Penrhyn Castle

Penrhyn Castle was originally a medieval fortified manor house built In 1438. The current building was built between 1820 and 1833 for George Hay Dawkins-Pennant on the proceeds of the North Wales slate industry and sugar plantations in Jamaica. The neo-Norman castle was designed by the famous architect Thomas Hopper. The cost of the construction of this vast "castle" is disputed. It cost the Pennant family an estimated £150,000. This is the current equivalent to about £49,500,000.

Bodnant

 

Plas Newydd

 

The Grade 1-listed landscape at Plas Newydd consists of 40 acres of garden and 129 acres of woodland and parkland. The Italianate Terraces and Sunroom Courtyard are full of colour from early spring to autumn.  The Hot Border on the Terraces is a riot of reds, oranges and yellows, with the contrasting Cool Border opposite. 

Before the Storm

 

Llandudno Pier is a Grade II* listed pier in the seaside resort of Llandudno, North Wales, United Kingdom. At 2,295 feet, the pier is the longest in Wales and the fifth-longest in England and Wales.

Two Bridges

 

The Menai Strait is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about 25 km long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. The strait is bridged in two places: On the right is the Menai Suspension Bridge designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826. On the left is the Britannia Bridge which was originally designed and built by the noted railway engineer Robert Stephenson in 1850 as a tubular bridge of wrought iron for carrying rail traffic.

Back to Bodnant

July and our first adventure out since March and where better to restart our days out then Bodnant garden. We were lucky to get tickets straight away and picked a sunny day too. The gardens looked amazing especially since there have only been 3 gardeners working during lockdown out of the 30 staff who usually tend the gardens.

End of Days or End of Lockdown

Southport Pier the end of days or end of lockdown.