Marian & B made up some great sandwiches for our lunch, a thermos full of hot coffee and a final run down from Michael on the route to take. Get on to the M4 heading to London then off at exit 32 and it’s the A470 going north all the way!
They were right about the rain and putting the sleeping bags into the car somehow seemed a hopeful thought. Well it was in case of an emergency.
So all set at 930 it was good byes all round and we are off. Up through to the National Park, the Brecons. Sun tried to come out, but still raining and very low clouds and mist. We were lucky that Michael had taken us around the Brecons when it was much clearer when we were on a previous visit.
The fields were just as we always comment, just a patchwork quilt of greens and browns across the countryside dotted with black grey sheep-black underbelly, legs, face and grey topside. Mauve heather/gorse mountains look like rocks. This is a walkers paradise, like so many places in Britain.
So nice to see the rivers running fast over pebbles, rocks and through the green fields with a variety of trees some of them growing phenomenally tall.
Pushing on ahead on the A470 through Builth Wells much the same countryside on through the non-stop rain.
Stopped for a break at Meirion Mill in the Snowdonia National Park. This is where King Arthur had his last battle, being slain here. Ate the last of the sandwiches, which were beautiful. Had a look around the shop/mill, mostly souvenirs and clothes and of course made use of the toilets.
On we go with the rain setting in harder once again. Past Cymer Abbey and through Llechwedd where the slate caverns are. What a place. This must be where the slate is mined. Huge mountains of it, most of it though hidden from us by the heavy rain and mist. It’s used everywhere, the walls on the side of the roads, houses, churches, schools in fact nearly everywhere you can imagine. The roads here are being extensively reworked with a dual carriageway being carved through the rocks. The slate being used extensively for the build up of the road. The face of the place is being changed as a result of the traffic that must use this route and the subsidence that has occurred in many places. Delays all the time with traffic lights and lolly pop stop/go signs.
Betws-y-Coed very busy. Hotels, B& B’s, shops all awash with people milling about everywhere, sheltering under umbrellas or running from shop to shop trying to escape the rain.
It was time to leave the A470 and turn on to the A5 still in the Snowdonia National Park. Michael was right when he said this was a great scenic drive. Through Capel Curig making for Bangor. Feeling a travel weary by now we were thinking about finding somewhere to stay the night.
Into Bangor we found the tourist information office was closed. Saw a few ‘No Vacancies’ so pressed on to Holyhead, crossing the impressive Britannia Bridge. Still raining, we stopped of at few places and found there were no vacancies. The tent did not appeal to me, so when we found the Haven and a Mr. Evans who welcomed us with open arms, we were delighted. Great view overlooking where the car/passenger ferry comes and goes each day. Would we be going to Ireland tomorrow he asked? No thanks, we just want to find somewhere to have a bite to eat, a walk through the cobbled mall, a drink and go to bed. Which we did.
They were right about the rain and putting the sleeping bags into the car somehow seemed a hopeful thought. Well it was in case of an emergency.
So all set at 930 it was good byes all round and we are off. Up through to the National Park, the Brecons. Sun tried to come out, but still raining and very low clouds and mist. We were lucky that Michael had taken us around the Brecons when it was much clearer when we were on a previous visit.
The fields were just as we always comment, just a patchwork quilt of greens and browns across the countryside dotted with black grey sheep-black underbelly, legs, face and grey topside. Mauve heather/gorse mountains look like rocks. This is a walkers paradise, like so many places in Britain.
So nice to see the rivers running fast over pebbles, rocks and through the green fields with a variety of trees some of them growing phenomenally tall.
Pushing on ahead on the A470 through Builth Wells much the same countryside on through the non-stop rain.
Stopped for a break at Meirion Mill in the Snowdonia National Park. This is where King Arthur had his last battle, being slain here. Ate the last of the sandwiches, which were beautiful. Had a look around the shop/mill, mostly souvenirs and clothes and of course made use of the toilets.
On we go with the rain setting in harder once again. Past Cymer Abbey and through Llechwedd where the slate caverns are. What a place. This must be where the slate is mined. Huge mountains of it, most of it though hidden from us by the heavy rain and mist. It’s used everywhere, the walls on the side of the roads, houses, churches, schools in fact nearly everywhere you can imagine. The roads here are being extensively reworked with a dual carriageway being carved through the rocks. The slate being used extensively for the build up of the road. The face of the place is being changed as a result of the traffic that must use this route and the subsidence that has occurred in many places. Delays all the time with traffic lights and lolly pop stop/go signs.
Betws-y-Coed very busy. Hotels, B& B’s, shops all awash with people milling about everywhere, sheltering under umbrellas or running from shop to shop trying to escape the rain.
It was time to leave the A470 and turn on to the A5 still in the Snowdonia National Park. Michael was right when he said this was a great scenic drive. Through Capel Curig making for Bangor. Feeling a travel weary by now we were thinking about finding somewhere to stay the night.
Into Bangor we found the tourist information office was closed. Saw a few ‘No Vacancies’ so pressed on to Holyhead, crossing the impressive Britannia Bridge. Still raining, we stopped of at few places and found there were no vacancies. The tent did not appeal to me, so when we found the Haven and a Mr. Evans who welcomed us with open arms, we were delighted. Great view overlooking where the car/passenger ferry comes and goes each day. Would we be going to Ireland tomorrow he asked? No thanks, we just want to find somewhere to have a bite to eat, a walk through the cobbled mall, a drink and go to bed. Which we did.
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