A One week holiday based on Caernarfon, North Wales - Thursday 20th August 2009

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 After storm force winds and rain overnight we had better weather during the day; still windy but very little rain. Today we visited Penrhyn Castle, a neo-Norman Victorian mock castle built by Thomas Hopper between 1825 and 1845 for the Pennant family (who had made a fortune in the West Indies sugar trade and slaves). Subsequently, the family invested in the local slate trade and built it up by improving working practices and transport, particularly railways to the sea. The Prince of Wales visited in 1894 and some of the preparations can be seen in the kitchens. There is also a railway museum in the stables and a dolls museum in an upper room of the stables block. We returned to our cottage via the A5 to Capel Curig and then past Snowdon to Nant Gwynant and then Beddgelert.

Penrhyn Castle:                    Keep                    Main block                Ice Tower                   Middle block              Stable block

Railway Museum in castle:                                    Haydock                    Small locomotive        Charles