Month: June 2024

Welshpool and Llanfair 29.6.24

30 June 2024 / admin

ZB.2 ‘Zillertal’ footplate

Following another excellent breakfast it is time to start our homeward journey. Having found the right way out of the hotel by decent roads yesterday I follow the same route today and then we head towards Llanfair Caerinion which is the base of the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway.

My last visit here was in 1978 with Geoff – and whilst parts of the railway have improved the gentle rolling scenery remains unchanged. Indeed the biggest improvements are at Welshpool where there is now a proper station building and facilities and an exhibition building which we do not have time to visit.

The staff are all very friendly and despite threatening rain we manage to stay dry. I was kindly invited onto the footplate of ZB.2 ‘Zillertal’ which is our locomotive today – by someone who was probably not born when I last visited. The highlight of the trip is the climb out of Welshpool on the return as the loco has to work hard ascending Golfa Bank. Traffic all appears end to end today – brief pauses at some of the intermediate stations do not seem to have any traffic.

ZB.2 ‘Zillertal’

Our onward journey is to Ettington Park near Stratford upon Avon which we have visited before. Aspects of the bar and drinks service are a little disappointing but the surroundings are very nice. On the way the M6 signs are being poorly managed causing delays and inconsistencies – I also get flashed but no penalty notice ever turned up.

Finally on the Sunday we head onwards to home.

Llangollen Railway & Meanderings 28.6.24

29 June 2024 / admin

Hellfire Pass

Jackie decides not to move far today and I set off first to drive around Lake Vyrnwy which takes 35 or 40 minutes. My next task is to find the way out without using that narrow little road we used on the inward journey and I find that the signposted route consists of fairly normal roads. Ignore the satnav folks!

My plans for today had originally been quite extensive – but given recent driving I know that the AA times simply are not possible and so visiting both the Talyllyn and Llangollen railways was going to be an almost impossible ask as the traffic simply does not travel fast enough (well to ensure I managed both trains and not wanting too long a day).

My first target is the Bwlch-y-Groes pass, also known as the Hellfire Pass with the uphill section from the south having historic uses as a test climb for new Austin cars before WWII. I find the route and I am pleased that I can see to near the summit and there is nothing coming the other way so I am able to reach the top without any problems.

The descent towards Bala is less spectacular – but had the drawbacks of numerous (well 5) vehicles coming the other way. For 4 of these I am the one to have to find space to pull over – the first being most threatening – a tractor with mowers mounted being wider than normal – but I actually find a pull off and can watch it advancing up the hillside and can stay well off the road until it has passed.

Regrettably the Bala Lake Railway is not operating today and so cannot be visited on this tour and must await a future visit.

When we visited the Llangollen Railway 10 years ago they told us they were on the brink of opening the line into Corwen but were then terminating at Carrog. So today I drive to Carrog to park and then do the journey over the now opened line into Corwen – where I eventually buy a ticket before returning. Buying a simple ticket is so difficult – nothing as simple as an Edmondson card ticket these days – I understand the till and computer records – but there was a queue and I missed the loco running around whilst waiting to be served. Annoying.

Carrog – 47+5

In common with other railways these days off peak services are noted as diesel hauled so I am somewhat surprised to find a long train hauled by a class 47 – I was expecting a small multiple unit. However the loadings seem to justify the length of train and the loco duly runs around the coaches to return me to Carrog and everyone else to Llangollen I assume.

I return by a slightly more direct route to Lake Vyrnwy – although not quite the route I had planned as I miss a turning at one point, but return much earlier than if I had tried my somewhat more complex outing today.

Vale of Rheidol 27.6.24

28 June 2024 / admin

No 7 VoR

We travel further down the coast this morning, again with the top down, to Aberystwyth and the terminus of the Vale of Rheidol railway. This has been transformed in recent years. Since my last visit (undocumented) a couple of years ago they have opened a museum which I wander around. There is a mixed collection of locomotives and other stock – at the time of my visit it includes the Dukedog from the Bluebell, a WHR Garratt plus other locos – but it is an interesting collection and well housed.

The floor is notable as it is made of small wooden blocks which are removable and it means that tracks can be laid to take rails which can then be any gauge allowing a huge and varied range of exhibits over the years – in a light and spacious environment. Externally there is a small segment from London Bridge which was moved here for preservation when the station was rebuilt. It is all a long way from the BR owned line I first visited in 1976.

Whilst the first part of the line remains unexciting further up the closed in nature was eased many years ago by some tree clearance and there are still some great views plus the hard work of the locomotive as it ascends the gradients and tight curves is very obvious as we wind up to Devil’s Bridge. Less has changed here – although far more exists than in 1976 – but then it is not long since my last visit.

On the return trip we have a discussion with other passengers who are relatively local residents as far as we can gather.

Our onward journey is to Lake Vyrnwy in mid-Wales and is uneventful until the sat nav decides to make use of a very narrow road with grass growing in the centre of the single track with not much in the way of passing places. We emerge to quite a major road and the hotel tells us that all the satnavs follow that route – whilst the road signs take a far better route as I will discover tomorrow.

Lake Vyrnwy

The hotel at Lake Vyrnwy has a high location overlooking the lake – which is in fact a reservoir – and faces west with the sun setting over the hills on the far side of the lake as we eat dinner. The main drawback is that it feels like a huge hike from our room to the reception and the dining room but even so I like it. It is very quiet and even though the hotel is busy the dining all seems to run smoothly.

Ffestiniog Railway 26.6.24

27 June 2024 / admin

Merddin Emrys

We retrace our steps slightly this morning into Porthmadog and one major improvement is that the Ffestiniog Railway have implemented a parking area in a near by car park which is a few minutes walk – but obviates all the previous difficulties. I am not sure how I did not know about this as I do not recall it from the last visit 10 years ago – but we were then staying close by so walked to the station.

Jackie takes our seats in the rear observation car and I walk out to the front and onto the Cob to take photographs of trains moving around the railways. I just about see the departure of a Welsh Highland service to Caenarfon. However the railway seems busy this morning and again it is very warm. it is nice to be able to traverse the line about which I read far more than I ever see.

The journey to and from Blaenau Ffestiniog behind Merddin Emrys appears pretty trouble free – uphill we are a long way back to hear how hard the locomotive is working and of course the return journey is downhill. At Blaenau the sun is beating down and shade is limited. I manage to get some photographs of the locomotive before we return.

Merddin Emrys at Blaenau Ffestiniog

On our last trip (as mentioned 10 years ago) I was struck by the wide open spaces as there had been a lot of tree clearance, Views now are much less as the trees (or new ones) have grown back and so like many other trips these days the views do not seem as good – I particularly noticed this on the Heart of Wales line recently.

Once re-united with the car it is great to have the top down and finding the new much improved road bridge at Pont Briwet which is a complete transformation. I decide to take the coast road and almost miss one turning – it looked like we were supposed to go straight on and so we pass Harlech Castle – I have never previously driven down this route.

Further down the coast we use the unimproved Penmaenpool Toll Bridge as we are heading to Aberdyfi. The satnav does not think much of the cut off as it seems to neither reduce the distance or time for the journey. Our accommodation for the night is the Dovey Arms with dinner at Seabreeze which is a few minutes walk away. Dovey Arms is a Marston house and the rooms in this case seem great value for money – with an excellent breakfast the following morning. Dinner is reasonable too.

Puffins and more 25.6.24

26 June 2024 / admin

Puffin in flight

Today we head a little way along the Menai Strait to Beaumaris where we are going to catch a boat courtesy of Seacoast Safaris for a trip up to Priestholm (Ynys Lannog/Glannog in Welsh) but which now seems to be known by just about everyone as Puffin island. The island is uninhabited by humans but the numbers of birds are enormous. Careful management has ensured that bird numbers have been steadily growing for many years. It is situated off the north east corner of Anglesey, just at the end of the Menai Straits and the journey there takes about 20 minutes with entire trip planned to take around 90 minutes.

Luckily it is extremely calm as we head along the Strait and a little further so that we can slowly circumnavigate Puffin Island. There are birds everywhere and some seals on the far side of the island although we are too late to see them basking, largely shapes moving under the surface. Although named Puffin Island and we see a few they are heavily outnumbered by all of the other species.

We have an extended session as they ensure we see everything we can so it is early afternoon and we head over the Britannia Bridge and then along the coast to Portmeirion where we are staying tonight, arriving at Castell Deudraeth in time for a late sandwich for lunch.

Portmeirion was built over a period of nearly 50 years to the design of Clough Williams-Ellis in an Italianate style. We are staying in the main hotel on one of the hottest days of the year. We wander around most of the village and I take a large number of photos. I then decide to go and walk around the wooded area to see a little more of the estate heading down to the lighthouse. It first came to my attention with “The Prisoner”.

An excellent dinner is taken later in the dining room and tomorrow we will enjoy an excellent breakfast. There are many villas around the estate which can also be rented – and certainly our night here was very nice.

Snowdon Mountain & Llanberis Lake 24.6.24

25 June 2024 / admin

Snowdon Mountain Railway

We have had three previous attempts to visit the Snowdon Mountain Railway. 10 years ago the weather forecast for the following day was poor and we then drove past Snowdon in bright sunshine with the peak clearly visible! A couple of years ago we were returning from Ireland and the booked trip was cancelled ten days earlier as the railway had been unable to complete repairs to the track and the visitor centre.

The sunshine bodes well as we drive to Llanberis first thing on a Monday morning. Even the Ringgo app works first time to pay for the parking and we join the 09:30 departure. Like too many other railways the absence of a proper timetable is an annoyance. In particular I had originally wanted to book the afternoon steam train but it was sold out when I did book – which was fine as it was easy enough to book the morning train – as only one engine was in steam and the other workings are diesel.

Which would be well and good but on arrival there is a second steam engine in steam and which took a steam service up the mountain at a time which was not advertised for booking and would have permitted a leisurely breakfast.

We are pushed to the summit by No 5 Moel Siabod, the locomotive dating back to 1896. Along the way the number of walkers seem high – but it is a bright sunny day – and at the summit itself reaching the top is not easy. It is not just the slightly uneven steps but building works continue eliminating some of the route and the numbers at the top soon fill the available space!

From the top the view is pretty good – we can see northwards but to the south of the peak there is cloud – which is impenetrable! I do not envisage another visit – but at least to see some of the scenery is good. It does mean that the route for the trains is fairly clear and so the views can also be enjoyed on the train returning to the base of the mountain.

As already mentioned a second locomotive, No 6 Padarn which is of the later 1922 batch of locomotives, is also in service today. This is the only one of the later batch of steam locomotives now remaining in service with the other two requiring replacement boilers and therefore now laid aside.

These days, unlike a previous visit many years ago, you now simply walk across the road to the Llanberis Lake Railway which extended here some years. It is quite a contrast – the line must be nearly flat as it progresses along the side of the Lake and passenger numbers are nothing like the Mountain Railway.

Llanberis Lake Railway

It runs down the back of the Welsh Slate Museum where it used to terminate in what is now the car parking area and then runs along the lake – the far end is not at a station, just a run round loop before returning to the picnic area – where it did not stop on the outward journey. The only extension since the previous visit is at the start as previously we had to go in via the Slate Museum (I think) rather than it being a stand alone attraction.

We now meander over to Anglesey where our progress is delayed by major work being undertaken on the Thomas Telford designed Menai Suspension Bridge – all of the suspension is being checked for the first time in many years – Michael Portillo mentioned it when he visited earlier in the year.

Once back at Chateau Rhianfa I seek assistance for the car. It takes a couple of hours before they reach us as their base is so far away. A faulty ABS sensor is likely and all should be well until we are home and it can be replaced.

Bodnant Gardens 23.6.24

24 June 2024 / admin

Bodnant Garden

Our journey is now into North Wales where we plan to spend the rest of the week. We soon gain motorways to leave Manchester behind and then the A55 along the North Wales coast. Much of the rest of the holiday is rail related but today we are visiting Bodnant Gardens which are a part of the National Trust therefore assisting to defray the membership cost previously mentioned.

2024 marks 150 years since Henry Davis Pochin purchased the Bodnant Estate. His wealth came from a process to use china clay to improve the quality of paper, owning South Wales coal pits plus Cornish clay pits which (much later) were acquired by English China Clays. Bodnant Gardens was effectively his retirement project and it subsequently passed to his daughter and her husband who were responsible for funding the travels of plant collectors bringing foreign plants, particularly rhododendrons and magnolias to the estate.

One of the first part of the gardens created was the Laburnum walk , which was part of Pochin garden, where we pause briefly before continuing around the gardens. It is of course a little late for most of the rhododendrons this year – but they were obviously magnificent. The roses are however blooming madly and there is a long walk through the wooded area which given the temperature is welcome.

We stay at the higher levels – it is possible to descend to river level for a better view of the waterfall – but all the paths are marked steeply graded and so we avoid those routes.

When we park I am quite a way up the hill in what appears to be “overflow” parking. When I return it is notable that cars have needed to park much further into the overflow area – so I would on that basis judge it to be a busy day at the Gardens but it never felt crowded or difficult to wander around.

Our destination is Chateau Rhianfa which is on Anglesey as it convenient for the next couple of days. Our bedroom has a view out over the Menai Strait which is the channel between Anglesey and the rest of Wales.

To reach Anglesey we pass over the Menai Bridge. The Menai Suspension Bridge is currently undergoing significant inspection works to ensure that all of the suspension cables and their securings remain safe – after all the bridge, designed by Thomas Telford, opened in 1826. It is Grade 1 listed and carries the local traffic as the main road now runs over the adjacent Britannia Bridge which was designed solely as a rail bridge by George Stephenson and re-engineered following a major fire in 1970 to the current double deck structure.

Coronation Street 22.6.24

23 June 2024 / admin

Weatherfield Precinct

This is our third visit to Coronation Street and our second to Media City having previously visited the earlier set at the Quays. It is our first visit since the most recent set extension covering the famous Weatherfield Precinct and playground which was added to the set about two years ago.

Our tour today starts with the outside of the Tony Warren building – which contains many of the internal sets and externally has the signage associated with Weatherfield Hospital. We then join the main outside set via the Freshco car park – which merely consists of a trolley park these days! Originally filming in Freshco used a local Morrisons supermarket on Sundays.

We then move around to the Weatherfield Precinct and associated shops plus the flats above. One amusing feature is that all of the flats have external doors (with letter boxes) which are visible above the shops along the walkway – but visitors to the flats always enter from the rear of the flat – which appears to be completely impossible as the main door is at the front. Ours is not to reason why!

The playground equipment is made from recycled plastic but does look entirely new and unused – which is not surprising given the very rare appearances of many of the younger children in the programme – Glory, Aled, Bryn, Carys, Lilo, Harry, Bertie and Alfie! As ever access is limited and it is not possible to pass directly in front of the individual shops.

Our tour then moves onto the Police station and then into Victoria Street area which was relatively new on our last visit. The vegetation in Victoria Gardens is particularly verdant (our last visit was in late Autumn) preventing decent photographs of the memorial bench to Martyn Hett and those who lost lives in the Manchester bombing.

Seb Memorial Garden

A Sainsburys / Argos store is coming next door to Hays Travel with past incumbents in this area now being a distant memory. Seb’s memorial garden is a new addition but currently the entrance to the former gym and the builder’s yard are unused with the latter apparently now boarded up. Trim Up North appears closed.

Although Nuttall’s brewery is closed there are still abandoned barrels and no sign of any change whilst there were a couple of StreetCars outside the office. There are few changes obvious along Coronation Street itself since our last visit. Indeed it may even be the same menu outside the Bistro! A few cheeky shots were taken of the Platt garden and around the back of the factory.

The other major addition since our last visit is the internal exhibition which has various costumes on display plus display boards telling the stories of the families and characters past and present. In addition there are internal sets – mainly a mock up of the Rovers and Roys Rolls. Not mentioned in the literature is the Duckworth’s living room with bar – but I have a feeling this may not be as permanent.

Prior to visiting the above addition we also met Alan Halsall who briefly meets the visitors for a photo. He was particularly good with an individual on the tour to whom the Street is obviously a passion. And he is not very tall as he admitted!

Bistro Menu

Our travel to and from Media City was by tram – use the Imperial War Museum stop and it is a short walk past that Museum to the entrance. The return trips on the trams cost a total of £3.10 each – a bargain.

Congleton 21.6.24

22 June 2024 / admin

Little Moreton Hall

Friday 21.6.24

Our UK holiday this year started yesterday with a night at John’s House in Mountsorrel near Loughborough where we ate and stayed in one of the cottages. We enjoyed an excellent meal and the hospitality offered in the cottage was outstanding. I can recommend this as a suitable stopping point on journeys which need a break as well as a decent destination in its own right for dinner.

Today we are heading north towards Didsbury tonight but stopping off near Congleton at Little Moreton Hall. We have recently joined the National Trust as our plans on this holiday will mean that it almost pays for itself. Our onward holiday is to Manchester and then to North Wales and Anglesey for a couple of nights and somewhere along the line some railways.

However the highlight today is allegedly the “wonkiest house” in the country which is located a few miles south of Congleton and apart from encountering the A50 and the delays caused by the roundabouts (all of which need flyovers adding to ease traffic flow).

Construction of the Hall commenced before 1450 with William Moreton adding significantly from 1500 onwards. There were earlier buildings on the site. The family at this stage were growing in wealth and continually adding to their land estates and so whilst the house commenced small the family kept adding to it. The extensions were to build a larger house and then to form buildings on three sides of the small courtyard. Finally in common with other grand houses the family added a long gallery as a third floor running the length of the newer extension – but this gallery was not as wide as the floors below so the weight was not carried on the external walls. A slate roof added weight estimated at 32 tons to complete the structure. This was added in 1570-1580 marking a high water in the family fortunes.

A fuller description is held in the Official Listing.

Being on the wrong side in the Civil War cost the family the accumulated fortune and much of the estate was sold to buy the freedom of William Moreton III. In the early Twentieth Century attempts were made to stabilise the structure and to restore it and it passed to the National Trust in 1937 who have in recent years spent a small fortune to seek to prevent further movement.

From Little Moreton Hall we headed further north to Didsbury for a couple of nights. In the evening we dined at Adam Reid at the French – a restaurant inside the Midland Hotel. Absolutely stunning meal plus some good wines. The team here are young and very talented – and the service is excellent.