North Wales. Beaches, Castles, Railways and memories

Snowdon, Portmeirion, Harlech, Shell Island, Llanfair, Caernarfon and Ffestiniog. A family trip.

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Our journey to Wales started from a childhood memory. A memory of a castle by the sea overlooking a beautiful beach. We had run around the castle exploring the passageways and stairs as children do. But the memory that had stayed the most was of looking down from the ramparts and seeing an amusement arcade below at ground level. We really wanted to go and play those games.

So many years later I persuaded my parents to accompany me to the castle to see how it was now and build some new memories.

The castle was at Harlech and we booked a week at a cottage a couple of miles away at Llanfair. Our first full day, we found some steps from our cottage going down to the beach I remembered and walked along it to the castle in the town.

The beach was unspoilt and empty with the mountains of Snowdonia in the distance, we could clearly make out the Snowdon Horseshoe.

We walked up the hill to the castle and it was all I remembered. Standing impressive on a rock overlooking the coast, it was in a good state of repair. We explored the turrets and passageways. Not running like children but at a more leisurely pace. The views from the high turrets were stunning.

We had climbed Snowdon on the school trip and also on family holidays but now that wasn't looking like an option unless we caught the railway. None of us had done this and there were mixed feelings about not going up the mountain by foot.

The day was wet and the windows were steamed up. From the centre of the carriage the view was not great and as we got higher we went into the cloud and the weather was appalling. There was barely enough time to reach the cairn at the top and get a coffee for the return trip.

On our way back we made a stop at Caernafon Castle and the Black Boy pub for some good pub food and to dry out.

The next day we visited Shell Island. I had been to a beach in Western Australia called Shell Beach. The whole beach there was made of small white shells. Shell Island's beach was also covered in shells. They were bigger and of more variety. There were amazing views across to the other side of the sound.

The campsite by the beach was quiet and the shop and restaurant had a slightly run down feel. But there was no denying the beach was beautiful and flocks of Oystercatchers flew by as we sat there watching the waves.

We were a bit tired that day and headed back at the sand dunes for a cup of tea at the cafe and home for a nap.

Another childhood memory from the school trip was of the Festiniog railway. I only remembered the name but we decided to try another rail journey after the somewhat disappointing Snowdon trip. In fairness the Snowdon Railway could have been brilliant in better weather and for Festiniog the day was looking far better.

The train set off from Porthmadog across a bridge over the estuary and to your left there are is the Snowdon massif. It may be a tourist railway now but the train is a proper train and the engine and carriages have been beautifully restored. The train goes up the vale to the former slate mining town of Blau Festiniog with the river and lake down below to your right. At one point the train goes round a loop to gain height.

If you catch the morning train there is time to explore the town of Blau Festiniog before catching the train back. It has a slate mine if you are interested in history and Zip World if you are a thrill seeker.

Portmeirion is an Italian style coastal village created by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis. It is famous for the 60's TV series the Prisoner.

The architecture and mix of styles is amazing and it's hard to believe you're in the UK.

The track takes you down through the village to the estuary and there are hotels, gardens, swimming pools and cafes all created in a mediteranean style.

We liked it so much, we went back.

We made a quick stop at the fine town of Llandudno on the way back

Видео North Wales. Beaches, Castles, Railways and memories канала Northern bloke travels