Wales 2013

Gill and I took a car tour to Wales at the end of April spending 3 nights away. We where due to take the TR7 however the brakes have gone a bit spongy, as its an up-rated and sleeved master cylinder I am waiting for special piston seals from Past Parts who sleeved it, so it was the more modern MG TF we took.
Friday
We where based in the excellent White Pheasant Hotel in Llangollen. The organiser having done an excellent deal on room rates.
Setting of early on the Friday we arrived in the area around 2pm, we used the A5 from the end of the A14 which was a bit slow around Tamworth, Brownhills, and Cannock.
Off course been into canals we took a detour to Chirk to look at the stone aquaduct and a quick look at Telford's Pontcysyllte Aquaduct.

 

Chirk Aquaduct, railway viaduct alongside.

Pontcysyllte Aquaduct - the stream in the sky.

After booking in at the Hotel we spent the afternoon looking round Llangollen then joined our fellow guests for drinks and a evening meal, Welsh Lamb Shank, lovely.

Llangollen, River Dee and preserved Llangollen
railway station.

Spotted in Llangollen a large party of MG's on a tour.

Saturday
On the Saturday we took a long drive, first along the A5 to Corwen, then a good minor road to Llan Ffestiniog, then to Tan-y-Bwlch station on the Ffestiniog railway.

Road to Llan Ffestiniog.

Still snow around on Arenig Fach at 2259m.

Looking over to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

We had a coffee at Tan-y-Bwlch Station whilst waiting to catch a glimpse of the steam trains.

Ffestiniog up train at Tan-y bwlch, Replica Lynton and Barnstable
Railway "Lyd"

Double Fairlie "Merrddin Emrys" on down train at Tan-y-bwlch

We carried on to Porthmadog for lunch in the town and a quick look at the harbour and met some of our party of the train we had photographed. Other members had chosen Portmerion as a venue. we do not have a set itinary on these tours, each doing whatever suits them. We where going for the mileage award today.

Porthmadoc Harbour.

We noticed a train was about to leave Porthmadog for the Welsh Highland Railway to Caernarfon, reversing out of the station, then travelling forward along the street before heading off to Beddgelert.

Welsh Highland Train crossing Brittania Bridge in Porthmadog
drawn by Double Fairlie "Earl of Merioneth"

Double Fairlies have 2 boilers
and 2 driving bogies, one at each end.

After lunch we headed for Beddgelert and the lovely Aberglaslyn Pass.

Afon Glaslyn in the Aberglaslyn Pass.

End of Aberglaslyn pass.

Lovely view from Beddgelert Station

We stopped for ice cream in the village of Beddgelert, the Glaslyn ice cream parlour is supposedly the best in the UK having won awards, the chocolate cone was great. Had a quick stroll round the pretty village before the afternoon up train on the Welsh Highland Railway was due. See a theme developing here! We headed down to the end of Aberglaslyn Pass to photograph the train.

Beyer Garret NGG16 No 138 leaves the Aberglaslyn Pass
heading for Beddlegert.

No 138 crosses the Afon Glaslyn.

We then headed back through Beddgelert then along the A498 pausing to take pictures of Snowdon with just a little cloud cover on it.

Snowdon.

Llyn Gwynant.

Looking back to Llyn Gwynant.

We then took a quick detour up the pass of Llanberis as far as Nant Peris before heading towards Capel Curig, then the A5 to Betws-y-coed and Llangollen for drinks in the hotel. Had another excellent evening meal and chilled out in the lounge.

Llanberis Pass.