MMA, Fitness & Marketing enthusiast from North Wales, UK. A Stoic Hippy with no hair.
Not to boast but - 1st Class Degree in Sports Science from Loughborough, MSc in Nutrition from the University of Liverpool. 20 years experience of weight & fitness training.
Thought I would trial the ‘campervan’ somewhere close, so Saturday night I slept on Hope Mountain, which is on the border of Wrexham & Flintshire in North Wales.
The campervan is basically at the prototype-stage…several black-out-blinds cut out to the shape of the back windows, and ducktaped on, a USB charger for the cigarette-lighter and an army-issue sleeping bag.
I tried my folding Judo-mat as a sleeping platform, but it was too hard and too high, so I’ve replaced this with a shed-load of thick-blankets (thanks Aunty Vicky). I’ve order some velcro-stickers to add to the car interior and the black out blinds and a unisex urinal. I might take the passenger- front seat-out, as it was a right pain getting in and out.
I want to build (or buy) a hollow sleeping platform with pull out bits for cooking utensils etc There’s a few ideas here.
Anyway, here’s Hope Mountain Sunrise:
I didn’t get bummed (chance would be a fine thing) or woken up by Police or wild animals (as predicted by friends), but I was a bit tired.
That sunrise was one of the best things I’ve ever seen, better than the one I saw in Death Valley or the rip-off skywalk thing in the Grand Canyon. Amazingly peaceful too. So definitely worth losing some sleep over.
Halkyn Mountain
2 nights later I slept on Halkyn Mountain, it was shit. I think it’s all about the sunrises really, so it’s definitely worth checking the weather forecast. Also I probably chose a bit of a crap spot
A few pics – we stayed in a caravan at Rhos Farm Park
The park was a big hit
We visited the beautiful Plas Newydd House
and Pili Palas
Pili Palas is a little cheap n cheerful, but provides a nice day out to enjoy with the family. The staff are nice and so are most of the people who visit. Plus Nora really enjoyed it so can’t complain – it’s worth the money.
When you are thinking of walking up Snowdon, it’s a bit of a pain to work out the best place to park and which route is the best to go up. So most will end up going up on the train or using the LLanberis pass, even when they visit multiple times!
Now there are no excuses thanks to this graphic from Darwin Escapes which shows each route, the difficulty level and the postcode of each car park. Hopefully people will spread out a bit more amongst the paths now!
I’m guilty of being a Llanberis Path nut-hugger, having ascended the mountain 3 times via the same path (the road at the start is the hardest part!)
Here are some pics from my last walk and an ace pic of someone wild camping to boot :
Ted and Kia Excited-ish
Cliff Hanger
And Some Wild Camping Photos of Snowdon, because they look ace –
will update more pics when I can work out how to embed the Instagram images!
Moel Famau Post Code
– This is a bit of a mystery, even on Google maps there isn’t one shown, hopefully a SatNav will list it as a local attraction/landmark though. The postcode – CH7 5SG should bring you by Loggerheads, turn right after that down Bwlch Pen barras road
North Wales has always been a go-to holiday destination for many in the UK. It has traditionally been regarded as a great family destination for holidays and days out to the beach.
The regions’ reputation was greatly enhanced, when Lonely Planet declared that the region was one of the top regions in the world to visit – according to their Best in Travel list for 2017, ahead of areas including South Australia and The Tuamotus in French Polynesia and the only region in the UK to be listed.
Modern Attractions & Activities in North Wales
The region’s beautiful landscapes, mountains, waterfalls and islands provide endless placeless to explore and enjoy. In addition, recent investment in the area, with Zip World and Surf Snowdonia, make it an amazing place to visit for anyone who enjoys adrenaline-sports and activities.
Often described as the best outdoor playground in the UK, North Wales has an embarrassing number of tracks and centres for mountain biking and it’s mountainous landscapes are perfect for hiking, climbing and bouldering. Now the addition of modern facilities, such as Zip World’s 3 attractions – Velocity; Bounce Below and Zip World Fforest.
Surf Snowdonia is another recent attraction to the region’s impressive range of tourist attractions. In 2016 an addition £1m was reportedly invested in new facilities including and obstacle course and human catapult.
Snowdonia National Park
Mount Snowdon
Despite the modern investment in the area, the jewel in the proverbial crown of the region is still Mount Snowdon. Designated as a national nature reserve, it provides a number routes to the summit, some relatively easy, some terrifying! The Llanberis Path still requires a decent level of fitness to complete, but is the easiest ascent to the top of the mountain, whilst the Crib Goch route is more of a knife-edge than a path. Only attempted by seasoned walkers and climbers, it is dangerous when attempted without proper equipment or in less than perfect weather conditions.
Mount Snowdon is of course, only one of many attractions set within the National Park. The park itself comprises areas such as Conwy, Anglesey, The Carneddau and the Glyderau Heartland.
Snowdon is great for a hike, with the dog
and even camping – although you’re not officially allowed to camp there – and if you do, make sure to take all your rubbish with you – please!
Conwy, is regarded as the gateway to Snowdonia and boasts an impressive and well preserved thirteenth-century castle and walls. It’s a wonderful place to visit for history buffs in particular, but has plenty to see and do, including an excellent beach and residential caravan park with an award winning restaurant – Aberconwy.
Plas Mawr is the “Great Hall”, which was built in the 16th Century and is described as the finest and most well preserved town house of the Elizabethan era to be found anywhere in the UK. Just as impressive;, are the reviews on tripadvisor, which have earned the attraction the elusive Certificate of Excellence.
The Isle of Anglesey is surrounded by dozens of spectacular beaches. A perfect destination for families, and adored by dogs (and their owners), there are many things to do on a visit to the isle. Regarded by many as one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, Newborough Beach provides stunning views of the mountains of Snowdonia, you can walk the dog, go for a stroll or following one of the cycling or running routes in the area.
Other famous attractions of Anglesey include Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens and the South Stack Cliffs RSPB Reserve. There are dozens of other attractions, including the engineering marvels that are the bridges leading across to the isle. It is a favourite destination for sea fishermen, golfers, ramblers and dog-lovers. The Anglesey Coastal Path is a 124 mile footpath which, as you would imagine, follows the coastline of the isle (except for the bits by the Plas Newydd Estate and the estuary of the Afon Alaw.
Also worth a visit on the island – is Barclodiad y Gawres, which is a Neolithic (very old) burial chamber located near the south coast of the island. It can be found in the village of Rhosneigr
If you like an ancient relic, then Bryn Celli Ddu is also worth visiting.
Beaumaris is also a great place to visit on the island. The name means ‘Beautiful Marsh’ in Norman-French. The castle was built at the end of the 13th century by Edward the first.
North Wales is dotted with hidden treasures that are not particularly well publicised. If you love history then be sure to visit St Winefride’s Well in Holywell, Flintshire – a site visited by pilgrims since the 7th Century.
There are dozens of other places to visit in Anglesey (please don’t just visit Benllech like the rest of the Range Rover yuppies with iPad kids). Llynnon Mill for example, an 18th century mill, Pant-y-saer – another chambered tomb, and Penmon Point to name just a few!
