Hi there everyone 😀
After a busy month and some scorching temperatures at home we managed to escape for a week at the lodge right at the end of June … with mum in tow.
Whilst the temperature forecasts for Wales were far lower than home we did manage to have a few really nice days out and about and … we were all glad of a bit of respite from the low 30s they were having back at home.
We arrived on a lovely sunny day and were soon unpacked and off to Aldi for some provisions … glad to get that out of the way so we could just enjoy the rest of our week.
Our first full day and the weather was better than predicted so we decided to make the best of it and have a big day out. It did start off quite overcast and our first stop was the Treborth Botanical Gardens at Bangor.
These gardens are really tucked away and you are not likely to stumble across them by accident so they are normally relatively quiet. They are also free to enter which always feel like a win.
Since we last visited quite a lot of activity has been undertaken and we just loved the new garden filled with raised stone beds just stuffed full of interesting medicinal planting …
We had a relatively short wander through the woods to the cascades …
… before finding ourselves at another new garden added since our last visit. This is ‘The Size of Wales Garden’ which was a gold medal winning garden at The Chelsea Flower Show in 2024. It has been transferred to Treborth as it’s forever home …
We ended up at the glasshouses which we had a walk round after taking in some the beautiful flowers in full display out front …
By the time we came out of the glasshouses the weather had changed dramatically … blue skies and sunshine were a very welcome appearance …
We probably just spent about an hour and a half at Treborth before heading across The Menai for our next stop …
Whilst we have visited Plas Cadnant before it was mum’s first visit. As it is not a particularly accessible garden mum and Martin got a discount as they both would only be able to visit the upper part of the garden, which was an unexpected surprise.
We started off with lunch in the cafe, which was pretty busy, considering the garden hadn’t been open for long.
After lunch we had a good old wander …
It really is a lovely garden and immaculately kept. I think we will be back again in August with Jackie and Phil.
We finished our day out with a call in at the shop that sells all sorts by the railway station with the long name. Surprisingly … Martin made the only purchase 😜
The following day the weather started out a bit dull again. We decided to head out but not go too far this time and ended up at the Lloyd George Museum in Llanystumdwy, somewhere we’ve wanted to have a look at for a while.
We parked up in the village and crossed the river to have a look at his final resting place …
… which is in a beautiful spot above the the river. It was then a short walk across the road to the museum …
Whilst the museum itself is very heavy on the need to read stuff we all found it really interesting. There was a short film which we all enjoyed and a display of objects telling his story – brilliantly and uniquely decorated caskets and scrolls presented to him as freedom of the city honours, such as a stunning silver model of Cricieth Castle presented by the town. Also on display are, medals, paintings, pictures, documents such as the Versailles Treaty and the first old ages pension handed out in Wales.
After finding all about his life we had a look in his uncle’s shoemaker’s shop next door and the cottage which was his childhood home.
There is a small Victorian garden …
… and a fun Number 10 installation …
From Llandystwmdwy we headed into Criccieth for lunch with a view …
Whilst we were away we also managed to fit in a short walk and lunch at Y Felinheli …
… fish and chips on the front and the lifeboat launch in Criccieth …
… a very quick visit to Nant Gwrtheyrn …
… a short walk at Trefor …
… and the most fabulous pizza at the airport cafe …
All too soon it was time to head for home and we made the most of the journey with a stop off in Llangollen for a picnic lunch by the side of the river …
We can’t wait to be back again later this month but, for now, we have a garden in need of attention ☺️
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