Monday 4 December 2023

Lodge Life :: September 2023 #2 … Exploring Llanberis

Hi there everyone 😀

Our second big day out in the mountains back in September found us in Llanberis starting out with a search for the lonesome tree. 

We actually found it with not too much difficulty and also discovered a part of Llanberis that we hadn’t explored before with lots of free parking and some beautiful spots for picnicking and just generally messing about on the lake …
The lonesome tree was looking very atmospheric though it was accompanied by a selection of paddle boarders and kayakers so not looking totally lonesome this morning. 

Our next stop was the National Slate Museum. Somewhere else we’ve been meaning to have a look at for a long time but had never quite got round to it. 

Entry is free and we were pleasantly surprised at how much there was to see … starting with a look round the Chief Engineer’s House …
The main yard is fascinating and full of lots of stuff to look at …
It’s surrounded by rooms showing videos and demonstrations and rooms set out as they would have been when the slate quarry was at its heyday. 

The self guided tour took us through to the rear yard where we found the Quarrymen’s Houses which you can go inside and see what life would have been like for families in 1861, 1901 and 1969. It was just like visiting great grandma’s old house …
There’s also a cafe in the rear yard and we had a sit in the sunshine with some very tasty pasties before heading up the steps to have a look at the water wheel …
The tour then took us through the engineering workshops and pattern sheds, which were stuffed full of more interesting things to look at …
I think we spent a good hour or so exploring and I’m sure we will come again when we have other visitors staying with us as it really is fascinating to start to understand some of the Welsh slate mining history. 

We had time for one more stop before heading for home so we paid a visit to the Ceunant Mawr waterfall … which was looking fabulous following all of the rain we’d had …
And we were treated to the sight of one of the trains of the Snowdon Mountain Railway making its way across the viaduct as we made our way back to the car …
As there was now a bit of blue sky, and we had to pretty much pass it on the way home, we had another very quick call in at the lonesome tree just to see it in a different light …
It certainly looked different … but still accompanied by kayakers. I’m sure we will get to see it in its true state of lonesomeness at some point. 

We’d had a really lovely day. We’ve been to Llanberis a number of times and it had been lovely to find so many new things to see and explore … and all totally free of charge … how cool is that 😎

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Thanks for taking time to comment on my blog. I love to hear what people think about what Martin and I have been up to.