Sunday 13th May – Caernarfon

Jane had read about Penmon Priory and liked the sound of it so we set off in that direction. The route took us through the pretty town of Beaumaris with its massive castle and then along beside the Menai Strait. Although it was sunny, there was a strong wind, especially strong here where it seemed to be funnelled up the Strait, whipping the sea into white horses.

The priory is on private land and it costs £2.50 to park. We were told by the attendant that there was a church service in process so we weren't able to visit it at the moment. However the car park fee also includes the toll fee to drive up to the end of the Penmon peninsula and he suggested that we did that first. This turned out to be a very good idea and we had a very pleasant, if breezy, walk around the tip, admiring the views of the lighthouse, Puffin Island and the mainland including the huge bulk of Great Orme.

By the time that we got back to the priory, the church service had finished and we were able to visit the church, priory ruins and the holy well where St. Seiriol is said to have lived in his hermit cell in the 6^th century. One of the highlights of the visit was the huge dovecote, built in 1600, the interior of which holds nesting holes for 930 pigeons, providing plenty of tender meat for the landowners.

On the way back to Beaumaris we stopped in a lay-by next to the beach and had lunch being battered by the wind, watching the rough sea and being grateful that we were in a motorhome rather than a boat!

Next on the list was Plas Newydd, a National Trust house just the other side of the two bridges crossing the Menai Strait. The house has lovely grounds and we spent a couple of hours walking around before we went into the house. The Rhododendron Garden is a long way from the house but is well worth the visit. A total maze of paths take you through providing a constant series of surprises as rhododendrons of all sizes, colours and varieties appear around each corner. The house was also very interesting, made especially so by the very helpful volunteer guides in each room.

We decided that we had time to get to Caernarfon and had identified a Caravan Club site within 10 minutes of the town centre. However when we arrived there we found it closed although there were no signs to say that was. Direction signs were still there and we could see the pitches but there was a chain across the entrance and no units on the site. Checking the OS map we found another site, also close to the centre on the Bethel road. At first sight, Cwm Cadnant didn't look encouraging as it was in amongst housing estates and behind a fire station and we couldn't actually see into the site from an entrance. However, the owner was very friendly and we decided to take a chance. It turned out to be a very good decision as the site is great. Set in a small wooded valley with a stream running down the middle, it is an oasis of calm and still only 10 minutes walk from the town centre.

Photos: The lighthouse on the Penmon Peninsula - the bell on the side tolled all the time that we were there; St. Seiriol's hermit cell with the well entrance in the background; Plas Newydd - the most fantastic tree house that I have ever seen; Plas Newydd rhododendron.