Llangollen and home

Definitely going home today. Stopped at Llangollen for a break and for lunch, the roads (A5) seemed very quiet so far. Bought some award winning sausages from a local butcher. I can't imagine how many sausage awards there must be cos every butcher in Wales seems to have won one!  

River Dee at Llangollen

The M6 was a  nightmare going north, but it was OK for us heading south, thanks(?) to an accident near Thelwell Viaduct. Finally arrived home home at 7:30 after doing the weekends shopping at Sainsburys in Nuneaton.  

Bala Lake

Set off towards home but did not get very far. Drove round to Tywyn, which was tedious and not very inspiring but Aberdovey a few miles further was much better. There is a sailing club in the Dovey estuary, good beach and plenty of  nice tea and coffee shops. Still lovely weather so decided to go to Lake Bala. The drive along the estuary is very pretty as is the road around the mountains from Dolgellau. We are staying at a C&CC listed site at Pen y Bont which is just 200yds from the lake and the Bala narrow gauge railway.  We will try heading home again tomorrow, maybe.

Phwelli and Criccieth

Started sunny so we took the early bus into Barmouth and jumped on a train to Phwelli, which was a bit of a disappointment, so jumped on the next train back and got off at Criccieth. Much better - a proper small Welsh seaside town. Enjoyed the train ride along the coast, gave me time to admire the scenery which is excellent in this corner of Wales. BBQ tonight then moving on tomorrow towards home.

Crossing the estuary towards Portmadoc from the train

Barmouth site

 A lazy day on site today. It started cloudy but was clear and sunny by noon. We walked down to the beach about half a mile away for a paddle and an ice cream. Sea breezes keeping us comfortable on site. 

The pitch at Transdir near Barmouth overlooks the sea 

Portmadoc and Harlech

On Monday morning we took the van up to Portmadoc for shopping and there were few photo opportunities around the harbour and narrow gauge railway. Came back via Harlech, by which time the sun was breaking through, so we stopped and visited the ruined castle overlooking the beach and then had afternoon tea with panoramic view of the castle.

Harlech Castle

Barmouth via Bedgellert

Arrived late afternoon for 3 days on nice pitch with sea views to the Llynn peninsula. It is handy for Barmouth and the coast north to Portmadoc with a bus and train nearby.
We had Sunday roast enroute in Bedgellert where Rosemary re-established contact with an acquaintance from her International Sheep Dog Society days, after chatting to a tourist information lady. Remarkably she lived next door to Laura Dunn who is now 92 and Rosemary's boss's wife from 45 years ago. They spoke on the phone and updated addresses. 

Lunched at The Royal Goat Hotel in Bedgellert

Betws y Coed

Left earlyish for out next stop at the Tree Top Adventure centre. No, we have not gone completely bonkers -  its a free overnight Britstop for motorhomes. Rosemary spotted a food festival at Oswestry, as we were passing on the A5, so we called in for an hour for samples etc.
Arrived at Betws y Coed in early afternoon so wandered around the touristy bit and watched some youths jumping off the bridge into the river. Well it was hot, but they were breaking the law and apparently some on the spot fines were handed out earlier in the day! We have the adventure centre to ourselves for the night, except for a swarm of midges which I discovered a bit too late! 

The giant swing at Tree Top Adventure  

Wales and Wenlock

Back from cruising and already we are Roemin Around in the van again. Booked a few days on the North Welsh coast to take advantage of the summer weather and stopped at Much Wenlock on the way. Very nice old Shropshire market town with novel PAYG loo and the best butcher in Britain, both tested and approved by Rosemary. Nice CC site on a disused railway station a few miles away, good for Wenlock Way walks apparently but no toilet block!