A Brace of Welsh Staycations - Part One!
I love a good mini-break and so you can imagine my delight when my mother arrived at our doorstep one Wednesday teatime to look after the children for a few days so we could escape! Off we raced, 3 hours up to Betws-y-coed, a small town in the heart of Snowdonia. I had booked us in to a B and B called Afon View, which had good reviews and billed itself as a Guest House with a Hotel feel. The location couldn't have been better, right on the main drag through the town, so we could achieve the all important walk to the pub of an evening. The hosts were lovely, an English couple who always had a smile and an update on the weather! Our room was great too, nicely decorated, contemporary and the best bit was a small seating area so we didn't have to lie on the bed to watch Wimbledon!
I've always loved a good hike and so on the first day of the two we had off we went to Snowdon. Of course this was after eating my own bodyweight in bacon, sausage and egg! Collecting supplies for lunch on the way we made our way to Pen-y-pass, to find a very full carpark. Luckily there is a bigger carpark down the road about 3 miles away where you can park and get a bus back up to Pen-y-pass. It just adds to the adventure! Suncream on, swig of water and we are off.
Now I thought we were going to stroll up the mountain, stopping lots to take in the view and enjoy the sun. What really occurred is that we raced up to the top as quickly as we could, overtaking other walkers young and old and the odd dog! We took the Pyg Track which is one of the more tricky routes and one hour and 40 minutes later we hit the summit. It was just as beautiful as the last time I was there, the view off the back was epic, we could see for miles around. It was also flippin' cold up there so we put our layers on and went for a quick hot chocolate! You see, there is now a café at the top, for those that have taken the train to the summit from Llanberis. The train is only small but is a great way to get up if you are less mobile, although it's about £35 for a return journey.
The chilly wind up there meant no hanging around, just time for a photo and a high five, then off back down the Miners Track (which is a lot flatter for longer), stopping for lunch on the way back to the carpark. We passed a lot of people struggling up the mountain and I was very glad that we were on the way back down as the knees had started to creak by then! Back down to the welcome car and back to Betws-y-coed for a lovely dinner of pizza and wine in Hangin' Pizzeria. It was really good food, I can highly recommend it!
The second of our two day adventure brought more good weather, well no rain at least so I was happy! The activity of the day was chosen, Canyoning it was! I called George who runs Snowdonia Adventure Activites and he had space for us on his Canyoning Extreme trip that day. With the little rain that had fallen recently I was dubious about how 'extreme' it was going to be but I need not have worried, there was plenty to get the adrenaline flowing! It was 3 hours of sliding, abseiling, jumping and swimming our way down a stunning gorge. The 'extreme' part was sliding off a waterfall into a deep pool and then climbing up the side and jumping in, the highest available jump being around 40ft...eek! A big enough drop to know you're falling!
That evening saw two very hungry and tired Bristolians scoffing burgers in the local pub and sleeping very soundly. In the morning we said goodbye to friends we had made at the bed and breakfast and Snowdonia, farewell until next time!