[Closed] North Wales..........

Second homes should be banned, they do it in Switzerland.

Also, another excuse to post this:

https://www.instagram.com/bedwyr_williams/?hl=en

😛

I don't feel too guilty, we're in a climbing hut which is the old powder store for Dinorwic quarry.
The land and building wouldn't be suitable to be converted to full time dwelling due to various issues.

But money is coming in from somewhere - perhaps Dave Brailsford has a second career as a property magnate?

Been here since weds, seemed busy driving through beddgellert on weds but managed to avoid the crowds since.

climbed cnicht today which was mostly clear and fairly empty. Booked into the slate museum tomorrow at 11…clear summits for the first time in a while so hopefully everyone will be heading up the hills instead…

Camping at a farm near Llandegla next week with the family, apart from a trip to do the green & blue with the kids wasn't planning on doing much more than going for walks & poking the campfire with a stick!

@kimbers, enjoy. It's generally a much quieter part of N Wales. Except the area around Llangollen, Pontcysyllte is now busy with visitors (good for the economy), you should consider going for a day over the Horseshoe Pass but maybe park near Horseshoe Falls and wander along the canal to 'town', and book if you want evening meals out. Or walking along the Panorama Walk from Garth is always quieter than the town, with a break at Sun Trevor.

For a quiet walk, there are paths along the River Clywedog valley that visit the derelict Minera Lead Mines and Nant Mill all the way to the Bersham Ironworks site, it's a mix of regenerated woodland and riverside walk with some industrial heritage. There is an underground lime kiln you can walk through / around if you take a torch, in the Minera Quarry just a few km from Llandegla. The Tyn y Capel pub has good pub food and nice views towards 'Minera Mountain'.

If you want a nice pub meal out, The Raven Inn in Llanarmon-yn-Ial is a community pub that does really good pub food.

If you do want to walk up a hill, while Moel Famau can get reasonably busy with locals at the weekend, most of the Clwydian Range of hills are very quiet and on a clear day you get great views (to Snowdonia, the Irish Sea and towards Liverpool).

Thanks @konagirl some be great tips there!

Thanks Konagirl. Bookmarked for a future trip.

We've got a static on the coast, and it's busy - although quite a number of the back roads are deserted for the road bike, and local MTB tracks/bridleways are quiet. The seafront is rammed - why are people taking the road bikes down the NCN5 through Prestatyn - the road is far easier than picking your way through people on the prom.

Colwyn Bay, Conwy etc are rammed, as said, go early. I had a pootle for a pint yesterday, and the Nova in Prestatyn was rammed outside, so I diverted to a pub in the town centre that has an outside bar so I didn't need to leave the bike out of sight.

Whilst we have a van in a field, I'm dead against second properties - that's pricing out locals.

We stayed in Betsw Coed about a month ago. The problems had just started, staycation crowds, tiny village hospitality staff isolating etc etc. The lady who ran our B and B said the area has been steadily getting oversubscribed for about 5 years. She put it down to the success marketing the area as an adventure destination. Covid has just exacerbated the situation. If you plan on going and want to eat out in the evenings i suggest you book tables well in advance to avoid disappointment.

I had a week in Anglesey two weeks ago and we've just returned from 4 nights on the Llyn Penisula, near Turdweiliog. I don't think things have been that extra busy. The pubs near any campsites were rammed but use Google maps and drive 15 minutes to get a nice rural place without home cooked food with the 45 minute wait. Newborough beach is always popular on nice days and it's well known you have to get there before 11 to guarantee getting on. Why they don't just build a bigger carpark!? Just take a bit of sand, they must have done it for the original carpark! We did queue for the shitty sea zoo but only about 20 mins. We weren't planned enough to get tix for pilly Palace animal place but we've been before. If you're on Anglesey book your tix are the start of the week. The only place I did find distasteful was Abersoch. Just seemed to be loads of wealthy types in £120 tops from fat face or superdry driving round in Range/land rovers looking for parking, sneering at everything.
My Anglesey trip was improved as during it someone on here linked that Welsh insta guy and I was able to observe first hand. More so on the Llyn Penisula where there were several handwritten signs saying 'no more second homes'

Snowdon: Call to respect mountain amid spike in visitors

The lady who ran our B and B said the area has been steadily getting oversubscribed for about 5 years.

And they've been saying that for the 25 years I've been going up there on riding trips and work. I first visited Pwllheli about 40 years ago, as a child - it was a tourist destination back then, and a few weeks ago it was still the same dump that it was 40 year ago.

I had a week in Anglesey two weeks ago and we’ve just returned from 4 nights on the Llyn Penisula, near Turdweiliog. I don’t think things have been that extra busy.........The only place I did find distasteful was Abersoch. Just seemed to be loads of wealthy types in £120 tops from fat face or superdry driving round in Range/land rovers looking for parking, sneering at everything.

I agree - we were on holiday near Pwllheli a few weeks ago. It wasn't especially busy. Even driving through Beddgelert, Llanberis, Betws etc - plenty of people around but not really busy if you compare it to a normal tourist destination. I also agree about Abersoch. We thought the plummy voices, expensive cars, expensive cafes etc, funny until you start thinking about what it does to the rest of the area. There was a queue all the way through the carpark of the sea zoo when we visited, over 200m long. We didn't stay.

North Wales has always been an odd place. It always feels like it's the off-season there, whatever time of year you turn up. It's been a tourist destination for decades, but they really don't want to be one and make no effort to be one. I commented on the lack of roadside bacon butty vans, coffee stops, the complete lack of local food of any sort, farm shops that sort of thing. I haven't been to any other part of the country where we struggled to eat decent food as much as North Wales. There would be a queue outside any bakery in any town we visited because that would be the only alternative to the ever-present chippies, but there would be nothing else. Sadly, the trip will go down in our memories as a rather boring week, and we almost certainly will never visit there for a family holiday again.

I fondly remember the times when you could just walk into a restaurant and say "table for 2 please" and when entire families weren't walking around in brand new Dryrobes on a sunny day.

It’s been a tourist destination for decades, but they really don’t want to be one and make no effort to be one. I commented on the lack of roadside bacon butty vans, coffee stops, the complete lack of local food of any sort, farm shops that sort of thing. I haven’t been to any other part of the country where we struggled to eat decent food as much as North Wales.

Hmmmm.

I think things have improved massively over the past few years.
Everywhere is looking brighter, premises have been refurbished and there are lots of very decent places to eat if you know where to look - Lodge Dinorwic, The Caban at Brynrefail, Siabod Cafe, Quay Cafe at Amlwch etc, good (mostly local) food at reasonable prices.
Even The Heights is pretty nice now!

Part of the appeal for me has always been the fact that it wasn't trying to hard. I go for the mountains, paths and beaches.
Not particularly fussed about coffee vans, but as I said, things are getting better.

Let's not forget the place had the arse torn out of it for hundreds of years by exploitative incomers.
Poverty is a real problem and as has been said, holiday/second homes are a big issue.

I think it's everywhere at the moment. I'm just back from a week at my folks' place in Shropshire. Everywhere was busy. The a49 was crackers. Even Bishop's Castle was busy, on a Monday lunchtime!

Fortunately, 'busy' in South Shropshire is relative, and there were only 3 or 4 other cars in the Stiperstones carpark on a rainy Thursday afternoon. But still. It felt strange.

there are lots of very decent places to eat if you know where to look – Lodge Dinorwic, The Caban at Brynrefail, Siabod Cafe, Quay Cafe at Amlwch etc, good (mostly local) food at reasonable prices.

I was thinking more about self-catering - very few decent local food places, farm shops, cheese shops, just shabby little supermarkets. One of my daughters is a picky coeliac which makes restaurants more difficult than they should be in any normal location. It is telling that you needed to add in 'if you know where to look', though. 😀

Not particularly fussed about coffee vans, but as I said, things are getting better.

Neither am I - trips from south to north have always been a long drive with a hedge-pee and lack of coffee. I pointed out, while driving past the old Butlins site, that there was nowhere to stop for a snack for about two hours, unless we went into a town. Little food shacks have sprung up everywhere down here in the south, even more so since Covid. Interesting that they haven't up in the north.

I used to live on Anglesey until the Power station at Wylfa stopped generating elec. Cemaes is a lovely village but really has very little to offer, no cafe' only a couple of pubs. I think the problem with North wales is the area hasn't fully embraced tourism as much as say The Lake District.
Anglesey has very little employment for locals. The Aluminium plant has closed, as has the power station. Apart from RAF Valley and the Ferry Terminal there are no other large employers.
I sometimes feel (and as a local I can get away with this)...there are still some hangups about the area being "just for the Welsh"
I love the place, and its home. But there are times where I think they should invest more.
Oh, and I think Wednesdays is still a half day closing for some places too....and forget about Sundays.

I know...half day closing 🤷🏻‍♂️
Why would you close your shop in a relatively touristy town in August?

I love the place, and its home. But there are times where I think they should invest more.

Invest more? Tourists everywhere but so few locals with enough nous to make any money from them. Hence my point about coffee vans.

I was thinking more about self-catering – very few decent local food places, farm shops, cheese shops, just shabby little supermarkets.

OK, so there's a Lidl in Bangor, SLF fans....🙂, along with all the other big names.

He'll there's even a Waitrose just over the Menai Bridge if you're that way inclined.

Never had a problem finding food.
The (shabby?) little Spa shops in Deiniolen and Llanberis are usually well stocked.

And we have Trip Advisor now if you really need an artisan cheese shop..... https://www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk/ 🙃

We found a little gem of a cafe in Pwllheli right by the beach.
Caffi Largo. Embankment Rd, Pwllheli LL53 5AB.
Loads of free parking very nearby.
The burger was fantastic! Had a walk on the beach after then went into the town where there was very obvious drug dealing going on at the bus station but the dodgems were only 2 quoid a car! We had 4 goes and the kids loved it. I did too actually, where else do you get to ram the wife?.
😂

Tourists everywhere but so few locals with enough nous to make any money from them

I'll bet you were very popular with that condescending attitude.

The (shabby?) little Spa shops in Deiniolen and Llanberis are usually well stocked.

They are, but look at Llanberis itself.  and let's be honest, it should be a tourist trap, little lakeside town at the foot of perhaps the most famous mountain in the UK,.. But it's not exactly falling over itself to welcome visitors is it?

I love North Wales, but it's just as well I go there for the outdoors and not the amenities .

I’ll bet you were very popular with that condescending attitude.

The only condescending attitude from me was something along the lines of "I'm not asking for locally caught sardines, grilled on mountain grown oak and served with a fresh aioli with a chunk of artisanale sourdough, just not bloody fish and chips again. I'm on holiday! A pasty will do. Even a ham roll that I don't have to queue for."

@BigJohn - Yup Dry Robes are EVERYWHERE at the moment!!! It's not even cold yet!!

They are, but look at Llanberis itself. and let’s be honest, it should be a tourist trap, little lakeside town at the foot of perhaps the most famous mountain in the UK,.. But it’s not exactly falling over itself to welcome visitors is it?

It's getting better.

Most properties on the High Street have had a refurb, the bike shop is so busy that they can't handle any more repairs, an hour queue at Pete's last week (due to Covid, they tried their best), all the campsites full, a new takeaway opened a couple of years ago, bike hire available, a newish, well hidden caravan site, the lakeside has been fully refreshed and looks great, more parking, new signage everywhere and hell, there's even a coffee stall!
They're hosting sporting events and even had a local music festival pre Covid.

It's taken many years, but it's now getting new types of tourists, not just impoverished climbers. The place is evolving to suit.

Vivian Quarry is closed due to rockfall and the Electric Mountain tours have been suspended but that's down to First Hydro.

an hour queue at Pete’s last week (due to Covid, they tried their best),

Is that the latest excuse? I think I've waited about that long before. Eating there once my then partner ordered, went to the climbing shop/outdoor gear place along the high street, tried on, and bought some 5/10, came back and still beat her food to the table!

Edit: And how do they get away with that level of service all these years (and don't we all have stories of how long it takes to get served there?)...because there's no competition, and no pressure to improve.

Lots of DryRobe ****ers about eh?

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/siobhan-oconnor-weather-swimmers-war-23079139

very obvious drug dealing going on at the bus station but the dodgems were only 2 quoid a car

Which type of drugs are dodgems?

Seemed pretty quiet at slate museum and Pete’s eats was empty at lunchtime.

BBC Wales correspondant Tomos Morgan just (19:41) said that on the News that Snowdon is UK's third highest mountain. I had to play it back five times to believe what I heard.

There is a crazy Pizza house in Llanberis - just outside the town centre. It's like being in someone's house.

I spend mopst weekends in North Wales. Loads of 'artizan' shops if you look round. Not so much in Llanberis TBH. The SPAR is well eqipped for beer, and it was almost next to the 'walkers' bunk house we stayed in during a stormy weekend of walking in Feb 2020.

i don’t want certain of the condescending types using the gems round here , some really good cafes , food pop ups , even , music events , but i guess you need to live here , or be friends with people that do , and show respect ........as you say , it’s improved 1000% in last twenty years , glad some of the negative people are going to stay away .......cheers rusty

trips from south to north have always been a long drive with a hedge-pee and lack of coffee

There's a Burger King and a Greggs in Builth now, and a Starbucks just outside Dolgellau! An actual Starbucks!

I like the lack of middle class nonsense that the locals can't afford.

There’s a Burger King and a Greggs in Builth now, and a Starbucks just outside Dolgellau! An actual Starbucks!

That Starbucks feels like it's in such an odd place, but that's maybe because you see nothing for miles and then you've got a chain coffee shop! (It also supposedly ran out of food about 3-4 weeks ago. Somebody I know stopped there and again in McD's in Aber, but ended up eating in a supermarket cafe in Aber because that was the only place with food. 😀 )

I like the lack of middle class nonsense that the locals can’t afford.

Yeah, makes us working class plebs from south Wales feel really snobby. 😀

Doesn't everyone think that stuff slightly fancier than they like is effete nonsense for snobs? I know I do. 🙂

But seriously what's wrong with decent ingredients cooked by people who care? I have been accused of being a hipster admittedly. Never actually been to Abersoch so even I might find it unbearably pretentious I suppose.

But seriously what’s wrong with decent ingredients cooked by people who care?

You can get that in any of the places I mentioned above, for reasonable prices.

I like the lack of middle class nonsense that the locals can’t afford.

Amen.

I like the fact that there aren't endless chain coffee shops and takeaways too.

cafi clenna in upper bangor , just try their stuff , dog friendly to boot , open tues to sat

Ive always avoided walking up snowdon due to the popularity and my aversion to crowds but this year, at 50, i felt i needed to get it over with. After asking about quieter routes on here me and Mrs B went up Rhyd Ddu and came back via Rangers. Really quiet (it was a damp friday last week) and we had a great walk. But once we hit the top, holy f*** ive never seen anything like it. 100s of people queueing to take a selfie at the trig point.

I'm therefore very grateful to those who told me to avoid Llanberis / Miners / Pyg. I owe you one x

is my beer in the post?

😜

holy f*** ive never seen anything like it. 100s of people queueing to take a selfie at the trig point.

You've never been up Pen y Fan on a bank holiday then... 😀

Is she related to Louise?

@ Elshalimo

It may leak out the envelope but if you are ever near Delamere in Cheshire i'll gladly buy you a fresh one.

Seriously though, thanks for the advice re. coming from the south. We had a great day. Mrs B had a bit of a wobble on the narrow ridge at the top but we took it slowly and all was fine.

Was in Barmouth a few weeks ago, in one of the glamping pods at Trawsdir caravan park.

Was going to walk up snowdon with my girlfriend and her two nieces but the weather was iffy and they are only 9 and 11, so we gave it a miss.

Girlfriend would like to move back there as she lived in Dolgellau.

A while ago one of the coffee shops there was for sale, and the fish and chip shop, complete with a newly installed kitchen.

Nowhere to store my bikes though 🙁

@BlackFlag - happy to help. I'm glad you both enjoyed it