August 20 to 31 England & Wales

Our first dinner back in England was at a hotel (more like a fishing or hunting lodge) where we had pigeon, smoked salmon, poachers pie & trout from the local stream. Our fellow diners included 4 chaps who had caught several salmon in the Esk River where they pay $30,000 for a permit to fish a specific stretch of river for 1 week each year for 10 years??

Aira Force

"Struggle Road" to Ambleside

Next day we visited Hadrians Wall, had a walk in the Lakes District & headed for the Dales. Several pleasant walks in The Dales but the weather is persistently wet so kept them short. Travelled some beautiful narrow back roads & checked out some very quaint little villages. Then off to Leeds for a few nights rest with Vicky, Tris & the kids.

Walk in Dent

After a pleasant few days of rest we headed for The Peak District, another amazing & picturesque area, before arriving in Wales. It was clear from the unpronounceable sign posts that we had crossed the border. Travelled to the South Stack lighthouse near Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey via the Great Orme (an impressive limestone headland).

near Castleton

Next day it was off to the odd but quaint tourist village of Portmeirion & then to the Snowdonia National Park. Staying in Beddgelert – a truly charming little town - the beautiful stone buildings sit on the banks of two rivers & the town is surrounded by mountains.

View from our B&B in Beddgelert

A fascinating visit to the slate quarry & slate museum in Llanberis was followed by a ride on the Snowdon Mountain Railway (a steep rack & pinion railway) to within metres of the summit of Wales’ highest peak – Snowdon. Despite some fog & mist the views were incredible.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Snowdon

Then off through the spectacular Llanberis pass & on to the quaint Dolgellau before heading to our B&B at Aberieddy on the Pembrokeshire coast near the Blue Lagoon & historic slate trading port of Porthgain. Red Bull was building a platform over the lagoon for the Cliff Diving World Series in 2 weeks’ time – contestants dive into the lagoon from the 30 metre high platform – crazy? We then continued around the coast to Tenby, a beautiful walled seaside town with 2 lovely white sand beaches.

Tenby

Next - the Brecon Beacons national park for more beautiful scenery & forest walks. Trees are becoming more plentiful even on some of the hill tops. We travelled some very narrow winding roads with the car mirrors hitting the bushes on both sides & the need to reverse to a “wider” passing area when encountering on-coming cars, tractors or trucks – fun? This area has many waterfalls & we walked to a few.

Gospel Pass Road - Brecon Beacons