TOURING : CLUB SITES Cottages at Point on ’s south-eastern tip Whether you’re looking to FOR THE FAMILY peak in or unwind in island solitude, North is the perfect caravanning holiday ALL destination, says Don Jolly ANGLES Deep stuff Steam theme Overlooking the Menai The narrow-gauge Ffestiniog & Strait, the small Anglesey Welsh Highland Railwaystake in Sea Zoo is home to 150 a total of 38 miles of outstanding covered species from around local Snowdonian scenery. coasts. It also has a seahorse conservation programme, T01766 516000 lobster hatchery and Wfestrail.co.uk Nearest featured sites Coed- dolphin rescue service. y-Llwyn/Penrhos/Cae Mawr T01248 430411 Wangleseyseazoo.co.uk Nearest featured sites Penrhos/Cae Mawr

BIRD SPOTTING

DON’T FORGET You can book your pitch online at caravanclub.co.uk/ searchandbook, by calling Boat trip our Advance Booking Service You can see Puffin Island just a short on 01342 327490 or, for distance off Penmon Point on Anglesey. In summer there are pleasure cruises AS sites, calling them round the island from to see direct. guillemots, razorbills, terns etc.

T01248 810746/07860 811988 Wbeaumarismarine.com Nearest featured sites Penrhos/Cae Mawr orth Wales is renowned for To help you enjoy both aspects of this THIS MONTH’S FEATURED SITES the majestic summits of beautiful part of Britain, this month’s Club Snowdonia National Park. site quartet comprises two set amid CAE MAWR Cae Mawr Club site Double up But there is another, just as Anglesey’s gently rolling countryside – Cae See p234 of the Sites Directory & Llanfair Slate Caverns attractive side to the Mawr and Penrhos – and two in Snowdonia, Handbook 2013/14 and Children’s Farm Park Nregion, and to reach it you must pass Coed-y-Llwyn and Min y Don AS. share the same site. The PENRHOS through Snowdonia and cross the narrow The two Anglesey sites are on the B5110 slate was removed more See p245 of the Directory than a century ago to roof YOU ARE HERE to the island of Anglesey. either side of Brynteg, near . What houses; the farm park has Ynys Môn, as it is known in Welsh, adds they share is peace and tranquillity; how MIN Y DON AS a variety of animals and another dimension to a holiday, and when they differ is that the slightly smaller Cae See p242 of the Directory children’s games. the mountain scenery isn’t accompanied by Mawr lacks toilet facilities, so young families COED-Y-LLWYN T01766 780247 the warm sunny weather you desire, the usually head for Penrhos, which has them. See p235 of the Directory Wllanfairslatecaverns.co.uk/childrensfarmpark.co.uk island can often oblige. As a result, Cae Mawr is cheaper and even >> Nearest featured site Min y Don

20 www.caravanclub.co.uk July 2013 The Caravan Club Magazine 21 TOURING : CLUB SITES

Peak viewing: glorious Snowdonia FOOD+ DRINK OUTDOOR FUN STACKS TO SEE Meat treat Look out for the Welsh speciality, salt-marsh lamb, reared in the coastal areas around Harlech. The lambs feed on vegetation rich in saline, which gives the meat a distinctive flavour (not salty!). Check out the local restaurants. Penrhos Club site Nearest featured site Min y Don

Back on the mainland, an hour-ish south Best nests of the bridge, lies Min y Don, an affiliated The RSPB reserve at South DINING OUT Cycling Stack Cliffson Holy Island is a site on the coast near Harlech Castle. The Lôn Las Cymru route great place to see nesting sea Plas of interest Don’t be put off by Dewi the Dragon at (National Cycle Network birds in late spring and early the site entrance, nor the ranks of mobile Plas Brondanw, near Route 8) is a not-to-be-missed summer. Watch out for Garreg, was the home of homes leading to the touring area – this highlight. Check out the quiet guillemots, razorbills and puffins Clough Williams-Ellis, the is a friendly place with very helpful country lanes of Anglesey, or as well as the rare chough. creator of Portmeirion. It’s a staff. Eventually it will comprise the largely traffic-free section between Caernarfon and T01407 762100 delightful setting for a café, hardstandings only but currently there’s W rspb.org.uk/southstack , and be prepared open seven days a week in a mix of hard and grass pitches. The Nearest featured sites for some big climbs! Penrhos/Cae Mawr summer. Local produce site’s pride and joy is the state-of-the-art features on the menu. toilet block which has regularly won Wsustrans.org.uk T01766 772772 ‘Loo of the Year’ awards, this year in Wbrondanw.org Cnicht, the Welsh , three categories. Not surprisingly, it’s Splashing times Nearest featured sites The National White Water Min y Don/Coed-y-Llwyn immaculate. Hopefully, you’ll like constant going back 50 years in the Tardis to simpler Radio 2 to accompany your shower. Centre at Frongoch, near Bala, is a popular summit walk offers a variety of activities times (there are no theme parks either!). Along the road there’s a small including rafting, canoeing, “ pub fare. From Penrhos, the nearest pub is Hiking is popular, and you’re more likely supermarket and a swimming pool and kayaking and canyoning. Prices High point more restful, though it is advisable to book The California, 400” yards away. to have fine weather to go with it than climbing wall. And there’s a distinctive start at £32 for a one-hour ahead at both in high season. If you don’t mind driving, the Ship Inn ‘across the water’. The island seems to neighbour, too – the internationally taster session. Enjoy a pint at the Pen-y- Last year, The Club invested in a new at Red Wharf Bay has a good menu, as does possess its own micro-climate; while you’re renowned Royal St David’s Golf Club, T01678 521083 Gwryd Hotel, where the play area at Penrhos, which is separated the neighbouring Old Boathouse bathed in sunshine, a glance towards the where former Formula One star Nigel Llanberis Pass meets the Wukrafting.co.uk A498. The hotel was a from the pitching area by a high hedge to restaurant. The Panton Arms at mainland and the peaks of Snowdonia will Mansell is a regular. Visitors can play a Nearest featured site Coed-y-Llwyn training base for the reduce the effects of any clamour. There’s is popular, and even Beaumaris, with its often reveal them (or not, if you see what I round from £55 in summer. successful 1953 Everest plenty to occupy youngsters, including excellent selection of restaurants and cafés, mean) cloaked in cloud. Harlech itself offers a good choice of Zip tip climbing team. climbing frames and nets, a goal and netball isn’t far. Ye Olde Bull’s Head Inn’s super The coast path, which offers wonderful restaurants and coffee shops. Zip World Snowdonia is basket, large puzzle panels and more Loft is a pushing-the-boat-out restaurant, walking, isn’t far from either site. Lligwy Recommendations include Y Branwen Wales’ latest adrenaline T01286 870211 attraction, recently opened Wpyg.co.uk traditional play furniture such as a slide, but the inn’s brasserie is moderately priced. Bay, near Moelfre, has one of the island’s brasserie on the main road, the Castle at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda. Nearest featured site swings and a seesaw. many lovely beaches, and there are great Restaurant & Armoury Bar (which offers Coed-y-Llwyn ISLAND HOP Those up to the challenge Eating out need not require an expedition walks farther afield around Caribbean cuisine) and the Tea travel 500ft above a lake at Deri good from either site. At Cae Mawr, the Parciau Anglesey may not have as many attractions Mountain and the National Trust-protected Shop, which offers magnificent views of up to 75mph on a mile-long Arms is at the site entrance – it’s fine if you as Snowdonia – but that only adds to the seaboard in the north-west. Newborough the castle from its terrace. zipline – the highest, fastest, The Derimôn Smokery at Deri Isaf House on longest in Europe! Anglesey is famous for its smoked products, including don’t wish to drive and fancy traditional peacefulness of the place. It’s rather like Forest, to the south-west, is popular with dog owners as tracks through the woodland BEST-KEPT SECRET wild seabass fillets, cheddar cheese and bacon. T01248 601444 lead to coastal dunes and Llanddwyn Island. Coed-y-Llwyn Club site is in an unusual Wzipworld.co.uk T01248 410536 At the other end of the Menai Strait location – beside the disused Trawsfynydd Nearest featured sites Wderimonsmokery.co.uk Penrhos/Cae Mawr/Min y Don Nearest featured sites Penrhos/Cae Mawr (don’t forget to view the iconic Menai nuclear power station. Amazingly, the Suspension Bridge), , facility isn’t visible from most of the site, built in Edward I’s reign to subjugate the though when it looms into view its Welsh, is a must. Close to the sea and proximity comes as a shock. Otherwise, the surrounded by a moat, it eventually fell in site is delightful, featuring small enclosed 1403 to Owain Glyndwr, the last Welsh areas on different levels. Once people Prince of Wales. discover it, they tend to visit regularly, some And, if you can fit it in, you must visit the regarding it as The Club’s best-kept secret. village with the longest name in Europe – For those with dogs, there is a new walk Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll on site, a shortish loop through woodland llantysiliogogogoch, near . Go next to the children’s play area. While your Min y Don Affiliated Site to the station to see the name in all its glory. pooch undertakes a few laps, there >>

www.caravanclub.co.uk July 2013 The Caravan Club Magazine 23 TOURING : CLUB SITES are views to enjoy, along with plenty of birdlife. CULTURE Local dining was tricky at the time of writing. The Bryn Arms, just outside the site, was changing hands but may be up and running again by now, while another favourite, The Grapes at Maentwrog, was also temporarily closed. If xx neither has re-opened, try Coed-y-Llwyn Club site Whistler stop The Oakeley Arms at Ta n - y - B w l c h . There’s great cycling, too, including the Overlooking the Menai Strait, the National Trust-owned Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens contains the Walking, especially around Snowdonia’s Mawddach Estuary route, which follows largest permanent collection of Rex Whistler’s paintings. less frequented southern half, is what a former railway line. For more testing people mainly visit the site for. Cnicht mountain biking, Coed y Brenin Forest T01248 714795 (2,260ft), between Beddgelert and Blaenau Park has 140km of trails, while there is Wnationaltrust.org.uk/plasnewydd Nearest featured sites Penrhos/Cae Mawr Ffestiniog and known as the Welsh also a National Cycle Network route Matterhorn, offers a popular summit walk. passing the site. ■

Little Italy MEMBERS’ VIEW Fascinating Carol and Barry Bondfrom Portmeirionvillage Rotherham were staying at Penrhos and gardens on the while Carol was singing in a country Welsh coast became music festival. They enjoy the famous as the setting quietness as well as star-gazing – for the 1960s cult Anglesey has little light pollution. They television series, The were hoping to visit Puffin Island and Prisoner, starring Beaumaris Castle, too. Patrick McGoohan.

T01766 770000 Old school Wportmeirion-village.com Anglesey has numerous Nearest featured site Coed-y-Llwyn prehistoric burial chambers, standing stones Helen and Mike Duftonfrom Altrincham, at and hut circles scattered Min y Don on their first caravan holiday with across its landscape. four-year-old son Charlie, thought it a real Highlights include Din Ligwy adventure. “It’s easy to plan a week here,” hut group and the partially they said, though Charlie preferred playing Fort of call reconstructed Barclodiad y football with Daddy! They reckoned the beach an absolute winner. Harlech Castle, Gawres burial chamber. overlooking Cardigan Bay Alan and Wcadw.wales.gov.uk and in sight of Nearest featured sites Gwen Rogers To read even more member views, Snowdonia, was Penrhos/Cae Mawr from Chorley, see our fantastic online forum at subjected to a seven-year Lancashire, caravanclub.co.uk/together siege, the longest in visit Coed-y- British history, during the Llwyn every War of the Roses. year, mainly for the T 01766 780552 Ffestiniog Wcadw.wales.gov.uk Nearest featured site Railway. Min y Don “The area is absolutely marvellous,” they said, “with great walks combining with the railway, especially around Tan-y-Bwlch and Dduallt.”

Pauline and Dave Riley from Littleborough, Lancashire, regularly visit Anglesey’s Cae Mawr during the off-season. It is handy to get to from home and they love the site’s peace and quiet. They also enjoy the coastal walking, particularly nearby at Benllech and at Newborough Forest.

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