The weather forecast said sunshine for the next week but looks like it changed its mind, looking out the window it is raining but by the time we departed the rain stopped and there was the usual overcast.

Covering a bit of territory today a long drive to Llanberis through the Snowdonia National Park. So we are back on the A487 climbing the mountains passing through beautiful woodlands, valleys, on hillsides looking at views of patchworks paddocks or fields, cows and sheep, lots of villages with narrow roads and in the distances the River Dovey our first main town of Machynlleth.

Cross over the River Dovey and follow the river through the Dovey Valley to Corris a couple of road maintenance stops slowed us down till we entered the Snowdonia National Park mountainous forest countryside. Getting real cold now can't see the tops of the mountains through the clouds and mist of light drizzle, as we climb through the valleys with brooks by the roadside reminds us of travelling through Canada. The sheep are like mountain goats grazing on the mountain side fields.



The rain set in when driving on the first section of flat land with just rolling hills a relief to Richard with driving on the winding mountainside roads with lots of traffic in both directions. Spoke too soon when we reached Dolgellau crossed the bridge to the A470 we were back in the mountains again. Crossing many streams, brooks with small waterfalls down the cliff sides, winding roads cut through the slate cliffs, nearly all the small villages we drive through the buildings are of granite rock look bleak but beautiful in a way.

For a while Richard has a relief stressful driving through the mountains just rolling hills once we passed Bryn-Eden, edged around a very picturesque Llyn (lake) Trawsfynydd, snaked down the mountain onto the A496 to Blaennau Ffestiniog but missed the turn and back on the A470 a much better road.



Blaennau Ffestiniog I think was once a large slate mining town all you can see is rows of roof top, small lanes of granite stone homes and city centre. It would have been nice to stop to visit the Hydro Electric Power Station at Tany Grisiau Reservoir but we missed the turn for A496. Parking the motorhome is a no go here and we have seen hydro power stations before and the Llechwedd Slate Caverns we will give a miss, as we can visit one at Llanberis.

The landscape here is quite bleak with the slate mining of the mountains, can see in the distance the ruins of Dolwyddelan Castle as we wind down the mountainside to Dolwyddelan through the Gwydyr Forest Park to Betws-y-Coed a very picturesque town of beautiful granite buildings a tourist mecca very busy.

On the A5 to Capel Curig the last leg of our long drive to A4086 passing a beautiful lake, rivers and brooks the landscape is looking like marshlands quite barren as we drive through the Pass of Llanberis quite a few people hiking here.



So nice to finally reach the Llanberis Touring Park a Camping and Caravanning Club site and it is a bit expensive but the site is new, small with modern facilities 10 minutes to the village. Once settled we took a walk to the village through a woodland path from the site. High Street is the main street consisting of the pretty coloured buildings and granite stone houses. Lots of hikers, mountain climbers and kayakers here plus loads of tourist coaches.

With map in hand we explored the village first the beautiful granite St Padarn Church with its oak beams and ceilings nestled on a rise in the centre of the village dates back to 1885, a little further on the Snowdon Mountain Railway Station where you take either the tiny steam train or diesel to the rooftop of Wales and England to reach the summit of Snowdon at 3,560ft. Across the road is the Llanberis Lake Railway where to take the Little Train of Wales travelling alongside Llyn (lake) Padarn and back. Down the road a bit the Electric Mountain building where we might take a tour tomorrow of the Hydro Electric Mountain.

The sun is out and we are enjoying a cuppa before dinner, pity the internet reception is bad here looks like the radio tonight for entertainment.