Caernarfon

I took advantage of a break in my work shifts to head over for a long-overdue visit to Dewi and Wendi. They had recommended a site attached to the Tafarn Snowdonia Parc pub and microbrewery. I got completely lost on the way, and the fuel gauge was firmly on 0 by the time I arrived in the dark. We met in the pub that night and the time just flew.

The site has a bus stop outside and on their suggestion I headed for Llanberis on the Sherpa service using a day rover ticket. I walked along the lakeside (via a naff sword sculpture) to the castle. Long views down the valley from this vantage point. 

I caught the bus up to Pen-y-pass, a wonderful route, especially if you're not driving it! I was lucky with the weather on the way up, but just as I was about to start exploring, the rain came down again so I jumped on the next bus back down to Llanberis (I am so feeble). Nice lunch in Pantri then I found an interesting photo exhibition in St Padern's church - a local photographer had captured a range of people from slate miners to policemen. Stupidly I didn't note his name and now can't find any trace online.

The next day I headed in to Caernarfon on the bus, and visited the castle, which is extensive and has exhibitions in the towers, plus large sculptures representing the castle builders and inhabitants.

Lunch downstairs in a cosy room:

then a wander to the Galleri on the quay and the Market Place to see where Dewi hosts the world-famous GlobalHeads gigs. 

I met Wendi and Gweni in the square, and we bought some cakes to take back to their house for home-cooked curry and football on the telly (Wales drew and Wrexham lost, oh dear).

Wendi had kindly taken me to a petrol station so I could buy a canister of diesel, so I wasn't stranded the next day. This time I ignored the satnav and found the new bypass - I MUST GET A NEW SATNAV.

Monmouth

 I stayed at Monmouth to catch up with Dyfan and Anita. The site was bang in the middle of the town, and what a nice town it was too - interesting and pretty. Lots of attractions in the area, but next time I need to come in April or later, as lots was closed for Winter.

After a late, boozy, night where we put the world to rights and ate Anita's delicious curry, I explored the town and also did a bit more furtling in the van - e.g. added some hooks I bought in the town.

We ate out the second night - but being 'of a certain age' this year (60!) we were on the soft drinks and had an early night. Wimps the lot of us, but to be fair Dyfan and Anita were working.

The next day I drove through some gorgeous countryside over to the impressive Tintern Abbey. Also nearby an old watermill from industrial days - now a pleasant spot with tempting crafty shops (new coasters for the van) and a cafe.

I tried to find a good spot to view the Severn Bridge on my way to Bridgend, but totally failed - I caught a brief glimpse but got lost in an industrial estate and so gave up.

Manobier and Tenby

 After a visit to Lou (during which we went up Pen-y-Fan) I went West via a visit to dour Camarthen, to a small site at Jameston. There was a little village with a great pub, and a bus you could take all along the coast on a day rover ticket.

I took the bus in to Tenby, and visited the museum which had a letter from Darwin, information about the instigator of the equals symbol (Robert Recorde), the pyjamas of Dylan Thomas and collections of memorabilia from Roald Dahl, and Welsh lefty actor Kenneth Griffith. The art gallery had some Gwen John and Nicky Wire (Manics).

Then I bus-hopped to Manobier beach, had an ice-cream and saw an old neolithic tomb on the cliffside, called the King's Quoit Cromlech.

Finally I checked out Skrinkle Haven, which looked like a crusty's favourite spot - for a future visit.



I broke the journey up to meet Angela with a stop off at a fabulous valley-top view at Sugarloaf Viewpoint, and to the small town of Knighton (with a well-stocked organic foodshop).

Angelsey with Dad

On route to Ireland I had a night at a spectacular CL on Anglesey. I'd picked it because it was near the South Stack lighthouse that Dad had famously failed to find when leading a school geology field trip.

RSPB The Range

His ashes had been under my bed for two years, and the time had finally come to say farewell in a dignified manner. So I  chucked him off a cliff.

Evening brought a beautiful sunset, and the next morning I just had time to visit Ty Mawr Hut Circles, an ancient monument. Lovely wildflowers everywhere. 

Gellilydan

Wednesday

Tudor house. DLG museum and grave

Porthmadoc beer shop

CMC site

Thursday

RAIN - Electric Mountain / Dinorwic Llanberis, 

Drove back past Green Man site and Bedd Gelert but didn't stop.

Aberdaron

        

Sunday

1. St Bueno's Cynnog Fawr

2. Nant Gwrtheyrn - down to centre, fishcakes, climb up.

3. Maritime museum - Nefyn?

4. Walk across golf course to pub. Cafe bara brith.

5. Aberdaron site - slopey, tiny village. Aweful night, gales, rain, I was mashed in to the side of the van.

Monday

Rotten morning, cafe shut, 7 mile drive to get fuel. Then - wow - Felin Uchaf. Sheep mat. Down to Aberdaron, church, NT art exhibit, lunch on site in the sun. Bardsey lovely, but cold wind.

Tuesday

Porth Or - singing sands, cofee, jasper? House and art gallery, theatre Llanbedrog. 3 ladies house, hells mouth. Ice cream in Aberdaron.