Tag: Castle

Day 05 – Dolgellau to Porthmadog

Sunshine again!  Best day of weather so far.  On day five we drove the remaining part of the Welsh west coast, then looped around the Lynn Peninsula ending back at Porthmadog.

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Braich y Pwll, Heather, Sheep
Braich y Pwll

 

Barmouth

Coastal Road Trip, Barmouth, Lifeboat
Lifeboat resting in the shallow and still early morning waters of Barmouth.

 

Harlech

Coastal Road Trip, Harlech Castle
Old meets new at Harlech Castle, with is modern bridge linked into the medieval fort.

 

Portmeirion

Coastal Road Trip, Portmeirion, Julian, Jarno
The totally surreal village of Portmeirion.  Created by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis.  Weird but we kind of liked it.
Coastal Road Trip, Portmeirion
The Central Piazza, but nothing is quite what it seems…
Coastal Road Trip, Portmeirion
Yes, this is Wales..?!

 

Criccieth

Coastal Road Trip, Criccieth
Criccieth with the contrast between the trim colourful town houses and the headland with Criccieth Castle perched on top.

 

Abersoch

Coastal Road Trip, Abersoch
Abersoch, tide is out again…

 

Plas yn Rhiw

Coastal Road Trip, Plas yn Rhiw
The blooming cottage garden at the modest yet comfy Plas yn Rhiw House, another National Trust property.

 

Aberdaron

Coastal Road Trip, Aberdaron
The former fishing village of Aberdaron with its bay and beach, plus car park concertinaed in this panorama shot.

 

Braich y Pwll

Coastal Road Trip, Braich y Pwll
The most westerly point of Wales, with breathtaking views from the single track lane to the coastguard lookout at the top.
Coastal Road Trip, Braich y Pwll, Julian, Jarno
Hello from Braich y Pwll and the Irish Sea.
Coastal Road Trip, Braich y Pwll, Heather
Braich y Pwll sheep enjoying the weather too.

 

Porthor

Coastal Road Trip, Porthor
Another National Trust stop at Porthor Beach on the north side of the Lynn Peninsula.

 

Porthdinllaen

Coastal Road Trip, Porthdinllaen
After trying to find Porthdinllaen precariously walking across a golf course, we turned back to the car park, and realized we could see it in the distance on the other side of the headland.
Coastal Road Trip, Porthdinllaen view
And in the final photo of the day, with the view to the east from Porthdinllaen across to Porthnefyn.  We then headed back south to Porthmadog for the evening.

 

Daily video

Day 04 – Cardigan to Dolgellau

Today we are starting our journey near Cardigan then driving up to Dolgellau, about 130 miles.  And yay!.. a sunny day 🙂

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Coastal Road, Sheep
Coastal Road Sheep

 

Cilgerran

Coastal Road Trip, Cilgerran
Being welcomed by this gentleman at Cilgerran Castle entrance.

 

St Dogmaels Abbey

Coastal Road Trip, St Dogmaels Abbey, Julian, Jarno
A few minutes down the road we reached the remains of St Dogmaels Abbey.  As well as castles, and lighthouses, lots of abbeys on this trip too!

 

Cardigan

Coastal Road Trip, Cardigan, Parking
Slightly worrying sign whilst parking near Cardigan.
Coastal Road Trip, Cardigan, Colourful Houses
The Welsh love their colourfully painted houses, this was on a side street behind the castle.  And yes, we did wear cardigans in Cardigan.

 

Aberporth

Coastal Road Trip, Aberporth
We enjoyed a picnic, with great views overlooking Aberporth bay.

 

Penbryn

Coastal Road Trip, Penbryn Beach, Telephone
A curious telephone at Penbryn Beach.
Coastal Road Trip, Penbryn Beach
And families enjoying the golden sands at Penbryn Beach, protected by the National Trust.  Free parking at the top of the hill if you are National Trust member.
Coastal Road Trip, New Quay
Again colourful Welsh houses at New Quay, we missed the turning for the town, so stopped further along the coast at Llanina Woods.  A muddy car park, with short walk through the woods to the pebbly and sandy beach.

 

Llanerchaeron

Coastal Road Trip, Llanerchaeron Estate
Making the most of our National Trust membership, driving slightly inland to visit the Llanerchaeron Estate.  Understated interior and beautiful gardens.
Coastal Road Trip, Llanerchaeron Estate, Gardens
A little potter around the gardens.
Coastal Road Trip, Llanerchaeron Estate, Coffee
..and time for coffee.

 

Aberaeron

Coastal Road Trip, Aberaeron
Then back to the coast to the colourful harbour houses of Aberaeron.

 

Coastal Road Sheep

Coastal Road Trip, Coastal Road, Sheep
Sheep along the coastal road.

 

Coastal Road Drivers

Coastal Road Trip, Car Interior, Julian, Jarno
On the road again…

 

Aberystwyth

Coastal Road Trip, Aberystwyth Castle
The remains of Aberystwyth Castle on the sea front.  Aberystwyth was grander than we had expected with its long promenade.

 

Aberdyfi

Coastal Road Trip, Aberdfyi
Views from Aberdyfi across the calm evening waters of the Dyfi estuary to Ynyslas.

 

Tywyn

Coastal Road Trip, Tywyn, Telescope
Jarno checking out the view from Tywyn promenade.

 

Bryncrug

Coastal Road Trip, Bryncrug, Woolly Street Art
Woolly street art over the bridge at Bryncrug.
Coastal Road Trip, Bryncrug, View to Snowdonia
The view over houses and woodland to Snowdonia.

 

Coastal Road from Llangelynin to Fairbourne

Coastal Road Trip, A493, Llangelynin to Fairbourne
Rolling landscape
Coastal Road Trip, A493, Fairbourne
Sea views
Coastal Road Trip, Fairbourne, Setting Sun
And setting sun.

 

Daily Video

Day 03 – Pembroke to Cardigan

Off on our third day of travel.  We will cover about 130 miles of coastal roads today.  A grey sky, but we’ll bring some sunshine.

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Newgale Beach
Newgale Beach

 

Milford Haven

Coastal Road Trip, Milford Haven, Flowers, Statue, Harbour
Colour and thoughtful art above the industrial landscape of Milford Haven.

 

Dale

Coastal Road Trip, Dale, Rain, Julian, Jarno
Welsh summer, heavy rain at Dale Beach – time for a coffee to wake us up!

 

St Ann’s

Coastal Road Trip, St Ann's High Lighthouse
Stunning views, steep cliffs and choppy waters at St Ann’s High Lighthouse.

 

Martin’s Haven

Coastal Road Trip, Wooltack Point
Walkers at the National Trust’s Martin’s Haven.
Coastal Road Trip, Martin's Haven, Wooltack Point, Midland Isle, Julian, Jarno
And here are two of those walkers with Wooltack Point and Midland Isle behind us.
Coastal Road Trip, Martin's Haven, Skin Care Cymru’s Don’t Be A Lobster Flag
Skin Care Cymru’s alternative Welsh flag: ‘Don’t Be A Lobster’, flying above the coastguard’s hut at Martins’s Haven.

 

St Brides

Coastal Road Trip, St Brides
Julian stayed here at St Brides with his family 10 years ago, so was keen to visit again.

 

Little Haven

Coastal Road Trip, Little Haven
The cute little village of Little Haven, with 30min free parking, just enough time to do a mini tour.
Coastal Road Trip, Little Haven
And the view west from the top of the short cliff path walk above Little Haven.  Lush grass clinging to the rocky cliffs.

 

Welsh Roads

Coastal Road Trip, Windy Welsh Roads
We thought this Pembroke single track road was funny, double yellow lines on both sides, no chance to pass someone never mind parking!

 

Newgale

Coastal Road Trip, Newgale Beach
The tidy, wide and flat sands of Newgale Beach.

 

Solva

Coastal Road Trip, Solva
Looking down over Solva Bay with its boats waiting for the tide to return.

 

St Davids

Coastal Road Trip, St Davids
St Davids Cathedral in Britain’s smallest city.  Really impressive, except for the coffee in the Cathedral Cafe, too hot!
Coastal Road Trip, St Davids, Ceiling
The beautifully painted ceiling of St Davids.

 

Pwll Mawr

Coast Road Trip, Pwll Mawr
We took the wrong turn looking for Strumble Head, and ended up with this amazing view west from Pwll Mawr.

 

Strumble Head

Coastal Road Trip, Strumble Head Lighthouse
Getting addicted to lighthouses now… took 100 pics of Stumble Head Lighthouse in the fresh and bright late afternoon sunshine.
Coastal Road Trip, Strumble Head View
And again stunning views west along the Pembrokeshire coast from Strumble Head.

 

Fishguard

Coastal Road Trip, Fishguard
And the final stop of the day in Fishguard, before heading to our B&B for the night near Cardigan.

 

Daily Video