Things to do in the area
We have been spending our holidays up here for forty years, and haven’t got bored yet! There are masses of things to do for every taste within half an hour or so of Bron Gwynedd. These are some of our favourites.
The Ffestiniog Railway
View from Bron Gwynedd's level crossing
With Penrhyn station only about 70m from the bottom of the path, the railway is a great way to spend time. The scenery is beautiful, the history is fascinating, and there’s something about the chuffing of real steam trains which can’t be beaten. For something really different, why not volunteer to work on the railway for part of your time in Wales?
If you are intending to travel a lot on the railway, you may find signing up for membership of the Ffestiniog Railway Society worth doing before you arrive. This gets you free or reduced rate travel, quarterly magazines, and reduced rates on the Talyllyn and Welsh Highland railways as well. It doesn’t cost too much more for a year’s family membership than for a full priced day’s travel ticket for a family.
More details on the Ffestiniog, volunteering, and society membership can be found via www.festrail.co.uk
If you are intending to travel a lot on the railway, you may find signing up for membership of the Ffestiniog Railway Society worth doing before you arrive. This gets you free or reduced rate travel, quarterly magazines, and reduced rates on the Talyllyn and Welsh Highland railways as well. It doesn’t cost too much more for a year’s family membership than for a full priced day’s travel ticket for a family.
More details on the Ffestiniog, volunteering, and society membership can be found via www.festrail.co.uk
Beaches
There are lots of great beaches around here. Our personal favourite is Llandanwg, just past Harlech, which has smooth sandy bits, interesting rock pool bits, and a carpark with a little shop and café right by the entrance to the beach.
If you want to drive right on to the beach, Black Rock sands, reached via a left hand turn in the middle of Porthmadog, is your best bet.
If you love huge dunes, enormous flat expanses of sand, and relative solitude Harlech beach ticks all the boxes.
If you want to drive right on to the beach, Black Rock sands, reached via a left hand turn in the middle of Porthmadog, is your best bet.
If you love huge dunes, enormous flat expanses of sand, and relative solitude Harlech beach ticks all the boxes.
Llechwedd Slate Caverns
Tours of the old slate mines on miner’s trams or the deep mine on a cable hauled shuttle. Cool on the hottest day, historically interesting, and just the tidgiest bit scary here and there, it’s a great family day out. More information from www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk
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GreenWood Forest Park
Eco based family theme park near Caernarfon www.greenwoodforestpark.co.uk
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Electric Mountain
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Tree Top Adventure
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Plas y Brenin
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Shops
Penrhyn has a good range of shops for everyday needs including a Spar. A wider range is available 3 miles away in Porthmadog, including Tesco, Aldi and Wilkinsons, as well as a thriving high street of smaller shops of every description.
Places to Eat:
The Golden Fleece
In Tremadog, near Porthmadog – good pub grub with great home cooked chips
www.goldenfleeceinn.com |
Portmeirion Hotel
Great food in a restaurant reminiscent of the twenties attached to a country house style hotel with estuary views, pricey but the ambience is worth it. Lunchtime menu best value.
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Local Takeaways
At the other end of the scale, the chip shop, “halen e fingar” in Penrhyn is really good and very reasonably priced! There’s also a Chinese takeaway and a recently opened curry house in the village.
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This is only a small sample of what's available in the area. For further information try the Welsh tourist board on www.visitwales.co.uk
