30 Jun 2011

Betws y Coed

24th-26th June 2011

We’ve never had much luck in Wales, something always seems to go wrong…the weather, a problem with the caravan, a rubbish site, illness….! But we can’t go to Cumbria all the time, so on the back of good reviews we booked a weekend at Riverside Touring and Holiday Home Park, which is sandwiched between a railway line and a golf course near to Betws y Coed.  Pros and cons of this site are listed below, but overall a very good site.  Shame about the weather, though!

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Friday 24th

On arrival we were allocated pitch number 1 - not a good start!  Bad things about pitch number 1…near the entrance; a bit exposed with caravans behind us and statics in front of us.  Good things about pitch number 1…handy for the amenities.  We prefer to be tucked away in a corner, but didn’t ask to be moved.

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Didn’t bother with the awning this time.

Betws y Coed is only a short stroll away, past a church and  graveyard…

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…and through the railway station….

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The railway carriage cafe is a good idea but a bit shabby on the outside.  We didn’t go in.

Instead we went into the town centre and had a late lunch/early dinner in the Royal Oak Hotel.

Went back in the evening but it was too lively for us, so we went to the Pont y Pair Hotel instead.  Also very lively but at least we managed to get a seat.  It was raining by now, so no chance of sitting outside!

Saturday 25th

We awoke to the sound of light drizzly rain which didn’t really stop all day.  Not a day to climb mountains, instead a short walk in the hills around Betws y Coed.

Set off just after lunch, heading for Llyn Elsi.  A very wet walk, mostly through trees, but we are not just fair weather walkers!  It’s good to walk in adverse conditions from time to time.  Very easy to follow instructions.  J the navigator today…

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Monument overlooking Llyn Elsi.

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Came across a dead lamb on the way.  Got a gruesome pic but J wont allow D to include it in the gallery.

The drizzle continued all day so the planned barbecue was shelved and we headed off into town for dinner.  First choice was the Royal Oak Hotel but it was packed, so we ended up in the Gwydyr Hotel.  Nice food but not cheap, and such a poor selection of beers that D had to switch to red wine! 

No beer of the weekend feature this time!  D very disappointed with the beer and pubs (or lack of them) in Betws y Coed.

Sunday 26th

Woke up very early, so wandered into the town to get pastries for breakfast before heading for home.

Riverside Touring and Holiday Home Park

Pros

  • Close to town centre
  • Good location
  • Excellent toilets and showers, and plenty of them
  • Very quiet (despite being sandwiched between a railway lane and a golf course…noisier golfers than trains!)
  • Shop selling all sorts of caravanning accessories

Cons

  • Not cheap

Overall, a very good site with mostly good pitches (avoid the ones near the entrance if you can).

Coming soon…

Nothing planned, but hope to get away early in July.

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