Lodge Life :: October 2023

Hi there everyone 😀

In October we managed to fit in a week at the lodge with mum. We took a different route from usual both on the way there and back … opting for going through Llangollen and taking a scenic drive up over The Horseshoe Pass …

We didn’t do lots on this visit but did manage a couple of days out and about starting with a visit to Porthmadog. We detoured along the front in Cricieth to take in the views …

… and to take in the Halloween themed post box toppers…

In Porthmadog it was cold but bright and we had a walk along to harbour to the Ffestiniog steam railway station …

There were no trains due in for a while so we just had a drink in the sunshine and a wander around …

It really is one of the most picturesque stations ever. 

With still no trains due any time soon we had a drive to the other end of town to run a few errands and have a look at the other steam railway … The Welsh Highland Railway. It was the first time we’d been to have a look and, though not as pretty as the Ffestiniog, there was a train in … it was absolutely immaculate …

By now there was a train due in at the other station so we hot footed it back to the other end of town and Martin just dropped mum and I off to have a look …

Having had our fill of steam trains for the day we headed for home, with a quick call in at Borth y Gest for a sandwich with a view on the way …

Our other big day out was to Penrhyn Castle …

… which is one of the most impressive castles, both inside and out, that we’ve visited …

… with the most fantastic views looking out across the Menai Strait …

We picked up a few Christmas gifts in the shop and had lunch in the cafe, before having a quick look round the rail museum …

There was just time to snap a couple of pictures outside before the buggy arrived to run us back to the car park …

As we were over that way, and not quite ready to head for home, we we decided to take a drive to the Ogwen Valley, where we discovered the old Roman road for some great views of the waterfalls …

And we couldn’t be over that way without a quick call in to Zipworld to show mum how the old quarry was now being used … none of us felt anywhere near brave enough for a go but it’s always good fun to have a look …

That was pretty much it for October, though there was another bit of a detour in the way home … Llangollen again, but this time for a look at the Horseshoe Falls …

… and to show mum the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct …

Visiting places on the way back is always good and really squeezes every last drop out of our visits … though sometimes it is nice to just get in the car and get home … and North Wales in the autumn has been a real treat 😀

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