We’ve both decided it feels rather strange being back here at Bigland Towers. We weren’t away long – just 4 nights – but the pace of life on the peninsula was very different and I have to say we rather liked it. One of the things we’ve noticed since we’ve been back is the amount of traffic on the roads and numbers of cars clogging the streets. Life feels much more frenetic here. Of course, it’s not all bad. I can walk to the local supermarket (and my local pub). Plus, we have superfast broadband rather than steam-powered internet, but there was something special about having so many beaches close to hand. Coastal views give you a very different perspective and feel compared to being landlocked.
That said, we’ve made the most of a day which has proved to be sunny and mild. I’ve managed to catch up on some work and plans for the week (thank you superfast broadband!), we’ve picked up shopping to make some excellent meals – and we’ve dropped off supplies to Dee’s parents. Now it’s time to relax with a movie and enjoy a meal of spicy prawns with chorizo and garlic bread.
I’ll leave you with today’s picture which was taken on the Afon estuary outside Portmeirion when the tide had turned. Much as I like this neck of the woods you don’t get this in the Pennines.
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Our time in Wales ran out today, which was sad as we’d both really enjoyed the area we’d stayed in – and the AirBnB we’d occupied. The weather picked up somewhat too, so we were in no rush to head off, instead we revisted Abersoch during the day when businesses were open. Well, the ones that hadn’t closed down due to the end of the season anyway! This neck of the woods has tourism all year round but it’s plain that the beaches are a big draw so high summer sees the place rammed whilst this time of year many places are winding down. It reminds me of the Greek Islands in that respect. Only with more sheep. And rain.
One place Dawn wanted to stop at was a pretty little hamlet we’d passed through previously. Nestling at the bottom of a valley, Llangian is less than 2 miles from Abersoch. There’s little to the place, although unlike some it still boasts a shop. Oh, and an award – for being a well-kept village! I’ve no idea when this accolade was awarded, apart from the fact Caernarvonshire was abolished on 1974…
I do like exploring country churches as you never know what you’re going to find. In this case it was a memorial to a local man (well, youth really) from a well to do local family who was killed in action during the Crimean war in 1855.
Much as we’d liked to have explored further it was time to head home. We didn’t go direct, instead we headed back via Beddgelert. I was half-hoping to get a shot of a train on the Welsh Highland railway but (bizarrely) the railway seems content to keep its timetable a secret. None are displayed on the station and the company’s website does its best to hide details too. It’s quite bizarre. So, as we hadn’t got a clue what was running (or when) we drove back along the A498 to traverse the Nant Gwynant Pass and stunning autumnal scenery just ahead of the rain.
The beauty of the The Nant Gwynant Pass.
We stopped for a bite to eat and perusal of the multitude of outdoor shops in Betwys-y-Coed. The place was busy but not unbearably so, which made a pleasant change. There’s often bargains to be had here. Dawn treated me to an early birthday present in the form of a new daypack from Trespass which was reduced by 50%. I’d been looking for a new one for ages but I’m picky as one has to meet my needs. The fact it did – and was a bargain was a real result! (thank you Dee x)
Betwys was our last stop. From there we cut across country Northwards to reach the A55 near Conwy, then sped home. Ish. Being ‘poets’ day the main roads were packed – which was a shock after the empty tarmac we’d enjoyed around the Llŷn peninsula. By the time we hit the English motorways the traffic was a real pain as we hit jam after jam on the M58, M6 and M62 which added 30 mins to our journey time. Still, we’re home, dry and safe – and tomorrow’s another day – although I suspect it will involves a lot of picture editing and writing as next week will see me back on the rails before an interesting weekend away in the Lakes…
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There’s a short blog from me today for a number of reasons – not least the fact the wifi where we’re staying is extremely slow tonight. That’s the problem with being out in the sticks. Forget the idea of superfast cable broadband in the middle of nowhere, you’ll be lucky to be able to watch a whole film without it buffering every few minutes. It would take me days to upload pictures to my website. Still, the scenery’s good and everything else can be done another time.
Today we made the must of the improving weather to visit the unique village of Portmeirion. As folly’s go, this one’s been executed on a grand scale. It’s also a stunning collection of rescued buildings (or part buildings) in an amazing landscape that’s also been the setting for one of the most enduring 1960s TV series. ‘The Prisoner’, starring Patrick McGoohan was filmed here in 1967-68. I was an avid fan so Portmerion always held a fascination for me. I’ve not visited the village since 1978 so it as a real trip down memory lane. Here’s a trio of pictures.
I’ll blog more about today when I have decent wifi. Be seeing you…
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Today’s been one dominated by the weather which has been a complete contrast to the day we arrived here in Wales. We had very heavy rain on and off throughout the night, which made sleeping just under an old barn roof interesting to say the least!
Upon waking we found the area around us was blanketed in low cloud and fog, so there there was little point in rushing out to sight-see. Instead we had a leisurely morning at ‘home’, giving me chance to catch up on some work emails and Dawn to relax.
Eventually we ventured out to head over to Pwllheli our first stop of the day. Whilst it’s the biggest town on the peninsula and the railhead for the area, it’s hardly the most attractive town. Admittedly it has some interesting buildings but the place has a shabby air redolent of so many faded seaside towns, especially at the end of the season. That wasn’t helped by the fact it was blanketed in fog! We stayed long enough to pick up some fresh hake from the excellent Llyn seafoods and for me to visit the station to see how busy the incoming train from Birmingham was, then it was time to head off to explore further.
The crew of 158830 exchange banter having arrived with 2J07, the 0808 Birmingham International to Pwllheli.
The weather cleared as we headed East, the sun almost managed to break through at one point en-route, but that didn’t last. However, we did manage to beat the same train on its return, which allowed me to get this shot of it leaving Portmadog.
Hello again! 158830 leaves Porthmadog as 2I24, the 1338 Pwllheli to Birmingham International. It will join another set from Aberystwyth at Machynlleth, working forward as a -4-car to Brum.
Porthmadog is a far nicer and more interesting town for a whole host of reasons. There’s much more going on thanks to the two narrow gauge railways which are a huge tourist draw. There’s a far better selection of shops too, including many small businesses. The air is more bohemian and arty and less traditionally touristy. Plus, there’s also the excellent Moose Head brewery, brewery tap and next door shop.
Needless to say, we couldn’t resist calling in to see activity at the Ffestiniog railway station where two of the line’s steam engines were present.
‘Linda’ waits in the sidings with the stock of the ‘Quarryman’ train to Blaenau Ffestiniog whilst ‘Palmerston’ shunts a train of coal wagons.
Sadly the rain arrived not long after we did so we decided not to hand around but risk our luck by heading into Snowdonia to visit Beddgelert. It was a lovely drive due to the changing seasons and colours that have appeared in the trees along the route. Plus, the Afon Glaslyn river which the road follows made a fine, swirling sight due to the heavy rains.
Beddgelert was quiet but still an enjoyable diversion despite the rain. The low clouds meant we played hide and seek when it came to views of the surrounding hills whilst fog on the river added to the climactic effects.
Whatever the weather (and there’s normally no shortage of rain in Snowdonia) the place is always worth a visit.
With the day rolling on and the weather determined to rain on our parade we made our way back West with one last stop. We had a wander around Cricceith, yet another Welsh town blessed with a castle – although I know that’s not how the Welsh saw them at the time! We didn’t stay long as the fog was really rolling in, it was atmospheric but rather wet! I’d love to see it like this at dawn with the colours of the new day illuminating the mist.
Now we’re back at home, toasting in front of the fire. The forecast for tomorrow is vastly improved and we have plans for further explorations. Let’s see…
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We’re back at our Welsh retreat after a relaxed morning and enjoyable day exploring the peninsula.
We’re staying near to Nefyn on the North side of the peninsula so it made sense to check out the coast by Morfa Nefyn. This possesses a narrow outcrop of rock jutting into the Irish Sea which contains some interesting archeology, a profusion of wildlife, fantastic coastal views – and a pub (the Tŷ Coch Inn) which is a rare beast. You can’t drive there. You can only visit on foot or by boat.
Having left the car on the beach road (the parking restrictions are much easier this time of year) we walked along the sand and pebnles getting broader with an ebbing tide. The weather even blessed us with unexpected sunshine. On reaching Porthdinllaen we decided to delay a pub visit in order to make the most of the weather and complete a coastal circuit first. The views were glorious. Sadly, there were no sightings of Dolphins or Seals, just Oystercatchers – and this.
Poor Dawn got horribly confused when we arrived back at the pub as she hadn’t studied the map and realised our route traversed a long teardrop of land that was only a few hundred yards long!
The pub’s a bit of a gem. This time of year it’s cosy but not too crowded. The weather’s mild enough to use the large outside seating area to watch over the beach and the antics of the many canines being taken for a walk. Dogs love beaches. There’s so many interesting things to sniff or dead things to roll in!
Moving on we decided to head to Aberdaron which was a 30 minute drive on very quiet roads – although I expect they’re anything but in the height of the tourist season!
Aberdaron’s a curious place. It’s a gorgeous location, with a wide beach surrounded by cliffs, but the village feels like it’s seen better times. A number of shops had closed down – and I’m not sure it was just because the season’s over. St Hywyn’s church on the foreshore’s a fascinating but melancholic place too.
There’s a large graveyard scraped out of the hillside that bears testament to the power of the sea and fragility of humankind. Here’s an example.
Over 100 sailors lost their lives when HMS Stephen Furness was torpedoed and sank before the ships lifeboats could be launched. This poor soul was never identified.
On the bright side, next door is Tŷ Newydd, a large hotel and bar with a huge verandah overlooking the beach. The staff were very friendly, the local ale in excellent condition and the views sublime. We really enjoyed out visit and would certainly return in the future. Now it’s time to call it a day and curl up in front of the log fire in the cottage. The wifi is as fast as a tortoise tonight, so most of this blog’s been typed on my phone.
The weather’s predicted to be wet tomorrow. How wet we won’t know until it arrives, but it won’t stop us exploring the area further.
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The pair of us have abandoned Bigland Towers for a few days and decamped to Wales for a break. We’re staying on the Llŷn peninsula, the bit of Wales that sticks out of the top, West of the Isle of Anglesey. It’s gorgeous, but I have to admit I’ve not spent much time around here for very many years. The last time I was in this neck of the woods of back in 2016. Dawn doesn’t know it at all, so this was chance to put that right.
The journey over from West Yorkshire took just over three hours by road, although we added to that by stopping off at Abergele for a break and the chance for me to get a picture or two as today’s weather has been superb. Sadly, the forecast suggests it’s all downhill from here – so we made the most of it.
See what I mean about the weather? One of Transport for Wales new CAF built class 197s passes Abergele and Pensarn with a service from Manchester.
We’re staying in an AirBnB in the middle of nowhere where you really wouldn’t try walking to the nearest pub (it’s *only* a 30 minute walk, down narrow single-track roads with no street-lighting). Not that it’s problem as that’s not why we’re here. We’re here to explore the coasts and byways and enjoy the great outdoors. Here’s a few pictures from today’s explorations.
Don’t tell George Monbiot but we’ve stoked up the wood burner and settled in for a cosy night at our new home.The bedroom. All I have to do is remember to duck when nipping to the loo! Our hosts greeted us with this very thoughtful welcome pack.The view from the back garden of our accommodation. Looking East along the coast from Morfa Nefyn. We’ll be spending more time exploring this area tomorrow. Beautiful, isn’t it?
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
We’re winding down to the weekend here in Bigland Towers after a week that’s seen us both busy – and even at the same event for a change. Today’s been one where I’ve been housebound in order to catch up with picture editing and writing for a living in order to clear the decks for next week as the pair of us will be having a few days R&R in Wales, basing ourselves on the Lleyn peninsula. Mind you, getting out from home wasn’t that easy today as the contractors who’ve been resurfacing the road outside the cottage have been on the final stretch, laying the topcoat of tarmac and then sealing it with the company’s ‘special ingredient’ which adds durability and waterproofing. Well, that’s what one of the workers whom I had a long conversation told me when I nipped out to get pictures of their activities. To be honest, the folks who’ve been doing the work have been very good and very flexible. They know closing the road and getting people to move their cars can be an issue for some people. But hey, let’s keep this in perspective. We get a brand-new, pothole free road that will last for years at the end of it, so what’s the problem? No pain, no gain as they old saying goes (and this was hardly painful, merely mildly inconvenient). Plus, from a selfish perspective – I got to get some interesting pictures and learned something – and all I had to do was step outside my front door.
Still, more of that when I’ve the pictures downloaded and edited. Right now we’re about to call it a day, having nipped out to see if we can see the ‘Northern lights’. Sadly, there’s no light-show here in Halifax tonight – at least not at 23:00 anyway. Instead, I’ll leave you with a different sky. This was the sunset I saw from a beach on Viti Levu, Fiji, on the 9th March 1999…
I wonder if we’ll get anything to compete with this in Wales next week?
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I’ve enjoyed a train-free day today. No delays, no uncertainties – just the ability to have a bit of a much needed lie-in after so many early starts.
Most of today has been spent at home, editing hundreds of pictures from this last week’s jobs. There’s a diverse selection – as you’ll see if you visit my Zenfolio website (just follow this link) and there’s many more to come. Editing aside, there’s also writing to be done. So, whilst Dawn’s been up to her neck in work downstairs I’ve been doing the same upstairs.
Mind you, today’s been a good day to be stuck indoors. Whilst I was casting envious eyes at the sunshine that wasn’t predicted it soon caught up with the forecast. We ended up with heavy rain and a hailstorm, whilst the mercury spent most of the day hiding in the bottom of the barometer.
However, late this afternoon the pair of us knocked-off in order to travel over to Dee’s parents near Huddersfield to share an evening meal. Now we’re back at home having a quiet night in.
Meanwhile, here’s today’s picture which was taken in Nottingham the other day whilst I was waiting for the conference to start. The city’s a big university town so there’s a lot of young people and a lot of street art. Hence this picture catching my eye. Street art and trams summing up Nottingham.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
The conference has already begun here in Nottingham.
First up was a welcome video from Lord Hendy, whose full diary prevented him for appearing in person. It was introduced by Simon Huish from the DfT who’s acting as event moderator.
11:30.
We’ve had a busy day so far hearing from a range of speakers, including Jools Townsend, CRN’s Chief Executive, James McGowan, Public Affairs & PR Director for the Rail Industry Association and Emma Robertson, Programme Manager for RAIL 200. Afterwards all three became part of a panel discussion.
17:30.
Another busy day. The conference finished around 16:00 after a really interesting day where people had divided into breakout groups to discuss the subjects that really interested them. Apart from being busy taking pictures of the sessions I ended up being a major part of one as it was a discussion around photography and the law that included model releases and permissions. As you can imagine, as a 25yr long member of the National Union of Journalists I had a few legal perspectives and anecdotes to offer.
A chunk of the CRN staff were heading North together so we walked/caught the tram to Nottingham station where we adjourned for a drink in the station’s micropub before catching trains. The pubs located in the old wooden taxi office which was restored with a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust, so – we were still working, right?
Now we’re on Northern’s 17:17 to Leeds which is worked by a 2-car Class 195. It’s rammed, so it’s standing room only..
19:40.
Thankfully, the train emptied out after Alfreton, which seems to be the limit of Notts commuters on this service. The three of us managed to get seats. After Chesterfield we bagged a table whilst other colleagues joined us. We lost people en-route at Sheffield and Barnsley, leaving Dawn and I alone to Leeds. Now we’re on the last leg aboars a rather more roomy 3-car Class 158 working the Hull to Halifax run.
We’ll be glad to get home as we’ve both got work to finish. Plus, tomorrow I’ll be up early as I’m travelling down to Bicester to join an HS2 media trip looking at structures around Calvert and Southwards – so expect another blog on my adventures.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Today both Dawn and I are heading to Nottingham for the annual Community Rail Network conference which is held over the next two days. It’s familiar territory as we’re back in a venue we’ve used for several years now as – unlike the awards – we don’t need to move location every year.
Community rail staff, officers, and volunteers will be making their way from all around the country to attend. It’s always a great event as it’s a chance to catch up with old friends and socialise as well as swap best practice ideas and learn more about the community rail world and wider rail context in these changing times.
Right now the pair of us are heading to Leeds to catch Northern’s direct service to Nottingham. It’s not the fastest journey in the world but it’s an easy trip that will pick up other members of the team en-route. I’ll blog on and off throughout the day, so feel free to pop back and see what we get up to.
21:00.
Humble apologies for the long gap but it’s been a full-on day. A few colleagues joined us on the train to Nottingham so most of our time was taken up catching up. Once we’d arrived it was a case of hot-footing it to the venue to check in and arrange what happened next. I managed to have an hour to myself to get a few pictures out and about in a very civilised city that more of a European than English feel to it, but that’s partly due to this sensible form of transport. Trams.
The conference kicked off at 17:30 with registration, which is always an entertaining event as Dawn works on the desk, so the humour was flying.
Once in the room people had time for a drink and to network before we were treated to introductory speeches and a run-through of events.
Then came the important part – the food!
This isn’t like a normal conference where the agenda and topics are set beforehand. Here, people are given 45 minutes to talk with others on their tables, then suggest topics to be discussed in tomorrow’s breakout sessions. There was no shortage of suggestions. The most popular were decided on by a show of hands and some great ideas were chosen.
Now it’s time to wind down and let the networking continue, which more some of us means adjourneing to a nearby pub!
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Paul Bigland 