Ilkeston Cam On Holiday In North Wales 2000

Part One - Llandudno and Llanrwst

An interesting cloud formation over Llandudno Bay provided a welcome (croeso) to North Wales. The Winchmore Hotel (below left) situated right on the sea front was our base for the week from where we would explore the surrounding area. Our arrival in North Wales was greeted by torrential rain but the skies soon cleared and the following week we were only troubled by the odd shower now and again. Thunder, lightning, hail and even snow were reported on the national news but fortunately for us, they by-passed Llandudno completely. A pleasant late afternoon stroll under blue skies along the promenade and onto the pier provided the perfect start to our holiday. Llandudno's Pier stretches 2,220 feet into the sea and is still popular with young and old alike. As well as the usual amusements, children's fairground rides and kiosks selling all the normal "tacky" souvenirs from the seaside, the pier also provides a platform for anglers. It houses the RNLI kiosk where gifts and souvenirs of the not so tacky nature may be purchased to help support this worthy organisation and finally, it is an ideal spot to view the splendid limestone headland known as the Great Orme (left). Look closely and you can see the Marine Drive which circumnavigates the headland.

Pont Fawr - Llanrwst's most famous landmark. Our first outing took us south from Llandudno down the Conwy Valley to the little market town of Llanrwst. The most famous landmark in the town is a seventeenth century bridge known as the Pont Fawr. These two views were taken from the bridge. On the left the main road snakes its way through the town and on the right is the view back up the valley towards the coast. It is just possible to make out the local church hidden among the trees along the river bank. Guide books correctly state the Pont Fawr "gracefully crosses the Conwy river". It is said to have been built by Inigo Jones in 1636. I am sure the "camouflaged" Book Shop and Tea Room on the far bank displayed a National Trust sign. Note: I have now found a reference in the Ordnance Survey pathfinder guide for North Wales, Snowdonia & Offa's Dyke published by Jarrold that states "Tu-hwnt-i'r-bont is a 15th century former courthouse, now owned by the National Trust and used as a giftshop and tearoom". I knew I wasn't dreaming! Our approach to Llanrwst had been via the beautiful Vale of Conwy and this picture was typical of the scenery with the higher peaks of the Snowdonia National Park obscured by the clouds. Despite the apparent cloud filled sky, the place where I took this photograph from was bathed in sunshine. Continued in Part 2 - Betwys-y-Coed Other parts: 3 - Bangor; 4 - Llyn Ogwen & Llanfair; 5 - Caernarfon & Blaenau Ffestiniog; 6 - Bodelwyddan & Rhos-On-Sea; 7 - Conwy Bridges & Small House; 8 - Conwy Quay & Town; 9 - The Great Orme & 10 - Llandudno Town.

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