Iron Bridge

Sunday 6^th May 2012

Weather report for today, high cloud, a light cool breeze with temperature approx. 13°.

Departed Birdlip just after 9:00AM for the journey to North Wales. Stopped off at Telford in Shropshire to see the Iron Bridge Gorge. It is so named because of the iron bridge that spans the gorge. The Iron Bridge was constructed in 1779 and although originally built for vehicular traffic it is now solely a pedestrian bridge.

Canal Boat on Aqueduct

Continued on into Wales and stopped off in Trevor, near Llangolan, to see and walk across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. The canal flows over the aqueduct along side a narrow pathway. The aqueduct was designed and engineered by Thomas Telford. It is a marvellous feet of engineering considering how high the aqueduct is above the valley floor, well over 200ft. Construction commenced in 1795 and was completed in 1805 as part of the Ellesmere canal.

Arrived in Betws-Y-Coed about 3:30PM and checked into Glyntwrog House B&B where we will be staying for the next 4 nights.

Weather on arrival was wet and cold but cleared reasonably quickly so we went for a walk into the main street of Betws-Y-Coed. After a long walk checking out all the hiking and camping equipment shops, we had a very tasty dinner of grilled ocean trout at the Royal Oak Hotel and headed back across the Waterloo Bridge and up the hill to our B&B.

Bruce the Engine Driver

Monday 7^th May 2012

This morning’s weather did not look good although the rain was holding off.

Enjoyed a lovely Welsh Cooked Breakfast and set off about 9:15Aam for the days’ adventures.

First item on the list was a to drive to Porthmadog Harbour for a trip on the world famous Blaenau- Ffestiniogg Railway. The train departed Porthmadog at 10:15AM. We had a stop at Blaenau-Ffestiniogg (the end of the line) for about 20 minutes while the locomotive was shunted onto a siding so its water tanks could be filled before being reattached to the carriages for the return trip. Bruce had a short ride in the cab of the shunting engine at the station. Arrived back at Porthmadog at 1:00pm.  

Lynne at Portmeirion

Back in the car, (rain still holding off) for the short drive to Portmeirion- a beautiful Italianate village built by Clough Williams-Ellis. He wanted to show how a beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it.

He started work in 1925 and spent 50 years building the village. The village is a showpiece tourist attraction, but no one lives there. The village itself has been used to film many TV series including ‘Prisoner’ starring Patrick McGoohan. Steady rain starting to fall by now – weather gods not too kind today!!

Harlech Castle

Last stop for the day was Harlech Castle. Waited for a break in the weather and walked through and to the top of the ruins of the Castle which was built by Edward I between 1283 and 1289. It was one of a string of 14 built in and on the borders on Northern Wales. The views from the top of the tower were spectacular and would have been even better had it been sunny.

Finished the day off with dinner at Ty Gwyn Hotel, a 16^th century coaching inn just down the road from our B&B. Lynne had Chicken and I had whole jumbo trout. Excellent and the best meal we have had so far.