Dolserau Hall Hotel Dolgellau

... We joined her for fifteen miles atop the long, curving ridge boundary of Brecon Beacons National Park. At dusk the three of us spotted an elderly lady and her beagle hiking toward us. Teetering along on a walking stick, she wore a motoring cap and clutched a bunch of wildflowers. I said hello and asked her where she was going. She replied in Welsh, “Rydw i yma yn barod.” We looked to Holly for a translation.

“She said, ‘I’ ...

... tradidionally given by the man to his lady friend as a sign of love and devotion.

Tonight we're staying in Bala - a lakeside town, known for it's watersports and prehistoric fish that inhabit the lake! Dinner was at a pub (for something new!) and we enjoyed Steak and Brains stout pies - Brains is a beer brewed in Cardiff that Josh is enjoying - he is also getting into the Magners and Bulmers ciders!

Nos Da!
XO

... 7 for ½ an hour) and a Carp fishing lake (which is not advertised until you get to it when it says day tickets from reception ).

There is a "Ropeworks” for those who do not have a fear of heights includes trapeze and climbing walls and a flying bungee.

There are five areas of outside play equipment from the iPlay to baby toys.

The on site beach is not very clearly signed (only 2 signs say ...

... the top without any trouble. After that, Nick took them off to Llyn Ogwen just down the hill, to walk the dog for a bit, while I went up Chimney Crack with Eartha.

There were a lot of people on the rock and I think Jan was getting a bit fed up with waiting for the easy climbs. He wanted to pack up and go after that. My heart sank. If you have four kids, you can't take three climbing and then tell the fourth she has to wait until next time. It would have been ...

... to take in some decent views of the start of the climb, which was fairly steep.





The track pulled round the back of one of the smaller peaks and flattened out a bit after that. To the left a beautiful lake suddenly ...

Group of 25 headed up Snowdon in celebration of Andy Duggards retirment.

Brilliant time was had by all, probably the best retirement I have been on (obviously sponsored by Carlsburg)

Congratulations Andy.

Proved to be a good last workout before we go - calves are feeling the effect though.

Well done to those that completed this mountain for the first time - Scafell next!

... below, really spectacular. There was a part where one of the mountains was half shrouded in cloud, but there was a small section near the top where the sun was trying to get through the cloud – it made it look like a volcano that was about to erupt, it looked almost magical – we decided it was the centre of the earth.

Caroline totally came alive up here, it was fantastic to see – she has never been ...

... were not too impressed by it plus entrance fees ... we thought could be better well spent and we could see quite a bit from the outside. Our next choice was to go to the town with the longest place name in the UK, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll llantysiliogogogoch, yes it really is a town. Imagine writing that as your town every time for mail. It means "St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and the ...

We had breakfast at a restaurant next to the train station, and it was terrific. Then off we go to London.

On the way we stop in Pentrefoelas, at The Riverside Chocolate House & Tea-room. The chocolates are made by two women there, and it's right on the river. Hence Riverside. Worth a stop if you like chocolate.

... and again admired the views of the bay and Snowdonia mountains. Drove on to Aberystwyth along narrow winding roads that seemed to make the trip take for ever! Arrived at our B&B, The Helmsman, at 5.30pm. Too late to take a trip to the top of the cliffs on the railway. Had dinner at Kings, down the road from the B&B and then got a couple of beers to drink while we sat in the window of our 4th floor room and took in the views of the ocean.