Snowdonia, Anglesy and The Elan Valley

While our Cyprus plans progress we decided to visit The Spectacular National Park of Snowdonia in North Wales. One of those places we had long talked about, but experiencing it firsthand was something else. 

So we set off from Cardiff and joined the A470, the road that runs from the Capital City, through Mid Wales and continuing up to the North West of Wales.

This road has the nickname of  "The Yellow brick road".

We drove on through some of the pictureque towns of Mid Wales including Brecon, Builth Wells and Newtown.

We stayed in the quaint and picturesque village of Beddgelert, tucked away among the lush valleys and dramatic landscapes of North Wales. The village felt like it had been lifted from a storybook, with its stone cottages and the tranquil River Glaslyn flowing through it.

 

We took a stroll through the village, enjoying the serene atmosphere and the legendary tale of Gelert, the faithful dog. The story was everywhere, and we couldn’t help but be moved by the legend as we visited the stone monument dedicated to the legend of Gelert.

The scenery was stunning, but as we set off to explore the surrounding areas, a thick, low-lying mist hung over the landscape, giving everything a mysterious, almost otherworldly feel.

We drove along winding roads that cut through the valleys and hills, barely able to make out the towering peaks of Snowdonia in the distance, hidden by the mist. Every so often, the mist would lift just enough for us to catch glimpses of the rugged mountains and lush, green landscapes.

We also made a visit to Caernarfon Castle a stunning medieval fortress in North Wales. They marveled at the castle's impressive stone walls and its strategic position overlooking the Menai Strait.

We then drove over the  Menai Bridge, admiring the impressive engineering that connects the mainland to Anglesey, with stunning views over the Menai Strait. We spent the day exploring this well known Welsh Island. 

We also took the chance to visit the stunning scenery of the Elan Valley in Mid Wales. This valley is the location of several dams and resivours that supplies the English City of Birmingham with its fresh water.

While we were in the area we just had to visit the Famous old Station at....

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgerychwyrndrobwllllantsiliogogogoch.

We arrived at the famous old station, which is charming in its simplicity, though the station sign, stretching almost comically long, takes centre stage. It’s surreal to see the name written out in full, and we couldn't resist taking a picture standing proudly beneath it, the whole sign towering over us. Mandy had a laugh trying to pronounce it — I gave it a go too, though I won’t say I was any better!

We drove over to the West Coast to visit the coastal town of Barmouth.

The town had this charming mix of rugged coastline, Victorian architecture, and that distinct feeling of an old seaside resort with its promenade and colourful beach huts.

We parked the car and wandered down to the beach first, where golden sands stretched out before us, meeting the blue-grey Irish Sea. It was one of those typical Welsh days—clouds hung low, but every now and then, the sun would

We also stayed overnight in the charming town of Rhayader in Mid Wales. We enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the river Wye in the late afternoon, taking in the peaceful scenery and the gentle sounds of the water flowing by. 

Memories of North and Mid Wales