As a small child I remember my mother very proudly buying a statement 1960's coffee set. It was produced by the Portmeirion Pottery from a design by Susan Williams-Ellis, called "Magic City". It was such an unusual thing for my mother to have bought, but I have always loved it, have since inherited it and continue to treasure it to this day, I have always wanted to visit Portmeirion, because of the Williams-Ellis connection.


The Italianate fantasy village, stunningly located on the Afon Dwyryd, was built by Clough Williams-Ellis (Susan's father), to show how a naturally beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it.

It was once home to the Portmeirion Pottery, but is perhaps more famous for it's role in the 1960's fantasy drama "The Prisoner". Today the village and gardens are a tourist attraction and the iconic and extraordinary buildings are home to trendy hotels, spas, and restaurants.

A short drive from Portmeirion is the town of Porthmadoc, home to the Boston Lodge Works, which services the narrow gauge Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Steam Railways. The Ffestiniog Railway runs from Porthmadoc to Blaenau Station and the Welsh Highland Railway runs from Porthmadoc to Caernarfon. Both railways run though the heart of the beautiful Snowdonia National Park and provide stunning views of Yr Wydffa (Snowdon). To avoid the masses ascending Snowdon from Llanberis, either on foot or by the mountain railway, the station of Rhyd Dhu provides access to a quiet but challenging route, take care, however, crossing the narrow ridge of Bwlch Main.

The Welsh Highland Railway terminates at Caernarfon, a stones throw from the medieval fortress which hosted the investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales on 30th June 1969. Caernarfon castle is protected to the South by the Afon Seiont and to the West by the Menai Straits, looking across the water to the island of Anglesey.

At the North Eastern end of the Menai Straits sits the Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno. The town is dominated by the 679' high headland of "The Great Orme", a haven for wildlife, including a flock of wild Kashmiri goats. The limestone cliffs are home to Peregrine falcons and a wide variety of seabirds.

The summit of "The Great Orme" can, of course, be reached on foot but, if the necessary motivation just isn't there, a Victorian Tramway (1902) and a more modern (1969) cable car, provide less strenuous alternatives.