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The North Pole in South Wales! Welsh 100 – No 24

Aunty had promised me an ice cream for being a good boy at Clyne Gardens, and never one to miss an opportunity of an ice cream I immediately accepted. Just along the coast from the gardens is another of the Welsh 100 thing to do in Wales – “Have a North Pole From Joe’s” .…
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Clyne Gardens. Welsh 100 – No 23.

The weekends expedition was a short drive along the M4 to Swansea. The weather forecast predicted sun along the coast, but it didn’t look very promising as the rain splattered on the windscreen. Then as we passed Port Talbot the clouds cleared and the sun came out. Perfect for fossicing about in the Clyne Gardens.…
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Llandecwyn – an ancient church in Merionydd

The caravan site we stayed in over Easter was just outside Llandecwyn near Talsarnau. The new village of Llandecwyn is strung along the road from Maentwrog to Harlech, and comprises of a few houses, farms and a chapel. But the history of Llandecwyn goes back much further than the relatively modern houses currently visible. Immediately…
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Dyffryn Ardudwy Neolithic Burial Chambers
Hidden behind the school in small village of Dyffryn Ardudwy is one of the largest Neolithic ritual burial monuments in north Wales. On a west facing slope it comprises two east-west orientated, portal dolmen-type chambers that open up-slope to the east. The chambers are set within a well-defined phased cairn, which is roughly trapezoidal in…
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Afon Glaslyn from the Cob at Porthmadog

As we were driving around during the Easter weekend explorations we had to go into Porthmadog to get some much needed food supplies to prevent starvation in the caravan. This meant we had to cross the Cob, an embankment that encloses Treath Mawr. This was built to allow the allow drainage of the land behind…
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Cregennan Lakes

After our trip across the Mawddach Bridge we drove the short distance to Cregennan Lakes for our picnic. This is perhaps my favourite place, and used to be very quiet and tranquil. It was still quiet when we visited, but perhaps only if you compare it with a town centre on market day. The car…
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The Story of Branwen

Let me lead you into the world of love, betrayal, jealousy and revenge. Sit back and make yourself comfortable as we transport into a world of kings, princesses and magic. Once upon a time, many years ago (sorry couldn’t resist this as an opening to the story) Bendigeidfran (Brân the Blessed), King of Britain, was…
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Portmeirion: Welsh 100 – No 21

This is another place we managed to fit in during our Easter Weekend stay in North Wales. I’ve had to go back to work for a rest. Portmeirion is a strange place. Fitting when you consider the magical myths and legends that abound in Wales. Today it is a mishmash of Italianate buildings that…
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Castell Harlech: Welsh 100 – No 20.

Harlech Castle. What can I say about it? This is a real and proper castle. One we all imaged a castle should be when we were kids – young or old. Sitting on top of the crag, it seems to grow out of the rock itself, with plunging cliffs on the seaward side, making it…

