(For some reason the video above doesn't seem to show up on Ipad's so if you cannot see it try this link)
We spent a week up in North Wales for summer vacation this year. We rented a cottage on the Lleyn peninsula near the village of Cricceith (pronounced Crick-eth) in the Snowdonia Region that we used as our home base. While the distance from our house to the vacation spot was only about 165 miles, it was about a 4.5 hour trip as there is no real direct high speed road to get to this area.
North Wales is a beautiful region of the UK. It suprises us how few people from South Wales have ever been up there considering how close it is. We had a great week visiting villages, beaches, mountains and castles. Some highlights that you will see in the video.
- We travelled 4 miles by steam engine on the only rack and pinion railway in Britian, to the top of the highest peak in Wales - Mt Snowdon at 1085M (3560ft). The train must use rack and pinion due to the steepness of the tracks!
- We visted the village and castle of Beaumaris on the Island of Anglesey. (We also got drenched here in a sudden downpour that caught us off guard:)
- We visited the village and castle of Caernarfon. One of Edward I mightiest castles. This is also where the original 'Prince of Wales' was born hence the start of a standing tradition where the eldest son of the king/queen is given this title (currently held by Prince Charles).
- We visited the north coast resort village of Llandudno with its victorian inspired downtown, spectacular waterfront, and the Great Orme Peninsula - a massive headland that overlooks the village and gives great views of the snowdonia mountains.
- We visited the walled village and castle of Conwy - another great castle built by Edward I to keep wales under control.
- While most days were not perfect beach weather we were able to spend some time at the beach in Llandudno as well as the beach below our cottage at Black Rock Sands, which is one of the few places that allow you to drive your car right onto the beach!