2.5 hours from Harpenden and we were crossing the Severn Estuary into Wales.
Our accommodation for 3 nights. Our room is top left. We decided to explore parts of Wales that we won’t see on the Coast path walk.
Watched The European Champions league in the pub with the locals and saw Liverpool win after a dodgy penalty.
The town of Brynmawr - these old mining towns are looking run down now but the people here are unbelievably friendly. Cannot believe we haven’t seen any graffiti that you normally do in these sort of towns.
We think this would be the only place in the Uk we could afford to come back to!!!
This is Emily 21yr Old from Zimbabwe who flew in last night after leaving her husband and family at home to get work here as things are so bad at home! She was very stressed and homesick after arriving here at 3am !! She had had a hell of a journey. We took her for breakfast and then gave her a lift to Abergavenny where she had arranged accommodation and a weeks course in Caring. She will then send money back home!
Drove out to The Big Pit at Blaenavon. We spent 4 really interesting hours here and couldn’t believe this world heritage site was free!
Children as young as 7 were sent down the mines to open and shut the very important doors which controlled the ventilation of the whole mine. They worked a 10 hour shift in total darkness!
Did the underground tour and had to wear all the gear but could not take cameras down there.
This was Peter our guide- very informative and loved his job. He asks all the Australians why is a kangaroo and an emu on the coat of arms? Do any of you know? He lived in Newcastle Australia and won a cruise for his parents by answering this question on a radio quiz.
They kept the horses down there for 50 weeks a year!!!
A chewing tobacco box. Hopkins was David’s grandmothers name. Any relationship?
When these baths were built at the mine site it must have been a blessing to the women at home.
The Iron Works at Blaenavon.
Wonderful scenery in the area.
Stopped off at Govilon Wharf and walked part of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal walk. Turned out to be a lovely evening.
Had a great meal in the local pub.
Breakfast in the local cafe. Nice and healthy set us up for the day.
We came to Brynmawr as it is close to Beaufort where David’s mum was born and his grandmother lived. David’s grandmother had 6 brothers 5 of whom worked in the coal mines. After the visit to the Big Pit we can appreciate how tough these people were and resourceful the women had to be. This is a photo of his Nan and Grandads local The Beaufort Arms which is now an Indian takeaway!
We then visited a couple of churches looking at the grave stones for David’s great grandmother and great great grandmother! We were very shocked how overgrown and neglected the churches were and we had no luck.
St David’s Church in Beaufort.
The Gaurdian.
A very powerful memorial for the 45 men who lost their lives here in 1960 at the Six Bells mine.
Started to drive through the wonderful Brecon Beacons. We have not put many pictures on of them as they really don’t do them justice.
Talybont-on-Usk. This is the same canal as yesterday and we are very tempted to walk it’s 35kms.
Many great pubs along this canal so another great excuse to walk it. It goes from Brecon to Pontypool .
Arrived in Brecon and the town was surprisingly large did not expect that after driving through the Beacons.
Bugger! Cannot believe we got a parking ticket! We are contesting it as we had a valid ticket just didn’t display it correctly 😖 we lost the contest 😖 £25!
A stop to take in the views. It was a great drive today through the Brecon Beacons.
Arrived back in Brynmawr and was recommended the best fish shop in town - would you believe Chris had run out of fish! So we had pie and chips - delicious 😋
Did the underground tour and had to wear all the gear but could not take cameras down there.
This was Peter our guide- very informative and loved his job. He asks all the Australians why is a kangaroo and an emu on the coat of arms? Do any of you know? He lived in Newcastle Australia and won a cruise for his parents by answering this question on a radio quiz.
They kept the horses down there for 50 weeks a year!!!
A chewing tobacco box. Hopkins was David’s grandmothers name. Any relationship?
When these baths were built at the mine site it must have been a blessing to the women at home.
The Iron Works at Blaenavon.
Wonderful scenery in the area.
Stopped off at Govilon Wharf and walked part of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal walk. Turned out to be a lovely evening.
Had a great meal in the local pub.
Breakfast in the local cafe. Nice and healthy set us up for the day.
We came to Brynmawr as it is close to Beaufort where David’s mum was born and his grandmother lived. David’s grandmother had 6 brothers 5 of whom worked in the coal mines. After the visit to the Big Pit we can appreciate how tough these people were and resourceful the women had to be. This is a photo of his Nan and Grandads local The Beaufort Arms which is now an Indian takeaway!
We then visited a couple of churches looking at the grave stones for David’s great grandmother and great great grandmother! We were very shocked how overgrown and neglected the churches were and we had no luck.
St David’s Church in Beaufort.
The Gaurdian.
A very powerful memorial for the 45 men who lost their lives here in 1960 at the Six Bells mine.
Started to drive through the wonderful Brecon Beacons. We have not put many pictures on of them as they really don’t do them justice.
Talybont-on-Usk. This is the same canal as yesterday and we are very tempted to walk it’s 35kms.
Many great pubs along this canal so another great excuse to walk it. It goes from Brecon to Pontypool .
Arrived in Brecon and the town was surprisingly large did not expect that after driving through the Beacons.
Bugger! Cannot believe we got a parking ticket! We are contesting it as we had a valid ticket just didn’t display it correctly 😖 we lost the contest 😖 £25!
A stop to take in the views. It was a great drive today through the Brecon Beacons.
Arrived back in Brynmawr and was recommended the best fish shop in town - would you believe Chris had run out of fish! So we had pie and chips - delicious 😋
A busy night for the 3 staff at The Royal Exchange tonight. We are the only customers! And we are busy doing this blog!
Checked out of The Royal Exchange in Brynmawr and headed for Snowdonia via The Brecons. It was very bleak misty and low cloud but not a bad day to drive.
Very narrow bridges around here.
Stopped in the town of Talgarth for a coffee and a walk around.
We then stopped for a look at Bronllys Castle.
View from the top of the castle.
Can you see me?
We then drove to Llanidloes and had lunch in The Red Lion. Was yum. Duck pasta and chicken pasta.
As we got deeper into Snowdonia the views were amazing. Hope tomorrow will be better weather so I can get better photos than today. The whole mountain was covered in rhododendrons.
Found accommodation in The Royal Ship Hotel in Dolgellau. Booked 3 nights so we can explore the area.
The Royal Ship Hotel.
Had a walk around the very picturesque town.
The breakfast room.
A full Welsh.
Walked the Torrent Walk.
Then we did this walk which just blew us away (no it wasn’t cause of the wind)!
Amazing views right to the coast.
We then drove to the coast to the town of Barmouth as we were itching to see what our coast walk is going to be like. This is The Welsh Coast Path sign that we will be following.
Back at the Royal Ship for gin and tonics cheese and biscuits in the conference room.
Drove further north in Snowdonia National Park.
Stopped at the famous Ffestiniog railway town, just as the train was coming into the station.
Damn! Missed out on another bargain!
Glad we weren’t in our motor home (Priscilla) this time!
The start of the Snowdonia Slate Trail in Dolrhedyn. This area used to supply the world with slate.
This is all that is left of Cwmorthin Terrace built in the 1860’s consisted of 13 homes. All empty by the 1930’s. The death rate among children was huge - mainly Typhoid. Extremely tough working and living conditions. Cannot imagine what it would be like in the winter.
This is all part of the abandoned settlement.
Hope you both had great days in Oz.
Even the fences were made of slate.
Chapel of The Gorlan.
Below you can see the remains of the stables.
Up up up we hiked. We were so lucky with the weather.
The abandoned water wheel.
Incredible views at the top. Worth going that extra mile.
The abandoned estate manager’s home. Drove back to our hotel after another fantastic day to realise I had left my coat near the car park of The Slate Trail when I had had a wee in the wild! So had to drive all the way back. Yes we were lucky it was still there. Worth the hours round trip. Had a lovely meal in our hotel and didn’t need much rocking. We are finding we can fit so much in a day as it is light till gone 9pm.
Checked out of The Royal Ship Hotel in Dolgellau and we have been so lucky with the weather it hasn’t stopped us doing anything but think that is about to change! Off to The Ouse Valley Singles Club performance tonight at The Bikers festival -think it’s going to be wet!!
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