Inspiration
Pant Du Cider
Autumn is on its way; there is morning dew on the slopes, crispness in the air, leaves changing colour and… apples falling off the trees left, right and centre! So the question is what to do with them all and from the ideas I’ve heard so far, making cider is one of the best! But if you’re not up for the challenge of making your own, you’ll be pleased to know that Snowdonia has its own brand of cider….Pant Du Cider. Based on the slopes of the Nantlle Valley, Snowdonia, the Pant Du Orchard was started in 2007. Of the 2900 trees planted, 2000 are traditional cider making apples and the remaining trees are made up of native Welsh varieties including Bardsey apples which have been planted in support of developing and securing the future of this near extinct variety from the Llyn Peninsula. There are 4 types of cider to choose from; decide on whether…
Caffi Castell Harlech Opens its doors!
The August bank holiday saw Caffi Castell Harlech open its doors to a great reception! The cafe is part of the fantastic new information center directly opposite Harlech Castle. With lots of glass and metal, this modern take on the old hotel works really well and has given Harlech a great injection of life. The cafe has been taken on by my good friend Freya. But this article isn’t biased, honest! It really is brilliant. Ask anyone. đ So what to expect from a visit to the new establishment? Firstly the views are quite simply breathtaking. Not only are you up close to an incredible view of the castle, but the surrounding Snowdonia landscape is stunning. The food is all based on good, wholesome home-cooked fare which, where possible, is all made from locally sourced produce. The star of the menu has to be the fish platter which is a delicious mix of shell on prawns,…
Festival No 6 Countdown...
“Welcome to a festival like no other, a bespoke banquet of music, arts and culture in the most stunning festival setting in the world.” It’s in the Daily Mailâs top 10 UK Festivals as well as being voted Best Festival and Most Unique Festival Site in 2014 and its 4th year is set to be better than the last. Portmierion is a very magical place in its own right, but with Festival No 6 in town that magic goes to another level. Belle and Sebastian, James Bay and Grace Jones are included in a lineup of over 500 music artists. Festival goers can also enjoy a ‘conversation with Steve Coogan’ or a Q&A session with award winning director Asif Kapadia and producer Mark Ronson following a screening of their award winning film ‘Amy’. Illuminated bands, parades and carnivals fill this most inspiring of venues with life and colour. Secret raves, pop up parties, foraging expeditions, children’s storytelling and stand up paddle boarding means…
Things To Do In Snowdonia When It Rains....
Before we start, itâs only fair to point out that it doesnât actually rain in Wales as much as you might think. The west coast of Snowdonia in particular, fairs better weather wise, than most of the UK. Met office statistics show that the number of âwet daysâ during the summer months is less than in England and when comparing âhours of sunshineâ the western coast of wales again, tends towards the top of the UK table. But youâre right of course, this isnât Spain, and yes it might rain. So here is our line up of things to do in Snowdonia when the weather is less than perfect… Underground Adventures Like the treasures of London during the Blitz, you might want to seek refuge in some of the slate caverns of Blaenau Ffestiniog. In 1940, on the orders of Winston Churchill, Manod Quarry was used to store all the pictures from the National and Tate…
Cwmystradllyn, The Most Beautiful Valley in Wales?
Some people might try to persuade you that Cwm Pennat is the most beautiful valley in Wales. But we’d like to nominate her neighbour, Cwmystradllyn. Located in the Snowdonia National Park this picturesque valleys and place of serenity has not always been so quiet. In 1886, the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) opened the Gorsedda Slate Quarry in the valley. The village of Treforys was built to house the quarrymen and consisted of 36 houses set in 3 streets. A sophisticated slate mill, Ynys Y Pandy, was also built to dress and finish the slate before being transported on a newly laid 3ft gauge tramway down to the harbour town of Porthmadog. But this flood of activity was short lived. After a short 20 years of excavation, the quarry was closed down as quality slate became more and more scarce. As the local paper reported, “everything that could facilitate the works was produced, nothing…
Byrdir Farm's New Self Catering Holiday Cottages
So Louise has finally hung up her oven gloves and the former Byrdir Farm B&B has now been renovated into 3 self-catering cottages. All three properties have been beautifully designed in line with the existing cottages on the farm; Nant and Moelfre offering a cosy, yet modern feel using the quirky features of the original cowsheds alongside a high spec interior. Whilst Louise’s breakfasts will be sorely missed, the stunning views across cardigan bay will certainly make up for it as will the fact that they are offering short breaks over the peak season. So lets see what Byrdir Farm’s New Self Catering Holiday Cottages have to offer…. TY-GWAIR-BYRDIR This open plan studio cottage has a double bed up in the âgrogloftâ or eaves of the barn accessed via a fixed ladder. A lovely little kitchenette with fridge, combination oven and hob plus dishwasher is set against the back wall of the cottage. A luxurious leather sofa sits facing…
Nigel Mansell Opens Restaurant Near Barmouth
The 29th June 2015 saw the official opening of a brand new restaurant & bar, Nineteen.57 in Tal Y Bont, Barmouth. Having undergone a ÂŁ700,000 refurb over the last 6 months the restaurant brings a fabulous fine dining experience to the area. A 40 cover restaurant offers a great bistro style menu and the bar light bites, a children’s menu & play park. To celebrate the opening, our headline ‘Nigel Mansell Opens Restaurant Near Barmouth’ gives the game away! Having been a regular visitor to the area for the last 58 years, he was more than happy to give his time for the opening. Guests included local residents and business owners who relaxed with a complimentary glass of prosecco and homemade canape’s whilst enjoying the sun and soaking up the atmosphere. If you want some pointers on the menu; its Mum’s homemade lasagne (Nigel’s favorite), the homemade slow roast shoulder of lamb and of course shepherds…
Bilberry Exchange Rate Is At An All Time High!
A bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a close relative to the blueberry but the difference being that the bilberry is smaller, more tart in flavour, has a red flesh and native to Europe whilst the blueberry is bigger, sweeter, has white flesh, and native to the America’s. They are delicious berries that make wonderful pies and tarts whilst also having great healing benefits for treating digestive and circulatory issues. Back in the day, they were a great source of income in the area for those who would head to the hills and pick bucket loads for market. Today, we still like to exchange our bilberry pickings, but instead of for money, we do it for ice cream….. Hufenfa’r Castell ice cream shop in Harlech make bilberry ice cream during the picking season and as it always sells out, they welcome fresh bilberries in exchange for ice cream. So once you’ve picked your punnet / bowl of bilberries,…
Snowdonia Gold Is Fit For A King
Since 1911, Welsh gold has been used to decorate the crowns and hands of the British Royal family. At the investiture of Edward 1 as Prince of Wales, his coronet, rod, ring, sword and robe all incorporated pure Welsh gold from North Wales. In 1923, the late Queen mother started another tradition by having her wedding bands crafted out of Welsh gold from the The Clogau Gold Mine in Bontddu. Some 88 years later, this tradition continues and this small village situated between Barmouth and Dolgellau in Snowdonia has been providing the gold for Royal wedding rings since including; Queen Elizabeth (1947), Princess Anne (1973), Princess Diana (1981), Prince Charles (1981 & 2005) and Camilla. More recently in 2011, from an ingot of gold given to the Queen on her 60th birthday from the Clogau mine, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding bands were made……you see Snowdonia gold is fit for a King! Sadly the…
Pick Your Own Mussels In Snowdonia!
If you have ever fancied trying your hand at collecting and cooking mussels, then a trip to Llandanwg beach just outside Harlech is where you need to go. Even if you do it just once in your life, it’s one of those things you wont forget. So come on, get involved and pick your own mussels in Snowdonia! YOU WILL NEED: A bucket 2 blunt knives A grill to put over the open fire A large pot to cook in An onion Garlic White Wine Cream (single or double) Wooden spoon firewood WHAT TO DO: COLLECTING Check the tide times. You need to collect mussels at low tide. Go to the furthest left hand side of Llandanwg beach where you will see lots of rocks. You need to make your way down to the waters edge to the rocks covered in black seaweed. The mussels hide under this black seaweed; both on the rocks and…
Dylans Restaurant Opens in Criccieth
North Wales’ top fish restaurant, Dylans opened the doors to its second establishment in May and it hasn’t disappointed. It is set in the stunning beach front Morannedd building, an art deco style building designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis; the visionary of Portmeirion Village. It’s a really beautiful experience; wonderfully cooked and presented fresh fish, incredible views through the surrounding floor to ceiling windows all bought together with a modern, rustic yet traditional interior – we love the menu’s! So what did we have…The Ffrwythau’ R MOR (welsh for Fruit De Mer) was out of this world, the whitebait was the best I’ve ever had, the crab cakes were a real hit and the oysters were so fresh they definitely deserve a mention. The Samphire is amazing – if you haven’t tried it before, this will be a good place to give it a go. All bread is baked daily on the premises and needless to…
New Quadcopter Footage Shows Snowdonia At its Very Best
We’ve all heard that Snowdonia is a stunning part of the world, but its not until you actually see it can you believe how mesmerisingly beautiful the area is…. So Gwion has been out making use of his quadcopter to show some of our properties in all their glory. Where photos simply cannot capture the true beauty of the sweeping mountains and landscape, it is now possible to see the real Snowdonia with the use of Gwion’s new toy! New Quadcopter Footage Shows Snowdonia At its Very Best…enjoy! https://youtu.be/fhbW_suMfkM
Geocaching Snowdonia Style
An any day, any time adventure. Geocaching is a great way to explore new places. ‘Hidden treasures’ that have been concealed throughout the world (2 million in fact) have their locations and GPS coordinates logged onto a central geocaching website. Anyone can go onto the website, get the GPS locations and go hunting for treasure. All for free. So if you are trying to entice the kids out for a walk or looking for something to do when on holiday, geocahing is a great way to add a bit of adventure to the trip. Needless to say, there are lots of Geocache treasures here in North Wales. So if you want to give it a go, what better way to start than geocaching Snowdonia style!
