A visit to Portmeirion

A visit to Portmeirion

holidays/days out

Hello. I'm back at Tightwad Towers, headquarters of Life After Money. As regular readers will know, this is where I share my frugal living money saving methods, which gives me cash to spend on treats, and holidays are my treats. 

Time to catch up on where I have been. I had a list of places to visit on my North Wales tour, some of them I didn't have time to do, but never mind, another visit might happen at a later date. 

This post is all about Portmeirion, which is a delightful tourist village in Gwynedd, not far from Porthmadog. From the moment I walked through the entrance I thought WOW, this place is fabulous. 

It was built by architect Clough Williams-Ellis to show how a beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it. All buildings at Portmeirion are registered Grade 1 or Grade 11 historic buildings.  The village is surrounded by 70 acres of forest gardens. Portmeirion is owned by a charity. 

The colourful entrance is a taste of what's to come. The buildings blend in well with the rugged natural rockface. 

 Every building is painted in candy colour, it looks like a giant sweetie village.

Some of these buildings are self catering cottages, there are thirteen in total sleeping from three to eight people.

Anyone for chess?

Look into a window and you will see Alice in Wonderland at the Mad Hatters tea party.

The little train does a tour of the gardens. Free to go on.

 Fantastic views from high up in the woods.

This is the Town Hall.

I just had to have an ice cream cornet, twenty flavours to choose from. The strawberry cheesecake is lovely.

This is the hotel, it's right on the edge of the water, with fabulous views over the bay.

The flowers in full bloom are beginning to drop their petals.

Deep in the wood is the Dogs Cemetery. The wooden figure has been carved with a chain saw. I found this secluded spot very emotional, thinking about Rocky.

There are lots of steps and secret pathways, it's like an enchanted wood.

This is Castell Deudraeth, a Victorian mansion which is now a hotel.

I absolutely loved Portmeirion, it's like a theme park for adults, but without the tackyness and noise. It's a land of make believe for big kids like me. If you get the chance go and see it for yourself. Check out the web site here. 

More about my North Wales trip tomorrow. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Looking up at Caernarfon Castle

Looking up at Caernarfon Castle

holidays/days out

Hello and Good Morning. A quickie before breakfast. I took a few snaps yesterday of Caernarfon Castle. I have never been here before and was surprised to see that it is so close to the shops, bars, and eateries. I always imagine that a castle stands high above the surrounding area, on a pedestal, but here it mingles in with every thing else. 

It's impossible to get a photo of the whole thing, so here are bits of it.

Time for brekkie, see ya later.

A bimble around the Horseshoe Falls

A bimble around the Horseshoe Falls

holidays/days out vegetarian

Hello, and goodbye to Squirrels Guest House in Llangollen. Lilian Speake is the perfect host and her house is lovely. We chatted for ages, I think I have a new friend, and she has a ginger cat just like Bugsy. If anyone needs accommodation in Llangollen give her a call, number on the web site.

So, after breakfast I checked out and drove the short distance to Horseshoe Falls to have a look around. The river flows pretty rapidly at this point.

I took a short walk down the canal and came to the Chain Bridge Hotel, named after the river crossing just there. 

It looks very posh, probably very expensive to stay there. I was chatting to some people who said it is a favourite wedding venue.

On the other side of the river is the train station, and as luck would have it the train arrived from Llangollen, so another chance to snap this beauty.

I had a little bimble around the area and took a few snaps.

Howzabout that for a venue. It has absolutely no gardens with it, sandwiched between the canal tow path and the river, with the constant noise of the water rushing by.

I like arch bridges.

This is the station taken from the lower bridge.

After a couple of hours here, I went on to Port Meirion, about an hour and a half drive away. I took loads of pictures there, it was a brilliantly amazing place. I'm going to save them till I get home. Something to look forward to, but worth waiting for. Dead lucky with the weather today, sunny, blue skies, and warm. perfect.

It's late now and time for bed. I am in a B & B at Caernarfon, had a quick look round the town,  tomorrow the Menai bridge to Anglessey. Oooh, all excited.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Llangollen steam, and Pontcysyllte Viaduct

Llangollen steam, and Pontcysyllte Viaduct

holidays/days out walking

Hello. Thank you all for your birthday wishes. I've had a brilliant day, except for one little mishap, I broke a tooth. Drat, a visit to the dentist when I get back. It was a back molar so I haven't got a toothy grin thank goodness.

The railway station is almost opposite the B & B and I noticed a steam train was in and had to have a look at it. I just love them. A real old fashioned station.

Look at this beauty. A lot of holiday makers were on board waiting to set off. I had already decided what I was going to do today, but I was sorely tempted to change my plans and jump on it.

They let me get in to see the engine, the heat coming off that fire was sweltering.

Two lovely volunteers who keep the trains running. These old trains and stations would lie rotting if it wasn't for these dedicated people who give their time so everyone can enjoy them.

Happy me on my birthday. Lots of train enthusiasts about snapping away, everyone was so friendly.

Getting stoked up and steaming, preparing to go.

Happy smiles from the driver and his mate.

The chuff sound chuff, the hissing of the steam, the toot of the whistle, it's just magic. This is the site for the Llangollen Railway.

After seeing the train off, I got on the Llangollen Canal and started walking. The sign said four and a half miles to Pontcysyllte. It's a lovely walk, The birds were singing, mummy ducks were watching over their babies and guiding them through the water, and the smell of the garlic plants was lovely. Lots of boats were up and down, everyone saying good morning, happy people on their holidays.  

Here I am at the start of the viaduct. It's a one way system so people have to wait their turn to cross. Boats followed each other, several at a time. 

Ha ha, Shawn the sheep at the entrance to the Visitor Centre. 

Here, I am half way across, looking down on the River Dee below.

There is a narrow footpath along one side of it. The boats are right up to the edge of a sheer drop on the other side.

More fantastic views.

Wow it's a long way down.

I walked over and back, then went down to a road to get some distance shots.

Now you can see how tall it is.

Here is a good web site for the Aqueduct.  And this one.

Time to move on, time to head back by a different route. I picked up the sign for Offa's Dyke Path, it looked interesting. Through a wood.

And out onto the hills, they call it the Panorama Walk. Fantastic views. That's Llangollen down there. Time to linger and sit for a while and eat my sandwich.

Off the path and onto a road where the sheep roam free.

I had it in mind to go up there, but watched two walkers slowly crawl towards the top. It looked a bit steep and I hadn't got time, so I took the easy route and bimbled around the bottom of it.

I picked up the road again and came back down to the canal. This is Llangollen Junction.

Once back in the town I called in the Co op for some food to have a picnic in my room. Yes, I have cake, I found an iced lemon cake, reduced from £1.25 to 44p. I've checked the total walked and it's 12 miles. I'm pleased with that, it was a brilliant day.

I'm moving on tomorrow to find something else to look at. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip