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Peaceful Wales

An August 2002 trip to Wales by HeatherO

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A weeks holiday with two families together in North Wales. A combination of activities to suite our mixture of ages.

  • 6 reviews
  • 7 photos

Peaceful WalesBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Our favorite activity was the climb up Snowdon because of the sense of achievement. The climb up was hard, but the climb down was even harder.

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Tan y Graig, Country HolidaysBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

This is an an old detached farmhouse that's been extened to a 5-bedroom family house. It is on the highest part of Denbigh Moor and a mile from the main road, at the end of a private track. From the front of the farmhouse there was extensive views over the moors. The lounge had three large sofas, a TV, and an open fireplace, which we didn't need in August. The kitchen had a large farmhouse table where we enjoyed several family meals. The four upstairs bedrooms where all spacious. The downstairs bedroom was comfortable with a double bed and furniture. Outside there was a garden area with a picnic table. There was also a large gravel parking area where we played ball games. I would warn families with little children there are also several old and unused outbuildings that we did not explore. The area had many footpaths allowing you to walk all over the moors.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by HeatherO on November 9, 2002

Tan y Graig, Country Holidays
Bylchau Wales, United Kingdom

Snowdon by FootBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Llan Clydaw
Take the exit on the right of the car park which starts to climb steeply over rocks and offers a view down Llanberis Pass. When you reach Bwlch Moch there is a junction; the path on the right takes you over the ridge to Crib Goch, Crib Ddysgl, and onto Snowdon. We took the path that went straight ahead into the valley alongside Llan Clydaw. The path continued climbing gently along the side of the lake and passed a second smaller lake called Llan Glaslyn. You then reach the ziz-zag, a series of near-steps which zig-zag up the side of the mountain and end with a short walk onto Snowdon. It was very crowded, but the walk around the top of Snowdon had wonderful views. Near the summit is a train station with toilets, a souvenir shop, and a restaurant that serves hot drinks. Having climbed to the top, the only thing left was the walk back down to the car park, which took just as long as--and hurt my legs more than--the climb up.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by HeatherO on November 9, 2002

Snowdon by Foot
Mount Snowdon Wales, United Kingdom

Swallow FallsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

From the Top
Having already seen several pictures of the falls on postcards, we went to see the local attraction. You had to pay £1 per adult and 50p per child to enter a small area with two vantage points of the falls. The first vantage point was at the top of the waterfalls and allowed you to take pictures up the river, where white water rushed over rocks toward you. We then went down a path to a wooden platform in the middle of the falls where you could take pictures up or down the falls. We found it a waste of money and went over the road to the carpark and went on a forest walk instead.
  • Member Rating 1 out of 5 by HeatherO on November 9, 2002

Swallow Falls
near Betws-y-Coed Wales, United Kingdom

Betws-y-CoedBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Betws y Coed"

There were cheap tourist trinket shops, expensive craft shops, and loads of mountain specialist shops. The Tourist Information center had several craft activites, including smal workshops with local wood carvers and potters.

We always found it crowded with lots of coach visitors. They charged for parking in the car parks, but allowed people to park for free on the narrow roads which lead to a lot of traffic congestion.

  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by HeatherO on November 9, 2002

Betws-y-Coed
valley in Snowdonia Forest Park Wales, United Kingdom LL24 0AH
+44 1690 710426

Electric MountainBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Electric Mountain is a hydro-electric power station built inside an old slate mine. Tours of the power station are purchased from the visitor's centre and each tour has a limited number of seats so the tickets are sold with a set start time. Once you've purchased your tickets, you'll probably have some time before your tour starts to roam around the centre and look at the interactive displays. The tour starts with a video selling the advantages of electricity from a hydro-electric power station. You are then escorted onto a mini bus that takes you through the labyrinthian tunnels that have been built inside the old slate mine. We did not actually see the electicity being made, as there was no demand at the time, but they said this station typically tops up the area's electicity network several times a day.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by HeatherO on November 9, 2002

Electric Mountain
Llanberis - Gwynedd Wales, United Kingdom LL55 4UR
01286 870636

About the Writer

HeatherO
HeatherO
Plymouth, United Kingdom

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