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Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve (Gwynedd)
by markos9
Do you remember those boring, dry, endless Geography lessons from school? Well, if you do, you may recognise the photograph at the top of this review. Cwm Idwal is a classic glacial 'corrie' and has been used as a 'textbook' example for many years.
Cwm Idwal is also the most accessible corrie in Britain, lying only a few ... hundred yards from a car park at the side of the busy A5 trunk road near Bethesda. This is a popular tourist attraction, and rightly so. Getting here is easy, parking is reasonably priced, or even free on the main road lay by's.
There are toilets here, as well as a food kiosk. This serves hot and cold food which is reasonably priced and of acceptable quality.
The path to Cwm Idwal starts at the rear of the car park: an attractive, stone laid 'road' of some 900 yards, that takes the visitor straight to this wonderful 'hanging valley'.
The path crests a small hill, when the view, hidden from the visitor until now, opens up in front. And what a magnificent view it is. The valley is surrounded on three sides by brooding, dark mountains (with evocative Welsh names such as Y Garn and Glyder Fawr), and at its feet is the glacial lake of Llyn Idwal.
Photographs of this place do not do it justice, it is necessary to see the all round view of being hemmed in by cliffs on three sides, facing the tranquil waters of the lake. It's understandable why Cwm Idwal was voted the 7th Natural Wonder of Wales.
This is a place steeped in legend. The lake is named after Idwal, the son of an ancient Prince of Wales. It is said that Idwal was murdered, drowned in the lake, and that now his uneasy spirit resides here. It is easy to see why this place would gain an air of mystery: it appears mystical and magical. On certain days, 'steam' emerges from a large crack in the mountains; the 'Devil's Kitchen'. The real reason is more mundane, warm air hitting the cold rock causes water vapour to condense, but our superstitious ancestors must have viewed this place with some trepidation!
As well as being spectacularly beautiful, this is a very special environment. The site is designated as a National Nature Reserve due to its rare and precious plant life. Cwm Idwal is north facing so the cliff walls rarely receives direct sunlight. The nooks and crannies are home to alpine wildlife, present at the most southern location in Britain due to the cold micro-climate. Arctic plants such as alpine saxifrage and moss campion thrive here, as does the Snowdon Lily, found only in Snowdonia (this is one of the easiest places to see this rare, delicately beautiful flower).
The bird life is special here, too. Wheatears abound, and peregrine falcons fly overhead. The impressive raven, the world's largest crow, seems ideally suited to this rugged environment. Rarest of all, the 'mountain blackbird', the ring ouzel, makes its home here. You may see one of these pretty, white fronted black birds, calling or singing from a rock as you make your way around the lake.
The path that leads to the lake circumnavigates the shore. The steep grassy slopes of the valley are excellent places for a picnic: with possibly one of the best views in Wales to look at while you eat.
At the southern end of the lake, the path splits into two. The first skirts around the lake shore to return to the start point and is gentle in gradient, although it can be boggy. The other goes to the back of the cwm, and climbs high towards the Devil's Kitchen, before dropping back to the lake. This is not an easy walk. The path involves some 'scrambling' and at one point requires the walker to 'ford' a waterfall. This is not a task for someone afraid of heights as one slip across the rushing water could result in a long fall.
The views here are, however, worth the effort. Climbing 300 foot above Llyn Idwal gives a bird's eye view of the whole of this amazing place. This walk also takes you to the base of the 'Idwal Slabs'. This is a near vertical wall of stone that would cause a mountain goat to pause. Yet, human rock climbers tackle this with gusto. On a visit in April, with snow capping the mountains, we watched in awe as a party of climbers made their way up this 'impossible' incline (I think they must be mad!).
If I had visited this place, whilst learning Geography, I think I would have had more enthusiasm for the subject. Standing on the shore of Llyn Idwal, looking up at the bowl shape carved out of the mountains, it is easy to see, in the minds eye, the ice age events that formed it. It's possible to almost SEE the monstrous glacier carving its way through the tortured stone, with the weight of millions of tonnes of ice and rock acting as geological sand paper, as if it was yesterday rather than 100 centuries ago.
This is then an awesome place with something for everyone, geology, natural history, folklore, and rock climbing. Above all, however, it has beauty and grandeur. This is a place where you can stand and stare, slowly turning in a circle taking in the view all around. As a tonic for a busy life, this can hardly be bettered and I recommend this place to anyone who's in the area. You will never think of those boring Geography lessons in the same way again.
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Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza (Wales)
by SusanLesley
Since coming to live in Llandudno in 2002 we have enjoyed all the benefits of living in a popular seaside town not least of which is the Victorian Extravaganza.
History
The Extravaganza originally began in 1986 as a way of attracting visitors to Llandudno in the lull between Easter and Spring Bank Holiday and it ... has grown in popularity each year.
When Is It?
The Extravaganza always takes place over three days - Saturday, Sunday and Monday - culminating on the May Day Bank Holiday Monday. In 2010 that means it is 1st, 2nd and 3rd May.
What Is It?
Well it is what it says - and extravaganza of all things Victorian, although there are a few liberties taken and some things are not actually of Victorian origin! There are parades, fairground rides, displays, competitions and lots of fun for all ages.
The main street through Llandudno - Mostyn Street - is closed to traffic for the three days and the stalls, displays, stages and rides are all set up there. It always amazes me how fast everything gets set up once the road has been closed and how fast it all gets taken apart again at the end of proceedings on Monday!
Admission is free although obviously you will have to pay on the rides etc.
Bodafon Fields
Bodafon Fields is an area at the far end of Llandudno seafront next to the Little Orme and here there is a huge display of old, mainly steam powered vehicles together with old buses and motorcycles. There is usually a small fun fair here too together with an enormous market / car boot sale. There is an admission charge to get onto Bodafon Fields - for 2010 it is £5 for a daily ticket for adults and £1 for children and there are weekend and family tickets available too.
There is a shuttle bus service from Bodafon Fields down into the town run by some of the old buses - what we used to call bone shakers.
It is also worth a mention that entrance to the Bodafon Farm Park is free and they have a large aviary with lots of various owls as well as other birds and also many rare breeds of animals. You can wander round the paddocks and take a look or follow the farm trail. There is also a restaurant up there if you're hungry!
The Parade
Each day at 12 noon there is a parade of vehicles along the promenade and then round into town. This is always lead by Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang (I told you not everything was Victorian didn't I?) and involves some fantastic traction engines, steam powered vehicles, still walkers, marching bands and lots of people in Victorian Costume - oh and Darth Vader and a group of Storm Troopers - don't ask, I have no idea why!
The parade is of course free as it is passing through the streets but some of the participants carry collecting buckets so have some change at the ready. It really is quite a spectacle of colour and noise - some of those traction engines have powerful air powered horns and the whoop, whoop can be heard all over the town!
On Saturday evening there is the Conwy Road Run at 6pm where the vehicles taking part drive from Llandudno to Conwy, round the town and back again.
On Sunday there is gathering of old Crossville buses which will join the midday parade and then the Great Orme Road Run at 6pm which sees vehicles travelling all the way round Marine Drive at the base of the Great Orme. This is open to any vehicles that can manage it although because the terrain is rather hilly it does exclude things like traction engines and double decker buses aren't allowed round the Orme either - presumably because of the overhanging rocks in places.
At 6pm on Sunday evening a parade of miniature steam engines travels along the promenade to the pier at the base of the Great Orme where they remain for about hakf an hour before returning by the same route.
Fairground Rides
As I said these are situated all along Mostyn Street with some in the side street off as well. The rides did, at one time, start to get very modern so last year it was decided to return to mainly Victorian rides with one or two from the earlier part of the 20th century such as The Waltzers.
There are children's rides, galloping horses, helter skelters, a big wheel, ghost trains, fun houses, chairoplanes, swing boats and cake walks, as well as an array of stalls where you can win prizes by doing anything from hooking a duck to scoring a high number by throwing darts or rifle shooting.
There is also a section where there is a set of really old fashioned penny arcade machines - and I do mean penny! You can buy some old pennies to play the machines, a lot of which I remember from my childhood (and before you ask no, these are not Victorian!). If you win (yeah right!) you can then change your pennies back to modern money.
As well as the fairground stalls there are lots of charity stalls with raffles, tombolas and games.
There are usually a couple of beautiful old fairground organs as well - you know the ones with all the moving figures - and these are great to stand and watch whilst listening to the sounds of your childhood.
Competitions and Stages
There are competitions for the best Victorian costume and the best Victorian window display in a shop.
There is also a town criers competition and they come from all over the country for this one so there's lots of shouting!
There are usually two stages - one at the top of Upper Mostyn Street near to the Great Orme where there are bands and singers playing all day and evening and one nearer to the middle of the street where there are performers of all kinds during the day.
The Shops
All the shops in Llandudno are open during the Extravaganza and a lot of them bring some trading out onto the main street. The cafes and restaurants are all open of course but will naturally be very busy at times.
The Promenade
There are usually a few old vehicles parked on the promenade together with their proud owners who are more than ready to have a chat about their pride and joy!
The RNLI
You didn't think I was going to forget our lifeboat did you? No chance!
The lifeboat will be on display on the promenade throughout the three days of the Extravaganza and there will be plenty of people around to answer any questions that you might have.
Our stall selling souvenirs will also be on the promenade in our usual spot next to the boat so if you come to the Extravaganza pop along and say hello.
Last year I was serving on the stall when someone called my name and I turned to see Darth Vader and a few of his Storm Troopers standing there! I nearly jumped out of my skin! Mind you the year before I served Queen Victoria so anything can happen at the Extravaganza!
There is also a hotel near to the end of the promenade near Bodafon Fields called The Fairhaven and they always spend the three days selling coffee, tea, soup and snacks in aid of the Llandudno Lifeboat. They do a roaring trade!
Information
There is always a booklet available to buy for around £2 - £3 and this gives you all the information about the Extravaganza including the times and routes of the parades, times of acts performing on the stages and general information about the transport and fairground rides.
The Extravaganza website can be found at http://victorian-extravaganza.co.uk/ and it gives lots of information about what to expect and photographs from previous years together with a short video advertising this year's event.
In Conclusion
I have to say that I always really enjoy Extravaganza weekend - there seems to be a real buzz around the town and everyone has a really good time. It's great to see so many smiling faces.
There is something for everyone whether you're a transport enthusiast, a lover of the fair or just someone who wants to forget your trouble and have fun for a day or three!
One thing I will say is that it can get very crowded in the main street but there's always the promenade or the pier to walk along or you could grab your bucket and spade and head for the beach. There is also the West Shore beach which will be somewhat quieter if you want escape the crowds for a while.
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Portmerion Village (Wales)
by Burning_Darkness
Located on the North Wales coast in Gwynnead, Portmerion is an enduring little artificial italianate village built by Sir Clough-Williams Ellis between 1925 and 1975 and best known for providing the backdrop for the 1960s surrealist drama series 'The Prisoner'.
The place is like something from Alice in Wonderland, with a ... fantastical (and deliberate) incongruency about it: no two buildings are alike, with old greco-roman styles and decor rubbing shoulders with 18th/19th century European architectural styles, with weird statues and metal sculptures everywhere amongst the winding steps and lanes and the wide variety of carefult tended trees, hedges and flowers.
There is also a genuine arched facade taken from an ancient german Cistercian monestary at the periphery of the village square, sitting overlooking a long rectangular pool lined with classical columns, whilst elsewhere the village boasts a rather flash hotel overlooking the estuary and with a grounded boat adjoining the nearby walkway, and from here as well as numerous outher viewing points visitors can look out across the estuary at the shifting sands, rippling tidal waters and the beautiful villages and hills and mountains beyond. There are also lots of hidden little coves and caves in the cliff face, as well as beautiful wooded areas to explore.
The whole place is briming over with eccentric charm, and with the entry cost of around £8 per person (with concessions for kids and OAPs) Portmerion offers a full days exploration along with plenty of coffee shops, cafes and resteraunts that whilst a little expensive are still well worth visiting while youre there. A wonderful and unique place with something for people of all ages that you are unlikely to forget in a hurry.
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