You are number 2....

The final day started with a hearty breakfast, which was of equally good quality as all the food we had enjoyed in the hotel. Unfortunately it let itself down with the accomodation. If I were a Trip advisor junkie I would have to say the Tanronnen Inn had cold bedrooms, the bath was too narrow for normal sized people and the shower was next to useless. The bed was a small double and Wi-Fi was intermittent. So public areas and service 5 star, accommodation 3 star at best.

Anyway, onto day three. The plan was to drive to Barmouth and do the Cader Idris walk which took in the Victorian gardens and Garb, often referred to as the Barmouth Slabs. The weather was a bit misty and the bodies a bit weary, so that was parked for another day. We decided instead to stroll along the beach, have an ice cream and play tourist.

I had always been keen to visit Barmouth having heard stories of its role as an industrial tourist venue. During the traditional Summer factory shutdowns, thousands of workers from Yorkshire and Lancashire took the train to Barmouth. It is also the closest seaside resort to the West Midlands from where workers would load their charabanc's and make off for their annual break. The North Wales coastal resorts of Prestatyn, Llandudno, Rhyl and Portmadog benefited in the same way.

Barmouth, however, has stood the test of time. It's high street is still tidy, its hotels and guest houses are well presented and there are bars cafe's and bistro's which could grace Brighton or Bournemouth. There were a fair few Midland accents around too, so the links of old are still preserved by all accounts.

We drove back via Lake Bala, utilised by Thomas Telford in his construction,almost, of the Ellesmere Canal which he had planned to link the river Mersey with the Severn at Shrewsbury. It did not quite work but he did leave the Llangollen viaduct as a local legacy.

SWMBO did not fancy a walk over that so it was 'home James' with a wave to Moel Famau as we drove through Loggerheads,  where this mad plan started. Next week is another adventure altogether.