Activities our guests have enjoyed
while on holiday in Harlech

"We went to see the castle and to the beach every day and most importantly, we went to that fantastic ice-cream parlour near the castle, run by this incredibly lovely woman. In fact, we went every day".

"Here are some of the places and activities our group did.
Harlech Castle
Harlech swimming pool
Ice Cream shop in Portmeiron
Fish and chips were excellent
groceries in small grocery in Harlech or Tesco in Portmadog

Harlech or Portmadog info center for dates & times of Welsh Men's Choir performances or practices. We went to an excellent practise one evening in Blaenau Ffestiniog

Day trip to Caernarfon, especially Caenarfon Castle
Long day trip to Beaumaris Castle or Conwy Castle
Day trip for birding in Barmouth estuary
Portmeirion
Llechwedd Caverns for slate mining

Day trip around Lleyn Peninsula following some of route of pilgrimage to Bardsey Island.
- Possibly go to the island if it is a very calm day.
- Aberdaron for oldest pub, good restaurants and St Hywyn's Church, last stop for pilgrims
- St Beuno's Church in Pistyll

Scenic drives through National Park, especially up to Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Also: between Betws y Coed and railway and between Caernarfon and Harlech

Note: there is an excellent iPhone or iTouch app for Snowdonia National Park giving all kinds of good info, even walking directions and infor for other activities such as biking, horseback riding and water sports. Also google Walking in Wales for more walking info.

It was such a memorable holiday, and we are already saying that we would like to do this again.
Places we visited - Sand dunes fun at Harlech beach, Harlech Castle, Blue Pool at Golwern Quarry (a very deep, completely clear azure blue pool in a mysterious cavern entered via a short dark tunnell, views of Cardigan bay). The kids absolutely loved this.. we found it in 'Wild swimming book by Daniel Start' - about 7 of our group were brave enough to dive and swim, but it was very chilly!.

We spent a day on Shell Island, where we went sea-canoeing and dune-sledging, and played beach games such as Viking-Kubb, Petanque and Rounders.

Walks done by guests 

Harlech info center for excellent 15 Walks in Harlech Area (we took 5 of them) (note Local Walks around Harlech by Geoff Elliott, pub Kittiwake)

We walked from Aberdaron following the coastal trail to end of peninsula for a view of Bardsey.

We went on a number of walks 2 being the panoramic walk round Barmouth and an estuary walk again from Barmouth they were excellent walks.

we designed a couple of circular walks. One went to Llanbedrfor a pub lunch and back. The other involved a drive along a twisted and gated lane to Cwm Bychan, and then a strenuous walk over the Rhynog Mountains which was fantastic

We designed a couple of circular walks. One went to Llanbedr for a pub lunch and back. The other involved a drive along a twisted and gated lane to Cwm Bychan, and then a strenuous walk over the Rhynog Mountains which was fantastic

We visited the Nantcol Waterfalls which is superbly located. All members of the group (old and young) had a refreshing time and some of us managed to get very wet!

Some of our group drove to Snowdon and bravely climbed the mountain and came back shattered!. All in all, a very memorable trip 

Here are the walks we've done in our 2 visits to Crown Lodge:

Taith Ardudwy Way (Moderate walk, 3 sections, each one day, we only did northern section, which was well waymarked and much enjoyed): http://www.taithardudwyway.com/

Precipice Walk (short): http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/visiting/walking/Moderate-Leisure-Walks/precipice-walk

Linear Coastal Walk (Moderate walk): Harlech beach, climbed over gate into woods at SH 571 323, tracks to pick up right of way north to Bryn Glas (near Llandecwyn station), path then road (A496) around Y Garth back to Llandecwyn

[There was another moderate walk done 2 years ago but I can't recall where it went]

Northern Rhinogs (Hard walk): park Llyn Tecwyn-Isaf; Caerwych, Cwm Moch, Meol y Gyrafolen, Diffwys, Foel Penolau, Moel Ysgyfarnogod, Clip, Llyn Eiddew-Mawr, Bryn Cader Faner, Caerwych, Llyn Tecwyn-Isaf

Craig Wion & Rhinog Fawr (Hard walk): park Cwm Bychan; Bwlch Gwylim, Craig Wion, lots of ups and downs to Bwlch Tyddiad, Llyn Du, Rhinog Fawr, Llyn Du, Bwlch Tyddiad, Roman Steps, Cwm Bychan

Rhinog Fawr from Cwm Nantcol (Hard walk): park Maes-y-Garnedd; field paths to Gloyw-Llyn, Roman Steps, Llyn Du, Rhinog Fawr, Bwlch Drws Ardudwy, (Lyn Hwel & return), Maes-y-Garnedd

Rhinog Fach & Y Llethr (Hard walk): park Cil-Cychwyn; Llyn Hywel via track, Rhinog Fach, Y Llethr, Moelfre, Cil-Cychwyn