
Gareth Hughes
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But why would you want to drive? there's a perfectly adequate rail service up there.
Flyfisher
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Where's the challenge in takeing the train? :wink:
LadyArowana
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Flyfisher said:
Three little words Monday morning commute!
Flyfisher
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:lol:
Fair point. But never mind the train, even Monday morning spelling seems to be beyond me (well, typing really).
Fair point. But never mind the train, even Monday morning spelling seems to be beyond me (well, typing really).
philpjuk100
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If you do make it to Anglesey here are a few "hidden" gems ! Ynys fydlyn,(with a great cave) hut circles and hen cappel near molfre,cemlyn bay,carmel head,(with lighthouse),penmon (with priory and lighthouse).Cannot help with B and B as we have spent holidays there for the last 50 years in a family caravan.Have a great time,phil.
LadyArowana
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Flyfisher said::lol:
Fair point. But never mind the train, even Monday morning spelling seems to be beyond me (well, typing really).
Shhhhhh I think you got away with it, Mr P must not be out of his pj's yet.
Moo said:
Well, of course Anglesey is where the notorious "longest name" can be found:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
rather an embarassment to real Anglesey-lovers, as it was invented as a 19th-century publicity stunt, the place now has a tourist-trap "retail outlet", and is NOT what the real Anglesey is about. However, Welsh names do provide relatively innocent fun for English visitors who should know better, and if they took the trouble to learn the rules of Welsh pronunciation (which unlike English are almost entirely consistent), all those double consonants would hold no terrors, and might stop being such a joke. Scots Gaelic is FAR worse!
Vicky - I think there is a farm-based B&B + luxury self-catering place, well away from the main roads, in the north of the Island near Llanerchymedd. My mother and some friends stayed there some years ago and thought it was wonderful - but can't remember the name!
It was a big farm, and I think they were quite well known for pedigree cattle - an internet search may discover them, or contact local tourist information. The Old Bull's Head in Beaumaris is a very historic Inn, stayed in by Dickens among others.
FamilyWiggs
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piper said:In pedantic mode, I'm surprised no-one has yet picked up Middi on the Kenya/Cambodia border - quite a wide area, I think.
Shhhh... we were being polite! :wink: