Chris & Kelly's Travel Adventures

Northern Wales: Towns, Castles, Houses and Portmeirion

We hired a tour of Northern Wales through Viator.  I can't speak for everyone, but this was one of my favorite tours.  On today's visit in Northern Wales we are taken to see castles in the town of Conwy & Caerfarfon, Portmeirion Village, Snowdonia National Park, Britian's smallest house, Britian's ugliest house and the ivy covered house in Llanrhychwyn...also a glorious waterfall @Betsw-Coed.  But lets start the day out right with a full English breakfast curtesy of Premier Inn (came with the cost of the room).  There were more options than any of us could consume, but what we did eat was tasty (no one tried the black pudding). English muffins are called crumpets, bacon is called rashers or streaky bacon, cooked tomatoes, mushrooms and baked beans are a common componenent to a full english breakfast.

After breakfast we walked a few blocks to the local train/bus station to catch our tour bus for our Northern Wales Tour.

Portmeirion is a little Italian inspired village created by very homesick Italian millionaire. 

The Ugliest House is a result of a land owning rule that says if you can build a liveable structure within 24 hours you own it.  Hence, some pretty slapstick structures were the result.

Snowdonia National Park

Betsw-Coed Falls

Ivy covered house in Llanrhychwyn

Dinner back at Premier Inn Hotel

The Welsh language is the 2nd oldest in Europe.  Below is the name of the longest named town in Wales. 58 characters in length.

Other bits and bobs about Wales.  There are over 400 castles. Lewis Carrol (author of Alice in Wonderland) grew up in Llandudno, Wales.  There are Alice and Wonderland figurines all over town.  The Punch and Judy puppet show originated on the boardwalk of Llandudno, Wales.  The castle in Conwy was torn down, moved across the river and rebuilt in 3 years. Conwy was a favorite visiting place of Winston Churchill. The town of Caernafron was a favorite of King Edward, so future descendants were given the title of Prince of Wales.  Prince William trained and lived in Wales and is very popular with the locals. Wales has 3 million people, but 3 times that number of sheep.  The symbol of Wales in a red dragon.