Portmeirion fountain by William Warby

Twenty-five miles further north is Llanberis, home to the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Four miles of track wends its way from the station to the summit allowing for breath taking views of the scenery. The journey stops along the way so visitors can dismount and walk up to the peak or descend the gentler slopes. In high season the train completes the whole journey in two and half hours, in winter it only goes three quarters of the way up to Clogwyn. The visitor centre, Hafod Eryri offers passengers the opportunity to view a free film about the mountain and the history of the railway as well as refreshments and souvenirs.

Fantastic feats of engineering

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was built in the early 19th century to carry the Llangollen canal across the Valley of the River Dee. It was opened in 1805 at a cost of £42,000, which would equate to just under £3,000,000 in today’s money. Visitors can marvel at the aqueduct by either walking the span of the bridge along the towpath or travelling in style in a narrow boat. Young visitors can explore The Darkie, which is a tunnel under the bridge that lives up to its name and a torch is essential. It is no wonder that the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was given World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as it is a truly fantastic example of engineering from the Industrial Revolution.

Caernarfon Castle by Jandy Stone

Caernarfon Castle is a must see for young and old alike. Construction was started in the 13th Century by Edward I and is one of the most impressive medieval castles in the world. This is recognised by UNESCO that conferred World Heritage Status on it in 1986. Though never finished the construction is truly impressive. The castle has many towers and the most impressive of these has to be the Eagle Tower. It is hexagonal in shape and constructed with differing coloured stones to produce bands of decoration.

Fun for young and old

A fantastic place to visit for younger visitors is Anglesey Sea Zoo. It is privately owned and puts a great emphasis on conversation. The exhibits are divided into specialist areas such as the Kelp Forest that is teaming with sea life from around the coastal waters of Great Britain. After exploring the wonders of marine life, youngsters can expel their youthful energy outside. There is an enormous bouncy castle and a Pirates Playground. Adults and kids can compete to master Captain Jack’s Crazy Golf course or enjoy local ice cream from the area whilst admiring the views.

This guest post has been provided by Saul Malpass on behalf of the world heritage site, Pontycysyllte-aqueduct.

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Tryfan, Nant Ffrancon Valley, Snowdonia, Wales, UK by Stuart

Named after the 1,085 meter tall Snowdon peak which can be found within the park’s boundaries, the park is a popular destination in the area. Originally known as the Great Throne, Yr Wyddfa is filled with legends that have been formed throughout the ages. In the old days, the region was part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd which was considered by many to be the heart of Wales.

There are a total of nine mountain ranges that can be found within the park’s boundaries. As a result, more than 52% of the area is covered by ragged rocks and mountain peaks; some as high as 915 meters above sea level. You will also find more than sixty kilometres of coastline within the park; some of which are sandy beaches.

The Snowdonia National Park is currently inhabited by more then 26,000 people. Most of the residents of the park speak Welsh. Those numbers soar as more than six million visitors make their way to the park every single year. Since there are a number of places and ways to sleep within the park, many visitors choose to visit the park for longer than just a simple day trip.

Cwm Idwal, Snowdonia National Park, Wales, UK by Les Haines

One will notice is that in the centre of the Snowdonia National Park, there is a region which has not been included as actually part of the national park. This hole as some refer to it includes the prosperous town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. The town’s main industry is its thriving slate quarry. The town was purposefully left out of the development of the park so that it could continue to grow in the future.

You could spend more than a week just visiting the park and seeing the many sites throughout. You will find ancient castles and ruins that date back to the earliest known settlements in the region. There are also several archaeological sites that can be found within the park’s boundaries.

Known for its beauty and splendour, the Snowdonia National Park is one of the most visited locations in the United Kingdom.

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