There is already a link on this blog to the Centre For Alternative Technology, so full information on that can be found there. Had yet another enjoyable and informative visit there.
Meirion Mill is now a retail outlet selling in the main lambswool products, plus the usual touristy stuff. It is reasonably priced and worth a visit.
On our way home we went via Wrexham to visit some friends. On route we called in at Rhug Farm, mainly to use thge toilets, but found a very good farm shop. The strawberry ice lollies contained pieces of fruit. They also have a herd of bison in a field, the young looked really cute.
Our final stop was at Erddig, an National Trust run house and gardens just outside Wrexham. It is somewhere I have been meaning to go for some years, but this was the first time. The house displays both "upstairs" and "downstairs" and has loads to see. We were short for time, so a repeat longer visit is deinately in the offing.
Links:
www.meirionmill.co.uk
www.rhug.co.uk
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Saturday 28 August 2010
Friday 27 August 2010
Snowdonia (III)
Those that know me, know that three of my leisure pursuits are country drives, football, and hill walking. I managed to find time to enulge in all three whilst away.
After visiting Criccieth Castle, and before dropping back down to Barmouth, I managed to detour onto the Llyn Peninsular for a scenic drive. Well it would have been if the clouds were not down below the hills! I enjoyed it anyway, but to quote my eldest son "misty, misty, boring, misty!"
The football was an Welsh Alliance match between Barmouth & Dyffren United and Llanwrst United. It ended all square at one all. Not a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination, but the scenery was.
We took a family walk up the mountain opposite the guest house to find Blue Lake. This is an old quarry lake, reached via a small cave. It is a bowl like area surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs. A very quiet and awe inspiring place.
The other walk I did, whilst the others were relaxing on Barmouth beach. From the town centre there are paths straight up the mountains above, which go onto a range that runs for twenty or so miles north. The first area of land given to the National Trust is one of those smaller hills. A half hour walk on will take you to Panorama Hill. This is my favourite spot in the country, and I go there as often as I can. The views are out to sea, or up the Mawddach and aover to Cadair Idris.
After visiting Criccieth Castle, and before dropping back down to Barmouth, I managed to detour onto the Llyn Peninsular for a scenic drive. Well it would have been if the clouds were not down below the hills! I enjoyed it anyway, but to quote my eldest son "misty, misty, boring, misty!"
The football was an Welsh Alliance match between Barmouth & Dyffren United and Llanwrst United. It ended all square at one all. Not a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination, but the scenery was.
We took a family walk up the mountain opposite the guest house to find Blue Lake. This is an old quarry lake, reached via a small cave. It is a bowl like area surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs. A very quiet and awe inspiring place.
The other walk I did, whilst the others were relaxing on Barmouth beach. From the town centre there are paths straight up the mountains above, which go onto a range that runs for twenty or so miles north. The first area of land given to the National Trust is one of those smaller hills. A half hour walk on will take you to Panorama Hill. This is my favourite spot in the country, and I go there as often as I can. The views are out to sea, or up the Mawddach and aover to Cadair Idris.
Snowdonia (II)
There are a few things that always spring to mind when you talk about Wales and visits, and I do not mean the rain!! Castles and little trains, we visited two of each.
The Talyllyn Railway runs from Towyn on the coast to Nant Gwernol up in the mountains. It is a good example of a preserved working line, which used to carry slate from the mines down to the coast for shipping. A little known fact about this railway, is the the author of the Thomas The Tank Engine stories, was a frequent visitor, and based some of his mountain railway stories on the line, and used some of their engines as the models for his.
The Fairbourne Railway again dates from the 19th century, but this one was built to carry bricks to the new development of Fairbourne, from the mainline down the stretch of beach that was having new houses constructed by it. I personally did not enjoy this one as much, but the boys loved it, so that's the main point I suppose.
Both Harlech Castle and Criccieth Castle are awesome buildings. Both were built or strengthened by the English to repress the Welsh. Both are imposing sights to see as you aproach them, they both sit on top of rocky out crops. Harlech was built on the coast, but the sea is now a few miles away! You only really appreciate this, when you look down from the top, and see all the flat land around it.
Links:
www.talyllyn.co.uk
www.fairbournerailway.com
www.cadw.wales.gov.uk
The Talyllyn Railway runs from Towyn on the coast to Nant Gwernol up in the mountains. It is a good example of a preserved working line, which used to carry slate from the mines down to the coast for shipping. A little known fact about this railway, is the the author of the Thomas The Tank Engine stories, was a frequent visitor, and based some of his mountain railway stories on the line, and used some of their engines as the models for his.
The Fairbourne Railway again dates from the 19th century, but this one was built to carry bricks to the new development of Fairbourne, from the mainline down the stretch of beach that was having new houses constructed by it. I personally did not enjoy this one as much, but the boys loved it, so that's the main point I suppose.
Both Harlech Castle and Criccieth Castle are awesome buildings. Both were built or strengthened by the English to repress the Welsh. Both are imposing sights to see as you aproach them, they both sit on top of rocky out crops. Harlech was built on the coast, but the sea is now a few miles away! You only really appreciate this, when you look down from the top, and see all the flat land around it.
Links:
www.talyllyn.co.uk
www.fairbournerailway.com
www.cadw.wales.gov.uk
Thursday 26 August 2010
Snowdonia (I)
As a family we had a very enjoyable week earlier this month. We stayed at the Einion House, a guesthouse in the small village of Friog, which is on the south side of the Mawddach estuary and at the edge of the Cadair Idris range of mountains. The next few posts will summarise where we visited, in case anyone is interested.
On the way up we called in at Llywernog Silver-Lead Mine, which is just off the A44 near to Aberystwyth. This mine has been restored over the years, and is a good example of an industry in mid Wales which had it's hey day between 1850 and 1870.
Whilst then driving up the coast, we came across the Dyfi Osprey Project at the Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve. This site is run by the local wildlife trust. A pair of ospreys have made a nest there this year, but did not lay any eggs. There is hope that they will breed next year. Camera footage of the birds was avaialbe as well as binoculars trained on the nest.
Corris Craft Centre is a what it says really, but worth a call in. Crafts include wooden toys, leather, candles etc. It is also the home to an underground tour of some caves, based on the King Arthur legend.
A lot of the time we spent over in Barmouth, which is a town we love. We managed to get onto the beach every day, and paddled or swam most days. One day was even warm enough for me to venture in and have a proper swim.
Links:
www.einionhouse.co.uk
www.silverminetours.co.uk
www.wildlifetrustswales.org
On the way up we called in at Llywernog Silver-Lead Mine, which is just off the A44 near to Aberystwyth. This mine has been restored over the years, and is a good example of an industry in mid Wales which had it's hey day between 1850 and 1870.
Whilst then driving up the coast, we came across the Dyfi Osprey Project at the Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve. This site is run by the local wildlife trust. A pair of ospreys have made a nest there this year, but did not lay any eggs. There is hope that they will breed next year. Camera footage of the birds was avaialbe as well as binoculars trained on the nest.
Corris Craft Centre is a what it says really, but worth a call in. Crafts include wooden toys, leather, candles etc. It is also the home to an underground tour of some caves, based on the King Arthur legend.
A lot of the time we spent over in Barmouth, which is a town we love. We managed to get onto the beach every day, and paddled or swam most days. One day was even warm enough for me to venture in and have a proper swim.
Links:
www.einionhouse.co.uk
www.silverminetours.co.uk
www.wildlifetrustswales.org
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