First Stop: Betws-y-Coed

Some of us came by train, and Betws-y-Coed (the prayer house in the woods), on the scenic Conway Valley line, is the rail station nearest to Capel Curig. Local bus services and taxis were not that brilliant and this meant a three hour wait for the bus to Capel Curig. Luckily, the local tourist office took care of my case, giving me the opportunity for a short look around the tourist village that Bewys-y-Coed has grown into from Victorian times. Apart from the Victorian church, the railway museum by the station caught my attention.

The station has been fully woven into the tourist scene, with a platform restaurant, a row of touristy shops in the forecourt outside and a museum on the other side of the tracks. Wrought iron platform awning supports and the Victorian footbridge complete the picture.


  

The Victorian church of Saint Mary was completed in 1873, and was a replacement for the older, smaller, but arguably more interesting church which I was to visit before my departure for the south. Both the interior and the exterior of the church of Saint Mary exude that Victorian feel.




The railway museum has things for all ages, as befits many museums nowadays. This is a working 15in gauge model of the early fifties "Britannia", a 4-6-2 locomotive well known to any self-respecting railway "buff".




Railways also imply tramways, and this is a 15in gauge bogie tram, a "sort of copy" of the full scale single deckers such as those which plyed the streets of Gateshead.




Railways in the Victorian era just loved elaborate and colourful crests,
and this Irish railway was no exception.

Capel Curig - Our Hostel

There are some nice footpaths between Betws-y-Coed and Capel Curig. However, my case dictated a bus journey. Bus timetables hereabouts are designed for school transport. While this is laudable, some thought should also be given to the revenue earning tourist industry; this could reduce the amount of tourist related traffic on the mountain roads, to the benefit of all. Anyway, the bus, when it came, took about half an hour. It was a scenic route. However, care had to be taken to alight at the correct hostel - for there are at least three in Capel Curig! This suggests that Capel Curig is a favoured destination for those that like the Great Outdoors.

Our self-catering hostel provided most of the facilities that we needed, although the requirement for carting a sleeping bag was less welcome for those without a car. Nearby there was a resonably stocked shop, open most hours, in case we had forgotten anything.




The Afon (River) Llugwy babbled picturesquely through the woods and over the rocks next to the terrace of our hostel, on its (the river of course!) way to join the Afon Conwy (River Conway) in Betws-y-Coed.

Some Gastronmical Delights at the End of the Day

Reasonably closeby in succession were three hotels serving food to non-residents. The nearest was Byrn Twrch (Hog Hill) (hygiene rating 5 out of 5), whose fare was probably the best of the three, but then, prices were a little higher than those of its competitors. It was only about 200 yards from our hostel, and so was a natural choice for our first evening in Capel Curig.

The "Bryn Twrch" hotel and restaurant is situated on the Holyhead Road (A5) ...




... and gives its diners a good view of Moel Siabod rising up in the wooded distance.

A Post Prandial Perambulation

After the meal it seemed like a good idea to wear off those excess calories and at the same time see a bit more of the immediate sourroundings. The evening sun brought out the features of the landscape to good effect.

"Y Pincin" is the name of the small rise behind our hostel, on the east side of the Holyhead Road.




From the top there are nice views towards the west of ...




... Llynnau Mymbyr and the mountains beyond.




There are some nice scrambly rocks and a view of Moel Siabod towards the south.




Here is another view of Llynnau Mymbyr and the mountains before the evening sun beckons us to turn in for the night. Tomorrow awaits!