The ruins of Cymer Abbey stand in a lovely setting beside the River Mawddach. Awe-inspiring are its large windows, arches, and unusual tower. The abbey, founded in 1198, was a Cistercian abbey and the only monastery established in Meirionnydd. It was an important part of the community in the area during the Middle Ages. Where to stay We stayed at […]
Welshpool is a market town and community in Powys, Wales. It is four miles from the border between Wales and England and lies low on the River Severn. The city has beautiful canals, modern art, and most notably, the 13th-century Powis Castle—a sandstone castle overlooking the Severn Valley. Where to stay We stayed in the municipal car park (52.660023, -3.144889 […]
Snowdonia National Park has nine mountain ranges covering approximately 52% of the Park and includes many peaks over 3,000 feet (915m). It is a varied landscape of steep river gorges, waterfalls and green valleys. Oak, ash, oar and hazel woodlands are scattered throughout the Park, and there are also estuaries and stone monuments such as ancient abbeys and even medieval […]
Barmouth is a beautiful town with stunning views of Cardigan Bay and the picturesque harbour. It has a history dating back 500 years and was an extremely busy port with a shipbuilding industry stretching across the Mawddach estuary. It also had a significant tourist trade from the 1750s and the railway arrived in 1867. Where to stay We stayed two […]
Aberystwyth is a university and coastal town and one of the largest in central Wales. The street names and architecture reflect the town’s history and growth since the Middle Ages. Of particular note is Harlech Castle, which was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1986. Where to stay We stayed in the car park of Morrison’s supermarket (Llanbadarn Fawr, […]
Devil’s Bridge village, known in Welsh as Pontarfynach, has been a tourist attraction for over 100 years, but it retains its heritage and is a beautiful, unspoilt part of mid-Wales. It has remained largely unchanged since the late 18th century when the Hafod Hotel and the third bridge over the River Mynach were built. Where to stay We stayed at […]
Llanidloes is at the heart of the ancient medieval kingdom of Arwystli; the first town on the River Severn and the gateway to the Cambrian Mountains of mid-Wales in the UK. The focal point of Llanidloes is the distinctive 17th-century Old Market Hall, with its black and white timber structure. The town had a thriving textile industry and is famous […]
Ludlow is a thriving medieval town in Shropshire and an architectural gem with a lively atmosphere. The historic town centre and 11th-century Ludlow Castle are situated on a cliff above the River Teme and are surrounded by the beautiful countryside of South Shropshire and the Welsh Marches. Ludlow has a reputation for the quality of its food and drink, with […]
Tavistock is the only town in Devon to hold World Heritage status. It is a thriving ancient market town with numerous examples of neo-Gothic architecture. Tavistock’s uniqueness is undeniable, as it has a variety of beautiful local independent shops, the famous pannier market, and the award-winning farmers’ market. What to see Tavistock is a World Heritage Site. Its name is […]
Dartmoor National Park is a vast moorland in Devon, defined by woodland, rivers, wetlands, and tors (rock formations). Trails wind through valleys dotted with Neolithic tombs, Bronze Age stone circles and abandoned medieval farmhouses. What to see We drove into the national park. The first thing we came across was Bovey Castle, a large mansion from the early 20th century […]
