North Wales Days

With a few days off, decided we'd make our way up to North Wales and see a few castles (among other things).

First stop - on our way to Caernarfon - was Porthmadog.  Weather was a bit grey, but we had a nice a wander round the town, checking out the harbour and steam railway (although we didn't take a train - too mean!).

On to Caernarfon itself - booked into our accommodation at the Black Boy Inn, and just made it to Caernarfon Castle for a quick look round before closing time.



The castle really is a monumental building - you can see why it's a World Heritage Site!

Its walls provide great views over Caernarfon, and its labyrinth of passages, staircases and towers offer plenty to explore. 

The interpretation is also nicely done, as you happen upon artistic sights such as this model of Edward I's head in the Black Tower - reflecting on how he used Welsh legends to reinforce his position of authority over Wales.


The next day dawned sunnier, and we crossed the Menai Strait to Plas Newydd - the ancestral home of the Marquesses of Anglesey, now in the custody of the National Trust. 

The house itself is a long almost low building, with stunning views over Snowdonia, housing a range of exhibitions linked to the family, including memorabilia from Waterloo where the first Marquess lost his leg.

It was the Rex Whistler mural in the house which really captured my imagination though, and in the gardens we were particularly taken by a fern rockery fountain pool, where I caught this picture of a thrush visiting for a quick drink.

We had a good wander round the house and grounds - walking out through the woods to the Rhododendron Garden (although unfortunately we were too late to see it in its full glory).

By early afternoon we were on our way back to Caernarfon with time to revisit the castle and take a proper look around.  Finished the day's activities with a walk up nearby Twthill which offered more stunning views over the town and surrounding countryside.

The next day it was home via Conwy Castle - smaller than Caernarfon, but just as interesting, linked to the main peninsula by a castellated Telford bridge, and with an adjacent railway bridge also disguised to fit with the medieval zeitgeist.

In addition Conwy has a fairly intact set of town walls, most of which can be walked.  It makes for a fascinating excursion, seeing how the town has been fitted inside the encircling walls, which in places are even incorporated into the buildings.

From Conwy we moved on to Llanrwst, where we indulged in toasted teacakes, swimming in butter at the iconic tearoom by the bridge.  Then the final stop on our journeyings took us to Trawsfynydd lake where we walked over the footbridge in glorious sunshine.

All in all a nice few days in the land of castles - although there is plenty more to see!