Llyn Ogwen

On our 2nd full day of our visit to North Wales last week, we left Penmaenmawr for an overnight stay at Beddgelert. This meant a bit of a drive down the A5 and it took us past Llyn Ogwen, a long ribbon lake sandwiched between mountains. Fortunately it had a stopping point so we got out to stretch our legs. It was a chance to get some photos of great scenery.

Slaley Show - the video

This was filmed mainly for my self-sufficiency blog but it gives a taste of what the Slaley Show is all about as well as featuring some of the competitions we won!

Slaley Show

This post is a short interlude from writing about my visit to Wales last week. We timed our Welsh holiday so that we could be back in time to go to the Slaley Agricultural Show in Northumberland. I had a number of entries in the jam, honey and fruit liqueur sections. It was also the first time I had been to this show. Despite rain overnight, thankfully we had a sunny, though breezy day.

The show has sheep, horse and dog sections and for kids, there was a pets competition. Whilst there is a focus on agricultural matters, this is a show those not into food production or rural pursuits would also enjoy.

And now for some photos of the day (I recorded some video as well but I'll post the finished version once I've done the edit).















If you are interested, I did win first prizes for my honey, fruit liqueur and rhubarb and blackcurrant jam!

More photos of the event can be viewed on this link.

Dylan's Restaurant - Menai Bridge

After leaving Beaumaris, the plan was to eat at a restaurant in Menai Bridge called Dylans. Once the issue of finding a space in one of the town's car parks was resolved, we headed over to Dylans on St George's Road. It was worth the hassle of finding somewhere to park. It enjoys a great view over the straits though the view of the Menai Bridge was largely obscured. Nevertheless we were able to sit out on the balcony and continue to enjoy the sun as well as the food. The restaurant sources much of its food locally, especially its seafood.

Understandably not the cheapest of meals but you pay for quality.

Sealing the deal around Puffin Island

And so, to the main reason for the visit last Monday to Beaumaris on Anglesey: a boat trip around Puffin Island. Back in the 1970s, the island was infested with rats. As a result, the seabird population was being decimated. Since then, the situation has been turned around. The rats were killed off (with 4 tonnes of poison), the birds have returned and there is a strong seal colony as well. No one is allowed on the island, therefore preventing damage to the site by both humans and their travelling rat companions.



We took the boat called the Island Princess from the pier. At £8.50 a ticket, I thought this was a fair price, unlike some of the astronomical ticket prices we found being charged for tourist rides on the holiday. The boat was open topped. The guide/captain/skipper had the fortunate combination of being informative and amusing.



The trip took about an hour and went anticlockwise around the island. On leaving Beaumaris, we had a fantastic view of the North Wales coast. In the distance was the Great Orme at Llandudno.



As we got closer to the island, the sound of the seabirds grew. Alas, we were missing the sound of the puffins. Though this is a major breeding site for them, it seems they had left for their annual migration in late July. Cormorants however were there in large numbers.





I hadn't seen seals in the wild in the UK before so seeing them on the rocks on Puffin Island was a first for me.



The rock layers were clearly visible.



The signal station, part of a chain that ran along the entire North Wales coast to Liverpool before the invention of the electronic telegraph. Messages were relayed by flag semaphore.



Black Point on Anglesey, opposite Puffin Island.



Back in Beaumaris, I spotted that the business that owns the Island Princess, Starida, also run other boats for sea fishing. It's something I would love to try but we didn't have time on this holiday to attempt to fulfill that ambition.

Final note to self after the Puffin Island trip: take a hat. I caught the sun quite a bit!

Lots more photos of the Puffin Island trip are on my Flickr site.

Beaumaris

As part of our North Wales holiday last week, on Monday 4th August 2014 we went to Beaumaris. I have visited this small town on the south eastern coastal corner of the Isle of Anglesey a number of times in the past. The purpose of this visit was to take a boat ride around Puffin Island though I will write about that in a separate post. The boat trips are one of the main reasons for going to Beaumaris. Others include a visit to the 19th Century gaol which is now a museum (I visited it a few years ago so didn't go there on Monday); superb views of the North Wales coastline and mountains and Beaumaris Castle (I have not been in before and was not able to fit a visit in to our schedule last week but you can see much of the castle from the eastern end of the main street - see photos below).







The town is largely unspoilt by modern developments and retains its own character. There are narrow streets off the main road many of which are traffic free.





The town seems to cling to the waters edge.



Looking east, what appears to be an island on the left on the horizon is actually the Great Orme at Llandudno. Much of Llandudno sits on the low-lying land spur of land that connects the Great Orme from the mainland but from Beaumaris it is easily mistaken for an island.



Looking west up the Menai Straits.



After our boat trip, we stopped for a refreshment break at the Bulkeley Hotel. We sat out at the front, overlooking the Menai Straits. It is south facing so we got a good blast of sun.

Back in North Wales

I am back in North Wales for the first time in nearly 4 years. In the UK it is one of my favourite places to visit and it has stunning coastlines and countryside. I am staying in Penmaenmawr at a friend's house though we have had one night's stay elsewhere. I go home tomorrow. So, here is the first post from this visit and it's about the restaurant I visited on Sunday evening.



Bunkers Bistro is on Conwy Old Road, near Penmaenmawr golf course. I think it used to be a garage and was converted some years ago into a restaurant. It has stunning views out across the bay and of the mountains that surround Penmaenmawr.





Food is good quality here and that's reflected in the price. Service was good as well. If in the area, this is a place to visit as a treat. I recommend the chicken breast: