Porthmadog, Wales
 

Starting to make plans for my next solo trip. First I travel by train and bus which does restricts my movement.
However, I am thinking of spending an afternoon and night in Porthmadog before taking the bus to Bangor and then up to Scotland. Is this a place one would want to visit? I like easy walks, sea views, pubs and meeting locals.

It would be a very nice place to visit - for even longer if you had the time.

There are beaches, a steam railway, nearby Portmerion, and Criccieth Castle. it is a lovely area.

Hi.

Beddgelert is close by and certainly worth a visit if you can get over there. Google it and you'll see what a great spot it is.

B.V.

The Ffestinog (sp?) narrow-gauge steam railway that starts in Porthmadog and ends in bleak slate country in Ffestinog is one of the most famous tourist railways in Europe. From the sea it steadily climbs to Ffestinog, a severe-looking grim slate town, impressively surrounded by slag heaps left over from the once thriving slate industry, whose decline has made this town a mini-Appalachia. Going to Ffestinog is like going back to the 1940s- very little modern here - and hardscrabble folks. Yet, bleak as it is it's a most interesting excursion - something different and the train is a real toy-like miniature train plying tiny tracks that once conveyed slate from the mines to the sea. Inexpensive. Great views over Wales and the sea.

It is indeed a beautiful area and I would definitely stop and see the village of Portmeirion. This is a fascinating village with no residents. It's very hard to describe but the locals will all tell you that you must see it. That's usually a good sign to me. Here is a link to the page of my travel journal that has pictures of the village, a link to the official website and my brief description.

http://www.geocities.com/obeirne_wal...criccieth3.htm

Bill

ttt

Thanks for your replies and suggestions. I remember Portmerion from the old TV series, yes I am old enought to have watched it in the orginal broadcasts. So far it looks like I will spend my first day upon arrival in Ludlow followed by Porthmadog, Glasgow to Uig, lewis and Harris and then back down South. Thinking of a re-visit to York, bus to Whitby for a nght and then back to London prior to the flight back to Northern California. Additional feed back would be appricated.