<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5625" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pensarn-HouseMay19-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Every year a group of ten (The Family) go away together and this year was no exception. This annual event started over 20 years ago and is still going strong.

We rented a large house in Pensarn close to LLanbedr with views over an estuary and sand dunes in the distance. It was possible to walk to the beach and then over some large stones to the sweeping sandy beach at Harlech.
<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5623" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/rock-beachmay19-1024x533.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="333" /></a>
<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5624" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/staircase-May19-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>The nearest major town was Porthmadog which had a good feel to it with some interesting little shops and a lively cafe culture. The Department store had an interesting spiral staircase. The Big Rock cafe was a favourite despite is espousing some religious connection. Apparently the carrot cake was to die for and despite my penchant for it I decided upon an eccles cake.

A visit to this part of Wales would be wasted without a trip on the Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19.jpg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-5622 size-thumbnail" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/lilies-walesmay19-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>The weather was superb all week and you might be forgiven for thinking that we were holidaying in the mediterranean.

Some of the plants indicated the area had a microclimate and as can be seen from this image the sandy beaches stretched for miles

We spent a very pleasant few hours strolling around Portmeirion. The village came to prominence when it featured in the 1960's cult TV programme "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Prisoner</a>".
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Apart from the Italianate buildings the grounds feature trees and plants from all over the world. The private beach stretches for miles and when the tide is out it might be possible to walk to Porthmadog.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5614" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunset-pensarnmay19-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>And in the evenings after a day of blameless blues skies the sunsets from the house were magnificent.

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