Photos taken during a holiday at Portmeirion Hotel and Village between May 2nd and 6th 2014.
May 232014
May 222014
Portmeirion is a hotel and village complex two miles south-east of Porthmadog in North Wales. The village is one mile from Minffordd railway station which is served by the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway and Arriva Trains Wales on the Cambrian Line. Portmeirion was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village. It has been used in many films and television shows, most notably the 1960s classic ‘The Prisoner’, starring Patrick McGoohan, a personal favourite of mine. As a family, we have visited Portmeirion for over 30 years, and it was a place that we always [Read more]
Feb 232014
According to provisional figures from the Met Office, the United Kingdom received 486.8 millimetres of rain between 1st December 2013 and 19th February 2014, making it the wettest Winter ever. This beat the previous record of 485.1 millimetres of rain set in 1995. With the meteorological Winter not due to end until the last day of February, the total rainfall amount could easily top 500 millimetres. While the worst affected areas have been Wales, the West Country and Southern England, the East Midlands has escaped the worst of the downpours and floods. But, how wet has it been in Selston? Well, [Read more]
Sep 192013
Homeward Bound After a hectic week of coach and train travel, our last day arrived. It was another bright and sunny day when we made an early start at Wrexham University. Hearty breakfasts consumed, we set off at 08:45 for the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway at Welshpool. The special gala day celebrated 50 years of a preserved passenger railway between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion. The line closed in November 1956, but re-opened in April 1963. There was a re-enactment the last train to run on the line, with music provided by the Aberystwyth Silver Band. Diesel and steam traction was provided, [Read more]
Sep 052013
Welsh Mega Steam 4 was an eight-day holiday that I took between August 24th and 31st 2013 in which I toured the preserved railways of North and Central Wales. A group of 32 were on the trip, which was organised by Railtrail Tours, and was the fourth year they had run the trip. Staying in university accommodation, and using a coach to visit the various sites, the itinerary for the tour was as follows: Day 1 – Alfreton to Bangor via the Great Orme Tramway Day 2 – Lakes and mountains Day 3 – The long and the short Day 4 – Bangor to [Read more]