I’ve never met you, Jim, but thank you for suggesting a holiday to the Isle of Anglesey. We did have cheap flights booked with Easyjet to go to Spain to see my sister, but travel abroad this year is way too complicated thanks to Boris and his clan of not so merry men. And so your suggestion, Jim, made over a mug of builder’s tea and a Custard Cream was a welcome one. It’s not a part of the UK I’ve ever visited before but the more Google images I look at, the more excited I am to go there. Rolling hills, crystal waters, a rugged coastline, stunning sandy beaches and a spiritual history; it really does look beautiful. And I love lighthouses. I can’t wait to take my Canon and snap some pretty pictures.
There’s one slight problem, Jim. I’ve booked and paid for a week at The Bull Hotel, Llangefni and I’m now having to go alone. I’ve been stood up. Erased from his life. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. It’s not your fault. My love life is always a shambles. I’ve never been lucky in love. You didn’t know he’d play hot and cold and disappear, vanish off the face of What’sApp and move on to a younger filly. Ghosting it’s called. You only work with him. Share a Custard Cream at break time. I had no inkling either although there were red flags flapping furiously in the wind, like on my birthday when he didn’t give me a card and cancelled my birthday meal. I’m pretty sure he was two-timing me. Call it womanly intuition. I’ll be fine. In any case, I need to get used to travelling alone because when the pandemic is over, I intend to explore the world. Anglesey is a test to see how I cope.
I’ve booked several activities which we might not have done together. I’m packing lots in to the week. I shall have a good time alone. It will give me headspace and might even inspire my next novel or a house move. So thank you, Jim for suggesting Anglesey and here is my itinerary for the week:
Friday 10th
Llangefni, The Bull Hotel, LL77 7LR. Jim you suggested this pub. Popular with couples the website says. As a single woman I can’t eat alone at the bar in the evening. I might have to buy salads from Asda and eat them in my room.
Saturday 11th
9.30 cycle ride, Beaumaris to Penmon lighthouse Tel Eli 07940966879
the meeting location was outside the David Hughes Community Centre now the Beaumaris Leisure Centre, which is just further up a nearby service road which takes you to the Centre car park, and at the end of the road, the community centre- you can park there all day with your bike hire.
Sunday 12th
Wales Coast path – explore lighthouse and beaches
Monday 13th
Conwy : sightseeing cruises, smallest house in Britain, Conwy castle
A trail with tales with a lady of Wales
5pm to 6.30pm. Rose Hill Street, Conwy, LL32 8LD
We walk around the streets, alleyways and quayside of the medieval walled town of Conwy taking in the outside of all the significant sites and sights from the castle to the coast
Meet outside the tourist information centre where I’ll supply the receivers that you use to hear the commentary I’ll be relaying through my microphone. That means you can socially distance and linger to take a picture and not miss a word. This is a history tour made interesting with plenty of stories for young and old alike led by a lady in traditional Welsh costume – tall black hat and all. We see the outside of all the main attractions in Conwy – the castle, the church, the walls, Plas Mawr, the gateways and of course the smallest house and quayside. All the time you’ll hear about the doings of past and present inhabitants – real and ghostly alike. Your guide is a resident of Conwy so you’ll get a real insight into what it is like living in the town today as well as in the past. There’ll be plenty of time for picture taking and question answering. The tour takes about one and a half hours and is suitable for pushchairs and strollers though there are some rough paths.
Tuesday 14th
Portmeiron, castles and Snowdonia Tour. 8.30 till 6pm
Meet: 17 North Parade, Conwy Principal Area, (Llandudno) Wales LL30 2LP (Take A55)
Great Orme Road. –
Conwy Castle & viilage. Unesco world heritage site
Britains smallest house.
Caernarfon Castle – unesco world heritage site
Portmeirion- italian styles village and gardens
Snowdonia national park and snowdon viewpoint.
The ugly house. – A wonderful endearing old construction
Swallow falls waterfall. – Beautiful cascading falls
Ty hwnt y bont – picturesque setting of the 15th-century grade II listed building.
Wednesday 15th September
Meditation walk in the Carneddau, 10 till 1pm
Sychnant Pass Rd Conwy LL32 8BJ
walking in the foothills of the Carneddau, a very special range of hills & mountains, from the North Wales Coast at Conwy right into the heart of Snowdonia. Away from the crowds of Snowdon, I will guide you amongst the lesser-tramped slopes at the northern gateway to this wonderful ridge, with breathtaking panoramic views of the North Coast, the Conwy Valley & Denbigh Moors and the Carneddau ridge itself.
Thursday
Walk, walk, walk and visit cafes for Welsh cake and tea.
Friday
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