The Glebe Blog

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

The Glebe on Vacation-More North Wales Pictures

My visit to North Wales was restricted to a few days, but in the time I was there I was able to see why it's got such a reputation as a tourist hotspot.
I did bump into quite a number of Liverpudlians-this is some place to have on their doorstep.

Houses in Llanfairfechan designed by the architect Herbert Luck North (1871-1941)

Edward the first's Conwy was impressive.

Conwy Views

Conwy Castle

Conwy Harbour

More of Conwy

Penmaenmawr Hillside Street

Penmaenmawr Hillside and Clock

Penmaenmawr Quarry Clock
The quarry clock was given to the Penmaenmawr Granite Company in the 1930s by The Euclid Company from America(Now part of Volvo), this was the company who provided the diggers and dumper trucks for the quarry".No excuses for being late to work I guess.

Penmaenmawr Van
If this is owned by a White Van Man...respect.

Penmaenmawr Views

Penmaenmawr Sunset

Sunday the 27th of June was my last full day in North Wales.After a run to and from Liverpools John Lennon Airport to drop of party guests we were treated to a wonderful meal at the Signatures Restaurant(Here's the Menu) at the Aberconwy Resort & Spa by our hosts.
Once again my thanks to Ged and Veronica for the invite and a wonderful long weekend.
You can find their place at
Balmoral

The Glebe on Vacation-Penmaenmawr Hill Walk

The Glebe on Vacation is very likely to become fairly disjointed as I correlate my pictures and videos.This walk for example took place on Friday the 25th of June,and should therefore have been my first away posting.
Nonetheless I hope the pictures do it justice-it was a great wee walk.

I'm camped Nor/Nor/West of Foel Lus.The nearest campsite on the map.

It's a zig-zag climb to begin with.The path is barely perceptible due to the height of the ferns.That's my car and tent near the amenities block in the middle of the above picture.

Reaching a prominent saddle i get a view down to an area called Dwygyfylchi.The campsite owner insists that it's easy to master the Welsh language-you could have fooled me.

The next stretch takes me south west around the hill to this point where it reaches Mountain Lane.(I knew I could drive up here,but decided that would be cheating.)
Now here's a little story about the above picture.
I was coming up the path opposite the bench,so I was out of view until almost reaching the road.The four track vehicle in the picture had just arrived and the driver was about to open his boot.Spotting me emerging he had second thoughts and got back in his car,shunted it slightly and remained in the drivers seat.I continued on occasionally looking back and also taking note of his registration.I suspected he'd been about to add to the collection of black bags,and I detest fly tippers.
My theory may have been completely wrong, and I apologise if it was....

...but the bags were gone when i returned.
Guilt,concience or the fear of being reported?.A vanity registration number is easily remembered.

Now ascending Foel Lus I get a great view of a herd of sheep being shepherded along a farm track below.

I've already uploaded a picture from the summit of Foel Lus.This one's looking westwards.The hat may look Bill and Ben..ish,but it's saved me getting burnt this summer.

Zooming in gets this picture over Conwy and Llandudno Junction.

A descent of a couple of hundred feet brings me to this junction.Meini Hirion indicates a Druid's Circle and that's where I'm heading.

It must have been quite a feat laying water pipes over these hills.

I'm not taking the direct path and I get this view back to Foel Lus from the top of Craig Hafodwen.

Back on the well signposted North Wales path, I get to see some of the wild ponies that inhabit these hills.Is that a section of narrow gauge rail?

Now I'm amongst the standing stones and circles that are scattered throughout these hills.

Apparently Maeni Hirion or the Druid’s circle is misnamed and has nothing to do with Druidism.A more detailed explanation can be found here
History

I suppose Celtic or Wiccan graffiti is acceptable here.A close inspection shows it to be done in chalk.

This is the disturbed circle.Excavations in 1958-9 found cremation burials here.

This peak is my next objective.It's at Clip yr Orsedd.

I see more wild ponies,the reason these are called the Quarry Villages,and a view over to Llanfairfechan.

Further on is a Neolithic cairn very similar to the one we saw recently on Cairnharrow.

A closer look over the quarries...

...brings me to the last summit and the closest I'll get on this walk to Llanfairfechan.
I take the same route back except for climbing a fourth peak above Ffridd Wanc.
What great walking country.Love it!

The Glebe on Vacation-Llanfairfechan from the beach

Taken on Friday the 25th of June 2010.

Panorama of Llanfairfechan on CleVR.com

For an authentic Welsh pronunciation click here.
Llanfairfechan

Friday, 2 July 2010

The Glebe on Vacation-Party Time in Llanfairfechan

Saturday the 26th of June.
Llanfairfechan Yacht Club is the setting for the retirement party I'm here for.
With guests from Wales,England,Ireland and the Usa a great night was had by all.

The party's in full swing as a big moon emerges.

Thanks to Ged and Veronica for a fantastic time.It was great meeting old friends and new faces.Anyone visiting will find a warm welcome at the Balmoral

Thursday, 1 July 2010

The Glebe on Vacation-Aber Falls

Friday the 25th of June 2010

I'm invited to dinner in Llanfairfechan tonight.
Saturday night is party and get together night and is the reason I'm in North Wales.
Today though I'll head for Abergwyngregyn,just a couple of miles away.
Situated just inside the Snowdonia National Park and the home of the
Aber Falls

There are lots of walks around here as can be seen on this page.Walk

My ten second delay mode works.

I've passed lots of people on the trail.It's a hot day,and lots of those who have followed the trail up alongside the Afon Rhaeadr-fawr are cooling themselves in the burn.There are lots of families around.The falls are really spectacular.

I make my way along the stony North Wales track to the almost deserted Rhaeadr-bach falls where I cool off.

My plan to climb the 794 metres high Bera Mawr mountain above the falls never materialised,the day and myself were too hot.Perhaps another time.
It's been a lovely day though.