SPRING HOLIDAY TO SNOWDONIA & NORTH WALES
by Ray and Ann Mayhew
In May, 25 BNTA members set off to enjoy a tour of Snowdonia and North Wales. We were travelling in a comfortable coach driven by Colin, our excellent driver and tour guide and stayed in a Llandudno seafront hotel. The group were able to enjoy not only the wide variety of visits and venues but also great conversations as we travelled and toured as well as at meal times, making it a truly memorable experience. Here are some brief notes as examples of what we got to see.
GWYDIR CASTLE
With not a castellation or moat in sight the ‘castle’ is a sturdily stone built elegant Tudor house near to the River Conwy which seasonally floods, possibly deterring any attackers. We were welcomed by strutting calling peacocks and the owners / restorers of this gem of a building. Their story of the acquisition of an unwanted seriously dilapidated property and its recovery through historical knowledge, research, hard work, perseverance and sometimes remarkable good luck captivated us all. We left loving the castle almost as much as they so patently do.
BODNANT GARDENS (NT)
A wide variety of trees and plants are spread in and around a steep sided ravine giving a truly dramatic feel with glimpses of the mountains beyond. The Gardens were ablaze with the vibrant colours of azaleas and rhododendrons.
WEST HIGHLAND RAILWAY
With our own carriage we journeyed from Caernarvon to Porthmadog pulled by steam train. The highlight of that trip was the section in the Aberglaslyn Pass. Sun sparkled on the crystal clear Aberglaslyn River as it weaved its way between, and sometimes leapt over, the boulders.
NATIONAL SLATE MUSEUM
Among Snowdonia’s magnificent mountains and smaller mountains of slate waste, sits this museum. We learnt of all that is involved in producing roof slates and other slate items. The slate splitter demonstrated consummate skills that were matched by his knowledgeable and humorous commentary.
PLAS NEWYDD (NT)
The grounds were the perfect place for the best view of Snowdonia across the Menai Straights and the dining room of the house gave a vista of famous views of places in Italy combined in a vast floor to ceiling trompe l'oeil- painting by Rex Whistler.
It would take a book to fully convey all of what we experienced including the places not mentioned, but hopefully it gives you a flavour of what a BNTA holiday can be like.
Bodnant Gardens
Trompe L'oeil
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