THE PINK BOOK
June 2014 Liverpool – Bangor – Carenarfon – Porthmadog – Criccieth – Porthmadog – Blaeneau Ffestiniog – Llandudno – Conwy Castle - Home
TRAINS – CASTLES – CAVES – SEA – FADED GRANDEUR – BOUTIQUE SHOPPING – BEER – BOOKS and COLOURING IN
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3 General Activities to be carried out on all possible occasions When visiting a castle… PLAY MIKE THE KNIGHT When visiting anywhere Collect items of interest from the journey – sea shells, tickets, slate etc. These may or may not be required in Blaenau Ffestiniog When travelling by train Ensure there is at least one conversation about gauges Throughout the weekend take copious notes for your nominations for:
Best Castle Best Station Best Train Ride Best Moment Best Whatever (running out of ideas award)
4 Friday The schedule Friday 27 June Liverpool d Bidston a Bidston d Shotton a
11.10 11.25 11.32 11.55
Shotton d Bangor a
12.04 13.15 Andy joins us here
Bus from Bangor d Caernarfon a
13.46 14.15
Afternoon Caernarfon Castle and town Overnight – Premier Inn Fill your own bingo card – or play noughts and crosses. (each day choose a list of thirty words which might be heard or seen during the day…players choose nine of those words and cross them off as they see/hear them)
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Today’s Colouring in Challenge (with the Irish post theme)
Bidston Station (souce: Wikipedia but theres more here) The station was originally built by the Hoylake Railway in 1866 as an intermediate station on their line from Birkenhead to Hoylake. During the earlier half of the twentieth century, Bidston station was known asBidston Dee Junction and was a busy interchange between the Wirral line electric services and the Seacombe to Wrexham & Chester steam trains. The station has always been primarily a transfer point between trains, relatively isolated from everywhere, by foot, except Bidston Village, which remains the position today. Bidston had four signal boxes in 1899, it also had a nearby engine shed. The building was somewhat south of the running lines, halfway between Bidston and Birkenhead North stations.[2][3] The shed was built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway in 1897 and had two tracks inside. The engine shed closed on 11 February 1963, and its allocation of locomotives was transferred to Birkenhead Mollington Street depot.[6] The shed remained intact for several years after closure.[6]
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Several sidings were situated adjacent to the eastern side of the station, south of the running lines.[3][7] These sidings had been built prior to 1899,[3] and were removed in the 1960s-70s. A Tesco supermarket now occupies the site of these sidings. The station was the nearest to the former Bidston Dock. The adjacent Bidston East Junction gives access to the former Birkenhead Dock Branch line, but this has been disused by freight workings since the mid-1980s and is still so at present The Journey – Bidston to Shotton (source penmorfa.com) The line guide is in reverse – so apologies for any inaccuracy in turning it the other way round (all errors will be mine):The train leaves Bidston round a notoriously sharp curve after which its only a short trip to Upton. After leaving Upton along the Wheeler valley we will have splendid views of (er) the M53 motorway on one side and housing on the other. Merseytravel intend to electrify this part of the line and operate it as part of the Merseyrail system. The plans are to open a new station in the vicinity of Prenton and another station - Beechwood - between Upton and Heswll. If this happens trains from Wrexham will terminate at Prenton rather than at Bidston. BONUS COLOURING CHALLENGES – to celebrate crossing the border!
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8 As we cross the M53 we can say goodbye to the Birkenhead conurbation, and possibly get the first glimpses of ‘pleasant countryside’. Look out for the remains of Storeton station. Storeton, Hope Exchange and Burton Point are the only stations on the line to have closed in its long history. The next station is HESWALL, at one time known as Heswall Hills. Heswall is the final station in the Merseytravel area. After leaving Heswall the train passes through a long wooded cutting as it makes its way across the Wirral peninsula towards Neston. Neston station has been modernised and all traces of the original station buildings have now been swept away. Julia will not be pleased! Neston is now very much a dormitory town for Chester and Liverpool and the train passes numerous new housing estates. Just after leaving NESTON (at one time Neston North) the line crosses over the remains of the Hooton West Kirby line. The trackbed of this line has been converted into a footpath and cycle way known as the Wirral Way. The next stretch onward to Neston is most attractive with the Dee estuary on the right with the Clwydian range rising up beyond. There are tentative plans to open a new station in the vicinity to be known as Ness. This would serve the Gardens of the same name. A short sandstone cutting (just after the closed station of Burton Point) indicates that the train has now crossed the border into Wales . Look out for the site of Shotwick sidings, which formerly fed the north of the steelworks complex, is now occupied by just a solitary track leading to the paper mill. Beyond that are Shotwick firing ranges and the Dee estuary marshlands. The line beyond here to Bidston no longer sees any freight traffic apart from occasional engineering and ballast trains. In previous times this section was busy with trains of iron ore from Bidston Dock to Shotwick sidings. Shotton Paper mill with its permanent cloud of steam is on the right just before the train passes under the new road bridge. On the left hand side can be seen the massive Deeside Industrial Estate which is still expanding. The large expanse of reclaimed land now on the right was formerly the John Summers blast furnaces.
9 We are now heading towards Dee Marsh Jct and Hawarden Bridge. The junction at Dee Marsh was formerly triangular and the other arm of the triangle, with track now removed, joins on the left. The large marshalling yard is now passed on the right and behind it are seen various lines heading off towards the coatings complex. Approaching the station, Dee Marsh junction signal box is passed on the right and the embankment which formerly carried the line to Chester Northgate and beyond is seen on the left. Very few trains now call at Hawarden Bridge. The halt opened in 1924 when the adjacent John Summers & Sons steelworks was undergoing rapid expansion. Steel making at Shotton steelworks ended in 1980 and the works now concentrates on the coating of steel coils The train is now approaching the major engineering structure on the line - Hawarden Bridge. This carries the railway over the tidal River Dee and consists of two fixed bowstring girders and a 287 foot swing span. When the bridge was built the river was quite busy with shipping making its way up as far as Saltney Ferry. This is no longer the case and it is many years since the bridge was opened to river traffic. However shipping has recommenced . The hydraulic tower on the north bank was demolished in 1980 after years of disuse. The bridge carries a public footpath and a cycle way. The cycle way continues to Chester following the trackbed of the closed route to Mickle Trafford. Which takes us towards our destination – Shotton. Approaching Shotton the train passes over the North Wales coast main line, and before that there was once a connection on the right leading to extensive sidings and the docks at Connahs Quay.SHOTTON is one of the most important stations on the line and has now been rebuilt with new station buildings. There is also the important connection to the North Wales coast line. The station is situated right in the centre of the town and the Ice Rink at Queensferry is easily accessible. STATION – SHOTTON (source Wikipedia) Shotton is split into two sections: a High Level on the Borderlands Line; and a Low level on the North Wales Coast Line. The town gained its first railway as early as 1848 with the opening of the Chester and Holyhead Railway, but the railway company did not provide a station to serve it. The town had to wait until 1890 for its first station, when one was built by the Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway as the northern end of their Hawarden Loop line from Buckley. The link to Bidston was added by the North Wales and Liverpool Railway in 1896, whilst the LNWRbuilt two wooden platforms on the main line to Holyhead in 1907[1] to give the town access to trains along the coast to Crewe and Rhyl/Llandudno/Bangor & Holyhead and allow interchange with the Wrexham line. The Beeching cuts of the 1960s saw the low level platforms closed on 14 February 1966 and services to Chester Northgate withdrawn on 9 September 1968,[2] leaving only the Wrexham - Bidston line to serve the high-level platforms. The loss of the link to Chester proved unpopular however and BR eventually agreed to restore it by re-opening the low level
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platforms. Trains began calling again in August 1972 after new platforms had been built (the slow lines that served the original platforms having been removed in the late sixties as an economy measure). POSSIBLE ACTIVITY Given the upstairs downstairs nature of the station… Whilst awaiting the train recreate the Frost Show / Two Ronnies I look up to him and I look down on him sketch….or recreate scenes from Upstairs / Downstairs (which I cant remember at all)
Pearls of Black
‘The train from shotton to Conwy will pass my work, it’ll be the large power station on the right hand side of the line not long after you leave shotton’ …funny how none of the web sites mention it (ed)….
you should also look out for the beautiful, somewhat static graffiti gallery that is the former Sealink steam ferry the Duke of Lancaster, otherwise known as the fun ship. This can be sighted from the train between flint and prestatyn as the train continues along the dee estuary :
North Wales Coast Line (source Wikipedia)
The North Wales Coast Line, also known as the North Wales Main Line,[1] is the railway line from Crewe toHolyhead. The first section from Crewe to Chester was built by the Chester and Crewe Railway and absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway shortly before opening in 1840. The remainder was built between 1844 and 1850 by the Chester and Holyhead Railway Company as the route of the Irish Mail services to Dublin The line contains several notable engineering structures, namely Conwy railway bridge across the River Conwy, and Britannia Bridge across the Menai Strait. So important was the line in the 19th and early 20th centuries to passenger, mail and freight traffic between Britain and Ireland that the world's first experimental and operational water troughs were installed at Mochdrebetween Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction. Their
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purpose being to enable steam engines (especially on the Irish Mail) to collect water without stopping. Later, considerable stretches of line between Chester and Colwyn Bay were quadrupled to increase line capacity but these sections have now been reduced to two tracks. Crewe to Holyhead (source NW rail) In 1801, the British Government passed an Act of Union, and all Ireland became integrated with the United Kingdom, with its own members elected to the London Parliament. The only communication link between London and Ireland was by horsedrawn road coach and sailing ship; the shortest sea link to Dublin being between Holyhead and Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire). One of the first of the great British engineers, Thomas Telford, was employed to improve the Holyhead road, later called the A5, and created the suspension bridge at Conwy (now cared for by the National Trust) and the high bridge over the Menai Strait to the island of Anglesey. North Wales is a mountainous area, but Telford brought his route from London on a direct route through Llangollen and Bettws-y-Coed. The invention of railways led to demands for a rail route to Holyhead, and the great George Stephenson, predicting that fast and heavy trains would need to use the line, proposed a northern route which avoided the mountain passes by running along the coast from Chester. The Chester and Holyhead Railway Act was passed in 1844, and construction began on 1 March 1845 with George's son Robert Stephenson as chief engineer. (The Chester and Crewe line was built by a separate company, and opened in 1840.) Even though the route was largely along the coast, some bold engineering was needed, especially the high bridge across the Menai Strait (required by the Government to give clearance for shipping). The Irish Mail went to Holyhead by train for the first time on August 1 1848, and on the same day the present Chester station was opened, replacing the separate stations previously used by Crewe and Birkenhead services. Small companies such as the Chester and Holyhead rarely kept their independence, and in 1859 the north Wales coast line had become the property of the London and North Western Railway Company (LNWR) which had in fact been working the train services from the opening day. The LNWR, which owned the west coast main line from London Euston to Carlisle, set out to promote traffic on the coast line by encouraging tourist traffic to the seaside resorts, notable Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, and Llandudno which was reached by a short branch line opened in 1858. Many sections of the line were expanded to four tracks, and larger stations built to handle the traffic; level crossings were replaced by road bridges, as can clearly be seen today near Rhyl and Prestatyn stations.
12 POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES As this is the Irish Mail route…
Sing Postman Pat songs in Irish accents Write a postcard to someone Tell Irish themed ghost and sea stories
Bangor [There are four pubs within 0.3 miles of Bangor station, all on the high street] [rote from Bangor Train Station to the Bus Station] [For tablet users here is the route mrch from Bangor Train Station to the Bus Station] https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Bangor+(Gwynedd),+United+Kingdom/Bangor,+Bus+Stat ion+(Stand+D),+United+Kingdom/@53.2256434,4.132554,16z/data=!4m15!4m14!1m5!1m1!1s0x4865074f8f6a1999:0xc8c6af6b8208e05c!2 m2!1d4.135887!2d53.222298!1m5!1m1!1s0x4865074a05c652a5:0x4ff024da6fa10200!2m2!1d4.12625!2d53.22816!3e2!5i2?hl=en [there is an Asda for emergency supplies if time allows almost on route]
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd unitary authority, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. Historicallyin Caernarfonshire, it is a university city with a population of 17,575 at the 2011 census, not including around 10,000students at Bangor University.
The origins of the city date back to the founding of a monastic establishment on the site of Bangor Cathedral by theCeltic saint Deiniol in the early 6th century AD. Bangor itself is an old Welsh word for a wattled enclosure,[2] such as the one that originally surrounded the cathedral site. The present cathedral is a somewhat more recent building and has been extensively modified throughout the centuries.
Bangor in 1610
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While the building itself is not the oldest, and certainly not the biggest, thebishopric of Bangor is one of the oldest in Britain. Another claim to fame is that Bangor allegedly has the longest High Street in Wales and the United Kingdom. Friars School was founded as a free grammar school in 1557, andBangor University was founded in 1884. In 1877, the former HMS Clio became a school ship, moored on the Menai Strait at Bangor, and had 260 pupils. Closed after the end of hostilities ofWorld War I, she was sold for scrap and broken up in 1919. During World War II, parts of the BBC evacuated to Bangor during the worst of the Blitz. POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES Play the famous Linley Family game which can only be played when time is short. It’s called ‘I’m just’. One person in the group announces they are ‘just’ going to place x,y, and z – and then various other people follow suit. The aim of the game is to be the last person back to the bus stop without missing the bus
http://www.caernarfononline.co.uk/ CAERNARFON CASTLE “This splendid fortress, which for its extent and architectural beauty was the admiration of the country, and of which the remains strikingly display its original grandeur and magnificence, occupies the summit of a compact schistose rock, boldly projecting into the bay of Carnarvon, and bounded on one side by the Menai, on another by the estuary of the Seiont, and on the third, and partly on the fourth, by a creek, or inlet, from the strait.” [From: Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Wales 1849] The present Castle was begun by Edward I in 1283 and is believed to be on the site of Llewelyn Fawr's castle. However, the site had a major impact on Wales as the Welsh chieftains firmly refused to yield obedience to Edward I as sovereign unless he would consent to reside in Wales, or to any other person who was not a native of their country. Edward therefore ordered his wife Eleanor to Caernarfon Castle and when she arrived at the
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castle she had a son. This prince was presented to the Welsh chieftains as their future sovereign by his father who said ‘Ich Dien' (‘Eich Dyn') “this is your man” which is the motto of the Prince of Wales to this day. After all these years Caernarfon’s immense strength remains undimmed. A brute of a fortress. Caernarfon Castle’s pumped-up appearance is unashamedly musclebound and intimidating. Picking a fight with this massive structure would have been a daunting prospect. By throwing his weight around in stone, King Edward I created what is surely one of the most impressive of Wales’s castles. Worthy of World Heritage status no less. Most castles are happy with round towers, not Caernarfon! Polygonal towers were the order of the day, with the Eagle Tower being the most impressive of these. You will also note the colour-coded stones carefully arranged in bands. The site of this great castle wasn’t chosen by accident. It had previously been the location of a Norman motte and bailey castle and before that a Roman fort stood nearby. The lure of water and easy access to the sea made the banks of the River Seiont an ideal spot for Edward’s monster in masonry. Edward wasn’t one to miss an opportunity to tighten his grip even further on the native population. The birth of his son, the first English Prince of Wales, in the castle in 1284, was a perfect device to stamp his supremacy. In 1969, the investiture of the current Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles took place here. The Castle is £6.75 per perspn, children under 16 £5.10 Other things to do Galerei Caernarfon though doesn’t look to be much on the day we are there Caernarfon Town Walls Complete circuit of walls, including eight towers and two twin-towered gateways, surviving in places to battlement height. It’s free! There is a Saturday morning market for early risers Hotel Premier Inn, Caernarfon: Victoria Dock, Balaclava Rd, Caernarfon LL55 1SQ (web site here)..where we are promised a great nights sleep! Possible pubs and eateries
15 Northgate Street, Stryd Pedwar A Chwech, Snowdonia, Caernarfon, LL55 1RW The Black Boy is a 16th-century inn within Caernarfon's historic town walls. It has good real ales, hearty meals, and is an easy walk from the town centre and 13th-century castle. The Black Boy Inn dates back to 1522 and is one of the oldest inns in North Wales. Some of its walls are 1.2 to 1.5 metres thick. The wood panelling, creaking floorboards, low ceilings, narrow staircases and thick wooden beams create a cosy atmosphere. Twitter also recommended:'Blas' serves contemporary Welsh cuisine using only the finest local seasonal produce in a relaxed atmosphere. For bookings 01286 677707 ¡ blascaernarfon.co.uk Pearls of Black 3, recommended eateries in Caernarfon include the Anglesey arms (not sure as to child friendliness, but does have large open area if we luck out on sunshine) :
failing that the black boy is also recommended.
And Osteria Caernarfon @Osteria_Caernar Authentic Tuscan cafe restaurant in beautiful North Wales - Caernarfon, North Wales
Possible Activities
IF I WERE MAYOR OF CAERNARFON I WOULD IMMEDIATELY‌
16 SATURDAY The Schedule:Saturday 28 June Caernarfon d Porthmadog a
10.00 12.25
Afternoon - Port Merrion - possibly by cab (or bus) Or break journey at Bedgelert for lunch etc and arrive later at Porthmadog Caernarfon d Bedgelert a
10.00 11.30
Lunch, grave etc Bedgelert d Porthmadog a
16.05 16.55
Regardless, then either Portmadog d Criccieth a
16.51 16.58
18.57 19.04
Overnight - George IV Hotel, Criccieth Noughts and Crosses or Daily bingo
17 Today’s Colouring in Challenges
18 The Welsh Highland Railway Wikipedia Link is here The WHR is (apparently) one of the longest and most interesting narrow gauge railways in Britain (ed – yeah but I bet you don’t get to push the trains). The WHR has a long and complex history going back to the 1870’s. It’s a sorry story of financial woes, receivership and the rest. Caernarfon (WC/ticket office / gift shop). Despite being located next to the famous castle (JP close your eyes now) Caernarfon station is not the best of locations, for most of the surrounding buildings are in various states of dereliction. Dinas – the railways engineering centre and a ‘tidy’ station, with the restored North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway station building a little gem. Waunfawr – minimal facilities but there is a pub next door…with a micro brewery Snowdon Ranger – for the Youth Hostel and walks up the hill Rhyd Ddu – another route up the hill, and surrounded by impressive scenery with Snowdon on one side and Llyn y Gader on the other. Pub in walking distance Beddgelert – a short walk from the pretty village with shops, pub, an ice cream shop and Gelerts grave. In the graveyard is another grave, that of Charles Easton Spooner who tried to bring the railway to Beddgelert in the 19thC.
Possible Activity Attempt to play hide and seek in a railway carriage
19 Gelerts Grave A short walk south of the village, following the footpath along the banks of the Glaslyn leads to Beddgelert's most famous historical feature; 'Gelert's Grave'. For a simple animated version of the story (Amelie friendly) – go here According to legend, the stone monument in the field marks the resting place of 'Gelert', the faithful hound of the medieval Welsh Prince Llewelyn the Great. The story, as written on the tombstone reads: "In the 13th century Llewelyn, prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, ‘The Faithful Hound’, who was unaccountably absent. On Llewelyn's return the truant, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince alarmed hastened to find his son, and saw the infant's cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood. The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound's side, thinking it had killed his heir. The dog's dying yell was answered by a child's cry. Llewelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed, but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain. The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled again. He buried Gelert here". Possible Activity With serious faces stand round Gelerts grave and on the count of three make a succession of barking noises. Do it with utter commitment as if this were the world premiere of a new piece of contemporary music. If improvisation is not your thing use an Amelie drawing as a graphic score Back to the Railway Pont Croespr – crossing point and station adjacent to the River Glaslyn and RSPB Glaslyn osprey viewing site Porthmadog – the Harbour station which is shared with the Ffestiniog Railway. (In case we get delayed in Porthmadog) THERE IS A PUB ON THE PLATFORM AT PORTHMADOG STATION and it is FAMILY FRIENDLY! Called The Station Inn Here is the official blurb about Porthmadog:-
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Welcome to Porthmadog, the base from which to explore all of Snowdonia; it is the gateway to the country’s most breathtaking National Park covering 840 square miles with its purple tipped mountains and forests. From whichever direction the town is approached you cannot fail to be impressed by the town’s stunning setting. It is dominated on one side by a mountain known as ‘Moel y Gest' 262 metres above the town. To the North and East the wide expanse of the Glaslyn estuary, renowned as a haven for migrating birds and wildlife. extends dramatically towards the Snowdon range. Porthmadog is a bustling town, full of individual shops and places to eat. It has with a strong and proud heritage, culture and community. The Welsh language is a key part of its identity, commonly spoken here and its people are particularly warm and friendly. In this once great seaport, rich in maritime history and the home of the Ffestiniog Railway, you are ideally placed for visiting all of the main tourist attractions of Snowdonia on days out. With all the majesty of Snowdonia as a backdrop and a coastline with beaches second to none, you couldn't find a more attractive spot for a holiday. Almost whatever you want from a holiday is available within easy reach of Porthmadog. Steam Railway buffs just love the place not only because of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. Jump on a train at either end of the town, enjoy the mountain scenery and talk endlessly of Fat Controllers, Thomas the Tank Engine and just everything there is to know about steam. Travelling from the south, you enter into the town along the famous 'Cob', built to form the deep harbour from where great sailing ships carried around the world slate mined in Blaenau Ffestiniog. The Cob also carries the railway initially built to carry the slate from the quarries to the harbour. THE COB source here The Cob, a man made causeway, which has carried travellers over the mouth of the Glaslyn River at Porthmadog for nearly 200 years, was nationalised by the Welsh Assembly last year. Built by William Maddocks in 1811, the Cob and its round tollhouse are important landmarks on the A487 coast road. It is often the site of long queues in summer as motorists wait to pay the five pence toll. The toll was fixed by the Act of Parliament that authorised the original construction. The Cob, which also carries a cycle path and the Ffestiniog light railway, was originally one of many privately owned toll roads in Wales. For most of its existence Maddocks and his
21 descendants collected the profits, but 25 years ago a local group, the Rebecca Trust[1], purchased it, and have been distributing the money they raise to local charities. Now the Welsh Assembly has brought it. Many people have welcomed the removal of the toll as the culmination of an historic struggle for free, i.e. tax-funded, roads. Port Merion – a link in case we get there Possible Activity All players to do their best impression of Ruth Madoc in Porthmadoc. Amelie to introduce each participant ‘Ladies and Gentlemen the amazing…’ and to choose the winner Amelie to perform a show with whosoever she wishes on the Cob; or if appropriate perform Singing in the Rain; or Frozen CRICCIETH – the town web site is here… (from whom the history comes, see below) Pearls of Black
Criccieth is famous for its porpoises. This is also the time of year to see them in welsh waters.
Theres a castle (open 10-5, admission £3.50), two beaches (either side of the castle), a heritage walk and ‘much else’ besides… Criccieth Castle (Welsh: Castell Cricieth) is a native Welsh castle situated on the headland between two beaches in Criccieth, Gwynedd, in North Wales, on a rocky peninsula overlooking Tremadog Bay. It was built byLlywelyn the Great of the kingdom of Gwynedd but it was heavily modified following its capture by English forces of Edward I in the late 13th century.
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Criccieths existence arose in about 1230a.d when the first part of the castle began to take shape, some 30 years later the castle size doubled with the addition of another wall and tower. In the early thirteenth century Criccieth was little more than a church and a few houses beside the newly erected castle. In 1239 it is mentioned as being the prison of Gruffydd son of Llewelyn the Great. In 1282 at considerable cost Edward I conquered the land and maintained his grip on it by building a series of strong castles, it is clear that he repaired Criccieth castle as a link in the chain of these castles. In 1284 after his last visit to Criccieth the king declared Criccieth as a Free Borough, the first mayor of Criccieth was William de Leyburn, many others have followed in his illustrious footsteps including Hywel-y-Fwyell (Howell of the Battle Axe). This was the time of the bards and singers of Wales. The English hold on this land was loose as long as the Welsh paid their proper homage. In 1404 Owain Glyndwr revolted against the English and captured Criccieth castle along with some of the larger castles. From the time of Elizabeth the glory had almost gone from Criccieth and the castle was neglected, the castle itself remained in the hands of the crown until 1858 when it was sold to Mr. Ormsby Gore, M.P. For a long time the walls of the castle had been crumbling, although the late Lord Harlech carried out some repairs it wasn't until 1933 when he placed the castle under the guardianship of the Ministry Of Works that things improved. The M.O.W carried out much work for the next six years and improved things considerably and thus the castle was maintained in its present state. When seaside holidays first became popular Criccieth at first did not benefit from this boom in tourism, that was until in 1867
when the Cambrian Coast Railway line first made stops at Criccieth. However from that date Criccieth with i stunning beaches and picturesque views has become a favourite holiday resort for many thousands of travellers. All through the Victorian era the favourite pastimes of sea bathing, hill walking and mountain walking increased in popularity and this coupled with the romance of Criccieths stunning scenery ensured the prosperity of one of Wales most beautiful coastal resorts. The Hotel is just down from the station (turn right on the main road). Address is High Street, Criccieth LL52 0BS and official site is here
23 DAY III – SUNDAY
DAY3 COLOURING IN CHALLENGE
Sunday 29th June Morning - Criccieth Castle Criccieth d 11.41 Porthmadog main line a 11.50 Other Welsh Highland (Heritage) line (which runs from Porthmadog Network Rail station) Or Cob Records Porthmadog Harbour d 13.35 Blaenau Ffetinog a 14.43 Afternoon - Slate Mine Blaenau Ffestioniog d Llandudno a
17.30 18.44
24 Or leave BF earlier and stop off at Betws Y Coed for Swallow Falls Blaenau F d Betsw Y Coed a
15.03 15.29
Betws Y Coed d Llandudno a
17.57 18.44
Overnight - Premier Inn Llandudno Notes Noughts and Crosses or Daily Bingo
25 TODAYS COLOURING CHALLENGE
26 COB RECORDS, 1/2/3 Britannia Terrace, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales, UK. LL49 9NA
Opened in 1836 the FR has just celebrated 150 years of locomotive operation (being the first narrow gauge railway to use locomotive power) Possible Activity The females in the party to stage a full sit down strike at the station in protest at the lack of boutique shopping so far available on route. Banners like ‘Not Another Train’ to be encouraged.
Minffordd – the station for Port meirion (albeit a good walk away) Penrhyn – the National Rail station in the same village is at the bottom of the steep hill. The start of a footpath to Tan-y-bwlch, Ddualt and Tanygrisiau Plas Halt – the smallest public station on the FR. It serves Plas Tan y Bwlch a fine Victorian mansion that is now the Snowdonia National Park Study Centre. The gardens are open to the public.
27 Tan y Bwlch – the centre of the FR. A tranquil location to watch the trains go by and to enjoy refreshments in the old goods shed café. A nature trail leads to Llyn Mair, an artificial lake, where a network of footpaths open up ancient woods for exploration. Dduallt – the FRs unique spiral is at Ddualt, a station only accessible by train/foot. The footpath to Tanygrisiau closely follows the route of the railway. Tanygrisiau – A spot to picnic in agreeable surroundings overlooking Lyn Ystradau with its mountain views. A small café is a short walk away. BF – shared with Network Rail, the tips of the former slate quarries are within sight of the station Possible Activity Perform a contemporary dance interpretation of the FRs unique Ddualt spiral
Trivia William Alexander Madocks was responsible for the development of Porthmadog, the harbour, the Cob and latterly the railway. However despite his extensive lands in Wales he was also MP for Boston in Lincolnshire, hence the name of the railways works. Blaeneau Ffestiniog (from the rock)
Former ‘slate capital of Wales’ with a strange, compelling beauty. Screes of broken slate tumble down steepsided mountains, mixing with Snowdonia’s natural grandeur. Glimpse into Blaenau’s unique history at the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, one of Wales’s most successful tourist attractions. Make a day of it and travel here by the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway from Porthmadog. Bring the bike – a new lakeside cycle trail along Tanygrisiau Lake and a specialist mountain biking downhill route at Llechwedd, opened in 2012. Town centre improvements are revitalising the shopping area and a new pedal-powered velorail attraction, the first in Britain, opens later in the year. - See more at: http://www.visitsnowdonia.info/blaenau_ffestiniog61.aspx#sthash.4sFzIfI5.dpuf
History Blaenau Ffestiniog is a relatively new town, created following the discovery of the valuable slate vein in the area in the 18th century. But Ffestiniog parish itself goes back a few centuries. Many ancient remains can be seen dotted around the area, with sites dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages, and there is also evidence of the Roman period in the neighborhood. Towards Cwm Cynfal, some of the place-names remind us of the magical stories recorded in the world-famous folk tales, Y Mabinogi, where some of the tales are located. By following some of the local footpaths, we can reach a number of well-known valleys, Cwmorthin, Cwm Bowydd, Cwm Cynfal, Cwm Teigl, each with its’ own particular historical features, and superb views. Sarn Helen is a noted Roman road, which covers a few miles in the vicinity, and reminds
28 us of the arrival of the Roman legions to nearby Tomen-y-mur, a Roman camp, around the 2nd or 3rd centuries A.D.
Man's Pursuit Evidence can be seen all around the town of man's pursuit for a livelihood from the slate rock, and the slate waste is a reminder of a thriving industry in the area. According to tradition, it was in the 1760s that one Methusala Jones, from Arfon, dreamt of a location where the rock slabs split perfectly, and ventured to start a small business at a place that later became known as Diffwys Quarry, here in this town. Diffwys was soon followed by many other slate quarries. One of those quarries, the Oakeley, grew into what became the largest underground slate workings in the world, which has, unbelievably, around 50 miles of railway track in its’ various underground levels in the bowels of the surrounding mountains. Hence the beginning of a thriving industry which developed into what became one of the largest slate centres in the world. Out of a secluded part of Ffestiniog parish mushroomed a community that became the highest populated in all of Meirionnydd county, and the second largest in the whole of north Wales by 1901. At one time, over 4,000 men worked in the local slate quarries, which contributed greatly to the local economy. To provide transportation for the slate products, and for the convenience of the increasing population, three railway branches were built from different directions to reach Blaenau Ffestiniog. The L.N.W.R. (later L.M.S.), the G.W.R., and the Ffestiniog Railway, which was constructed in 1836. Dôl Wen hydro power station was built to provide electricity for the local quarries in 1899, and in May 1902, Blaenau Ffestiniog became the first town in Britain to have its’ streets lit with electricity provided by the power of water, which is in abundance in the area. Later, in 1963, Ffestiniog Power Station was opened at Tanygrisiau, being the first pumped storage power station in Britain, and the largest in Europe at the time. - See more at: http://www.visitsnowdonia.info/blaenau_ffestiniog61.aspx#sthash.4sFzIfI5.dpuf
Treasures During the second world war, a different use was made of some of the caverns in one slate quarry in the locality and these operations were carried out in total secrecy. Due to the dangers of enemy bombing over London, it was decided to transfer all of the art treasures at the National Gallery, and from Buckingham Palace and other places to Manod Quarry quarry in 1941. Amongst the painting stored there over that period were works by Rubens, Rembrandt and Michelangelo. There were rumors at the time that the Crown Jewels were also stored there. But that’s another story! - See more at: http://www.visitsnowdonia.info/blaenau_ffestiniog61.aspx#sthash.4sFzIfI5.dpuf Possible Activity Find some treasure at some point in the weekend – and bury it in Blaenau Ffestiniog…with a note… Llechwedd Slate Caverns
29 The slate mines are a ‘short’ connecting bus ride from the station, last admission/tour is at 1630pm. Adults are £15 and 4 year olds £10. National Rail Enquiries actually suggests it’s a mile away. But there is something else – this year the Caves have a special installation. Anyone fancy a cave ‘boing’…….
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/jun/23/bounce-belowtrampoline-blaenau-ffestiniog
“And what Bounce Below, a spectacular new fun thing at the Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales, resembles more than anything else is a video game come to life. Imagine a vast underground chamber, lit in vibrant colours, where you bounce through the Earth's bowels on an enormous trampoline. It's a virtual-reality thrill – except it is an actual physical experience.”
Possible Activity Make the group members with the largest hangover play boing in the cave Celb Is the local art gallery, independent cinema and gig venue with what looks like a very cool bar. Sculptor David Nash and artists Gareth Parry and Maria Hayes are all based in BF Blaenau’s heritage trail features words and poetry on slate – more here (including a downloadable guide) Possible Activity As BF is a ‘new town’ write a musical about it This space is deliberately blank for your artistic recreations of Blaneau Ffestiniog (or indeed the musicals lyrics)
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The Conwy Valley Line Has its own web site – its here The Conwy Valley line at 27 miles long offers one of the most beautiful rail experiences in Britain. The line runs alongside two of the great rivers of Wales, the Conwy and the turbulent river Lledr (the two rivers merge at Betws-y-Coed and flow towards BF). The line has a breathtaking range of scenery . You glimpse fairytale landscapes, the imposing 12th century Dolwyddelan Castle, ancient quarries and tracks, forests and the high peaks of Snowdonia. There is an estuary rich in wildlife, gentle slopes that give way to majestic crags as the train crosses the Lledr by the dramatic Gethin's viaduct. Roman Bridge – for the breathtaking secluded beauty of Blaenau Dolwyddelan, look out for the first glimpses of Dolwyddelan Castle – Dolwyddelan - In the indescribable beauty of the Lledr valley lies the village of Dolwyddelan, a mere minute's walk from the station. A peaceful and unspoilt village, its little church of Sant Gwyddelan is well worth a visit. Inside hangs an old Celtic bell said to date back to the 6th century.About a mile from the village on the main road is the imposing Dolwyddelan Castle. Built in the 12th century by Wales' most powerful prince, Llywelyn the Great, it guarded a strategic pass through his mountainous kingdom from Meirionethshire to the Vale of Conwy. Pont-y-pawr is also in the heart of the Lledr valet, close to the National Trust property Ty Mawr (the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, the first translator of the Bible into Welsh) Betws-y-Coed is recognised as Wales' most famous inland resort with the busiest railway station on the Conwy Valley line. The three tributaries of the river Conwy, the Llugwy, the Machno and the Lledr meet here at Betws y
Coed, bringing together a wealth of mountain and woodland scenery. This "Gateway to Snowdonia" is a tremendous centre for all grades of walks, rambles and hill climbs and the more adventurous can hire a guide or mountain bike for the day. Once a renowned artists' colony, today Betws y Coed has a fine selection of hotels, restaurants and cafes and many shops catering to the fashion-conscious through to the serious mountaineer. The miniature railway and
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railway museum will delight children of all ages. Five minutes walk from the station will bring you to the Snowdonia National Park Possible Activity
To honour Bishop Morgan translate something you can see or find into Welsh And this space is blank because of a formatting problem so you can fill it with whatever you like – a list of the beers you’ve drunk whilst away, a shopping list, a diary entry. To Do lists are banned…
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Llanrwst is a busy market town is a focal point for Conwy valley farmers and is an ideal touring centre for mountains, lakes and seaside. The bridge spanning the river Conwy was built in 1636 and reputedly designed by Inigo Jones. Near by is Ty Hwnt I'r Bont, a courthouse in the 16th century and now a National Trust tearoom. The parish church of St. Grwst, which dates back to 1170, was rebuilt in 1470 and restored in 1884. It features a richly carved oak rood screen and a minstrel's gallery above.
The adjoining Gwydir Chapel dates from the early 17th century and has several historically interesting features including memorials to the Wynn family of Gwydir, together with the coffin of Llywelyn the Great. The ancestral home of the Wynn family, Gwydir Castle houses a complete 17th century dining room where Charles the 1st may have dined.
The almshouses sited on the lane from Ancaster Square to St.Grwst's church were founded by Sir John Wynn in 1610. With its many shops, restaurants and cafes and the delightful riverside walk, Llanrwst is a perfect stopping-off point for a relaxing sojourn. The tiny halt of Dolgarrog is an ideal place to commence a walk across the river on what was once the rail link to the aluminium works. Spanning the broad expanse of the river Conwy the bridge leads you to the village of Dolgarrog above which rise the heavily wooded slopes of Coed Dolgarrog and to the left the dramatic cliffs of Clogwyn Mawr. High above the valley is the site of the medieval township of Ardda and the spectacular waterfalls of the Afon Ddu. At Tal y Cafn, unseen from the train, the line passes close to the site of a Roman encampment, Caerhun, where stands the beautiful 13th century church of St. Mary. The bridge at Tal y Cafn is of considerable importance as it is the first crossing place of the river from Conwy. It was built in 1897 to replace the ferry. The up platform at Tal y Cafn station has been the subject of a refurbishment project carried out by volunteers within the Llandudno and Conwy Valley Railway Society, note the hand made replica of the station running in board reflecting the L.N.W.R. era which is the main feature on the platform. The Conwy Valley Line follows closely the broad sweep of the estuary and at Glan Conwy at low tide the mud flats fill with all kinds of wading birds. Shellduck, cormorant, lapwing and heron feed along the waterline largely ignoring the closely passing train. Glan Conwy offers glorious views of the river and Conwy Castle and the World Heritage Town of Conwy. Prior to the building of the bridge people crossed the estuary by boat from Glan Conwy to Conwy
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Deganwy This delightful resort captures some of the finest views of Snowdonia, the Conwy Estuary and Castle, and across Conwy Bay to Puffin Island and Anglesey. Looking across from the town of Conwy, one can view the hillock above Deganwy known as the Faerdre where the ruins of the original castle, destroyed by Prince Llewelyn the Great in 1263, remain. The first castle was built on this site in 1070 by the Norman baron Robert of Rhuddlan. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, roofing slates were transported by rail from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Deganwy quay, north of the present station and transferred to sailing ship to be sent to many countries. Today Deganwy is a fashionable residential village with many interesting antique and curio shops. It has become entwined with the resort of Llandudno with its famous golf course lying between the two places. Llandudno is the northern terminus of the Conwy Valley Line and is acclaimed to be one of the most beautiful seaside resorts in the United Kingdom. It is famous for its Victorian style and Edwardian elegance which is evident throughout the town. In addition to its excellent shops, magnificent hotels, international cuisine and a gracious promenade with pier, there is top quality entertainment in the magnificent 1500 seat North Wales Theatre which as well as showing a range of popular artistes, has frequent visits from the internationally renowned Welsh National Opera.
The nearby Mostyn Gallery showcases some of Wales' and the worlds finest contemporary artists. Llandudno is ideally located for the exploration of Snowdonia, thus offering the best combination of seaside, town and mountain holiday you could wish for. While in Llandudno be sure to visit the Great Orme Country Park and Visitor Centre. More on Llandudno below‌
.
[Swallow Falls]
Swallow Falls is the highest continuous waterfall in Wales. The falls are set on the River Llugwy two miles west of Betws-yCoed along the A5 to Capel Curig, in the beautiful Gwydir Forest.
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Swallow Fall's is one of Snowdonia's most visited sights. Rising among the towering peaks of Carnedd Llewellyn the River Llugwy runs eastward towards Capel Curig and Betws-y-Coed, before reaching Swallow falls, which has long been one of the most visited beauty spots in the area.
The waterfall can be reached from the car park on the other side of the A5, where there are viewing platforms and safety rails, an alternative approach on foot can be taken along the north bank of the river, which is a spectacular, if difficult to traverse walk.
Pearls of Black ‘Its actually really a bit of a trek from betws to swallow falls if carrying all your posessions. Though swallow falls hotel does occupy a place in the history of cool cymru due to regular hosting of seminal welsh band gigs in the early 1990’s especially including many formative appearances of the super furry animals.
Having said that, the lovely david owens description of it as the hacienda of north wales, is perhaps over egging the pudding somewhat :
35 Llandudno – the official website is here
Possible Activity Play spot the Alice related graffitti Pearls of Black ‘ Llandudno is where Lewis Carrol met alice lidell, and used her as the basis for alice in wonderland.’
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Monday 30th June Conwy Castle and town Return travel
Today’s noughts and crosses or bingo card
MONDAY’s COLOURING IN CHALLENGE
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Conwy's massive military strength springs from the rock on which it stands. Built for Edward I, by Master James of St George, the castle is amongst the finest surviving medieval fortifications in Britain. In a word, exceptional. You can’t fault it, from the grandeur of its high towers and curtain walls to its excellent state of preservation. An estimated £15,000 was spent building the castle, the largest sum Edward spent in such a short time on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1307. Money well spent.
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Two barbicans (fortified gateways), eight massive towers and a great bow-shaped hall all sit within its distinctive elongated shape, due in part to the narrow rocky outcrop on which the castle stands. You won’t find Edward’s concentric ‘walls within walls’ here. They weren’t needed. The rock base was enough security in itself. Some say it is the most magnificent of Edward I’s Welsh fortresses. To get the full picture, head for the battlements. Breathtaking views across mountains and sea. If the outside impresses (and it will), wait until you go in. With an outer ward containing a great hall, chambers and kitchen, and a more secluded inner ward with private chambers and a royal chapel, it is very easy to imagine how Conwy functioned when the royal entourage were in town. Adults £6.75; Children Under 16 £5.10… Conwy railway station is next to the castle.
Other things in Conwy Aberconwy House is a 14th Century merchant's house, cared for by the National Trust. Contact:- Aberconwy House, Castle Street, Conwy, Wales, UK Telephone:- +44 1492 592246 Conwy has the smallest house in Britain measures only 3.05m high by 1.8m wide. Just perfect for our party Thomas Telford's Conwy Suspension Bridge opened in 1826. A National Trust Property. Plas Mawr, High Street, Conwy, Wales, UK is a magnificent Elizabethan town house, noted for its fine decorative plasterwork. - In the care of Cadw. Perals of Black Conwy has the fantastic and much loved albion, recently saved from closure and adored by CAMRA : It also has the brilliant Edwards butchers, where you can purchase (I kid you not) a pork, egg and black pudding pork pie ;
SHOPPING in CONWY and surrounding areas
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Shopping in Conwy County In a nutshell. Modern malls and speciality shopping It’s one of our favourite pastimes. We’re talking shopping. So you’ll be glad to know that you can shop till you drop in this part of North Wales. Llandudno isn’t just a seaside resort. Oh no. It’s now North Wales’s premiere shopping… destination, with swish, modern precincts – including Parc Llandudno, opened in 2007 – and houses all the big name stores. Plus there is delightful speciality shops you’ll find in and around its canopied streets (the original covered ‘shopping experience’ invented by the Victorians, by the way). Colwyn Bay has great shopping too, and there’s a good choice off unique independent shops, often family fun, in places like Deganwy, Conwy and Rhos on Sea. Don’t think that retail therapy ends along the coast. Llanrwst also has attractive speciality shops, while Betws-y-Coed is busy with shoppers as well as walking and sightseers. It’s long main street is lined with a tempting choice of emporia selling everything from outdoor gear to quality crafts. Bonus Colouring in Challenge, a slightly tipsy dragon!
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Appendix One Apps and stuff http://m.showmewales.co.uk/app/ Enjoy Snowdonia app http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/visiting/local-information/app Cadw – castles and stuff http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/cadwapppage/?lang=en
Appendix Two Getting By in Welsh
English
Cymraeg (Welsh)
Welcome
Croeso
Hello
Helô / Hylô / Shwmae / S'mae
How are you?
Shwmae? Sut mae? (inf) Sut ydych chi? (frm), Ti'n iawn? Da iawn, diolch. A tithau? (inf)
I'm fine, thanks. And you? Long time no see
What's your name?
Da iawn, diolch. A chithau? (frm) Dw i heb dy weld ti ers talwn! Dw i ddim wedi dy weld ti ers sbel Beth ydy dy enw di? (inf) Beth ydy'ch enw chi? (frm)
My name is ...
Where are you from?
... dwi / ... ydw i O ble wyt ti'n dod? (inf) O ble ydych chi'n dod? (frm)
I'm from ...
Pleased to meet you
Dw i'n dod o ... Mae'n dda gen i gwrdd â chi / Neis cwrdd â chi (frm) Mae'n dda gen i gwrdd â ti / Neis cwrdd â ti (inf)
Good morning
Bore da
Good afternoon
P'nawn da, Prynhawn da
Good evening
Noswaith dda
Good night
Nos da
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Goodbye
Hwyl, Hwyl fawr, Hwyl nawr, Hywl am y tro Pob hwyl, Tara, Da boch chi
Good luck
Pob lwc!
Cheers/Good health!
Iechyd da!
Bon appetit
Mwynhewch eich bwyd!
Bon voyage
Siwrne dda! (Good journey) Siwrne saff! (Safe journey)
I don't understand
Dw i ddim yn deall
Please speak more slowly
Please say that again
Please write it down
Do you speak Welsh?
Siaradwch yn arafach, os gwelwch yn dda (frm) Siarad yn arafach, os gweli di'n dda (inf) Dywedwch hynny unwaith eto, os gwelwch yn dda (frm) (Dywed hynny) unwaith eto, os gweli di'n dda (inf) Wnewch chi ysgrifennu hynna, os gwelwch yn dda? (frm) Wnei di ysgrifennu hynna, os gweli di'n dda? (inf) (Wyt) ti'n siarad Cymraeg? (inf) Ydych chi'n siarad Cymraeg? (frm)
Yes, a little
Ydw, tipyn bach
How do you say ...
Beth ydy'r Cymraeg am ... ?
in Welsh?
Beth ydy ... yn Gymraeg?
Excuse me
Esgusodwch fi (frm) Esgusoda fi (inf)
How much is this?
Faint yw hwn (m) / hon (f) ?
Sorry
Mae'n ddrwg 'da fi/gen i, Sori
Thank you
Diolch / Diolch yn fawr Diolch yn fawr iawn / Diolch o galon
Response
Croeso / Iawn
Where's the toilet?
Ble mae'r toiled / lle chwech / t天 bach?
This gentleman/lady
Bydd y dyn hwn yn talu am bopeth (gentleman)
will pay for everything
Bydd y ddynes hon yn talu am popeth (lady)
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Dach chi eisiau dawnsio (h)efo fi? (frm - North Wales) Would you like to
Ti eisiau dawnsio (h)efo fi? (inf - North Wales)
dance with me?
Dych chi'n moyn dawnsio (gy)da fi? (frm - South Wales) Ti'n moyn dawnsio (gy)da fi? (inf - South Wales)
I love you
Dw i'n dy garu di / Rwy'n dy garu di
Get well soon
Brysiwch wella! Gwellhad buan!
Leave me alone!
Gad lonydd i fi!
Help!
Helpa fi! Helpwch fi!
Fire!
Tân!
Stop!
Aros! Arhoswch!
Call the police! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Galw'r heddlu! (inf) Galwch yr Heddlu! (frm) Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda
Happy Easter
Pasg Hapus
Happy Birthday
Penblwydd Hapus
One language is never enough My hovercraft is full of eels
Annigonol ydy un iaith / Dyw un iaith byth yn ddigon
Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn llyswennod (it’s a Monty Python thing)