Porthmadog
A harbour town situated on the Glaslyn Estuary, Porthmadog
is rich in maritime history and is an excellent base for touring
the surrounding area. It has a number craft shops and restaurants.
The town was named after W.A. Maddocks whose ambitious "Cob" embankment
scheme led to the town's name, which translates as "Madog's
Port". In times gone by, it was a vital, busy shipping port
for the international slate trade, brought down from Blaenau
Ffestiniog. The maritime history depicts its proud past.
Ffestiniog
Railway
A 21km trek through meadows, woodlands, lakes
and waterfalls within Snowdonia National Park. It was in 1832
that an Act of
Parliament allowed the construction of the railway from Porthmadog
to near Ffestiniog and opened to freight traffic on April 20th
1836. Powered by horses initially, the first steam locomotives
were put in use of October 23rd 1863 at a cost of £1000
for each of the two engines. Passenger services started in 1865
and carried over 100,000 passengers per year were for the first
three years along with 100,000 tons of slate. In the 1880's the
slate industry was in decline, exasperated by the building of
the slate wharf at Delaney by the London North Western Rail Company.
By 1900 the company already relied on tourists to make up the
income.
Portmeirion
The unique and famous Italianate village built by
the architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. The village is reduced
in scale, like
a diorama, giving the impression of large size in a moderate
space. It became famous as the set for the television series
The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan, who was Number 6. Portmeirion
is halfway between Porthmadog and Penrhyndeudraeth and located
on a rugged cliff top on its own private peninsula overlooking
Cardigan Bay and is surrounded by subtropical woodlands and miles
of sandy beaches. The walks are well worth the visit.
Other
attractions around Snowdonia include:
Bondnant Gardens, Llechwedd
Slate Caverns, Ffestiniog Steam Railway, Sygyn Copper Mines,
various Lake Railways, Castles at Caernarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris
and Penrhyn, the famous Swallow Falls, delightful Fairy
Glen, abandoned mining hamlet, secluded lakes, bridges
and picnic areas.
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