Cymru (Wales)

Conwy, Wales

We arrived by ferry to the island of Anglesey in Wales. Having dodged the major impact of the storm while we were in Ireland, the beautiful snow-capped mountains of Snowdonia National Park greeted us as we drove through Anglesey.  Our original plan was to eventually loop through the National Park on our way out of Wales, but the recent storm meant that it would take too long to drive through the park, and we were forced to admire Snowdonia from a distance.

Snowdonia National Park from Anglesey Island

View from the Motorway

Our first stop in Wales was the seaside resort town of Llandudno. This charming area was originally a Victorian-era resort town, and is home to some great beaches and a pier with rides, shops, and kid's amusement games. There is also an interesting connection to Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland here in Llandudno. Alice Liddel used to holiday here and was told stories by Mr. Carroll that would eventually become the book Alice in Wonderland. This was certainly one area we could have spent a few extra days strolling the streets and playing by the ocean.

Rocks = happy kids

Relaxing after some hide and seek in the dunes

The West Shore

Holybank Housek, our residence during our stay in Llandudno

View of The Parade, a curved street that runs along the beach

Side street in Llandudno

The Llandudno Pier

Will found a football shop on the pier, and was thrilled to discover his favorite team represented.

The end of the pier, with the Great Orme (limestone headland) in the background.

Probably a bit more fun than the folk park.

Our next stop in Wales was Conwy, home of another World Heritage Site- Conwy Castle. Built back in the 13th century during the reign of English King Edward I, this medieval castle is very imposing and lacks any modern refurbishments. Originally used to subjugate the Welsh, Conwy served a number of occupants through the 17th century. The castle and town are also surrounded by well-preserved town walls which give it a unique atmosphere and make you feel like you've stepped back in time. We've seen our share of castles throughout the year, and this was definitely one of our favorites.

Approaching Conwy Castle

My attempt at artsy photography

View of the family from the Kings Tower (where I am). I couldn't decide which picture I wanted, so I just put them both on.

The Chapel tower and River Conwy in the background.

It's just not an outing without ice cream.

Just a short walk from the castle was Plas Mawr, "the finest surviving  town house of the Elizabethan era in Britain", according to our guide book. We were told it was definitely worth a look, and since the kids had their ice cream fix, we checked it out.

The home of Robert Wynn, a wealthy trader

On our way to get some fish and chips for dinner, we had a chance encounter with a falcon, and finished the day with one more house (tour not required).

A Peregrine Falcon from a medieval performance

It wasn't on our original itinerary, but when we were staying in Llundudno our host told us not to miss the smallest house in Great Britain! Sure enough, it was very small.

We would have liked to spend more time in Wales, but it was time to move on. Next stop, England.