The Pig Yard

Our first day and we decided to take a walk from the house. As usual Steve was holding the walk book and within a mile of starting out we've missed a turn and thereby shortened the walk by about a mile. On this occasion nobody was complaining because this gentle stroll became quite a steep climb.

Thankfully the walk was punctuated by a stop at the Eagle and Child which was warm and welcoming. After refreshments it was only a short walk back to the house.

Rhuddlan was the first welsh castle we saw. It's incredible how much effort went into building these defences.

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 We thought Rhuddlan was imposing but Caernarfon castle is truly incredible.

After gaining entry as concessionary (over 60s) we walked the walls, climbed up spiral stairs, appreciated the bracing weather and enjoyed the views.

The walls around Caernarfon are not complete but they are sufficient to give an idea of how the town was protected on all sides.

It was a very cold day so we spent a comfortable half an hour in a local cafe drinking hot coffee, tea and a variety of cakes and buns.

A view of the castle from the market square indicates how imposing the building is.

Like all towns there were the usual shops but there were not many places we felt would suit us for lunch and in the end we located the Black Boy Inn which had a warm open coal fire and hot soup was on the menu.

Some of the usual suspects debating something - maybe whether the walk to the waterfall was worthwhile, would we get back to the cars before dark or possibly is the water warmer at the bottom of the fall than at the top because of the energy exchanged during the fall (possibly not).

We were advised to visit this waterfall by a chap we met in a cafe in Caernarfon. We think he may have worked for the tourist board and was drumming up business because it wasn't the easiest of places to find.

The road signs were good even if the car parking charges were still being taken in the middle of February. We always believe that if "tourists" are breathing life into British resorts during the winter then the lease they can do is give free parking to encourage more off-peak holidays (and you don't get more off-peak than mid February.

Our visit to Conwy was worthwhile. Although a small town it still had the town wall completely in place and the quay was quiet and clean.

This sculpture of mussels was an added attraction which caught our eye.

We walked from the town up to the hills outside the town and then back round again. It was an easy route to follow but some of the climbs were steep and the wind at the top was very bracing, enough to cool us off after getting hot climbing up. Although the walk book said it was only 8 miles and should take no longer than two and a half hours it took us nearer to three hours so we think it was more likely a ten miler. We appreciated our lunchtime break in a small cafe in the centre of the town.

Whenever we're out and about together in a town Graham is always around with his video camera waiting to catch the action. In this instance he was standing outside a pink shop with a pink and green bike next to him so there was a certain mismatch in the image that had to be captured - Graham and pink, we don't think so.

And so to Llandudno... The best description of the town is that it is the Harrogate of North Wales but if you've never been to Harrogate it's not much help. The town consists of Victorian and Edwardian shops and houses which haven't changed a great deal since they were first built.

This view of the sea front indicates how the boarding houses and hotels still look clean and tidy despite the recession. The whole place had an aura of wealth which was attractive in itself and a huge contrast to Prestatyn or Rhyl.