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
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