Seems silly always starting off with the weather conditions but it is good to look back on down the track, not that we will be coming back to the UK in the distant future. So today it is overcast but no rain which is a good sign for travelling on the road.

Our last views of Llyn (Lake) Padarn as we drive on A4086 beside the lake then onto A4244 on the other side of the lake with views of Llanberis in the distance pity the high voltage power overhead cable towers run in line with the road all the way to Pentir. See these a lot now as we drive to the Lakes Districts.



The views are impressive with the Snowdonia National Park Mountains on the right and the Conwy Bay pity the tide is out as we pass Abergwyngregyn but as we near Llanfairfechan one can see the ocean. Beautiful little village granite stone homes on the cliffs edge of the bay, the railway line runs in-line with the A55 pass through a few tunnels by and through the mountainside before Penmaenmawr then a nice stretch of beach.



We bypass the main town of Conwy by going through a tunnel under the River Conwy the traffic is quite busy and the scenery is mainly of small towns and homes. Looking out across the Colwyn Bay from Old Conwyn Town you see many wind turbines on the ocean horizon till where we turn inland at Abergele. If you stop at St Asaph you can go to Tweedmill Factory Outlets but we don't have the time, the glimpses of the River Dee across at Holywell was more interesting but of course the tide was out.

It’s nice not to be travelling through mountainous areas just level countryside with the rolling hills in the distance. From the A55 we turn onto the A494 to bypass Chester then the M56 motorway and the traffic now increases virtually all the way to the Lakes District. Mainly travelling through built up areas now passing the industrial area of Ellesmere Port and the Manchester Ship Canal on the River Mersey. The M56 streams into the M6 which misses the big cities of Liverpool, Manchester and other big cities makes life a lot easier and quicker. One good thing there are lots of laybys to pull over plus nearly everyone has a food van to get a drink or snack.

Took a rest stop near Haydock on the A580 cheap diesel £1.119lt at the ASDA Petrol Station every other layby is over £1.259lt. Thankfully the views changed once we past Preston back to the lovely English countryside of rolling hills in the distance cows and sheep grazing, farms and woodlands.

The Lakes Districts is a bit mountainous with lots of rivers, stream and of course lakes, also the roads just fit two cars on the A590 but turning onto the A5092 (to the Western Lakes) and A5084 is a different story brought back memories of Cornwall narrow winding lanes through tiny villages, woodlands and farming. Torver with its one way bridge and sharp corners was the best including the drizzle seeing we were in valleys and woodlands by lakes.



Had to be very careful on the A593 some drivers just whiz round the lanes making it a bit stressful for Richard driving in the rain. Lucky we found the Coniston Park Coppice Caravan and Motorhome site tucked away in the National Park by Coniston Lake. A very big park set in the woodlands with lots of privacy which we like, nice and peaceful.



  After a cuppa we took a stroll through the park site down to the lake to enjoy the views. There is also a big camping area by the lake with trails round the lake, one way you can go to the village of Coniston and the other through fields to a small mooring for sail boats and kayaking near Torver, which we explored before settling in for the night.