How can I pretend I'm still active after all this time?! Happy halloween.. and Christmas!! Lol. C...
How can I pretend I'm still active after all this time?! Happy halloween.. and Christmas!! Lol. Chrissie x X
Member since:23.11.2002
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NANT PERIS... LlANBERIS... area... amenities things to see do etc
A week isn't anywhere near long enough to explore the vast terrain Snowdon's hills can offer- but,undaunted we jolly well tried to pack in as much as we could. How can anyone resist the pull of the foothills beckoning my boy-oes to England's highest mountain, to a very plain quiet quaint unassuming and I have to admit ,a little run down dot of a village Called :Nant Peris.
Blimey! Who? I had never heard of it. Just aswell,as the price was so perfect for us-and believe me-before I contact ANY websites after exploring what's on offer on line in the way of holiday companies, I trawl for the cheapest but best local price I can get! Also the best characterful cottage/ nearby amenities that I can for the price,so I wasn't building my hopes to high incase this was a pooper instead of a joy! But I needn't have worried.
The joy of north wales is, you are never far away from scenery peace, or/and a major tourist attraction/fascinating place of fun suitable to visit for the little ones to the oldest !
BUT WHERE THE HUMMER IS NANT PERIS!??
About 8 miles from Caernarfon really. (Tesco's, Spar and all other major amenities) including of course the castle and golf!) about 29-30 miles via the mountains from Betwsy-co-ed /Swallow falls etc. Capel Curig 5 miles ( Activities center)
Nant Peris is a small village where sheep doth oft stray from the mountains and hills surrounding it -I know cos it happened in both Llanberis and Nant P. it's just 2 miles S.East below the Llanberis part of Snowdonia itself. With views of Crib coch and the fab Snowdon Mountain range there is plenty of scope for both climbing walking and exploring. About half an hour's walk from the cottage there is quite a large and gushing waterfall cutting near the railway lines from the summit of Snowdon itself and bursting into small trickles,bouncing and tumbling between the cracks and nopoks of the mountainside itself. The walk continues if you wish,to the very top or back down and round the other side. Nant P is on the edge of a quiet rural village clinging determinedly to life as we know it- but not really succeeding to make its humble mark on the 21st century. -Nay, But it is charming casting its spell in an unexpected way.
Sadly the village lackes many amenities-there isn't a general store there anymore,not even a cash machine. Not good,I hear you say-aye, well said, basically it has very little -a funny looking empty sort of village,whose only life appeared to be at the village pub. And even there, it was quiet! But that's what a welsh holiday in the mountains is for, eh.
(The pub is illustarted on the internet if you want to look it up.) Be warned there is only 1 community website and about three up and running sites on the web in total for the area of Nant Perris specifically... Hardly any inspiring info there,I'm afraid,but at least it shows you the little church and the map.
Loads
of links though for nearby Llanberis-the heart of the "tourism rebuild" just a village away,so trawl carefully to your hearts desire.. Nant P as I affectionately called it; is a place that affords absolute peace and quiet. It's also so small and virtually empty of more than a handful or two of living local residents. I'm surprised it's still inhabited as the weather there is gloomy in winter being surrounded by the misty mountains. This said,the place sort of grows on you-despite the immediate impression one is given. There are two beaches quite near on the North west coast, to visit a short car journey of 20 nd 49 minutes respectively. They can be found further south, just below the penisular on the west side 1) Morfa Nefyn and 2) Dinas Dinelle. They are both very pretty.
As of Nant Peris, I would not recommend you would so easily forget it as is the case with so many tiny rural villages dotting about the unforgiving stark North Wales beauty. It is those black sullen winter brows the lines and curves of the surrounding mountains that holds the eye's attention;or the early morning bird song,or the ear straining to hear the babble of the stream/brook which runs along close nearby. The odd sheep roam,but Llanberis is notorious especially for this problem and the locals are used ti sharing the local green or the Spa with a ram or two as you pass the exit! Lol.............
Anyways, back to Nant P.
Half dead the place may seem as you enter it off the A5. But -it still has A PUB. (More of which comes later!)
YEAH!
Poor Nant Perris! seemed as if time and memory had simply forgot about it- with just a stream,a tiny cluster of victorian terraced cottages..with just it's one pub left : "The Vaydol Arms" to advertise its only existance -yet dominated as it was into the history books of the Snowdonia Llanberis pass- the golden era of the steam train, the work of the quarry slate and the skill of that time and their very souls in blood sweat and tears the poor workers who had hard life ingrained into them their illustrious past hanging on the factory of the day,on the walls, of the Welsh slate musuem 2 miles yonder....
BUT THE PUB?
Is the food good? Yep! Not bad. Very good Apple crumble pie and custard too! The Vaynol Arms today hosts the photos of the uncompromising Heroes; of both current and past. (There are rude photos in the ladies er hem! of near naked staff revelling on one of their pub advents and there are pictures of varying states of the area in the lounge.... Past pub owners,mountain climbing heroes,tales in photo form of the mountain Rescue staff,the ropes and tools they use to save lifes near death on the Snowdon loverly ma boy- and other memorabilia with framed photos of the staff as they are today -in such sharp contrast...
The pub was very convenient to the cottage, just a couple of yards away, with 2 nice log fires... family/function room; the long bar of course, and the larger spaced sitting areas housing a snooker table,and (free) juke box. Mealks cost around £5.60-£9.80 depending on what you order and their lamb cutlets are lush! They serve evening meals and Sunday lunch of course at a resonable price indeed,and the food is fresh and locally sourced and service is fairly prompt and polite. The pub at night looming out into the grim february darkness of this funny little lonely forgotten village at evening time became a welcome retreat from a long day spent walking climbing or touring and from the winter gale blowing from who knows where? the blackened mountains of time itself I spose ! (which from the mountains errie at night time seems to stand still.)
MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE COTTAGE:
The cottage (number 8) Glanafron Terrace Nant Peris North Wales is nothing remarkable ...a very typical victorian mid terraced one of its day with a brown (slightly blistered) painted door which opens straight off the street and stands as one betwixt a small huddle of other similar looking abodes,. An unassuming thing so slightly worn and battered looking with a small back garden rough yard a stream,an anquitated post and telephone box; a large closed empty looking church opposite,and finally,one closed down grocery store, giving the area a sort of melancoly lost in time demeanour .quiet brooding and very wet this time of year which is just 2 miles from the definately better Llanberis- basic unimposing yet comfortable mid terraced 3 bedroomed cottage,it has everything basic you could need- comfortably sleeping 6 nestling in front of the Snowdon hills dating back in age of nearly 200 years ago. around 1820- I think to be exact.
Plenty of room for our family of 5 with a small narrow entrance hall, with handy pegs on the wall for coats,a place for boots outdoor shoes etc,leading to: a large lounge/diner with circular table (that has seen better days!) at one end with a bay window sill,long oak bench,4 chairs musichi-fi, fully carpeted,quite comfortable lounge at the other end- with TV (including sky reception is very good),DVD, Video player antique tressle and 2 stone fireplaces behind the TV is another bay window to allow the light . Leading off the carpeted lounge/diner, is a medium-small sized kitchen with fitted units, the window areas with views of the foothills and garden with a battered plain old yard in front. There is an electric cooker,elec kettle, toaster,washing machine; (no tumble drier though, but ample space to dry with room on the clothes horse) Large Fridge/freezer,cleaning equipment,and a good sized microwave. All pans pots utensils etc.
Upstairs:
Pictures of Nant Peris the foothills of Snowdonia North Wales
The Map Location Nant peris/N.Wales
Fully carpeted stairway and landing. Three bedrooms (double,Twin, Bunk: Pretty master though again the bed is average size and here's a Warning!!!!: Only ONE flat-ish pillow each (with added cushions) and rather wornout flattish mattresses! Duvets are fine. Otherwise cosy clean and comfy.immersion heater,Bathroom (TINY!) With enamel bath and elec power shower overhead -ceiling heater. Sink. The Twin bedroom has a sink too.- That was handy!THE BONUS: All electricity/FUEL is included in price as is the heating- (timer )heating convector panels which you can overide in cold weather. Cosy and warm! ALSO: All bedding included in the price.-we were even offered towels on arrival. (Bring your own tea towels though there was 1 in the kitchen plus 3 hand towels) and there was Plenty of bath and hand soap,washing up liquid, toilet tissue, teabags,coffee, sugar cooking oil matches candles and lighter aswell as other extras-undoubtedly left behind by previous renters in the kitchen and bathroom department,no doubt !!)
I have to admit I wasn't OVERLY impressed with the cottage's overall furnishings and rather squalid back yard. (but then we didn't need to use it in winter anyway) the overall decor /flat matresses/ pillows,wobbly dining table;rather old carpets COULD do with an overhaul and update at first encounter- but seeing beyond all this- there are SO MANY bonuses- being roomy for us 5 -plus all heating fuel,etc included in the price as a 3 Star cataegory cottage for 6. Not bad.Near to Llanberis views etc
A RE-CAP & A SUMMARY OVERALLL:
WOULD I RETURN?
Possibly- value overall-Excellent-and the area is fine ticks all my boxes-the cottage basic warm and clean so I award it 8/10.
If you are just looking for a basic warm modest cottage and the rest of your time-especially when you're out during the day then this will be fine.)
I don't know why or what I was expecting,and then I had to remind myself that I had managed to get a cottage for 6 persons at a competitive reasonable price compared with many other websites for what you get. So there you have it-
As said It benefits from a small curvaceous winding nearby stream which scurries past the back side of next door, where you can just about catch glimpses from the kitchen windows. in spring I imagine the area is far prettier and there is a blossoming bush in the small if plain and rather untidy yard before the grass verge shared with Val, the neighbor who is nice and friendly and is the person you're directed to,to get the key! Ideal for summer /warmer weather complete with barbeque and basic garden furniture literally backing onto the hills and rugged black mountains beyond. In winter the mountains here are anything but romantic -more brooding and forbidding with the sludge black surface colour.
It is the fact that Llanberis, flanked on either side by the lakes and spacious Padarn Country Park an endearing facinating award winning welsh slate musuem with craft shops, slate splitting and demonstartions which is also FREE to enter and,by the way- well worth a look around, that makes the area extra special.
Lanberis is a characterful village with plenty of interesting activities. There us something to suit all tastes with a large country park; loads of walks nearby to the mountains with free walking guides and interesting places to discover and explore which you can enquire about at the tourist Information office on the high Street . Including small shops,a bank post office and general store which also houses internet connection and all the souveniors and gifts aswell as general groceries. "Pete's Eats" a large and cheery inexpensively priced cafe' offers good basic snacks and meals with down to earth prices and food to suit all palates and has a free book swap and loaning service aswell as also offering internet cafe at 5p a minute.
There are nearby,loads of interesting places to visit and explore...loads of scenic walks in the area to suit all ages and abilities, ranging from snowdonia to the waterfalls of an hour a half hour or five hours in duration if you like! and of course,Llanberis houses the famous Welsh slate musuem, which is FREE admission and open throughout the year. There is also the electric power station here (though not open before Easter) AND the mountain railway to Snowdon and back (where for £6.50 per adult and £4.95 per child or a family ticket if you prefer ) you can get a return up to Snowdons summit) Regretfully,we were gutted that this was also closed for track maintenance until Easter) but being just 2 miles up the road from Nant Peris I can see that the summer months and the spring would do a roaring trade.
It is these little perks near Nant Peris,with it's brooding hills and "black coal-look" mountains which makes the place that extra bit special. There are loads of scenic walks and plenty of castles to climb up to! Dolbarden is especially good as it is a mere walk away from the cottage and is free. Caernarfon is full of interesting history. Loads of spa stores in the area.
The cottage was formerly (and typically) a slate workers; typically slate and stone yet fully central heated with a very reasonable tarriff (considering the outstanding beauty of the area and nearby attractions/amenities;not forgetting of course, glorious views of towering Snowdonia range, and crib coch ) What a shame that in winter some of the Llanberis activities are closed for much of the winter months and we were rather gutted that the Snowdon electric mountain train that takes you to the summit was shut due to track maintenance...ah well,we walked our socks off to make up for it and enjoyed refreshements in the tea room at the welsh slate musuem which made up for it a bit!
Here's the website link for the Holiday cottage company we used.
Oh yes-There is no payphone in here..the only minor nuisance. Oh and No drier but there are plenty of clothes horses to dry clothes on near the heaters/in the rooms .
Other links to the cottage itself www.nantperis.co.uk www.nantperis.com
We used the AA Route planner top pin point exact instructions-which we found to be correct-the Post code is: LL55 4UF
OTHER ACTIVITIES NEARBY:
BEACHES IN THE AREA:
Morfa Nefyn DINAS DINELLE CARDIGAN BAY Both gorgeous,and unspoilied. They are about a 20 minute and a 50 minute drive from the cottage. Caernarfon's bay is larger than i imagined the coast line quite nice and only 8 miles away.
www.ewe-phoria.co.uk (Ewe -Phoria Agri theatre and sheep dog center) Aled owen shows you his best sheepdogs trained with the sheep-an hour demonstrations tea room with play-centers etc.
Type in your browser for:
Snowdon Mountain Railway Electric Railway Llanberis power station/activities The ( FREE!) Welsh Slate musuem (all interactive) Caernarfon Castle Dolbardan Castle Angelsey Sea Zoo Capel Curig Activity center National Trust properties North Wales TIC Gwynedd council Pete's Eats Cafe The Vaynol Arms Bowling NORTH WALES GOLF CAERNARFON Organic Farms Padarn Country Park Tea rooms
Finally:
Enjoy!
If you have any comments or questions or just need further guidance/info help just drop me a note and I promise to reply a.s.a.p.
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Fantastic review rated E :) I adore this part of Wales. My boyfriend's mum lives only half an hour from here and she asked us to house sit for her this summer for 2 1/2 weeks. It was great! My favourite beaches are a little further from Llanberis but if you can stand travelling that bit further Whistling Sands is the most gorgeous beach on the Llyn peninsula (in my opinion anyway). Shame some of the attractions were shut for you - we went on the little Llanberis lake railway on a nice sunny day :)
getscenic 30.01.2007 22:47
I am a big fan of this part of wales. We go mountain biking at Coed e Brinan just up the road from there. Great review
cazellis 04.08.2006 11:20
Been to Snowdon myself on many occation,first time was on an adventure holiday as a kid. Loved it so much went back the following year. My family love walking and now we live right on the edge of the yorkshire moors we have plently of oppertunity.
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