2017 UK Trip: 16 Holyhead, Wales - A busy Ferry Port...

"Take every chance you get in life, because some things only happen once..."

(Celtic Gateway Bridge, Holyhead)

Date: 12 May 2017 (Friday)

Route: Liverpool – Holyhead

Distance: 100 miles (1 hr 56 min)

Hotel: Holyhead Travelodge (£77/£61)

From Liverpool we drove on M53 towards the Welsh border, crossing the bridge over River Mersey. Liverpool is about 17 miles away from the nearest Wales-England Border. The route to Holyhead passed through Conwy, a beautiful compact seaside town.

(Moody weather all the way to Holyhead)

(Massive traffic on the bridge)

(Having tuna sandwich for lunch)

(Crossing the England/Wales border)

(Still cloudy and slight drizzle)

(Sharing the motorway with motorbikes)

(Passing through the town of Conwy)

Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Isle of Anglesey in Wales. It is also a community and a major Irish Sea port, serving Ireland. Despite being the largest town in the county, it is neither the county town nor actually on the island of Anglesey. 

(The Four Mile Bridge crossing)

(The main road heading towards Holyhead)

Holyhead is located on Holy Island, It was originally connected to Anglesey via Four Mile Bridge, so called because the bridge was four miles from Holyhead on the old turnpike Road. In the mid 19th century, a local philanthropist, funded the building of a larger causeway, known locally as "The Cobb", it now carries the A5 and the railway line. The A55 dual carriageway runs parallel to the Cobb on a modern causeway.

(A long and winding road to Holyhead)

(Entering the Holy Island)

(The breakwater shelter of the Port of Holyhead)

The Port of Holyhead is a commercial and ferry port in Anglesey, Wales, handling more than 2 million passengers each year. It is operated by Stena Line Ports Ltd. Stena Line and Irish Ferries sail from Holyhead to Dublin in Ireland, forming the principal link for surface transport from north Wales and central and northern England to Ireland. The port is partly on Holy Island and partly on Salt Island. It is made up of the Inner Harbour, the Outer Harbour and the New Harbour, all sheltered by a breakwater which, at 2.7 kilometres, is the longest in the UK.

(An evening walk to the Ferry Terminal)

(The Railway Station next to the Ferry Terminal)

There is access to the port via a building shared with Holyhead railway station, which is served by the North Wales Coast Line to Chester and London Euston. The walk between trains and ferry check in is less than two minutes, but longer from the remote platform 1, used by Virgin Trains.

( A pedestrian and cycle bridge)

(Pass this way with pure heart)

(A series of bronze plaques on the bridge) 

(The bridge is wheelchair and pram accessible)

(Reduce walking time across the railway lines)

The port is accessible to motor vehicles via both the A5 and the A55 roads. Pedestrian access from Holyhead town centre is via the Celtic Gateway, a bridge linking town and port, and takes about five minutes from our Travelodge. The largest ferries arrive and depart from the 300-metre Admiralty Pier.

(A war monument in town)

(In memory of those who died)

(Our lodging for two nights)

       2017 UK: 17 Dublin, Ireland👉

👈2017 UK: 15 Liverpool, England

2017 UK Trip: 18 Bangor, Wales - The Oldest City in Wales...

“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment…” - Hilaire Belloc

(A quiet town of Bangor)

Date: 14 May 2017 (Sunday)

Route: Holyhead – Bangor 

Distance: 25 miles (29 min)

We drove out of Holyhead very early in the morning and detoured to Bangor to look for breakfast and provisions.

(A bright blue sky in Bangor)

(Making order on touch-screens at McD)

(Having hashbrowns and eggs for breakfast)

Before we continued our journey we visited the Bangor Islamic Centre situated in the middle of town. The Islamic Centre was built by students of the University in 1981. The Centre was then expanded by the students and local residents to become double its original size. The Centre is open for the five daily prayers and public visits by arrangement.

(Islamic Centre in Bangor)

(Ample praying area on ground floor)

        2017 UK: 19 Snowdonia, Wales👉

👈2017 UK: 17 Dublin, Ireland

2017 UK Trip: 19 Snowdonia, Wales - The Mountains and Glacial Landforms...

"Keep your eyes on the horizon and your nose to the wind..." - Clint Eastwood

(Penrhyndeudraeth Train Station)

Date: 14 May 2017 (Sunday)

Route: Bangor – Penrhyndeudraeth

Distance: 35 mi (1 hr 6 min)

From Bangor we drove towards Cardiff using the smaller trunk roads via the Snowdonia National Park.

(A narrow country road)

(A wealth of picturesque country sides)

(Carefully choosing the correct route)

Snowdonia is a mountainous region in north Wales and a national park of 823 square miles in area. It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. Snowdonia is concentrated around the mountains and glacial landforms of massive Snowdonia National Park.

(Entering the Snowdonia National Park)

(Delightful varied landscape)

(Enjoying the amazing landscape)

The park's historic Snowdon Mountain Railway climbs to the summit of Wales's highest mountain, Mount Snowdon, offering views across the sea to Ireland. The park is also home to an extensive network of trails, over 100 lakes and craggy peaks like Cader Idris and Tryfan.

(The Royal Goat Hotel)

(Smaller roads on mountain ranges)

Penrhyndeudraeth meaning 'peninsula with two beaches' is a small town in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The town is close to the mouth of the River Dwyryd on the A487. The first section of this road is very narrow and rises steeply through Upper Penrhyn. In places it is so narrow that only a single vehicle can pass.

(A small town in Snowdonia)

(A quiet and peaceful mountain town)

The town has two stations, Penrhyndeudraeth railway station on the southern side of the village on the Cambrian Coast Railway to the north, Penrhyn railway station. Trains call here approximately every two hours on weekdays. Most southbound trains continue beyond Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International.

(Opened in 1867 on the Cambrian Coast Line)

(Beautiful surrounding landscape)

(Waiting for the train to arrive)

Most of the National Park in Wales is bare, grassy moorland grazed by Welsh mountain ponies and Welsh mountain sheep, with scattered forestry plantations, and pasture in the valleys. It is known for its remote reservoirs, waterfalls including the 27 m Henrhyd Waterfall and the falls at Ystradfellte, and its caves, such as Ogof Ffynnon Ddu.

(Scenic view all along the way)

(A sunny day and a clear blue sky)

( Oakeley Arms Hotel and rest area)

(Driving through mountainous road)

(A good road for bikers and cyclists)

It was a long journey driving on the country road but we enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Wales may be a small country but they have three national parks: Pembrokeshire coast, Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons national parks. The three Welsh National Parks protect an impressive 20 percent of Wales. The parks include precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.

(Please take your litter home)

(A great beautiful scenery)

(A lone and lonely road)

(Grassland, as far as the eyes can see)

The Brecon Beacons National Park  is one of three national parks in Wales, and is centred on the Brecon Beacons range of hills in southern Wales. It includes the Black Mountain in the west, Great Forest and the Brecon Beacons in the centre and the Black Mountains in the east.

The Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre is opened for recreation activities and mountaineers could enjoy the scenery of the area from the mountain top.

(The road is busy here on Sunday)

(Cars parked by the roadside)

(Entering the city of Cardiff, Wales)

      2017 UK: 20 Cardiff, Wales👉

👈2017 UK: 18 Bangor, Wales