We visited four exciting places: Beaumaris Castle, Penrhyn Castle, the Welsh National Slate Museum and we went up Yr Wyddfa on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. They were all quite good in their different ways.
The first was Beaumaris Castle, which is across the Menai Strait. We went by bus, which was quite exciting in itself because of the narrow roads, and the cheapest way to travel. The castle is a genuine 11th century castle, though it is unfinished due to the king at the time (whose name I have forgotten) running out of money because he was engaged in fighting the Scots. As you do, clearly.
It has a nice gift shop, but no café. The town of Beaumaris (pop 1200) has lots of tea shops and things. We found a rather good tea shop who did us an excellent sandwich, but only just in time for us to catch our bus back, which gave![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aunty_marion and I a bit of a turn.
Penrhyn Castle is the nearest to me, and you get there by taxi if you have no transport. There is a bus stop, but it is a long walk (too long for me) to get to the Visitor Centre on foot from the bus stop. Once you get to the Visitor Centre if you have any sense you wait for a golf buggy, and get a lift to the castle entrance. The driver of the buggy told us that the castle is, in his words, 'Smoke and mirrors.'
It was built in the 18th and 19th centuries as a copy of an 11th century castle. The family who built it were (I hesitate to say 'are' because I don't know them) horrible. The castle itself was built on the work of West Indian slaves on plantations and by exploiting local slate miners. Penrhyn had the nicest food in the café. The Wikipedia entry is interesting.
I thought the Slate Museum was a bit dull. Lots of walking, too much for me, and I have but a slight interest in slate, if you see what I mean. Even the food in the café was boring. The sandwiches only had white bread. Plus, it's £40 in a taxi to get there and £40 in a taxi to get back.
Actually worth the £40 each way in a taxi is the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Great views. The steam train to the summit is £55 return. If you ever get the chance to go, don't book just on the feeling that you might want to do it - there are no refunds if you change your mind. The café at the top has an odd choice of food - burgers and hot dogs. Go figure. And it may be cloudy at the top, as it was for us.
The first was Beaumaris Castle, which is across the Menai Strait. We went by bus, which was quite exciting in itself because of the narrow roads, and the cheapest way to travel. The castle is a genuine 11th century castle, though it is unfinished due to the king at the time (whose name I have forgotten) running out of money because he was engaged in fighting the Scots. As you do, clearly.
It has a nice gift shop, but no café. The town of Beaumaris (pop 1200) has lots of tea shops and things. We found a rather good tea shop who did us an excellent sandwich, but only just in time for us to catch our bus back, which gave
aunty_marion and I a bit of a turn. Penrhyn Castle is the nearest to me, and you get there by taxi if you have no transport. There is a bus stop, but it is a long walk (too long for me) to get to the Visitor Centre on foot from the bus stop. Once you get to the Visitor Centre if you have any sense you wait for a golf buggy, and get a lift to the castle entrance. The driver of the buggy told us that the castle is, in his words, 'Smoke and mirrors.'
It was built in the 18th and 19th centuries as a copy of an 11th century castle. The family who built it were (I hesitate to say 'are' because I don't know them) horrible. The castle itself was built on the work of West Indian slaves on plantations and by exploiting local slate miners. Penrhyn had the nicest food in the café. The Wikipedia entry is interesting.
I thought the Slate Museum was a bit dull. Lots of walking, too much for me, and I have but a slight interest in slate, if you see what I mean. Even the food in the café was boring. The sandwiches only had white bread. Plus, it's £40 in a taxi to get there and £40 in a taxi to get back.
Actually worth the £40 each way in a taxi is the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Great views. The steam train to the summit is £55 return. If you ever get the chance to go, don't book just on the feeling that you might want to do it - there are no refunds if you change your mind. The café at the top has an odd choice of food - burgers and hot dogs. Go figure. And it may be cloudy at the top, as it was for us.
Tags: