Fron Gadair Holiday Cottage – Blaenau Ffestiniog Travel Guide

 

Guide by Sam and Michele :

 

 

A Warm Welcome; From The Rock (Blaenau Ffestiniog). In the centre of Snowdonia, Blaenau Ffestiniog is known as the heart of the national park, from rugged mountains the Vale leads on to sandy beaches, here you’ll find people, culture, activities, attractions, food and entertainment that’s From the Rock.

 

Blaenau Ffestiniog has for as long as anyone can remember been known as "the town that roofed the world". Slate was how Blaenau made its name, and the town is immensely proud of its industrial heritage. From a cluster of farms a bustling town grew, and a number of quarries were opened; one of them, Llechwedd is one of Wales' top visitor attractions, where you can visit to experience life as a Victorian miner, you may also travel like the Victorians on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway to Porthmadog. The area boasts a range of attractions for everyone.

 

In addition, Blaenau Ffestiniog is hoping to carve a name for itself as one of Britain's premier outdoor centres, boasting a range of activities from walking to fishing, kayaking to climbing all of this with a rich blend of history, culture encompassing all the uniqueness that Bro Ffestiniog has to offer!

 

 

Beaches

There are many fine beaches within easy reach of the cottage. Harlech Beach was voted travellers choice in 2020 and Criccieth beach has been voted one of the top beaches in UK this year (2021). As a family we like the beach at Borth Y Gest, probably because it was the first one we really discovered so has a magic to it for us!

 

Black rock sands is a great beach you can drive onto, great for launching boats if you have one, its also a great one to drive onto and then setup camp with chairs and blanket next to your car and chill (there are camping chairs in the rear garden in the green seat you can take)!

(black rock sands above)

Eating Out / In

There are pubs, restaurants and cafes to suit every palate across the area. We are still searching for places to go to, please let us know if you find somewhere you really enjoyed, in the mean time though, check out the below:

There are a number places to eat and drink in Blaenau Ffestiniog,

 

•      ‘Y Manod’ which is a pub just a walkdown the road from our cottage comes well recommended, before lockdown they weren’t doing food but we are hopeful they will start doing food now things have opened up.
•      Queens Hotel - Situated in the heart of Snowdonia, the Queens Hotel is located perfectly for adventurers, bikers, walkers, train enthusiasts and for anyone exploring the picturesque sights of North Wales. 1 High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3ES.
•      The Bridge Café is a great quirky little café and ice cream parlour – we adore a breakfast there. Bridge Cafe Church Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3HD

 

(Above – Bridge Café – Blaenau)

 

Please check trip advisor but some current well recommended places a bit further out you can drive or get a taxi to;

 

•      Moorings Bistro. Overlooking the beautiful and tranquil bay of Borth-y-Gest, the Mooring's Bistro team welcomes you in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. 4 Ivy Terrace Porthmadog, Borth-y-Gest LL49 9TS Wales (20 mins travel approximately)

 

•      Yr Hen Fecws Restaurant. 16 Lombard Street, Porthmadog LL49 9AP Wales. +44 1766 514625

 

Some other great pubs we’ve since discovered are the nearby

 

•      Grapes Hotel - Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 4HN (5 / 10 mins away)
•      Oakley Arms. Tan Y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3YU

 

Below are recommended by locals (but we’ve not tried yet!)

 

•      The Gunroom – Plas Dinas - Plas Dinas Plas Dinas Country House, Bontnewydd, Caernarfon, North Plas Dinas Country House, Caernarfon LL54 7YF Wales

 

•      Y Garreg in Llanfrothern. Medditarean and British food, 5/5 on trip advisor. Cegin a Siop Y Garreg, Llanfrothen, Snowdonia National Park LL48 6AQ Wales

•       Olif in Betws - Olif is a Welsh tapas bar with boutique rooms in Betws Y Coed, in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. “We serve a Welsh-themed tapas menu, delivering a fusion of Welsh and Spanish small plates which we’re sure everyone will love. Aside from our juicy Gordal olives from Seville, we try to source all of our produce locally. From our customer feedback, we know that our commitment to using locally produced food which is cooked fresh each day (the only thing you’ll find in our freezer is ice cream and ice cubes!) makes a big difference to the quality and taste of our food. And you can wash it all down with a great range of local ales and ciders, over 50 Welsh small-batch gins, a great selection of Welsh liqueurs and spirits, and a great wine list with Spanish favourites.” Holyhead Road, Snowdonia National Park, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0AY Wales https://www.olifbetws.wales/

 

•       Hebog in Beddgelert - If you like Welsh cuisine, visit this cafe. Order perfectly cooked food, roast beef and monkfish. Hebog can be recommended for tasty sticky toffee pudding, chocolate ice cream and chocolate cheesecakes. You will hardly forget good Merlot, beer or bottled ale that you can drink. Based on the visitors' opinions, waiters serve great tea, chocolate frappe or hot chocolate. At this place, you can get a takeout. The high ratings of this spot would be impossible without the cool staff. Enjoyable service is something clients agree upon here. This cafe offers you a great choice of dishes at fair prices. The beautiful decor and homey atmosphere let guests feel relaxed here. As for the Google rating, Hebog achieved 4.7. Caernarfon Road Beddgelert, Caernarfon LL55 4UY

 

 

Eating back at the cottage:

Takeaways in Blaenau are plenty, as well as the fish and chip shop on main street we recommend:

 

•      Lakeside café at Tanygrisiau do an amazing selection of Greek inspired takeaways (it’s pop up cafe: Caffi Kiki on Friday and Saturdays from 5pm), this is several minutes away in a car, you can also sit in here or outside on picnic tables (depending on the covid rules at the time). Ffestiniog Power Station, Blaenau-Ffestiniog LL41 3TP (this has closed for a short period check  kikis-cafe.com before travelling here)

 

•      ’Blaenau Takeaway’ if available is a bit of a guilty pleasure if you are after something less healthy! Pizzas, burgers, kebabs etc. 10 High Street, LL41 3DB

 

•     Golden mountain Chinese is a nice Chinese in the centre of Blaenau. 18 Church Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3HB

                                                                                             

Adventures and hikes

Climb the Moelwyns

Image of Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Moelwyn mountains (above)

 

The Moelwyns loom high above Blaenau Ffestiniog. Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach are the two main peaks of the Moelwynion (often anglicized to Moelwyns), the range which overlooks Blaenau and the greener, gentler Vale of Ffestiniog. These are among the least explored mountains in Snowdonia, and you’re rewarded with superlative views of Cardigan Bay and the Llyn Peninsula beaches and coast if the conditions are good.  Moelwyn means ‘bald white hill’, but the two main mountains are quite different in character. Moelwyn Bach is quite rocky in places, while Moelwyn Mawr (770 metres) is a much grassier proposition that wouldn’t be out of place in the Brecon Beacons. Both summits can be reached from Tanygrisiau or the higher lake, Llyn Stwlan, above the dam of the same name.

 

Further details and routes can be found here: https://www.mudandroutes.com/summit/moelwyn-mawr/

 

Zipworld

 

•       Zipworld is located in the heart of the Snowdonia mountain range, North Wales, and is home to 13 unique adventures. Best known for the world's fastest zip line, Velocity 2, and the UK's only underground trampoline-style adventure, Bounce Below, Zip World is the perfect setting for an exhilarating team-building experience. They have a beautiful meeting space at our Penrhyn Quarry site, the Gallery, with stunning views of the zippers and mountain range beyond. The Blondin Restaurant has a large capacity with fantastic catering options to suit your needs. For more information, please contact info@zipworld.co.uk today. Please visit zipworld.co.uk for more information

 

Above (bounce below)

(above – zipworld)

COED Y BRENIN FOREST PARK.

•      Dolgefeiliau, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2HZ. Coed y Brenin is a forest in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales near Dolgellau at grid reference SH7127. It is popular for its mountain bike trails and hiking paths. It has several man-made mountain bike singletrack courses in a woodland setting, varying in length from 12 to 38 km, and one dual slalom course. It’s a lovely days walking for a young family as has a nice park, a visitor centre, forests and rivers.

 

Coed y brenin - above

 

Aberglaslyn pass! This epic circular route allows you to walk through ancient woodland, marvel at mountain views, visit Gelert's grave at Beddgelert and enjoy the spectacular Aberglaslyn gorge. 1 hour 30 mins - 2 hours 30 mins hours. All the details can be found here:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/craflwyn-and-beddgelert/trails/aberglaslyn-bryn-du-and-beddgelert-walk

 

Aberglaslyn pass (above)

 

 

Snowdon - is the highest mountain in Wales, at an elevation of 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside the Scottish Highlands. It is located in Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) in Gwynedd (historic county of Caernarfonshire). It is the busiest mountain in the United Kingdom and the third most visited attraction in Wales; in 2019 it was visited by 590,984 walkers,[3] with an additional 140,000 people taking the train.[4] It is designated as a national nature reserve for its rare flora and fauna.

 

Please see all the routes here: https://www.walkupsnowdon.co.uk/paths-up-snowdon-in-order-of-difficulty/

 

Above (looking out from Snowdon)

 

The Wales Mach Loop – your close to the RAF mach loop, if there weather is good and you wanted a chance to be higher than fast jets as they fly through the mountain. The Mach Loop (also known as the Machynlleth Loop or CAD West among plane spotters) consists of a series of valleys in the United Kingdom in west-central Wales, notable for their use as low-level training areas for fast jet aircraft. The system of valleys lies 8 miles east of Barmouth and is nestled between the towns of Dolgellau to the north and Machynlleth to the south, from the latter of which it takes its name. The training area is within the Low Flying Area (LFA) LFA7, which covers most of Wales.

 

Aircraft which use the training area include Royal Air Force Airbus, A400M, Tornado, Typhoon, Hawk jets and C-130J as well as U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles, F-22 Raptors, and F-35A Lightning II, which are based at RAF Lakenheath in eastern England

 

Check out this website, everything you need to know is on here!

https://www.shootsmart.co.uk/mach-loop/ and https://machloop.co.uk/

 

 

Things to do that you can still enjoy if its raining!

 

•     The Ffestiniog railway is a fantastic thing to do if the weather is bad, you can catch the steam train from Porthmadog after booking online. Its particularly fun in the heavy rain as when you go past Aberglasyn pass, the river will be torrential which is a great view from the warm cabin, grab a tea or coffee from the shop before you depart! It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park. The railway is roughly 13+1⁄2 miles (21.7 km) long and runs from the harbour at Porthmadog to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, travelling through forested and mountainous scenery. festrail.co.uk

 

•      Sygun Copper Mine. Sygun Copper Mine was closed in 1903 but is now open again for you and yours to come and explore above and below ground! Self-guided audio visual tours allow you to explore the stunning caves and old workings on foot, in complete safety. There are winding tunnels and vast, colourful chambers, with magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations and copper ore veins which contain traces of gold, silver and other precious metals. The Audio presentation with special lighting and sound effects offering an enjoyable, interesting and memorable glimpse into the lives of Victorian Copper Miners, so it's nicely educational as well as really interesting. Contact information: Beddgelert, Gwynedd, LL55 4NE, Wales- 01766 890595

 

•      Llechwedd deep mine tour is a favourate of ours, great place to learn about the history. It details the history of slate quarrying in the town and specifically the Llechwedd quarry in which it is located. The main aspect of Llechwedd is its Llechwedd Deep Mine Tour which has the steepest narrow gauge railway in the UK and travels over 500 feet underground to the disused slate caverns, and the Quarry Explorer Tour which heads out to the furthest reaches of the Llechwedd site to explore the history of mining in the area. llechwedd.co.uk

 

•       Harlech castle, although parts of it are not roofed, is still a great time out in the rain. Harlech Castle crowns a sheer rocky crag overlooking the dunes far below – waiting in vain for the tide to turn and the distant sea to lap at its feet once again.

 

•      Cwmorthin waterfall / Lake – you’re going to get wet, but when this its raining this is a site to see, it’s a few minutes from the cottage. LL41 3ST will take you to the right area, the road gets steep and narrow but you keep driving up the road a little further until you get to a muddy car park and you can see the waterfall from the carpark, you can follow the path up to the lake.

 

•      Adventure Parc snowdonia – An array of indoor aswell as outdoor adventures about 35 minutes away, including an outdoor wave machine to surf on, they also offer some fantastic spa treatments!

 

•      Anglesey Sea Zoo (Welsh: Sw Môr Môn) is an aquarium and independent research and marine education centre on the south coast of Anglesey island in North Wales. Located just outside the village of Brynsiencyn, Anglesey Sea Zoo claims to be the largest aquarium in Wales and displays over 150 native species

 

•      Anglesey Sea salt – Halen Mon - An innovative artisan food company that lets visitors look behind the scenes of a family business and finishes with a tutored sea salt tasting. Our one-of-a-kind tour is recommended for anyone interested in salt’s place in our history, culture, food and in what makes Halen Môn Sea Salt a world-famous seasoning. The contemporary building sits well in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and houses a contemporary gift shop too, full of wares from near and far (you don't need to book a tour to visit the shop.) We also have an outdoor cafe - Tide/ Llanw - which always has cover from the elements and plenty of warming options. Free use of purpose built car park, cycle racks, quality toilets and fantastic views in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty https://www.halenmon.com/visit/

 

•      King Arthur's Labyrinth: At King Arthur's Labyrinth, a mysterious Dark Age Boatman sails you through the cascading veil of an underground waterfall to discover a magical place where tales from the mists of time are retold. Tales of dragons, colossal giants, fierce battles and the legendary King Arthur. Once inside the Labyrinth, the Dark Age Boatman guides you through vast caverns and winding tunnels, where you will find these ancient Welsh legends brought to life through dramatic scenes, light and sound. Enjoy an exciting finale - Dragon River! Your adventures underground may disturb the guardians of the Labyrinth…will you avoid their clutches and return safely to the outside world? Uncover more tales above ground in our outdoor storytelling maze Lost Legends of The Stone Circle. Enjoy this self-guided maze with 8 mythical stories, intriguing characters and The Stone Circle. Win a medal in the quiz. To guarantee your underground tickets, please book online. https://www.kingarthurslabyrinth.co.uk/

 

 

 

Taxi company: Nevs Taxi 01766 762465

Thankyou / Diolch

 

Sam and Michele