Porthmadog, Wales

...Porthmadog. It's walking distance from Porthmadog, and there is a walk from the camp site up to the peak of Borth Y Gest to see one of the best views in the area. Tyddyn Llwyn is open from March to October, Tel: 01766 512205 for bookings.

Hotels

The 3* Royal Sportsman on the High Street of Porthmadog is an old traditional Victorian Coaching Hotel built in 1862 as the main staging post in the area. Queens Hotel on station ...
...night for a twin or double.

B&B

Too many options to list, the best option might be the tourist information centre in Porthmadog High street, they will be able to offer advice on availability and rates. Tel: (01766) 512981or E-mail: porthmadog.tic@gwynedd.gov.uk

SUMMARY

A great place for a family holiday. Interesting history, dramatic and beautiful scenery, miles of sandy beaches, stunning ... more

Porthmadog is a small harbour town which is the gateway to the Llyn peninsula, and also the starting point of one of Britains most scenic railways, the Ffestiniog line. It's location in the top right hand corner of Cardigan Bay on the Welsh coast makes it an ideal base for a touring holiday for Snowdonia, Llyn, and Cardigan Bay, in my opinion the three most beautiful parts of Wales.

Approaching the town from the East the traveller cannot fail to be impressed by the town's stunning setting. It is dominated on one side by 'Moel y Gest' 262 metres above the town. To the North and East the wide expanse of the Glaslyn estuary, renowned as a haven for migrating birds and wildlife, extends dramatically towards the Snowdon range.

The "Cob" embankment to enter Porthmadog strides across Afon Glaslyn with both road and rail links. The builder of the embankment, W.A. Maddocks - an English MP, is credited with being the origin of the town's name. Porthmadog literally translates as "Madog's Port".

A visit to this corner of North Wales will give a flavour of modern Welsh culture, 70% of the locals are Welsh speaking, and also a hint of its more industrial past. The town offers the visitor the choice of an energetic activity break, or a gently relaxing get away from it all holiday.

THE TOWN

The town nestles around the harbour, today full of yachts and small fishing boats. It was not always so, the port grew up to serve the slate trade, the line from Ffestiniog carrying 100,000 tons of slate a year at its peak. The port was busy throughout the 19th century, and slate from Ffestiniog was sent to all parts of the United Kingdom via Porthmadog. By the start of the 20th century however the slate trade had already declined, and the Ffestiniog railway and Porthmadog relied on tourists for their income.

In addition to the harbour there are craft shops, cafes restaurants and other facilities associated with a normal small holiday town. There is a Kwik Save supermarket, a late Spar, the Gelert camping equipment factory shop and many other interesting shops.

FFESTINIOG RAILWAY

The Ffestiniog railway was built following an act of parliament in 1836 to carry slate down from the mountains and across the embankment to Porthmadog. Now the world famous narrow gauge railway carries thousands of visitors each year along its 13 miles of track. During the trip it climbs to over 650ft through some magical countryside and mountains to Blaenau Ffestiniog with its great mountains of grey slate. The little engines were said to be the inspiration for the children's cartoon 'Ivor The Engine', the little steam tank engines are almost the definition of cute.

WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY

The other railway in Porthmadog lies at the Tremadog end of the High Street opposite the main railway station. It operates a regular service of steam and diesel hauled trains along a 3/4 mile long narrow gauge line with views toward the Glaslyn Valley. Not as dramatic as the Ffestiniog line, but not as costly or time consuming either! I believe the eventual plan is for the WHR to run to Caernarfon... Completion is planned for 2008 - with passenger services starting at Easter 2009 along a planned 40 mile route through the foothills of Snowdon.

MUSEUMS

The Maritime Museum lies behind the Tourist Information Centre by the harbour. The museum is housed in a former slate shed and slate holds the key to Portmadoc, as it was known in the slate age! It describes how the town prospered and soon became not just a busy port but a major shipbuilding centre, famous for its topsail schooners. Ships from here went all around the world, and the remains of an 1874 Porthmadog brig Fleetwing is still in service as a jetty in the distant Falkland Islands.
Madog Car and Motor Cycle Museum houses a vintage collection of British cars and motorcycles from the 1930's-1950's, along with toys and memorabilia from the same era. Ok if you like that sort of thing...

BEACHES

Porthmadog has only a small beach of its own at Borth Y Gest. This is a pretty, unspoilt village with its cliffs and coves, reached on foot via a winding path at the end of Porthmadog Quay, or a three minute drive from the centre of town.
Nearby Morfa Bychan, otherwise known as Black Rock sands, stretches for miles towards nearby Criccieth. Some parts of the beach are accessible by car, and several campsites nestle against the rear of the beach. The surrounding sand dunes are a site of special scientific interest affording views to the whole of Northern Cardigan Bay. Kids of all ages will love the sandy expanses and views from black rock. Just don't get your car stuck on the sand!

PORTMEIRION

The unique Italianate village of Portmeirion, built by the architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, lies to the Southeast halfway between Porthmadog and Penrhyndeudraeth. The village is reduced in scale giving the impression of large size in a small space. It became famous as the set for the 1960s television series 'The Prisoner', starring Patrick McGoohan, who was Number 6 in the show. The show was famous for its catch phrase - 'I am not a number, I am a free man'. Portmeirion is 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. Some stunning walks are well worth the visit alone.

ROAD DIRECTIONS

If travelling from the North,

Follow the A55 North Wales coast road from Chester until you almost reach Bangor.
Look for the turn off for Caernarfon, the A487.
Follow the A487 through Caernarfon from where it is sign-posted Porthmadog
Simply stay on the A487 until you reach Tremadog where you turn right staying on the A487 and after 1.5 miles you enter Porthmadog.

From the South, the Midlands and the East,

Follow the A5 from Shrewsbury until you reach Corwen
Just after Corwen take a left turn onto the A494 to Bala.
Just as you enter Bala turn right onto the A4212
Follow this road until it ends at the A470, turn right and follow this road all the way to Porthmadog.

OTHER TRAVEL

Porthmadog is served by both national rail and coach networks, routes and costs available from the respective websites.

The really adventurous could even sail and use one of the sailing club's guest berths!

PLACES TO STAY

Camping/Caravanning

Typically for North Wales the area is dotted with camping and caravan sites. I have stayed at a few, including the campsites at Black Rock. My favourite is Tyddyn Llwyn on Black Rock Road, Porthmadog. It's walking distance from Porthmadog, and there is a walk from the camp site up to the peak of Borth Y Gest to see one of the best views in the area. Tyddyn Llwyn is open from March to October, Tel: 01766 512205 for bookings.

Hotels

The 3* Royal Sportsman on the High Street of Porthmadog is an old traditional Victorian Coaching Hotel built in 1862 as the main staging post in the area. Queens Hotel on station road is very reasonable, with rooms at only £59 per night for a twin or double.

B&B

Too many options to list, the best option might be the tourist information centre in Porthmadog High street, they will be able to offer advice on availability and rates. Tel: (01766) 512981or E-mail: porthmadog.tic@gwynedd.gov.uk

SUMMARY

A great place for a family holiday. Interesting history, dramatic and beautiful scenery, miles of sandy beaches, stunning mountain walks, some of Britain's best sailing, ancient castles, sea and game fishing, even museums and culture! What more could you ask? Prices are more than reasonable too, just don't expect Ibiza's nightlife or a Mediterranean climate!

PS

The title of the review refers to TE Lawrence, born in Tremadog. TE Lawrence is better known as Lawrence of Arabia, bet you didn't know he was Welsh!

 

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