hi i have a 1.2 yeti and will be in north wales around 14Th to 18Th august and would like some suggestions of places to take my yeti of interest in and around caernarfon and snowdonia.

matthew

hi i have a 1.2 yeti and will be in north wales around 14Th to 18Th august and would like some suggestions of places to take my yeti of interest in and around caernarfon and snowdonia.

matthew

Plenty of choice. For a main road A498 Beddgelert to Pen-y-Gwryd. A4086 Llanberis Pass. Nice views and fun when you meet a coach.

Back roads. Try Golan to Prenteg (off the A487 Caernarfon to Porthmadog road. Turn at the Bryncir Wollen Mill sign.)

Croesor to Tan-Y-Bwlch (Off the Garreg road. past Clough Williams Ellis house)

Trawsfynydd to Bala and the roads in the Coed-y-Brenin forest

Best to get an OS Explorer map of the area 1:25000. There are 100s of miles of back road on Lleyn and some miles of forestry road, many with good views.

Also Black Rock beach at Porthmadog (5 miles of hard sand and 3 miles of quicksand!!) . Go early to practice your "handbrake turns" and before the Beach "Pratrol" spoil your fun!!

Edited 19 July, 201015 yr by Terfyn

horseshoe pass is a must'..and dinner at the top in the ponderosa cafe ......check out bedelgert( spelling)?....place where famous dog buried( owners thought it killed child, but it had actually tried to save the child from a pack of wolves), also betws-y-coed is a lovely little place....portemerion( where they filmed ' the prisoner') is worth a visit too

I would personally avoid the horseshoe pass. Consequences can be disastrous!

If you wish to visit places of interest, then you are probably best going to a local info centre or supermarket and pick up the leaflets that cover every interest from mining slate, painting pot pigs (a favourite of my granddaughter's), trains up Snowdon and so on. You can tailor your few days towards your own tastes!

The "routes" I suggested are not well known. They are all tarmaced roads (NOT off road tracks) but single track and are fairly high over hill ranges, giving super views. Some are gated or with cattlegrids. I have driven all the ones that I suggested and they are worth trying and can be easily handled by your Yeti. In practice there are 100s of roads like these but my suggested routes are within 10-15 miles of Caernarfon.

Most of the routes are the old Drovers Tracks used to drive sheep or cattle to a market or a port. All are part of a circular route (so there are no "dead ends" where you need to cover the same road back) and can form part of a day out.

If you do the "routes", take binoculars and a picnic 'cos you will spend more time stopping and looking than driving.

If you do need any further info or guidance PM me or ask in this post.

Edited 19 July, 201015 yr by Terfyn

thanks i will get myself an OS map and make note of these routes and any places of interest along the way

i will be around many of the railways in the area with my camera and will be following the trains particularly on the welsh highland and ffestiniog railways but may venture towards others if i have the time.

Matthew

been driving and riding the horseshoe pass for the last 26 yrs...never had any problems''like any road, make a mistake and ends in trouble

thanks i will get myself an OS map and make note of these routes and any places of interest along the way

i will be around many of the railways in the area with my camera and will be following the trains particularly on the welsh highland and ffestiniog railways but may venture towards others if i have the time.

Matthew

Matthew,

If you intend to travel on the Festiniog Rlwy then can I suggest that it is better to catch the train at Tan y Bwich than at either end. The car park is free and there is a good cafe there.

If you go to Portmadog, please go on the Welsh Heritage, up by the station, they really do need some support.

The routes that Terfyn has suggested look excellent. Knowing some of the area, it is beautiful.

thanks i will get myself an OS map and make note of these routes and any places of interest along the way

i will be around many of the railways in the area with my camera and will be following the trains particularly on the welsh highland and ffestiniog railways but may venture towards others if i have the time.

Matthew

These days my money is for the Welsh Highland (soon to be permanently connected with the FR) as it has the better views in the summer. (This is only because the trees on the FR do tend to block out the best of the views - always do the FR at Easter before the trees go into leaf) The WH is also noted for its interesting engines, massive beasts on narrow guage track - ex South African Railways - and they do a better buffet service. Again for the WH catch the train at the half way point Waunfawr. (From Caernarfon, take the A4085 Beddgelert road through Waunfawr Home of the Yeti Skoda Dealers!!!!! and park in the pub car park by the WH station - have a drink and then catch the train)

Granddaughter's favourite is the Llanberis Lake Railway (home of Thomas Bach). She likes to sit in the observation car and make eyes at the engine driver. We also intend to take her on the Snowdon Railway if we get good weather. The Slate Museum at Llanberis is worth a visit if you are into engineering and the cafe there is not bad. Also "Electric Mountain" the pumped storage generating station is a good visit. (go to the Visitor Centre on the main road through Llanberis)

I must also make a claim for the BR from Pwllheli as far as Aberdovey. There are a number of brilliant main line tracks in North and Mid Wales but for coastal views this takes some beating!!

You had better book a second week - there is so much to see and do!

Edited 19 July, 201015 yr by Terfyn

It is at Waunfawr we are staying at a campsite off the main road.

There will be me and my parents and 2 sisters (16 and 8) staying in a tent.

I'm going in my car and they are all going in dads car (Fiat Ulysse 'useless') and i will meet them there that way i can escape to the railways when they all go off to farms and things.

me and my dad did stay in a tent in the field next to the pub in Waunfawr a few years back to follow the railway .

Matthew

If you time it right, there is steam running on the Cambrian Coast line again this year. Starts from Machynlleth and normally goes to Portmadog, but some are running to Pwllheli this year.

And Terfyn please, it isn't BR any more; that is most insulting to us workers of Network Rail I am mortally offended

The pub at Waunfawr is excellent, especially their beer!! :p

Edited 19 July, 201015 yr by Llanigraham

It is at Waunfawr we are staying at a campsite off the main road.

There will be me and my parents and 2 sisters (16 and 8) staying in a tent.

I'm going in my car and they are all going in dads car (Fiat Ulysse 'useless') and i will meet them there that way i can escape to the railways when they all go off to farms and things.

me and my dad did stay in a tent in the field next to the pub in Waunfawr a few years back to follow the railway .

Matthew

Hope the weather is good to you!! I notice that the WHR goes to Pont Croesor just a couple of miles from Porthmadog so the Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn sections are now open. You will probably know the Skoda Dealer in Waunfawr. (handy if you have any problems) Have a good time!!

Edited 19 July, 201015 yr by Terfyn