2024 POSTCARD FROM NORTH WALES Monday 15 – Saturday 20 April

I took an Avanti train from Euston to Llandudno via Chester on Monday 15 April. We were delayed a bit by fallen trees, but eventually reached Chester only a little late. The journey from Chester to Llandudno was very slow and seemed to stop at a station every five minutes! Once there I took a taxi to the Dunoon Hotel where I checked into a small box of a room! On night one I had a good dinner table but sadly the Group Tour Manager failed to organise a meeting/drink with everyone before dinner, which was a shame. Hotel very average – room so small you couldn’t sling a mouse let alone a cat. No safe and no ISB plugs. Difficult to charge everything up with only two 3-point plugs. The bathroom was so small it was unbelievable – nowhere to put anything. On day one we set off at 08.45 for our Welsh Highland Railway train at Beddgelert. We had a wonderful journey to Caernarfon on the train and spent then spent the afternoon in Caernarfon visiting the town and the castle. After that we travelled by coach to Plas Cadnant Gardens where we spent an hour or so wandering around. We then travelled past the Menai and Britannia Bridges, as well as Penmaenmawr and Morfar beaches back to Llandudno. We all had a quiet dinner in the hotel that evening. On day two we spent the morning in Conwy Castle with a good guide, and then moved on to Snowdon. We boarded the Snowdon Mountain Railway and travelled three-quarters of the way up Snowdon. Weather at this time of year is not good enough to go to the top! After a short walk around in freezing weather we all got back on board and travelled back down to Llanberis. Once there we moved on to the Slate Museum – having been there before I went to the coffee shop for a hot chocolate! From there it was back to our hotel. On day three we had to look after ourselves so I took the local tram up to Great Orme in the morning. A good journey but it was so bitterly cold [and very windy] that I took a look for about 20 minutes or so and then made my way back. Spent an hour or so in the hotel warming up and then went for a walk along Llandudno Promenade until it started to spit with rain. So back to the hotel to relax for the afternoon – but someone must have told them I was there as – guess what – they started drilling in the room next to me! After kicking up a fuss and trying all sorts of solutions they managed to persuade the workmen to stop until tomorrow when we are out all day! They eventually soothed me with a glass of wine! On day four we visit Gwydir Castle in the morning – more like an old palace than a castle. It had a lovely garden with many peacocks make a good noise and display of themselves. From there we took the Festiniog Railway to Porthmadog, and after a visit to Portmeiron [been before!] we were driven back to our hotel. Dinner that evening was started with a Welsh harpist which was good! And back to Euston on Saturday – long old journey!