Friday 26th April 2019
After picking up my colleagues from the camera club we set off for North Wales and Llandundno after the early morning rush hour. We stopped for a quick lunch at Telford Services, junction 4 off the M54. Unlike earlier visits the services were very busy. These services is unusually compact and is one off the better ones on the motorway network.
Our plan for the day was to drive up into North Wales and visit Llyn Ogwen off the A5 before continuing onto our hotel in Llandudno.
Lynn Ogwn and Llyn Idwal, Bangor
We parked in the pay and display past the National Trust buildings and went for a hot drink. The rain was now constant and our plans for a walk up to Llyn Idwal were not looking great. While we sheltered in the visitor centre and drank our tea I looked up at the path to Llyn Idwal and across to Llyn Ogwn
Eventually the rain/drizzle eased and we set off up the path to Llyn Idwal. Once at the lake I spotted a couple of Welsh ponies and walked up to have a closer look. It was a mare and a her foal.
The foal was very friendly and I guess must have met many walkers since birth.
Llyn Idwal had lots of waves as the wind literally howled around us. A further reminder of the coming storm.
The path to Llyn Idwal has been crafted from lots of stones and boulders.
The wind was still strong as we made our way back down. The good news was that the rain held off.
Then patches of blue sky appeared.
Other walkers were returning down the paths in front of us as we descended. Lynn Ogwn is in the background.
Looking back to the mountains around Llyn Idwal we could see a shaft of sunlight.
Llandudno
The hotel is up a cul-de-sac on a steep hill. It is the last building at the top of the road. The promised parking outside the hotel was full and probably was too narrow for my car. I had managed to squeeze my car into a space on the hill down from the hotel. We were warned that traffic wardens started operating after 10 am and patrolled the road outside.
This is the view from the hotel across the bay.
After dumping our bags we walked down the hill and went looking for somewhere to eat. We stopped at the Queen Victoria pub for a drink and a meal. I shared nachos with Steve and had scampi and chips for a main. The ’61 Deep’ pale ale from Marstons was very good. The meal was less than appetising especially the scampi.
Llandudno Pier
The rain has started in earnest as we left the pub. This was the promised storm that would last for the next 24 hours or so. We walked down to the promenade and went past the stalls and amusement arcade towards the pier. Here’s our hotel (top right) from the promenade.
Two views of the bay and one looking out towards the pier.
We walked towards the pier but the rain and wind were so strong that we abandoned our bracing walk! There was a steep path that went up the hill from the road above the promenade up to the hotel. This was a quicker way of getting some shelter back at the hotel.
After a bottle of beer in the hotel’s bar it was time to retire and gear up for the next day’s big event.