DECEMBER 2021
! EE FR
MAGAZINE
What’s On?
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FESTIVE DAYS OUT
The gift guide Shop local this Christmas
It’s Christmas! EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY...
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MAGAZINE We want to hear from you!
DEAR READER It’s the most wonderful time of year! Christmas is here and it seems just that little bit more magical than ever before… Having missed out on any big celebrations
sparkle back into their business is you. So,
last year, North Wales is raring to go this
before you start a mad online shopping frenzy,
festive season. There is so much on, from
just double check that you can’t buy it locally
pantomimes to Christmas parades, and that’s
first. Local stores all have an internet shop, so
even before we get down to the decorating,
there’s no need to actually trawl the streets if
food preparation, shopping and wrapping!
you don’t want to – just check for independent websites before you visit the big boys!
But, while you’re thinking about how to make Christmas the best possible time for
Have a look at our fabulous gift guide on
your family, please extend a thought to your
page 23 for some brilliant examples of how
local shop keepers – those who kept us sane
to make Christmas great – the local way.
throughout lockdown with their click and collect services and home delivery options. Covid has had a massive effect on local shops, and the only people that can help put the
Kate Hamilton Founding Editor
J Are you organising or taking part in an event that should be covered in our what’s on listings? Then make sure you tell us! whatson@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk J Keep in touch. Send in your contributions, letters, photos and press releases and become part of the North Wales Magazine family. editorial@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk J Subscribe. If you want to ensure that you receive each and every copy of North Wales Magazine then why not subscribe? All you pay for is the post and packaging. subscribe@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk J Advertise. If you own a business in North Wales and want to get your message in front of 20,000 local readers every month then drop us a line. Prices start from just £75. sales@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk
In this issue:
Front cover image © Shutterstock
Christmas starts here!
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NWM 2021 Page 5
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Contents
MAGAZINE
08
EDITOR
Kate Hamilton PUBLISHER
Grant Hamilton ART DIRECTOR
Simon Marriott OFFICE MANAGER
39 08 What’s on?
The best events taking place in North Wales this December
Sian Roberts CONTRIBUTORS
Stephen Gregory Steve Goodier Cai Ross Pete Greensmith Ashlee Smedley Russell Grant John Waszek
14 The Big Picture
The dramatic Rhoscolyn Beacon
17 World Heritage Site
North Wales makes its international mark
21 You and your pet
45 Competitions
Two family tickets up for grabs
47 Food & drink
Christmas with your furry friends
The regions wining, dining and culinary scene
23 The gift guide
63 Homes and interiors
Where to buy the perfect presents
31 Music to your ears
The live music coming to North Wales
33 A Christmas story
Get inspired by homes that are on the market
73 In Business
North Wales news and advice
A tale of festive friends
77 Education
37 Shop local
Learning in North Wales
At Colwyn Bay and Bangor markets
87 Motoring
39 Town in focus
Going electric
Exploring Wrexham
89 Community news
43 Meet the artist
Abby Browne is an artist from Hawarden
47
A roundup of regional happenings
93 Walking
CONTACT US editorial@northwalesmagazine.co.uk sales@northwalesmagazine.co.uk subscribe@northwalesmagazine.co.uk whatson@northwalesmagazine.co.uk
North Wales Magazine is an independent, regional monthly magazine produced by KSG Publishing. It is available to pick up from a wide range of independent outlets throughout Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Gwynedd and the Isle of Anglesey. Disclaimer: All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part (electronically or in print) without written permission is strictly prohibited. Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of published content, and any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of North Wales Magazine. The publishers assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from participation in, or as a result of, any offer, competition, information or advertisement contained within the magazine. North Wales Magazine does not endorse any of the advertisements featured. All words and images remain the property of their respective owners and all copyrights are observed. North Wales Magazine is not associated with any newspaper group. Privacy Notice. You can read North Wales Magazine’s Privacy Notice in full at www.northwalesmagazine.com
A circular walk around the Cregennen Lakes
97 Where to stay
The best places to stay in North Wales
98 Horoscopes
What does December have in store for you?
COVID-19 DISCLAIMER North Wales Magazine is produced in advance. While we take every care to ensure that our content is up to date, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in regards to current COVID-19 restrictions. We absolutely do not encourage travel where local rules forbid it, so please check with both your local council, and the council of your destination, before planning any days out in order to ensure that your journey is legal and in line with current guidelines.
NWM 2021 Page 7
MAGAZINE
cyflwyno / presents
ERIC POTTS WIDOW TWANKEY
JOHN EVANS WISHEE WASHEE
JAMES LUSTED THE HIGH COUNCILLOR
family pantomime experie w e n e l o nce A wh
Venue Cymru, Llandudno Dydd Sadwrn 11 Rhagfyr – Dydd Sul 2 Ionawr Saturday 11 December – Sunday 2 January
JADE DAVIES
PRINCESS JASMINE
DANNY HENDRIX
Page 8 NWM 2021
ALADDIN
JASON MARCWILLIAMS ABANAZAR
n o s ’ What MAGAZINE
The biggest and best events taking place in North Wales this December...
Panto Guide 1st Dec to 15th Jan Beauty and the Beast, Theatr Clwyd, Mold 8th to 31st Dec Cinderella, Rhyl Pavilion
B
1st Arrival – the hits of Abba, Theatr Colwyn, Colwyn Bay The show that every Abba fan has been waiting for! A fantastic high energy show
10th to 31st Dec The Wizard of Oz, Stiwt, Wrexham
that features a vast catalogue of hits loved by many generations including ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘The Winner Takes It All’, ‘Thank You For The Music, and many many more – bringing to life the extraordinary song writing talents of Benny and Bjorn. Tickets from venuecymru.co.uk
1st Manic Street Preachers, Venue Cymru, Llandudno B
Returning to Venue Cymru
11th Dec to 2nd Jan Aladdin, Venue Cymru, Llandudno 18th to 30th Dec Sleeping Beauty, Ucheldre, Holyhead 18th Dec to 1st Jan Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Theatr Colwyn, Colwyn Bay 20th to 24th Dec Aladdin, Rhyl Little Theatre
are Welsh legends the Manic Street Preachers. Performing songs from their new album, Ultra Vivid Lament, and all their classics. Tickets from venuecymru.co.uk
1st-4th Xmas Tree Festival, Conwy The event will see St Mary’s Church in the centre of Conwy filled with trees beautifully decorated by local schools, businesses and community groups. 12pm-4pm daily. Free entry, donations to St David’s Hospice
NWM 2021 Page 9
B
4th & 5th Snowdonia & Local Christmas Market, Betws y Coed
MAGAZINE
Visit the market to find some unique
1st-24th Christmas at Llechwedd
and extraordinary gifts for all the family to eat, drink and admire. Showcasing
Tickets to the magical
local makers, distillers, growers,
Christmas Grotto experience
picklers, rearers and crafters – the
at Zip World Llechwedd are
market celebrates all things local
now available. This year in
and promotes the many benefits of
the historical Llechwedd Deep Mine, Santa and his elves will
producing and buying locally, as well
be heading underground on the cable railway to the magical
as the sustainability of a local circular
grotto every Monday to Friday, right up until Christmas Eve.
economy. 10am-5pm, Royal Oak Hotel
Further details available from zipworld.co.uk/zipmas
5th Denbigh Carols Around the Tree Welcome Christmas to Denbigh with a communal carol sing around the Christmas tree on Crown Square. Carol books will be provided and every child will get a free surprise. From 5:30pm
B
5th Christmas Artisan Market, Menai Bridge
3rd Bangor Cathedral Christmas Concert
Shop local this Christmas with small business owners that make their special gifts by hand. A place to find fantastic local artisans, crafters, up-cyclers and tasty food
Join St David’s Hospice for their Annual Christmas Concert.
producers. All while enjoying the community spirit we love
A night of entertainment with Hospice Patron Elin Fflur, Rhys
so much! 10am-4pm Ffordd Mona, Menai Bridge
Meirion (Welsh Tenor) and Cor Y Penrhyn. Hosted by Dilwyn Morgan
5th Memory Bears by Margaret Sutherland, Afonwen
4th Llandudno Christmas Parade
Margaret will be at Afonwen with her
The much-loved festive
Mohair memory bears, where she
parade returns this
can make little outfits using your own
year, starting from
precious babies and children’s clothes to keep wonderful
Llandudno Train Station
memories alive. Afonwen.co.uk
at 4pm to travel around the town centre. With
6th 2021 Betvictor Scottish Open World Snooker Tour, Venue Cymru, Llandudno
entertainment and lots to see for all the family
4th Llandudno 5k Santa Dash
An incredibly strong field is This is a real family event
once again expected to battle
where even the family pet is
for the Stephen Hendry
welcome to come along and
Trophy. Selby, O’Sullivan,
join in the festivities! The
world number one Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Shaun
5km route takes you along
Murphy, Mark Williams and local favourites John Higgins,
the beautiful sea front of
Stephen Maguire and Anthony McGill could all be in the
Llandudno North Shore. You
line-up. Wizard of Wishaw Higgins has set winning this
can walk, jog or run the 5km. Participants will receive their
title as one of his remaining goals. The Scottish Open is
own Santa suit to wear, a medal and the amazing feeling of
the third of four events in the 2021/22 Home Nations
joining in such great event. Registration takes place at The
Series and will receive extensive live television coverage
Pier, Llandudno North Shore from 9:00am and the race starts at
on Eurosport. Tickets from venuecymru.co.uk
10:00am. Further details from bespokefitnessandevents.co.uk
Page 10 NWM 2021
9th Wrexham Victorian Christmas Market
11th It’s a Community Christmas, Ruthin
The Christmas Market is
community event being held on the
coming to Wrexham town
town square. Fun for all the family,
centre from midday until
entertainment and a visit from the ‘big
8pm. Over 100 stalls selling a selection of festive treats and
man’ himself
Ruthin celebrates Christmas with a
gifts, alongside Victorian street entertainers and a traditional carousel. From Queens Square to St Giles’ Church
10th Christmas Meeting, Bangor on Dee Races Christmas is a magical time of year and it’s especially magical to spend a
12th Rhyl Santa Dash It’s time to pull on your Santa hat and trainers to run, jog or walk 5k at the Events Arena in Rhyl in aid of Ty Gobaith/ Hope House Children’s Hospices. 10am start. Book a place via hopehouse.org.uk
relaxing, treating yourself and spending time with loved ones,
12th Welcome Back Family Concert, William Aston Hall, Wrexham
and you can do all three in style at Bangor. First race 2.20pm.
Wrexham Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra in Residence
Further details from bangorondeeraces.co.uk
at Wrexham Glyndwr Univesity, presents a welcome back
day at the races, surrounded by the stunning Welsh winter landscape. This is the time of year for
family concert ‘It’s Getting to Sound a lot Like Christmas’. This is a free event starting at 3pm. Ticket information from
10th Light up Christmas, Bangor Pier
wrexhamorch.co.uk
A magical event combining
13th to 19th Xmas Tree Festival, Llandudno
digital tributes and a real
A chance to see St John’s Methodist Church, Llandudno filled
life display of 2,000 lights on Bangor’s beautiful Garth
with trees beautifully decorated by local schools, businesses
Pier. Families and individuals who wish to celebrate,
and community groups. 10am-4pm daily. Free entry, donations
commemorate, and remember loved ones are being
to St David’s Hospice.
encouraged to give tribute by dedicating a light as part of this year’s ‘Light up Christmas’ campaign. Full details from awyrlas.org.uk/luc
13th Gresford Christmas Artisan Market A wide variety of stalls featuring great local food and craft producers will be at Gresford Trust Memorial Hall from 10am-
11th Colwyn Bay Artisan Market
2pm
North Wales’s biggest Artisan Market is about to get even bigger this Christmas... The big man himself, Santa Claus, will be attending so you can visit him in his Christmas Grotto. There’ll also be children’s carousel rides, a fun photo booth, street entertainers, a brass band, carol singers and local musicians to get the party started! Plus more to be announced.
11th Conwy’s Medieval Christmas The annual Medieval
B
From 10am-4pm on Station Road
street entertainers, choirs,
14th & 15th Handmade Bags with Liz & Jewellery with Elaine, Afonwen
musicians, hot chestnuts,
The ladies will be busy, with Elaine making her lovely
sword fighting, drummers
handmade jewellery and accessories, and Liz with her
and more from 4pm-7pm.
gorgeous bags. Both ladies welcome any ideas you may have
torch lit parade is back in Conwy town this year with
Spectacular torchlit procession at 5.45pm
to create your own piece of jewellery or bag. Afonwen.co.uk
NWM 2021 Page 11
MAGAZINE
22nd Goldie Lookin Chain, Venue Cymru, Llandudno Coming straight out of Newport, The GLC are
B
officially Britain’s biggest rap group. The GLC have performed
17th Racing Home for Christmas - A Festive Night of Rock, Motorsport Lounge, Llandudno A festive night of rock music with The Screaming Conrods and guests. Great live venue, great people and a great night!
around the world and at every major festival in the Western Hemisphere and made millions of people laugh along the way. Now many years since that first rap, they present their ‘Straight Outta Lockdown’ tour. Tickets from venuecymru.co.uk
be playing your rock requests throughout the evening
22nd & 23rd Spinning Masterclass, Afonwen
until last orders at 11.00pm A festive fun filled evening with
Jenni Frost will be running half hour
friends and the music we all love. Further details from
masterclass sessions using wool
themotorsportlounge.com
from her very own flock of sheep!
Doors open at 7.00pm, with live music from the Screaming Conrods at 9.00pm. Tom will be doubling up as DJ and will
You can have a go and try your hand at this wonderful craft.
18th RGC v Pontypridd
Afonwen.co.uk
Support RGC at Parc Eirias in a home game against Pontypridd. Kick off 2.30pm. Free entry for Under 16’s.
24th Christmas Eve in Conwy
B
Tickets available on the day or in advance from Colwyn Bay
Conwy Town Council are
Leisure Centre.
pleased to announce their Christmas Eve event is back this year with music in the
21st Holistic Gifts by Angel Wings, Afonwen
square from 5.30pm and carols from 6pm, followed
Pretty handmade jewellery
by Santa on the castle walls
and gifts by Lisa, using many
at 6.45pm and fireworks
different crystals, all with
at 7pm
their own benefits to help ease minor health issues. Afonwen.co.uk
26th Boxing Day Dip, Deganwy A Boxing Day dip in the sea is planned on Deganwy promenade starting at 10.30am. Just turn up on the day to
22nd Conwy Farmers Market, Conwy
register for the fancy dress event. Attended by RNLI
Nature Reserve, where you will be able to buy great produce
27th RGC v Merthyr
direct from the people who grow, rear or create it.
RGC are home at Parc Eirias against Merthyr. Kick off 2.30pm.
The farmers’ market is held from 9am-1pm at RSPB Conwy
B
Free entry for Under 16’s. Tickets available on the day or in advance from Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre
Please Note
All events listed are correct at the time of going to press. All events will be subject to current COVID safety measures, so please check that you are fully compliant before attending any event. We recommend that you check the event is still running before travelling.
Page 12 NWM 2021
NWM 2021 Page 13
the
BIG MAGAZINE
picture
Page 14 NWM 2020
The village of Rhoscolyn lies in the south western corner of Holy Island, looking out into the Irish Sea towards the Llŷn Peninsula. The name Rhoscolyn is said to mean ‘The Moor’ (Rhos) of ‘The Column’ (colyn) – referring to a pillar which the Romans put up to mark the edge of their territories. There are numerous inlets and coves along the nearby rocky coast, as well as many small offshore islands, including the Ynysoedd Gwylanod or ‘seagull’s islands’ upon which stands the Rhoscolyn Beacon – a tall navigational marker built to warn ships of the treacherous rocks that lurk beneath the choppy waters…
NWM 2020 Page 15
In the not-so-bleak midwinter 2 Bedrooms,
2 Bathrooms, 1 View of the moor
Or a freezing cold beach just beyond the front door Two Abersoch
glasses of red in front of the fire
Wrapped up in blankets before you retire A walk on the Dales in two feet of snow A dip in the bay 1
when its 7 below
snowman, 2 bike
4 nights under the stars
rides, 3 walks to the
pub
in a steaming hot tub
Whatever you do, there are thousands of reasons, To choose Original Cottages this
holiday season.
Original Cottages. The clue’s in the name. Staying with us, or letting with us, fall in love with local at abersochholidayhomes.co.uk
Dinorwig Slate Quarry Mountain Landscape © Crown copyright RCAHMW
A NEW LANDSCAPE
Earlier this year the slate landscape of north-west Wales was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List – making it the third World Heritage Site in North Wales…
For the small country of Wales to have no less than four World Heritage Sites is somewhat impressive – for three of those four to be up here in the North is nothing less than mind blowing. The slate landscape of north-west Wales now joins the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, Vatican City and the Great Wall of China on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list. It might seem like a surprising addition, but story of Welsh Slate is everlasting.
AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF AN INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE WHICH WAS PROFOUNDLY SHAPED BY QUARRYING AND MINING SLATE, AND TRANSPORTING IT FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
“The quarrying and mining of slate has left a unique legacy in Gwynedd, which the communities are rightly proud of,” commented First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford. “This
Six areas together complete the site as they represent “an
worldwide recognition by UNESCO will help preserve that
exceptional example of an industrial landscape which was
legacy and history in those communities for generations to
profoundly shaped by quarrying and mining slate, and
come and help them with future regeneration.”
transporting it for national and international markets”.
UNESCO chose the slate landscape of north-west Wales
UNESCO has found that the landscape has “Outstanding
as it illustrates the transformation that industrial slate
Universal Value”, as the slate industry dominated world
quarrying and mining brought about in the traditional
production of roofing slates from 1780 to 1940, transforming
rural environment of the mountains and valleys of the
both the environment and the communities who lived and
Snowdon massif.
worked here. The quarries and mines are monumental in
NWM 2021 Page 17
Caernarfon Castle
MAGAZINE
scale, comprising stepped hillside workings, deep pits and
By the late 19th Century, the region produced about a third
cavernous underground chambers, massive cascading tips,
of the world output of roofing slates and architectural slabs.
ingenious water systems, and a range of industrial buildings.
Its use in terraced houses, factories, warehouses and elite
Outstanding technical equipment and major engineering
architecture contributed to rapid global urbanization. It
features survive.
influenced building styles, encouraging the shallow-pitched roofs of the Georgian order. Technologies that were innovated,
Innovative transport systems linked quarries and processing
adopted and adapted in the region include the ingenious
sites with purpose-built coastal export harbours and with
application of waterpower, the development of bulk handling
main-line railways. Grand country houses and estates built
systems and the first known application of the circular saw
by leading industrialists contrast with workers’ vernacular
for cutting stone.
settlements, with their characteristic chapels and churches, band-rooms, schools, libraries and meeting-places which
Of course the slate landscape isn’t the first time that North
retain multiple examples of their traditional way of life and
Wales set the scene for ground-breaking engineering
strong minority language.
innovations. The castles of Beaumaris and Harlech, and the
THE CASTLES OF BEAUMARIS AND HARLECH, AND THE FORTIFIED COMPLEXES OF CAERNARFON AND CONWY, ARE LARGELY THE WORK OF THE GREATEST MILITARY ENGINEER OF THE TIME – JAMES OF ST GEORGE.
Beaumaris Castle
Conwy Town Walls
Page 18 NWM 2021
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
14th Century military architecture in Europe, as demonstrated through their completeness, pristine state, evidence for organized domestic space, and extraordinary repertory of their medieval architectural form,” states UNESCO. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal is another feat of civil engineering that has made World Heritage Status. Situated in the north east of the region, the 18-kilometre long aqueduct and canal is a testament to the ingenuity of the Industrial Revolution. Covering a difficult geographical setting, the fortified complexes of Caernarfon and Conwy, are largely the
building of the canal required substantial and bold civil
work of the greatest military engineer of the time – James of
engineering solutions. The use of both cast and wrought
St George. These extremely well-preserved monuments are
iron in the aqueduct enabled the construction of arches that
examples of the colonization and defence works carried out
were light and strong, producing an overall effect that is both
throughout the reign of Edward I (1272–1307) and so it’s no
monumental and elegant.
surprise that they are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Therefore, the property is inscribed as a masterpiece of creative “The four castles of Beaumaris, Conwy, Caernarfon and
genius, and as a remarkable synthesis of expertise already
Harlech, and the attendant fortified towns at Conwy and
acquired in Europe. It is also recognized as an innovative
Caernarfon, are the finest examples of late 13th and early
ensemble that inspired many projects all over the world. n
Bethesda and Penrhyn Slate Quarry © Crown copyright RCAHMW
NWM 2021 Page 19
You & Your
Pet
KEEPING YOUR PET SAFE AT CHRISTMAS Cosy nights, glistening lights and tables filled with lots of
animal as this might frighten them. Avoid putting decorations
colourful tasty foods. Christmas is the time of the year when
on their cages as they can nibble through them which could
most of us let ourselves go and indulge in our favourite foods
result in medical issues.
and drinks. Unfortunately, this is also a time when our furry friends may experience anxiety, along with troubled tummies
If you are having a party, remember a lot of animals, in
from our delicious delights.
particular smaller animals, are very sensitive to loud noises, so move them to a quiet part of the house.
Being a pet at Christmas can be tough without the support of its owner. This is a busy time of the year for families, with
Outdoor pets may want extra bedding and fresh clean
celebrations in full force it’s easy to forget the food and drink
water, this needs to be checked twice a day due to freezing
flowing may accidentally find its way into our pets mouths.
conditions.
Below is a list of some of the more toxic foods that have been
Things To Remember
known to harm our animals this time of the year:
If your pet is prone to getting sick during these busy periods
J Chocolate J Mince Pies J Christmas Pudding J Onion Gravy J Alcohol J Bones from meats
or on medication, it would be worthwhile stocking up on medication ahead of the holidays so you don’t run short and are unable to get what you might need. Having your local vets numbers on hand, or the number of a vet in the place you are visiting, would be a great idea and reduce any stress should you run into any issues. Planning for
Cats & Dogs
your pet is incredibly important and can reduce the risks of
There are many ways in which you can help your pet get
them suffering from stress and you panicking as a pet parent.
through the festive period without any stress. Cats and dogs like routine, as there may be more people in and out of the
As always if you require any more information or advice on
home, trying to keep their routine the same can really help.
how to keep your pets safe during this year’s festivities then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us via our social
Try not to change their food, exercise and bedtimes, keeping
media accounts, or pop in to one of our stores and the team will
things consistent will help them to feel more secure.
be more than happy to help.
If you have a busy house, don’t force your cat or dog into a
From everyone hear at petplace we wish you and your furry
meeting situation because they may not be ready. Let them
family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
n
figure this out on their own terms. It is also important to create an area that they can retreat to for some downtime away from the hustle and bustle. If you leave their favourite toys in this area to remind them of positive experiences. If you are visiting other households with your pet it might be a good idea to take a favourite toy or blanket with a familiar smell to make them feel secure. The toy is a great way to distract and keep them entertained. Smaller Animals For smaller animals, for example, hamsters, put them in a place
Ashlee is the Social Media and Marketing Assistant at petplace. Animal obsessed, she has a fondness for all living things and the environment using her creativity to build awareness. If you follow petplace on social media you will no doubt have interacted with Ashlee, she loves engaging with their customers and, most importantly, seeing all your wonderful pets.
where they won’t be disturbed, especially if a visitor has an
NWM 2021 Page 21
A collection of beautiful home accessories & gifts.
Plastic-Free & Vegan beauty store online
Eco-friendly makeup • skincare • haircare • homeware We've got lots of sustainable gift sets & present ideas Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Wales, United Kingdom admin@stanleyandlottie.com You can also find us on Facebook: facebook.com/Stanley & Lottie Instagram: @stanley_and_lottie
www.stanleyandlottie.com
Enjoy beauty without a plastic footprint
www.dancing-barefoot.com
Gift Guide
The
Christmas is here and with it comes the opportunity to give your loved ones a gift that they will cherish forever. Whether you are looking for a locally made present, a tasty treat or an experience that they’ll never forget then read on – because we’ve got Christmas all wrapped up!
Ideas... Enjoy ourghluxwiuryth salcheesmones! on sourdou
with Biscuits Gift Set’ includes hand decorated
.com rd er on
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biscuits baked in the County of Conwy.
tney’s & cra ck
ste llgw yn
family will love. For example, their ‘Winter Mug
ch u
Try our del
made products we’re sure your friends and
us
s er
Stanley & Lottie stocks a selection of locally
icio
Stanley & Lottie
Which is your favourite flavour?
.ca line at www
W W W. C A S T E L L G W Y N . C O M
They have plenty of other gift ideas on their
Castell Gwyn Artisan Cheese
website, and you can take advantage of their
Castell Gwyn make Artisan cheeses the traditional way,
free local delivery too.
by warming the milk, cutting and hanging the curds
www.stanleyandlottie.com
over three days, then adding fresh flavours. Using creamy Jersey-Cross milk from their good friends down the road at Mostyn Dairies, we’re sure you will enjoy finding out which one is your favourite! There is a range of cheeses available from the website – as well as chutneys, crackers, cheese making kits and gift vouchers. www.castellgwyn.com
Wild Horse Brewing Company Wild Horse Brewing Company are a small craft brewery based within easy walking distance of Llandudno town centre. Producing a variety of delicious craft beers, including their popular core range offerings Buckskin Lager and Nokota Session IPA, as well as a variety of seasonal and special releases. Wild Horse have an onsite shop for takeaway cans, merchandise, gift packs and gift vouchers – as well as offering a local delivery service and nationwide courier delivery. www.wildhorsebrewing.co.uk
NWM 2021 Page 23
Clogau Every piece of Clogau jewellery contains rare Welsh gold. Each piece is crafted using traditional jewellery-making techniques and painstakingly hand-finished to give the lasting pleasure which ensures the Clogau jewellery will remain as special as the day you received it, as it is passed down through generations. Inspired by the essence of love, their Always in my Heart Pendant represents two hearts bonded and unbroken. Set in sterling silver, adorned with 9ct rose gold containing rare Welsh gold, genuine round faceted white topaz gemstones perfectly express the strength of your feelings.
Mynydd Sleddog Adventures
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www.clogau.co.uk
Are you looking for the paw-fect
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Adventures has you covered! Visit their
this Christmas, they have enough
website where you can purchase a gift
socks! The EGO Power+ range
certificate, enabling you or your giftee to
delivers petrol-matching power –
meet their huskies and race through the
without the need for petrol. The
forest on a passenger rig, experiencing
revolutionary Arc Lithium 56v battery
the Ultimate Dog Powered Adrenaline
technology provides the industry’s
Rush! If you would prefer to leave the
highest energy capacity in a portable
forest to the adrenaline
handheld battery. Which means you
junkies, but still want to
can power through any job with less
share some husky love,
noise, no fuss and no fumes. Prices
you can purchase one of
start from only £79.99.
Mynydd’s plush husky
www.peterlucaspowertools.co.uk
toys, or even sponsor one of their awesome sleddogs! Head over to ‘our dogs’ page and read
Venue Cymru
all about their antics and
From West End shows including Waitress and Jersey Boys to top names of
choose the one that matches your (or your
comedy such as Sarah Millican and Jon Richardson, Venue Cymru is back
giftee’s) spirit!
doing what it does best! With a show for every taste then a Venue Cymru
mynyddsleddogadventures.com
gift voucher is the ideal treat for a loved one this Christmas.
Page 24 NWM 2021
venuecymru.co.uk
Dancing Barefoot Dancing Barefoot is a totally plastic-free online store offering a selection of brilliant sustainable, low waste and ethically-made toiletries and cosmetics. They have a range of gifts, which certainly make sustainable giving easy. The Sultry Rose Pampering Skincare Set is one of many eco-friendly gift sets available at the online plasticfree and vegan beauty store. The luxury set features soothing Rose Body Oil, a natural Rose and Black Pepper Bath Bomb, handmade Pink Rose Soap and an exfoliating Soap Mitt, all made by Funky Soap. www.dancing-barefoot.com
Adventure Parc Snowdonia Give the gift of adventure... Each offering an immersive,
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unforgettable escape to a land of rugged mountains and awe-inspiring panoramas, Adventure Parc Snowdonia’s
Abby Browne Art
gift cards cover every kind of adventure imaginable.
Offering a unique collection of premium
Whether you want to send their spirits soaring as they
original acrylic art paintings on quality
travel across a zipline through a lush green valley or
stretched canvas and other, unique, quality
would like to help them restore balance and serenity
mixed media, as well as a variety of
at the lagoon-side spa – they’ve got exactly what you
prints, greeting cards and limited edition
need. A unique and memorable gift, each of Adventure
calendars both framed and unframed.
Parc Snowdonia’s E-vouchers can be tailored around the
Commissions on any subject also welcome.
different pursuits that they have on offer. this Christmas.
abbybrown.art
www.adventureparcsnowdonia.com
Gift Experiences with Denbighshire Leisure Denbighshire Leisure has a great selection of experiences available that make the perfect gift... Show tickets at Rhyl Pavilion theatre – with hundreds of fantastic shows to choose from at the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, from Panto and Comedy Nights to the Opera! Dine out vouchers – For those who enjoy dining out with friends and family, why not treat them to a voucher at Beach Hut where everyone (including the dog) can enjoy Friday Fish Nights or Sizzling Saturdays. Days out vouchers – SC2 waterpark and Ninja TAG arena are perfect voucher choice destinations for energetic children, keeping them entertained while the adults sit back and relax. Make memories with vouchers – Gift a day of play to a friend or loved one with vouchers for the kids to tire them out at Jurassic Adventure Play at SC2 and the North Wales coast themed Adventure Play at Nova denbighshireleisure.co.uk
NWM 2021 Page 25
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Penderyn Penderyn have been distilling award-winning whiskies in Wales for over 20 years. Legend is matured in ex-Bourbon casks and finished in Madeira casks. Penderyn has two distilleries in Brecon Beacons and Llandudno, and tours and masterclasses are available www.penderyn.wales
Welsh Tartan How about something different this Christmas? Welsh Tartan has a wide range of scarves, ties, flat caps, cushions and much more for hundreds of Welsh names –including Jones, Williams, Evans, Davies and Roberts… they have them all! Gift wrapping is now available, plus they can even deliver direct to your friends or families doorstep (anywhere in the world)! www.welsh-tartan.com
PetPlace Start celebrating Christmas early with your furry best friend courtesy of petplace. Every dog deserves to wake up this Christmas morning in a beautifully designed Barclays bed. These elegant and luxurious beds are the ‘pawfect’ present for your four-legged friend, highly functional and incredibly comfy. Creating a dreamy space for your precious pet. www.farmandpetplace.co.uk
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways For a wide selection of books, many with North Wales interest, DVDs and narrow gauge railway models and accessories, as well as a selection of gifts for all the family, visit festshop.co.uk. There you will find OO9 scale (4mm to the foot) models of the Ffestiniog Railway’s iconic Double Fairlie locomotives from Bachmann Europe. These models incorporate a high level of detail and are brought to life by the exquisite livery application that combines Ffestiniog Railway-specification colours with authentic lining, crests and plates. These long-awaited, highly quality models are priced at £234.95 (£334.95 with sound). Travel gift vouchers for the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways are also available. festrail.co.uk
NWM 2021 Page 27
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MAGAZINE
Lavinia Stamps Based in Ruthin, Lavinia Stamps have a vast range of items on offer in store and online
Orchard Events
including British manufactured Polymer
Orchard Live is hosting some fabulous events in 2022
Stamps for crafting and card making, arts
– so give the gift of live music this Christmas!
and crafts products, artisan gifts, unique
J Tom Grennan – Rhyl Events Arena – 10/07/2022
gift cards, home décor, skin care, lighting,
Tickets for the ‘Little Bit of Love’ singer, Tom Grennan
artificial foliage, garden art and furniture.
are on sale now and available from Orchardlive.com/
Gift vouchers are also available.
Gigantic.com and Rhyl Pavilion Box Office on 01745
laviniastamps.com
330000. Tickets priced at £37.50.
J Olly Murs and Scouting for Girls, Stadiwm Zip World, Colwyn Bay – 12/08/2022 Originally planned for 2021, Olly Murs’ rescheduled Colwyn Bay show will take place on the 12th of August 2022! Tickets for Olly Murs are priced at £45 and are on sale now from Orchardlive.com/Gigantic.com and Venue Cymru.
Graffeg title for every member of the family…
North Wales Magazine Gift Subscription
Books are the ultimate Christmas present, and Graffeg has a
J Mouse and Mole: Lo and Behold £12.99
The perfect gift for the person who has
Celebrate this festive season with three brand new Mouse
everything! A subscription to North
and Mole short stories by Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew:
Wales Magazine makes a great present,
Snowmole, Lo and Behold! and A Bump in the Night
and keeps giving every month of the
J Wonders of the Celtic Deep £25
year. The recipient will enjoy a copy of
A unique environment created by the confluence of three
the magazine being delivered through
oceanic and climatic zones, the Welsh coast and its waters
their door each month, so they can keep
teem with life and diversity, documented here as never before.
tabs on what’s on in the region as well as
From seals and seabirds gathered along this celebrated
learn about our fascinating history. We
coastline to the species to be found in the depths of the
have gift vouchers available so we can
Celtic Sea, along with the behind-the-scenes challenges and
post one to you or direct to the recipient.
triumphs of this landmark TV series, delve with the team into
northwalesmagazine.com/subscribe
the wildlife wonders waiting to be discovered. www.graffeg.com
Page 28 NWM 2021
Award Winning Soft Cheese I’m Jackie Whittaker and I make a range of Award-Winning soft Artisan Cheeses all traditionally made in my own micro dairy in North Wales. I make my Artisan Cheeses the traditional way, by warming the pasteurised milk, cutting and hanging the curds over three days, then adding fresh flavours. Using creamy Jersey-Cross milk from our good friends down the road at Mostyn Dairies, I’m sure you will enjoy finding out which one is your favourite.
favourite flavour?
Jackie
Jackie@castellgwyn.com | 07368 998140
@castellgwyn
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GIVE THE GIFT OF LIVE MUSIC THIS CHRISTMAS!
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
Rhyl Pavilion Theatre
02/04/2022
BRYAN ADaMS
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
LIGHTNING SEEDS THE K’S
DCBL Stadium, Widnes
Rhyl Events Arena
02/07/2022
08/07/2022
TOM GRENNAN PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
Rhyl Events Arena
10/07/2022
ONLY BOYS JOOLS OLLY ALOUD HOLLAND MURS
PETE TONG
ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
AND HIS RHYTHM & BLUES ORCHESTRA
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS
AND THE HERITAGE ORCHESTRA
Rhyl Pavilion Theatre
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Stadiwm Eirias Colwyn Bay
Stadiwm Eirias Colwyn Bay
17/07/2022
17/07/2022
12/08/2022
13/08/2022
ORCHARDLIVE.COM | GIGANTIC.COM
! e v i L Going
Orchard Live, the biggest independent live music promotions company in Wales, is hosting an unmissable selection of shows in North Wales next summer...
James
Tom Grennan
Bryan Adams
Imelda May - Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl – 02/04/2022 Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Imelda May is playing on the 2nd of April, 2022 at the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre to celebrate the launch of her sixth studio album 11 Past the Hour. Bryan Adams – DCBL Stadium, Widnes – 02/07/2022 Bryan Adams is set to tour his 15th album, So Happy It Hurts, which is due to be released in March 2022. His UK-wide tour will see his rearranged date in Widnes, on July 2nd 2022. James, The Lightning Seeds, and the K’s – Rhyl Events Arena, Rhyl – 08/07/2022
Closing the Summer ACCESS ALL EIRAIS
Olly Murs and Scouting for Girls,
Stadiwm Zip World, Colwyn Bay –
Playing on Friday 8th July, the band will be supported by The Lightning
12/08/2022
Seeds and The K’s. James will perform tracks from the new record and
A message from Olly Murs: “To all my
many more from their rich back catalogue when they play Rhyl Events
fans in North Wales, I’m so excited
Arena next summer.
to come and perform for you at this beautiful location. See you there.”
Tom Grennan – Rhyl Events Arena – 10/07/2022 Pop sensation Tom Grennan will be performing at the Rhyl Events Arena on Sunday, 10th July. The Bedford born singer has had an extraordinary
Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra – Stadiwm Zip World, Colwyn Bay –
year playing to huge festival crowds as well as a massive SOLD OUT 15
13/08/2022
date UK tour to support his album ‘Evering Road’.
Pete Tong & the Heritage Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley, will bring
Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra – Venue Cymru,
a brand new Ibiza Classics show to
Llandudno – 17/07/2022
Colwyn Bay in 2022. The hottest ticket
Musical virtuoso Jools Holland and his distinguished Rhythm & Blues
of the summer returns to Wales, after
Orchestra are returning to Llandudno on Sunday 17 July 2022 at Venue
previous sell-out tours and outdoor
Cymru. Accompanying Jools with the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will be
gigs – with a brand-new show for
the talented Ruby Turner, with her breath-taking gospel, soul and rhythm
2022 with re-workings of more iconic
& blues vocals, Louise Marshall, with her beautiful soul and jazz tones, as
dance anthems.
well as original Squeeze member, Gilson Lavis on drums.
NWM 2021 Page 31
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A winter’s tale Author Stephen Gregory tells a story about life, friendship and a little Christmas miracle…
Rachel was in a funk. It was Christmas Eve and she was eight years old, and she was sitting in the back of her parents’ car… in a funk. She didn’t know what her Mum and Dad had bought her for Christmas, but she’d peeped into the spare bedroom upstairs at home and seen a few parcels wrapped in tinsel and red and silver paper … the presents they would carry down to the living-room and arrange underneath the tree when they thought she was fast asleep. Because they thought she still believed in Father Christmas, that he would park his reindeers on the roof and struggle down the chimney. Oh dear. She didn’t know what to believe. She was eight years old, befuddled between believing and not believing. They’d come for a drive, up into the mountains of Snowdonia. It had been snowing and the whole world was picture-perfect, like one enormous and delightful Christmas card. Mum and Dad were cosy in the front of the car, as they sat in a lay-by by the lake at Nantgwynant… along the road which climbed up towards the Pen yr Gwyryd Hotel and even higher to Pen y Pass. Yes, it was a winter wonderland. Rachel sat in the back, in her bright red Christmas coat and with her long golden hair perfectly brushed. She nibbled a mince pie and sipped the tea they’d brought in flask. But she wasn’t in the mood. Everything was too nice. She wanted something to happen – something to enliven her and this pretty, picture-perfect world. There was a crunching of gravel and a car pulled into the lay-by behind them. No, not a car. As Rachel swivelled to look, she saw a filthy and battered white van lurching to a standstill, and a man got out. Dressed in a baggy old jacket and corduroy trousers and heavy brown boots, he was as muddy and unprepossessing as his van. He moved to the back, opened the door, and a dog leapt out. A thin, brown dog, lean and sinewy – with nothing but muscle beneath its mud-caked fur. A few moments later it was loping across the field to the edge of the lake and the man was hurrying after it. And there was a fox. It sprang out of the long grass, startled by the sound and scent of the dog and the man, and it dashed ahead them. It was quick and wonderful, like a living red flame on the deep snow. It brought a sudden gasp to Rachel’s lips. The fox was fleeing for its life. Without a moment’s hesitation, Rachel flung the car door open and jumped out. And she ran after the man and the dog and the fox. Her parents called after her. They tumbled their tea and mince pies onto the floor and jumped out to follow her, shouting at her to stop, to come back. But she was too quick for them. In her bright red coat, with her long golden hair flying, she was as vivid and hot as the fox, against the cold white snow. In a few moments she had pushed past the man, who stumbled and swore horribly. Ahead
NWM 2021 Page 33
MAGAZINE
of her, the fox had rounded the edge of the lake and was dashing up the steep rocks on the further side, nimble and strong and yet slipping sometimes on the scree and slithering back. The dog was stronger still, a deadly creature of muscle and sinew and bone,
terrible ordeal and its leap to a different kind of death – to fall
intent on only one thing – to bring its stamina to bear onto the
onto the rocks rather than submit to the jaws of the dog.
fox, to catch it and kill it without a single other thought in its head.
But as Rachel stroked the fox from the top of its head to its marvellous brush, the creature felt the warmth and life in her
And so they all climbed, or clambered and slithered, up and
hands – and it knew there was yet enough life and warmth
up... the girl, the lean and terrible dog, and the fox – against the
in its own body to keep on living. For a few moments, the
blackness of the rocks and a dazzle of snow.
girl and the fox were as one… like a hot red living flame on a background of icy rocks.
Until the fox could climb no further. It reached a ledge on which it was cornered. It had nowhere to go, because the crag
The fox took a long quivering breath, a breath of newly
had become a cliff which was sheer and bare. It turned to face
quickened life.
the dog, which still had the power to work itself closer. The fox snickered and snarled, baring its gleaming white teeth and
It nipped at the girl’s hand, sudden and sharp, but more of a
grimacing with all the breath left in its body.
kiss than a bite. It stood up and shook its body and its brush so that the snow flew off in a shimmer of sunlight. And it slipped
And Rachel was there too. She paused beneath the dog and the
away, down the hillside, disappearing into the snow-covered
fox. The dog turned to see her, for the first time, because until
grass at the edge of the lake.
that moment all of its focus had been on nothing but the fox. Suddenly, it saw another flash of brilliant redness against the
Rachel saw the blood on her fingers, where the fox had caught
snow, not a fox but something just as vivid and alive – and it
her with its sharp white teeth. For a moment it welled up into
was bewildered long enough to give the fox a glimmer of hope.
gleaming, red-black rubies, and she flicked it onto the snow. Red and then pink, the jewels disappeared.
The fox jumped. With no other option except to wait for the dog to lunge closer, it leapt from its ledge. It fell through the air, past
The man had driven away in his dirty van, with his dog. Rachel
the dog and past the girl and landed in a breathtaking impact
sat quietly in the back of the car and they all drove home. It was
on the scree below.
Christmas Eve and the world was alive, perfectly alive, with the magic of life. She had already had a Christmas kiss, and a gift
And Rachel reached for the only weapons to hand. She pelted
of rubies. And in a few hours’ time there would be a Christmas
the dog with snowballs until its muzzle was powdered and
miracle… believe it or not.
its eyes were befuddled… until it stumbled down the hillside to where its master was swearing and shouting for it to come back to him. Rachel moved towards the fox. Its whole body was heaving with exertion and fear. She knelt to it, and it rolled its eyes to see what strange creature had come so close. She reached to touch the fox, and it was too exhausted to snarl. It was thinking only of giving up breathing, after such a
Page 34 NWM 2021
Stephen Gregory’s first novel, The Cormorant, which he wrote in Snowdonia 35 years ago, has been published several times in both the UK and the USA, and translated into German, Polish and Italian. The new edition, which is available from Parthian Books, is its tenth publication.
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l a c o l Shop
We all know the benefits of shopping local, but shopping in a local market can be even more beneficial as you are supporting numerous small traders all at once…
The Colwyn Bay Artisan Market runs on the third Saturday of
with a photo booth, kids carousel, magician and other street
the month, except for its Christmas market which will be on
entertainment. We’ve also heard a rumour that Father
the second weekend as a one off.
Christmas will be there!
As it was last year, the Christmas market is a fancy dress
And, a bit further down the coast, Bangor Market has been
occasion once again! Taking place between 10am and 4pm on
relaunched and is taking place every Friday between now and
11th December, at Station and Seaview Road’s in Colwyn Bay,
Christmas (apart from Christmas Eve).
the Christmas market traders would love for kids and adults alike to come in their finest festive fancy dress!
The streets of Bangor will once again be lined with exciting market stalls both old and new, with lots to discover and
The artisans themselves will also be dressing up, plus there
reminisce. There’ll be plenty of familiar faces with many of the
will be voucher prizes to spend on the market for the best
original traders returning, alongside new traders and artisans
child, adult and artisan trader fancy dress costume.
joining Bangor Market for the very first time!
In total there will be over 60 artisan stalls selling everything
With fresh Welsh produce, meats, sweets, gifts, crafts and all
from cupcakes and brownies, local art and photography,
your home, garden and lifestyle essentials, there’s every reason
Christmas gifts and decorations, top quality crafts, artisan
to come down and enjoy the return of your local weekly market.
cheeses, artisan wine, beer and spirits, award winning fudge, handmade candles and cosmetics, vintage clothing, ceramics
You can find Bangor Market on the High Street in the centre of
and flowers.
the city on Friday’s from 9am to 4.30pm. So pop on down, and support your local traders, shops and small businesses – and
There will also be hot street food and a mobile bar, along
embrace the buzz back on Bangor High Street once again. n
NWM 2021 Page 37
You Shall Go To The Ball! MAGAZINE
MARTIN DODD for UK PRODUCTIONS in association with RHYL PAVILION THEATRE proudly presents
from EMMERDALE and CORONATION STREET
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! from BALAMORY
Hayley Tamaddon Andrew Agnew as FAIRY GODMOTHER
Jamie Morris & Tarot Joseph
as BUTTONS
design by SEANDITCHFIELD@ICLOUD.COM
as THE UGLY SISTERS
BETHAN JACKS asCINDERELLA GWYN WEST asBARON HARDUP JOSH BELWARD asPRINCE CHARMING MARK PATERSON asDANDINI
Choreographer CALLUM TEMPEST Musical Director GEORGE STRICKLAND Executive Pantomime Director ANTHONY WILLIAMS Directed by ANDREW AGNEW Produced by MARTIN DODD
Wednesday 8 – Friday December ’ Page 38 NWM 2021
01745 330000 | rhylpavilion.co.uk |
Exploring
m a h x e Wr
Steve Goodier visits the market town of Wrexham and uncovers some interesting changes… When I think of Wrexham I always recall Rupert. He was
Wrexham still continues to serve North Wales and the Welsh
the senior buyer for a large builder’s merchants based next
border lands and is an important hub for manufacturing,
to the Wrexham football stadium and he was a tough and
retail, education and administration and is a busy and vibrant
uncompromising negotiator who was well in his sixties. I
large market town. Geographically it is located between the
found him grumpy and awkward to deal with and as it was
Welsh hill country and the lower Dee valley and it is next
my job to sell him construction timber I came to dread my
to the English counties of Cheshire and Shropshire. It is
fortnightly visits to him. All this changed when his secretary
approximately 13 miles/21 km south of Chester, 30 miles/50 km
told me one Christmas that Rupert opened his home to all the
north west of Shrewsbury, 140 miles/230 km north of Cardiff
local pensioners every Christmas Day and gave them lunch.
and 50 miles/80 km south west of Manchester.
Taking into account the man’s own advanced age, my heart went out to him and with only being in my twenties myself
The town has a population of about 66,000 which makes it
at the time it just went to show me you should never be too
the largest in North Wales – and the fourth largest in Wales
quick to judge people.
overall.
That was almost forty years ago and even then Wrexham was
I mentioned Wrexham football stadium in the introduction
a commercial centre for the surrounding areas. Modern day
and Wrexham A.F.C. is famous for being one of the oldest professional football teams in the world. The club plays in the fifth tier of English football and is currently owned by big screen superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The team plays its football at the Racecourse Ground which is the world’s oldest international stadium that continues to host international games. Unlike a lot of towns Wrexham is not built on a major river but three small rivers flow through various parts of the town and these are the Clywedog, The Gwenfro and the Alyn – and the town is famed for its underground water reserves which helped it achieve a one-time dominance as a major brewing centre. Wrexham is not particularly hilly and developed on a relatively flat plateau. Many people think of Wrexham as a city and indeed, the town
NWM 2021 Page 39
MAGAZINE
MODERN DAY WREXHAM STILL CONTINUES TO SERVE NORTH WALES AND THE WELSH BORDER LANDS AND IS AN IMPORTANT HUB FOR MANUFACTURING, RETAIL, EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATION AND IS A BUSY AND VIBRANT LARGE MARKET TOWN has applied for city status three times since the start of the
that radiates out from the impressive Church of St Giles
21st Century. These occasions have been in competitions to
which is classed as one of ‘the Seven Wonders of Wales’. It
mark the new Millennium, and for both the Queens Golden
is the burial place of Elihu Yale who is best remembered as
and Diamond Jubilees. It has missed out on gaining a ‘city’
the primary benefactor of Yale College (now Yale University)
title on each of these occasions. On a more positive note
which was named in his honour. This Church was the main
Wrexham has held the National Eisteddfod of Wales a total of
focal point about which Wrexham developed. The area around
six times overall.
the Church, including The Church Precinct, is a collection of narrow enclosed streets that have a medieval character about
The list of well known people who have called Wrexham home
them. Indeed, on Church Street and Town Hill you will find
is long and includes footballer and manager Mark Hughes,
several complete Medieval buildings.
footballer and sports pundit Robbie Savage, snooker player Dennis Taylor, Andy Scott the guitarist with 1970s Glam rock
The main shopping streets are formed by Hope Street, Regent
band The Sweet and former Blue Peter presenter Tim Vincent.
Street and Queen Street. These have wider areas on them where markets took place from Medieval times up to the 19th
Samuel Johnson visited Wrexham in the 18th Century and
Century. The shopping streets and current indoor markets
described it as ’a busy, extensive and well built town’. Around
are interconnected by historic narrow alleyways and arcades.
the same time the author Daniel Defoe and the artist J.M.W.
Butchers Market and the General Market are noted as being
Turner visited, with the later producing drawings of St. Giles
architecturally significant Victorian indoor markets. One
Parish Church and surrounding buildings and a watercolour
other notable building is the Horse and Jockey pub which
painting of a street scene.
was originally built in the 16th Century and still retains its thatched roof. High Street is well known for its superb 18th
Wrexham does not appear in the Domesday Book and the first
and 19th Century buildings of varying scale, colour and detail.
recorded reference to the town was in 1161 when a ‘castle at
The Wynnstay Hotel on Yorke Street was the birthplace of the
Wristlesham’ is mentioned – although the town was almost
Football Association of Wales in 1876.
certainly founded prior to this. In the Middle Ages it developed as a regional centre for trade and administration and by
Culturally ‘Focus Wales’ is an annual multi-venue festival
the 17th Century the town had become the most populated
that takes place in Wrexham town centre with a focus on
in Wales. Wrexham was at the forefront of the Industrial
emerging talent and the Welsh language.
Revolution from the 18th Century onwards when the town and surrounding areas were an important centre of coal
So there you have it! From an historic viewpoint or just a
and lead mining and by 1913 the North East Wales coalfield
modern perspective Wrexham is far too good to just dash past
(which included Wrexham) was producing around three
on the busy A483. It deserves some of your time and if you
million tonnes of coal a year and employed over 10,000 people.
decide to go there you will be pleasantly surprised at what
However, after the First World War, the coal industry went
you find!
into decline and by 1968 only two collieries remained open. The last pit to close in the area was Bersham Colliery. As well as coal and lead Wrexham was a significant producer of iron, steel and leather and, of course, there was the aforementioned brewing industry too. The current town of Wrexham is a mixture of the modern and the past with the historic town centre containing a large number of listed buildings set on a Medieval street pattern
Page 40 NWM 2021
Steve Goodier is an outdoor writer and photographer who specialises in North Wales. He has walked and explored all over the world and is the author of 11 walking books with a further two on Snowdonia due to be published shortly.
What to do Go to a football match Wrexham Association Football Club is famous for being one of the oldest professional football teams in the world. The club plays in the fifth tier of English football, yet it has Holywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney last year. The team plays its football at the Racecourse Ground which is the world’s oldest international stadium that continues to host international games.
Go shopping In the last few years Wrexham has been transformed
D. Pimborough / Shutterstock.com
found itself in the spotlight since when was purchased by
into a shoppers dream with the advent of new shopping centres such as Eagles Meadow, while still retaining the charm of the older streets, arcades and markets.
Visit a gallery Tŷ Pawb is a cultural community resource, bringing together arts and markets within the same footprint in the heart of Wrexham. This coexistence celebrates the significance of markets within Wrexham’s cultural heritage and identity. It offers a space for dialogue around subjects including social and civic issues, the environment, health, cultural identity, sustainability and education.
Discover Science The Xplore! Science Discovery Centre moved into its brand-new building in the heart of Wrexham last year. Full to the brim with science, exploration and fun, Xplore! has been bringing brain-teasing, mind-bending, eye-opening science to Wrexham for almost 20 years.
Go back in time Erddig Hall is a Grade-I listed National Trust property just two miles from Wrexham town centre. As well as a fascinating house and sprawling grounds, Erddig has the second largest collection of items in the whole of the National Trust. With a total of 30,000 to care for, it’s no mean feat for the house team of conservators and volunteers.
NWM 2021 Page 41
Beautiful, Powerful, Inspirational. Original artworks We offer you a unique collection of premium original acrylic art paintings on quality stretched canvas and other, unique, quality mixed media. I’m also pleased to now be able to offer a variety of prints, both framed and unframed, greeting cards and limited edition calendars. Commissions are welcome.
Abby Browne Art
Page 42 NWM 2021
artfromtheheart@abbybrowne.art 07895593516 / 01244 530745
www.abbybrowne.art
abby_brown_artist
MAGAZINE
t s i t r a
Meet the
Abby Browne is a local artist who finds inspiration from the beauty in our world…
When people purchase a work of art they often wonder
(Asperger’s) late in life. Being autistic, I believe, has gifted me
about the person behind it, because every artist has a story.
with my artistic abilities as I seem able to focus on attention to detail and observe patterns in life everywhere I look.”
For Abby Browne, an artist based in Hawarden, her story is
Abby’s paintings are said to be passionate, romantic and
one of challenges and, more importantly, how she overcame
atmospheric.
them. “My hope is that the viewer takes something positive away “I have been painting since a young child, preferring
from viewing my paintings while also allowing a subjective
to create than connect with my peers,” reflects Abby.
experience in regard to the work. I would dearly hope the
“Something I was to realise in later life stemmed from my
viewer will connect with the emotion I attempt to portray in a
being on the Autistic spectrum. Most of my adult years have
piece and thus to feel a part of that painting. If I can achieve
been lost in addiction to alcohol. I used alcohol as a tool, in an
this, then I believe the painting has served its purpose.”
attempt to fix me, to fit in with others, as I felt so different, and suffered from extreme social anxiety. My work, at times,
While Abby’s early work stemmed from her lack of
will show a darkness due to the despair I felt within this
understanding and fear of her autism, leading to her artwork
illness. In February 2020 I went into a rehab for my addiction
portraying a sense of darkness, sadness and pain, her latest
which changed my whole outlook on life through a 12-step
paintings are focused on the beauty in the world around us.
program of recovery. Incidentally, it is also where I met the
“Art is a never-ending discovery, and I seem drawn to
love of my life, my partner, who worked there at the time, is
perceiving the beauty in our world, beauty we can too often
also in recovery, a photographer and who has been my rock
miss while contending with our busy lives – a smile, a flower
in a storm.”
– then sharing it with others,” she says. “I use art to express my emotions. Art is beauty of freedom. Free expression
Today Abby creates emotional interpretations of art from
of human mind and senses. I would hope my art inspires
themes and experiences of her life.
people, touches their souls and brings as much joy and connectedness to them as I feel while creating the piece.” n
“I have always known I have difficulty expressing my emotions verbally and much prefer to express them on
You can find out more about Abby at abbybrowne.art, as
canvas,” she continues. “I was diagnosed with Autism
well as view the latest work that she has for sale
NWM 2021 Page 43
Perfect Christmas gifts from Graffeg Special Readers Offer 20% discount This superbly illustrated book is full of the most magical paintings and drawings of Snowdonia by the greatest 20th century Welsh landscape artist Sir Kyffin Williams RA. The hardback book is gloriously illustrated with 270 illustrations paintings and sketchbook drawings written by Dr Qing Chao Ma. Kyffin is the perfect Christmas gift at this special readers offer price.
Readers Offer: 20% Discount Code NWM1221 www.graffeg.com
Special Readers Offer 20% discount A brilliant selection of cookery books for foodies, including plant-based recipes for all the family. Funny Food has fun food for children and The Melting Pot has tastes from around the world. Over 40 recipes in each book with easy-to-follow methods and brilliant food photography.
Readers Offer: 20% Discount Code NWM1221 www.graffeg.com
Win
COMPETITION North Wales Magazine has got two amazing festive prizes to win this Christmas! Read on for entry details, and remember to follow our Facebook page (@northwalesmag) to ensure that you don’t miss out on any extra competitions taking place throughout the month. Good luck
You Shall G MARTIN DODD for UK PRODU
from EMMERDALE and CORO
o To The Ba
CTIONS in association with
NATION STREET
RHYL PAVILION THEATRE
proudly presents
ll!
Hayley Tamaddon Andrew Agnew Jamie Morri BACK BY POPULAR DEMA
as FAIRY GODMOTHER
ND! from BALAMORY
s & Tarot Joseph
A family ticket to race the naughty elves at SC2 NinjaTAG in Rhyl has been taken over by Santa’s naughtiest elves and they have declared that nobody will be able to beat Santa’s score! The naughty elves are everywhere in the structure and SC2 needs your help to send them back to the North Pole – is your family up to the challenge?
To Enter To be in with a chance of winning these great prizes, simply visit www.northwalesmagazine.com/win and enter your contact details on the relevant form provided. Closing date Wednesday 15th December 2021.
BETHAN JACKS
as BUTTONS
design by SEANDITCHFIELD@ICL OUD.COM
as THE UGLY SISTERS
GWYN WEST
as as CINDERELLA BARON HARDUP Choreographer CALLUM TEMPEST Musical Director GEORGE STRICKLA ND Executiv
as JOSH BELWARD PRINCE CHARMING MAR
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e Pantomime Director ANTHON RSON DANDINI Y WILLIAMS Directed by ANDREW Wednesday AGNEW Produced by MARTIN DODD 8 – Friday December ’ 01745 33 00 00 | rhylpa as
vilion.co.uk |
Four tickets to watch Cinderella Polish up your pumpkins and dust off your crystal slippers, as pantomime is back at the Rhyl Pavilion! Emmerdale and Coronation Street star Hayley Tamaddon stars as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, while the beautiful heroine is played by musical theatre star Bethan Jacks. No trip to the ball would be complete however without the magical addition of two beautiful Shetland Ponies who will steal your heart and transport our leading lady to her destiny, but will those sisters stop her? Come and find out – your carriage awaits!
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Notice We collect your information when you enter our competitions, and store this information on our systems. We will use this information to contact you if you are the competition winner, and to contact you occasionally with details of relevant offers and items which may be of interest to you. If you win the competition, your name and the town where you live may be printed in a future edition of North Wales Magazine. We will also share your information with the competition provider, and they may contact you with details of relevant offers. Please see www. northwalesmagazine.com for our full Privacy Notice.
NWM 2021 Page 45
FOOD & DRINK INSIDE: wine recipes cocktail of the month
NWM 2020 Page 47
All I want for Christmas… ...Welsh Beef Wellington with port and mushroom sauce
eatwelshbeef.com
WB Christmas campaign Final.indd 1
A fantastic feast Wales is blessed with home grown produce. Our PGI Welsh Beef is the product of a uniquely beautiful landscape that has been blessed for centuries with the purest of natural ingredients – clean air, spring water and fresh grass.
While Welsh Beef lends itself beautifully to a range of dishes, it is particularly delicious in winter warmers during the festive season. So why not get everything wrapped up for Christmas with this stunning Welsh Beef Wellington with port and mushroom sauce. Give them what they really want this Christmas…
Welsh Beef Wellington with port and mushroom sauce Prep time: 45 mins Cook time: 3 hrs Serves 6 Ingredients: J 750g PGI Welsh Beef fillet J 1 tbsp oil J Salt and pepper J 1-2 tbsp English mustard J 40g dried porcini mushrooms J 250ml boiling water J 500g chestnut mushrooms J 25g salted butter J 2 garlic cloves, crushed J Handful fresh thyme leaves J 6 slices of prosciutto J 500g ready made all butter puff pastry J 1 egg, beaten For the sauce J 300ml beef stock J 200ml port or Madeira J 1 tsp butter
For more recipes and inspiration, visit eatwelshbeef.com
Method 1. Rub the beef fillet with the oil and season well. Preheat a large frying pan over a high heat, add the beef and sear on all sides for around 5 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the heat and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Once cooled (around 15 minutes) brush with the mustard. 2. Meanwhile soak the porcini mushrooms in the boiling water until softened (around 20 minutes). Remove from the liquid (reserve for later), squeeze dry and chop finely. 3. Finely chop the chestnut mushrooms or use a food processor. Heat the butter in a large frying pan and add the crushed garlic, chestnut mushrooms, porcini mushrooms, seasoning and thyme leaves. Leave to cook until the water has evaporated (around 20 minutes). Leave to cool completely and reserve a quarter of the mushrooms for the sauce. 4. Lay 3 large sheets of cling film, overlapping on a work surface. Place the prosciutto on top, overlapping the edges to make one sheet large enough to wrap the Welsh Beef fillet. Spread three quarters of the mushroom mixture over the prosciutto then sit the beef on top and spread with the remaining mushroom mixture on top. Roll the prosciutto around the beef using the cling film then wrap tightly and chill for 15 minutes. 5. On a floured surface, roll the pastry into a square or rectangle big enough to wrap the fillet – approximately 35cm square. Trim to neaten, and roll the edges of the joining sides a little more thinly. Brush the edges with the beaten egg then remove the cling film from the beef and position it in the middle of the pastry. Wrap the pastry along the length of the beef, overlapping slightly at the join. Fold up each end like a parcel and transfer to a lightly greased plate seam side down. Lightly score the pastry at 1cm intervals and decorate with the remaining pastry. Brush the Wellington with egg wash all over, press on the decorations and brushing again with the egg wash. Chill for 20 minutes (or up to 12 hours if you wish). 6. To make the sauce, pour the port into a pan with the reserved mushroom mix and bring to a boil. Simmer until the port has reduced then add the stock and porcini mushroom liquid and simmer for a further 10 minutes until syrupy. Season then stir in the butter. Set aside. 7. Preheat the oven to 200℃ / 180℃ fan / Gas 6 and heat a baking tray for 5 minutes. Line the baking tray with greaseproof paper and lay the Wellington on top. Cook for 35 minutes for rare or 40-45 minutes for medium. Cover with foil if the pastry starts to catch. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving with the sauce.
The Shop
NWM 2021 Page 49
MAGAZINE
Page 50 NWM 2021
! e s e e h C Season The Cheese season is nearly upon us. Christmas is a time for showcasing the very best cheeses that are on offer, including lesser known varieties. Stilton is always a firm Christmas favourite for many and it’s great that more people are looking to shop nearby and may not realise that there’s an amazing range of cheeses made locally, very similar to the cheeses produced in France and further afield, which your local cheesemonger can assist you with.
TEA POACHED PEARS WITH WALNUTS AND CASTELL GWYN WELSH HONEY CHEESE Serves two
Ingredients: J 2 Comice or Williams pears J 1 pot Castell Gwyn Welsh honey soft cheese J 25g chopped walnuts J 1 vanilla pod, split J 1 Earl Grey teabag J 50g sugar J 500ml dry white wine J 200ml water Peel the pears, discard skins. Using a tablespoon
I love a Christmas cheeseboard, one that sits on the kitchen
measure or a melon baller, core pears from their bottoms
table and comes into service after the Christmas pudding
(remove the seeds, but leave the pears intact). Set aside.
and will last long enough for the traditional boxing day
Stir together wine, water, sugar and teabag in a medium
buffet, served alongside the cranberry topped pork pies
saucepan. Scrape split vanilla bean pod into mixture; add
which are transformed further with sticky spoonful of
scraped pods.
chutney or pickles. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high, stirring It’s always tempting to try and please everybody when putting
until sugar dissolves. Remove the teabag and vanilla
together a cheeseboard, but I suggest buying bigger chunks
pods. Arrange pears on their sides in wine mixture;
of cheese, as these will always keep better. A harmonious
reduce heat to medium, and cover. Cook, turning pears
balance of flavours is what you are looking for. On my
occasionally to cook evenly all over, until pears are
Christmas cheese list is “a soft, a hard, a new and a blue”.
tender, about 30 minutes. Gently remove pears from wine mixture liquid; increase heat to high, and cook,
So, if you are looking for something new to try over the
undisturbed, until liquid reduces to about 3/4 cup and
Christmas festivities, I may be able to help. Here is a recipe
turns slightly syrupy, about 10 minutes.
with my Welsh Honey soft cheese, that I’m sure won’t disappoint!
Remove from heat. Let syrup cool slightly, about 20 minutes. Serve the pears on a small plate, pour over the
Jackie Whittaker is an award-winning cheese maker from
reduced sauce, and spoon the soft cheese to the side.
micro dairy Castell Gwyn in Rhuddlan
Sprinkle with the chopped walnuts.
NWM 2021 Page 51
WINDOWS • DOORS • ORANGERIES • CONSERVATORIES • SOFFITS • FASCIAS • CLADDING
Wishing you
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year
VISIT OUR LARGE LIFESTYLE SHOWROOMS IN MOLD Monday - Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm Saturday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
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MOLD: Bromfield Industrial Estate, Mold Flintshire CH7 1HA
www.snowdoniawindows.co.uk
OF THE
Month
Snowball
The Snowball is the ultimate retro cocktail to serve your guests this Christmas. However, as it is something of an acquired taste, we do recommend having a couple of bottles
of Prosecco in as back up! Advocaat doesn’t keep for as long as other liqueurs once the
bottle has been opened though (around a month), so if you do enjoy a Snowball or two then there’s all the more for you this festive season!
INGREDIENTS
• 10-15ml lime juice or lime cordial, (optional) • 50ml advocaat
• 50ml sparkling lemonade • Ice, to serve
• 1 maraschino cherry
INSTRUCTIONS
• Fill a glass with ice and, if using, add
up to 15ml of lime juice or lime cordial (or to your taste)
• Pour the advocaat and lemonade over the ice and stir gently until the outside of the glass feels cold
• Garnish with the maraschino cherry
IN THE MIX
Of course, if you’d rather sit back and relax while somebody mixed your ideal cocktail for you, then why not visit Sheldon’s in Colwyn Bay? From a Margarita to a Mojito, it has quite the cocktail selection and is quickly becoming the place to go for cocktails in North Wales. 01492 339821 www.sheldonsbar.co.uk
NWM 2020 Page 53
LOVE CHRISTMAS AT HOME LLWYN Landscapes LTD Landscape Design, Construction & Maintenance Contractors
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01745 582254 www.rnwilliams.co.uk Chester Street, St Asaph, LL17 0RE
Quinten Hazell Enterprise Parc, Glan Y Wern Road, Colwyn Bay LL28 5BS Office: 01492 552521 Mobile: 07896 222702 Email: info@llwynlandscapes.co.uk
www.llwynlandscapes.co.uk
Food for thought
Well, as the great Barry Manilow once sang, ‘Looks like we
where they pull homemade crackers and get smashed on
made it.’ After the extraordinary turmoil of the past two
peapod wine. Adults in their early fifties can also wax lyrical
years, here we are celebrating Christmas again. How we’ll
to their teenage children about how much better their toys
celebrate, I’m not quite sure. I’m writing this in November
were ‘back in the day.’
so there’s still every chance that by the 25th of December we may yet be ordered to barricade ourselves into our own
I do wonder if there are any new, 21st Century traditions
houses and keep our Christmas carolling to a bare minimum.
that will hold up as well. Will 2020s Christmases just
I for one however am quite optimistic that a splendid
be remembered as a day when the kids played the new
Christmas awaits!
X-Box game for 12 hours, apart from the time they have to spend eating food they mostly don’t like? Or am I just being
The festive season tends to involve a mish-mash of various
Scrooge-like in my curmudgeonly mid-life ways?
Yuletide traditions from the past. The Victorian (one might say Dickensian) version tends to be the most obvious one,
However you celebrate Christmas, I wish you all have an
represented most vividly by Christmas pudding, which takes
outstanding time and make many memories that you’ll be
months to make and rest, soaking up all that lovely rum, until
recreating for many Christmases to come. Here are a couple
it’s served and left completely uneaten by anyone under the
of homemade festive treats to help you along your way. n
age of 16. There’s the imported American 1950s Christmas, which involves lots of Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby songs,
Cai Ross is co-owner and Maitre
decorating the outside of your house, and yet another failed
d’ of the award-winning Paysanne
attempt to make eggnog seem palatable.
Bistro in Deganwy, which has been serving French country-style
Thence, we move onto the British 1970s Christmas, which we
food to the fine people of North
honour by listening to Slade a lot, and watching Morecambe
Wales since 1988. He also writes
& Wise shows and the festive episode of The Good Life
for Calibre Magazine, BBC Good Food, HeyUGuys.com and The North Wales Weekly News
NWM 2021 Page 55
MAGAZINE
Food for thought
RECIPES
MARRONS GLACÉ
This is a classic French Christmas treat. If you have a masochistic side to your character, you may even want to buy chestnuts in the shell and peel them yourselves. Good luck to you, but I’m happy to let someone else do it and sell them to me
SMOKED SALMON BLINIS Serves 6. Double up for extra guests.
vacuum packed. This does involve boiling sugar and water so
The Marrons Glacé might seem a little time-
exercise caution throughout!
consuming, but it’s worth it. These, on the other hand are ridiculously easy, terribly classy and
You will need:
are the perfect amuse-bouche to hand around
J 11 packets of whole chestnuts (shelled)
after the Christmas Champagne has been
J 450 mls water
uncorked.
J 900g sugar J 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
You will need: J 16 blinis
Bring the water, sugar and vanilla to a boil and keep stirring it
J 1 pack of the best smoked salmon you can find
for five minutes until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Turn
J 184ml whipping cream
down the heat, stir in the chestnuts and return it all to a low
J 1 tbsp horseradish sauce
boil. Leave for ten minutes, stirring it all up every now and then.
J 1 bunch of dill
Leave to cool for a while, then pour everything into a into a
Arrange the blinis and let them get to room
plastic container and put a lid over it. Leave it on the side for
temperature (or even warm them in the oven).
24 hours.
Whisk the cream until it’s firm, then stir in the horseradish sauce.
Now then, you’re going to return everything to a pan, bring it to the boil for five minutes, then put it back into a plastic container
Slice the smoked salmon into 16 squares. Drape
and leave it for 24 hours again. Keep repeating this process
salmon across each blini, then take a teaspoon
every day for about three days. By that time, most of the syrup
of the horseradish cream and lay a dollop on top
will have been absorbed into the chestnuts.
of the salmon. Finally add a spring of dill on each blini – if you really want to go for broke, add a
Line a baking tin with baking paper and arrange the chestnuts
small spoon of caviar on top of the cream.
over it, fairly spaced out. Heat the oven to 120˚C and bake them for about 45 minutes. Once they are cooled, you can put them
Open the Champagne, fill the flutes and hand
in fancy little cake papers and serve them like
round the blinis. Merry Christmas!
canapés with your Christmas morning coffee.
Don’t fancy cooking?
Page 56 NWM 2021
01492 582079 @PaysanneDeganwy
C y ff o rd
d Ll a n d
udno J
u n c ti o n
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Largest bicycle showroom in North Wales. Huge range of Electric Bikes from world leading brands covering all disciplines Our large range of children and adult bikes be them Electric, Folding, Hybrids, BMX, Hardtails, Full-Suspension, Gravel, Cyclocross, or Road means that we will undoubtedly have a bike to suit every need. Clothing for all disciplines, huge stock of components both current and historical, bike racks, lights and all other accessories to meet any riding need.
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Whether it's some family fun, a festive treat, a special gift or a scenic steam-hauled train ride - there's something for everyone here at the F&WHR... Santa Trains from Caernarfon
Enjoy a festive train ride with Santa and his elves from Caernarfon to Rhyd Ddu.
Santa's Grotto in Porthmadog
Bring the family to see Santa in his Christmas Grotto in Harbour Station.
Christmas Gifts
Our online shop stocks a wide range of souvenirs, railway items, books & DVDs. Station shops are open when trains run.
Seasonal Snowdonia Specials
Shrug off any Post-Christmas Blues with a scenic trip into Snowdonia - trains run daily 29th December to 1st January...
For more information, visit www.festrail.co.uk/christmas
FFESTINIOG & WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAYS Harbour Station, Porthmadog, LL49 9NF • St Helen's Road, Caernarfon, LL55 2PF facebook.com/festrail
www.festrail.co.uk
01766 516024
HELP STOP THE BLOCK THIS CHRISTMAS Pouring turkey fat, gravy, cooking oil and leftovers down your sink could end in disaster. Don’t let a blocked pipe ruin your big day. Visit dwrcymru.com/stoptheblock to find out more.
HELPWCH I STOPIO'R BLOC DROS Y 'DOLIG Gallai arllwys braster twrci, grefi, olew coginio a sbarion bwyd i'r sinc fod yn drychinebus. Peidiwch â gadael i floc mewn pibell ddifetha'ch diwrnod mawr. Ewch i dwrcymru.com/stopcyncreubloc am fanylion.
The party case comprises of a mix of six top selling wines, perfect for any celebration. The box is bursting with a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, Australian Chardonnay, a luscious Chilean Merlot, a jammy Australian Shiraz, a sophisticated blush Rose, and our best selling Prosecco!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Hello all and ‘MERRY DECEMBER’! Here we are again! Doors on advent calendars have started to be opened, houses are being decorated, an advert with a catchy jingle showing a truck festooned in lights, delivering a cargo of carbonated sugary drinks tells us that holidays are coming. PICK AND MIX’ 6 BOTTLE OFFER*
Another sure-fire sign is a change in the wines on display in the shop. Classic Reds, a wider than ever range of Sparklers, some stunning Whites, Ports, Sherry and Dessert Wines. A signal that we are all starting to get just as excited by Christmas as you are. Gift bags, vouchers and glamorous wrapping facilities are always on offer – as well as our expertise. Specially curated selections of wines to ease you through the most wonderful
Every Wednesday throughout December, we will be offering 10% off any six bottles when purchased with a ‘Grape to Glass’ re-usable jute bag (£5.99). Allow our dedicated team of experts to help you choose wines for the festive season on Winter Wine Wednesday’s! *(Loyalty cards cannot be redeemed against the Winter Wine Wednesday’s offer). *(Loyalty cards will not issued with the Winter Wine Wednesday offer).
of days. Something special to match with the widest array of foods we are likely to see in the year. An accompaniment for fish, meats, fowl, game. A livener to have with a fancy breakfast, a perfect match for snacks, or just something to get you through the chaos of present opening, perhaps to calm the nerves before the arrival of the family. There is always a lot to choose from. We will be having steak for lunch, so a lovely rich Amarone is already on my list, but to go with the fish in the evening I have
together wines we love collected into an easy ‘off the shelf’
already taken the sage advice of Mark and bought a bottle of
case for you.
Xosé Lois Sebio ‘O Con’ Albarino. For relaxing in the evening a bottle of Gwinllan Conwy Pefriog will keep the mood light and
We also have selected a fantastic selection of Port and Dessert
the smiles large.
Wines this year, and we’ll most certainly be having them available to taste in the coming weekends so that you can ‘try-
Whatever you are wanting, no matter the food, we will happily
before-you-buy’.
guide you through some of our favourites to help you choose. We will curate a selection to perfectly match to your day.
Take home a little bit of what we love to your home. Eat, drink, laugh, most importantly enjoy.
n
We are also bringing back our special collection cases this year. A pre-made party case and a ‘pick and mix’ six-bottle
Nadolig Llawen
offer, ensuring the best wines for your festivities. These bring
Tim, Nicole, Mark, Pete, Ant, Huw & Albie
The Grape to Glass Wine Shop and Tasting Room
Tim Watson and his team run the Grape to Glass
8b Rhos Parade, Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea, LL29 7RE
Wine Shop and Tasting Room in Rhos-on-Sea which,
Tel: 01492 545934
as well as offering wine from far reaching lands, also
www.thegrapetoglass.co.uk
stocks locally produced beers, wines and spirits
NWM NWM 2019 2020 Page Page 59 59
CALL TODAY TO GET YOUR FREE QUOTE
01492 550120
info@cvw.wales | www.conwyvalleywindows.co.uk The Roundabout, Glan Y Mor Road, Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, LL30 3NL
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“ A big thank you to you all, from measuring the windows to completion, (sadly delayed through Covid-19) the whole experience has been great, very friendly and professional survey and measurement, price just as we expected. The two fitters today were great to have around, have worked really hard and left inside and out spotless, absolutely no tidying up to do. Many, many thanks. ” - L. Dale
“We are more than happy to continue to work with Conwy Valley because the support was honest, authentic and the price was so fair, and to top if off the quality of the work was absolutely superb.” - I. Urbat
“Provided sound, practical and budget-friendly advice on the best ways to double glaze. The fitters were polite, knowledgeable & experienced. The windows & doors are of excellent quality, and heating bills have reduced since fitting. Sound-proofing is top notch. Finally, this was an on-going project over 18 months; we used Conwy Valley Windows for all the work as we were confident and happy they would provide the best service. - S. Gow
HOMES & INTERIORS
NWM 2020 Page 63
TS N W E N NE PM OO .uk LO G S es.co E V IN stat E D OMsge C w. ww MAGAZINE
Willow Fields W
MAES HELYG Llangollen L
We build houses, which our customers are proud to call home. Currently building in Llangollen with prices from £225,000 for a 3 bed semi detached home.
Telephone:
07442 501438
Page 64 NWM 2021
Our attention to detail, inside and out, along with the locations in which we build, has given us a superb reputation.
Local firm SG Estates join Wrexham AFC in a minutes silence to pay tribute to the victims of the Gresford Colliery Disaster which affected the whole of Wrexham, with almost every village in the County Borough losing someone. In total 266 people lost their lives on September 22nd, 1934.
www.sgestates.co.uk
Month PROPERTY OF THE
Bryn Eithin has been described as a “haven” and it is easy to see why. Nestled in amongst the beautiful Bryn Pydew countryside, Bryn Eithin is a hidden gem perfect for those wanting a change in pace and lifestyle, while still being close to local town centres. It offers stunning views from both the ground and first floor, taking in the breath-taking countryside surrounding the property and Llandudno’s iconic Great Orme towering over the hills off in the distance. Bryn Eithin offers a peaceful, private home located away from the hustle and bustle of nearby towns. From the picturesque and relaxing external features to the cosy yet spacious interior. The property is also a walkers dream with the Bryn Pydew Nature Reserve and Bryn Marl Woods right on your doorstep. The property also features double glazed windows and propane gas central heating throughout. It also has a single septic tank. There is a lot to like about this hidden haven. Give in to the call of the countryside and lose yourself in the peaceful home that is Bryn Eithin… n Bryn Eithin is currently on the market for £585,000. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, please call Anthony Flint Estate Agents on 01492 877418 or visit www.anthonyflint.co.uk
NWM 2021 Page 65
MAGAZINE
The Selling & Letting Agents
Sales / Lettings - 3 Lancaster Square, Conwy LL32 8HT • Tel: 01492 583100 Sales - 1a Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea LL28 4PS • Tel: 01492 549178 email: conwy@fletcherpoole.com
email: rhos@fletcherpoole.com
LLANDUDNO JUNCTION GUIDE PRICE £450,000
GRAIG £869,000
• Simply stunning detached four bedroom modern home situated in a small cul-de-sac location • Stylish and immaculately presented accommodation • Driveway parking, dry lined double garage with electric up and over door • Front garden & A Beautifully landscaped south/west facing rear garden
• Immaculately presented detached home with the original building dating back to the 17th/18th century. • Spacious and versatile accommodation • Occupying beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds extending to approximately 1.5 acres. • Located in the small hamlet within easy access to the stunning Conwy Valley
EPC
F
DEGANWY
CONWY £275,000
• An immaculately presented detached two bedroom cottage situated just outside the castle walls. • The property benefits driveway parking, views of the castle turret & countryside views to the rear. • Well planned accommodation • Driveway parking to the side and a gated low maintenance paved rear garden with timber store.
website: www.fletcherpoole.com
£345,000
• A spacious, well presented 3 bedroom detached bungalow, one of five in a small cul de sac location. • Light and well planned accommodation • Outside is a block paved driveway, garage with electric up and over door • Well planted front garden area, low maintenance rear garden with summer house and timber shed
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY – FRIDAY 9.00-5.30 SATURDAY 9.30-4.00
INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENTS
Page 66 NWM 2020
VALUATION - If you are thinking of moving at anytime in the near future please do not hesitate to ask for a FREE SALES VALUATION www.fletcherpoole.com
The Selling & Letting Agents
Sales / Lettings - 3 Lancaster Square, Conwy LL32 8HT • Tel: 01492 583100 Sales - 1a Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea LL28 4PS • Tel: 01492 549178 email: conwy@fletcherpoole.com
email: rhos@fletcherpoole.com
OLD COLWYN
RHOS ON SEA £249,950
149,950 NO CHAIN
• Beautifully Presented Two Bedroom Ground Floor Apartment • Part of A Newly Built Well Maintained Development • Enjoys Panoramic Coastal Views
• Immaculate Two Bedroom Second Floor Apartment • Refurbished By Present Owners With New Kitchen & Bathroom • Part of a Well Maintained Development • Convenient Location Close To Amenities & Promenade
EPC
F
UPPER COLWYN BAY
RHOS ON SEA £395,000
• Beautifully Presented Four Bedroom Detached House • Landscaped Gardens To The Front & Side • Situated Close To Local Amenities of Rhos on Sea • Village & The Promenade
website: www.fletcherpoole.com
£674,950
• Impressive Four Bedroom Split Level Detached House • Situated In A Sought After Location With Panoramic Sea & Coastline Views • Off Road Parking, Double Garage & Landscaped Garden
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY – FRIDAY 9.00-5.30 SATURDAY 9.30-4.00
INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENTS VALUATION - If you are thinking of moving at anytime in the near future please do not hesitate to ask for a FREE SALES VALUATION www.fletcherpoole.com
NWM 2020 Page 67
£285,000 Rhyl
St. Asaph
Ref: WR10927
Ref: WP9111
• Four bedroom detached
• Two reception rooms
• Large master bedroom with en-suite
• Downstairs WC
• Lawned gardens to front and rear
• Integral single garage and driveway
• Easy access of the A55 Expressway
• EPC Rating C-73
OIEO £350,000
• Five bedroom detached
• Beautiful far-reaching views
• Two reception rooms
• Two bathrooms
• Gardens to side and rear
• Garage and ample parking
• Oil fired central heating
• EPC Rating F-21
Gwernymynydd, Mold
OIRO £435,000
Ref: WM883 • Four bedroom detached
• Open plan kitchen/family room
• Beautiful family home
• Large gardens to the rear
• Driveway and double garage
• 1 mile from Loggerheads Country Park
• Short drive to Mold town centre
• EPC Rating D-65
£695,000 St. Asaph
Ruthin
Ref: RN2050
£395,000
Ref: WM272
• Four bedroom detached
• No onward chain
• Four bedroom detached
• Spacious living accommodation
• Part-exchange considered
• Three reception rooms
• Two sitting rooms
• Beautifully presented garden
• Recently renovated and refurbished
• Spacious living accommodation
• Countryside views
• Ample off-road parking
• Ample off-road parking and garage
• EPC Rating C-72
• Garage/workshop and carport
• EPC Rating TBC
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Inside
Out
North Wales Magazine brings you the latest products from the world of interiors
Let there be light If you’re planning a statement light fitting then think outside the box with the Brooklyn outdoor and bathroom globe flush mount in brass from Industville. As you can see, even though the range is IP20, IP44 and
Going green
IP65 rated – waterproof and weatherproof
Aga has introduced its brand new colour – olivine. The new colourway for both
– the lights look equally good in any room of
AGA and Rayburn range cookers is truly versatile, meaning it will go with a
the house…
whole host of shades, including pinks and bright reds, natural wood as well as other greens and neutral shades such as creams, whites and greys. While olive is one of the top interiors colours for 2022, it is also timeless, meaning a
*Image courtesy of Mel Sinclair @Its_all_about_the_house
cooker installed today in this shade will look fantastic for years to come. Available on
Colour me happy
most AGA models – from the
Plumbworld, one of the UK’s leading
smallest 60cm cooker through
largest online bathroom retailers, has
to the largest 210cm model –
just introduced an array of coloured
and all Rayburn models, the
baths, including; Farrow and Ball
new Olivine shade will add
green, Pantone grey, green, yellow,
a splash of gorgeous colour
nickel and copper. Sure to make
wherever it’s used.
a statement and add ambience to
www.rnwilliams.co.uk
even the drabbest of bathrooms, these stylish coloured baths create an eye-catching feature that is sure to impress. Choose from unique materials such as copper, nickel and tin, multiple painted finishes and even a pink shell design for that real wow factor!
NWM 2021 Page 71
CYFREITHWYR•SOLICITORS
Ein Pobl, Eich Tîm Our People, Your Team Yma i helpu…
Here to Help…
Mae ein swyddfeydd agor ar gyfer cyfarfodydd sydd wedi eu trefnu o flaen llaw ac er mwyn gollwng dogfennau. Rydym eisoes yn cynnig cyfarfodydd dros y ffôn a thrwy fideo.
Our offices are open for pre-arranged appointments and to drop off documents, we continue to offer meetings via telephone and video.
Rydym ni’n cynnig ystod eang o wasanaethau cyfreithiol, sy’n cynnwys:
Offering a wide range of legal services including:
• • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • •
Eiddo Masnachol a Phreswyl Amaethyddiaeth Ewyllysiau, Ymddiriedolaethau a Phrofiant Cyfraith Teulu Cyflogaeth Corfforaethol a Masnachol Anghydfodau Troseddau Moduro Niwed Personol ac Esgeulustod Meddygol
Commercial & Residential Property Agriculture Wills, Trusts & Probate Family Law Employment Corporate & Commercial Disputes Motoring Offences Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
Swyddfa Conwy Office 1 & 2 Connaught House, Riverside Business Park, Benarth Road, Conwy LL32 8UB
01492 557070 info@lblaw.co.uk www.lblaw.co.uk Yr Amwythig • Bromyard • Conwy • Henffordd • Llwydlo • Croesoswallt • Telford Shrewsbury • Bromyard • Conwy • Hereford • Ludlow • Oswestry • Telford
Business NEWS Crucial to prepare for the future, say legal experts A lot of businesses are run as a partnership – and a
partnership will dissolve
North Wales-based legal specialist says it is “crucial” for
on the death of any
partners to have plans in place for the future. Jennifer
partner. The partnership
Edwards (pictured), a corporate and commercial lawyer
agreement should also
at Lanyon Bowdler in Conwy, said succession planning
be used to clearly set
was a vital consideration, whether you are setting up a
out what should happen
new partnership or already in partnership but without
to an individual’s share
documenting your intentions. “If you are operating as a
of the partnership on
partnership, firstly check whether you have a written
death – is it to be left
partnership agreement in place,” she explained. “It is
to another partner as a
important to have a written agreement rather than relying
gift, or will the other partners have an option to purchase
on verbal arrangements or past practice to determine how
the deceased partners’ share? This should be considered
the business is run. Many people don’t realise that in the
alongside your Will and the two documents should reflect
absence of a written agreement providing otherwise, the
the same wishes.”
Rydal Penrhos hosts cricket coaching event
New development for Colwyn Bay
Rydal Penrhos’ incredible sporting facilities have regularly hosted Welsh youth cricket internationals in recent years, and the school was
A rapidly-growing North Wales builder
thrilled to host a special coaching
has started work on a £25 million scheme
event on Saturday 13th November
to build over 100 new homes in Colwyn
in partnership with Cricket Wales and Glamorgan County Cricket
Bay. Bamber Homes is a new division of
Club. The Coaching CPD Day ran from 10.00am – 5.00pm and covered
the Mochdre-based Brenig Group and has
a number of topics from the disciplines of batting, bowling, fielding
been formed to develop the company’s
and wicket-keeping to athletic development and talent identification.
private housebuilding projects. Their first
Among those attending the session was Matt Maynard MBE, a former
venture is on a 13-acre site on Queens
England international and Glamorgan star who has since gone on
Drive, Colwyn Bay, where they will build
to become a successful coach. He was joined at the event by Rich
a mixture of two- to five-bedroom houses
Almond (Head of Talent Development at Glamorgan Cricket Club),
and apartments on the former John
Aimee Rees and Matt Thompson, who is Head of Talent Pathway
Braddock and Mary Bamber convalescent
at Cricket Wales. The aim of the days were to provide coaches up
centre site. The plans include 14
and down the country with a refresher of technical, tactical and
executive-style apartments in the John
practical coaching content that can be applied throughout the Welsh
Braddock building, originally built as a
cricketing pathway, from club level, to regional cricket and County
luxurious mansion-style home for Lord
Age Group cricket.
Colwyn in the 1930s.
NWM 2021 Page 73
Tyfu busnes trwy gydweithio Growing business through collaboration
Bwytewch a mwynhewch gyda Cywain! Eat, Drink and be merry with Cywain! Chwilio am ysbrydoliaeth – anrhegion i’r teulu neu rhywbeth bach i chi’ch hun? Mae map cynhyrchwyr Cywain yn llawn syniadau am fwyd a diod blasus ac i’w weld ar cywain.cymru Anrhegion a hamperi, diodydd, melysion a llawer mwy … Am ragor o wybodaeth am Cywain a sut rydym yn cefnogi busnesau bwyd a diod yng Nghymru, ewch i cywain.cymru
Looking for inspiration – gifts for the family or a treat for yourself? The Cywain producer map is bursting with delicious food and drink ideas and can be seen at Cywain.Cymru Gifts and Hampers, Drinks, Confectionery, and much more… For further information about Cywain and how we support food and drink business in Wales, visit cywain.cymru
cywain.cymru
Cronfa Amaethyddol Ewrop ar gyfer Datblygu Gwledig: Ewrop yn Buddsoddi mewn Ardaloedd Gwledig European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe Investing in Rural Areas
Eat, Drink and be merry with Cywain! Are you starting to feel all festive? The media is undeniably in Christmas mode as the muchanticipated Christmas TV adverts appear on our screens. There is no doubt that they contribute towards that feeling of warmth and indulgence we all long for at Christmas.
Replicating that sentiment is something you can achieve too by supporting Welsh food and drink businesses. We are so lucky to have a wealth of high-quality produce made here in Wales – not only bursting with flavour, but also made using the finest ingredients, evident traceability and more often than not, a personality behind each brand. I’m sure that we can all visualise that traditional Christmas table with an abundance of festive fayre. Why not take that visualization one step further and make food and drink the core of your Christmas gift list this year? Find those firm favourites you know your friends and family will love, or why not introduce them to something new? The Cywain producer map is bursting with delicious food and drink and can be seen at Cywain.Cymru. Customers are able to navigate the map either by location and miles radius (for that real sense of supporting local) or by browsing the various categories which include gifts and hampers, drinks and confectionery – to name but a few. Alternatively, if you’re already thinking of the new year, new resolutions, new plans – and maybe even a new career, specifically in the wonderful world of food and drink production – then Cywain is a service that can help you. They are able to offer the guidance, support and the practical tools you’ll need to develop your business. Cywain also leads the Welsh Seafood, Honey and Fine Food Clusters which are networks of likeminded food and drink sector businesses, working together collaboratively to help their companies grow and develop. Cywain’s friendly members of staff are just a phone call away and are ready to guide you from that initial chat to making your dream a reality! For further information about Cywain Cywain would like to wish the readers of North Wales Magazine a very
and how they support food and drink
merry, tasty Christmas and a prosperous New Year! n
business in Wales, visit cywain.cymru
NWM 2021 Page 75
Expert Focus Dr Christopher Aris is a Lecturer in Bioscience on the Forensic Science BSc course at Wrexham Glyndŵr University. Here he gives us some insight into this fascinating course…
How did you get into Forensic Science?
applicants to show us who they are as a person and tell us
Growing up I was fascinated with science, but I was not your
what they’ve done outside of education that is relevant.
typical A* student and being dyslexic I wasn’t suited to the traditional style of exam-board examinations. I did alright
What type of work are you involved with outside of the
in my GCSEs and A-levels, but it meant that when I wanted
programme?
to approach science at a university level I needed to be
I am trustee for the British Association for Biological
more tactical, so I decided to study biological anthropology
Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology which is the overarching
for my undergraduate degree. It’s basically the study of
governing body for those topics. My work with them is mainly
human biology but also brings in elements of history and
focused on ensuring the use of human remains in both
environmental studies which fit well with my passion
teaching and research is done ethically across the UK. I always
for science and style of learning. One of the modules that
try to get students involved in my outside work depending
really sparked my interest was human osteology which is
on the context of it. When I’m working with archaeology units
the study of skeletons and bone. I decided to pursue it at
and there’s an opportunity to, I will have students assist me
a postgraduate level and through completing my master’s
doing post excavation work on the skeletal remains, showing
in human osteology, I was exposed to the world of forensic
them how to clean the bones, profile them and report on their
anthropology. I started developing my skills to start profiling
findings. Although it’s not forensic, there is so much crossover
skeletons and identifying human vs non-human bones when
between archaeological and forensic remains. We also do a
I realised I could apply it to forensics. I went on to complete
lot of work with Poulton Research Project which is a local
my PhD, became a certified Forensic Anthropologist and now
archaeological research facility where our students have the
teach on the Forensic Science BSc at Glyndŵr, specialising in
opportunity to go and work with them on excavations to learn
forensic skeletal analysis.
how to unearth and analyse remains.
What can students expect from your course?
What opportunities are open to students after they
The course has a real emphasis on practical application, so
graduate?
instead of sitting at their computers writing essays all day,
Our students don’t just graduate with a degree, because of
our students are far more likely to be out in the field or in
the practical elements of the course they graduate not only
the lab. We offer a foundation year for the course, so that’s
being able to say that they have a BSc in Forensic Science
when we do a lot more of the theory work and build up the
but that they have been trained in osteological analysis,
students understanding. The foundation and first year are
dissection, crime scene investigation, botany and so much
heavily focused on guaranteeing our students have that core
more. Whey they go for forensic science jobs they can look at
understanding and are on the same level with their theoretical
specialisations across the spectrum and they will have the
knowledge so they can move onto the practical elements. We
practical skills to support them. Our students can also look at
then have them in the lab studying human remains, putting
potentially climbing the academic ladder as we offer an MRes
that theoretical understanding to use and spending hours
in Forensic Anthropology and Bioarcheology which is the next
and hours handling the bone. We have our students out on
step into my specialisation.
campus dragging mock bodies around to bring back to the lab to analyse the leaves that it has picked up, how they can be
What does Wrexham Glyndŵr University have to offer?
identified and figuring out how the body has been moved.
Our accessibly. We’re a university that responds to what’s going on in the wider world and adapts it to our student’s
How can students get a place on the programme?
needs. Over the last two years throughout the pandemic we’ve
We have our basic entry requirements which you can find
adapted to a blended learning approach and developed it as
on our website, but we’re really looking for some exposure to
we’ve seen students benefitting from it. It allows students from
science from our applicants. It doesn’t have to be too in depth,
different background and situations to have some flexibility
but it needs to be at Level 3 or the equivalent. We’re especially
with their timetable and only come in one to two days a week
looking to see applicants who can show more of themselves
and focus on their practical work and then complete the
than just their grades. We’re a small, specialised team and we
theory work at their own pace. They’re not losing out on of the
get to know our students by name, what their interests are and
practical experience but it makes it easier for them to complete
where their specialities are potentially going to lie. We want
their modules around their personal responsibilities. n
NWM 2021 Page 77
MAGAZINE
Page 78 NWM 2020
Learning by heart
“Maximise your potential” – this is always the number one goal for our pupils at Rydal Penrhos, and we do everything we can to achieve it. This is an important time of year for pupils up and down the
informative session for all involved.
country embarking on GCSE and A Level examinations. After two years of no such experiences for those in Years 11 and
These presentations come just a few short weeks before mock
13 due to COVID-19 restrictions, next spring’s candidates are
examinations, which are an opportunity for pupils to sample an
going through a much more normal scenario when it comes
exam situation and gain exam-condition experience before the
to learning, revision and additional preparation ahead of their
real thing.
big moment. This is yet another dimension to the school’s comprehensive As educators, it is our responsibility to ensure that each child
approach with our pupils’ progress in mind. One that will
or young person progressed through these challenging times.
hopefully stand them in good stead in the weeks and months
Rydal Penrhos’ outstanding examination results in recent years
to come before they officially receive their results next
are a strong reflection of a pupil-centred approach that focuses
summer. As the old saying goes: “Fail to prepare, prepare
on the individual and assists in reaching their respective goals.
to fail.”
Not only this, but incredible value-added scores further
At Rydal Penrhos, no stone is left unturned when it comes
represents our exam candidates often far exceeding the marks
to learning, planning, monitoring and goal setting. Our
expected on a consistent basis.
comprehensive provision also assists our Sixth Form community with university preparation to ensure the entire
Although it’s now a return to normal for our upcoming exam
process does not become too daunting and impacts their
hopefuls, the ethos remains the same. Our exceptional teaching
studies in any detrimental fashion.
staff are constantly searching for ways to assist our learners in whatever way they can. Especially during such an important
This year’s exam candidates nationwide are fortunate to a
stage where results can dictate university destinations or
certain extent in that they can decide their own fate. This
opportunities in the working world.
also comes with a heightened sense of reward for all their hard work and dedication.
Those sitting exams in 2022 and 2023 got a substantial boost in their revision preparations after staff organised special
Being prepared and making the most out of every
Study Skills presentations with Maximise Your Potential, who
possible tool available goes a long way to enhancing exam
are industry-leaders in providing high-impact study skills for
performance. And, make no mistake, our staff will always be
examinations and life in general.
on hand every step of the way.
n
The focus of the presentations was to get the pupils to really understand the benefits of good study practice and to take ownership of their learning. As well as equipping them with a range of evidence-based study skills which
John Waszek is the Principal of Rydal Penrhos
will deliver measurable results, Maximise Your Potential also encouraged resilience, a readiness to learn from failure, and a ‘can-do’ attitude during what proved to be a hugely
NWM 2021 Page 79
Independent Day & Boarding School for ages 9-19 MAGAZINE
ISA Awards 2020 Winners
Award winning education set in a 30 acre Tudor Estate, nestled between Snowdonia National Park and the North Wales coastline
Outstanding Sports Provision (Small School)
ADMISSIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2022 OPEN
FREEDOM TO FLOURISH REGISTER AT WWW.STDAVIDSCOLLEGE.CO.UK
GLODDAETH HALL, LLANDUDNO LL30 1RD | ADMISSIONS@STDAVIDSCOLLEGE.CO.UK | TEL: +44 (0)1492 875974
Page 80 NWM 2021
EDUCATION NEWS The benefit of pastoral care
Every school will claim that they have exceptional pastoral care, but how can you be sure? St David’s College has, since it’s inception in 1965, placed enormous value in focusing on the individual and supporting them to realise the potential of their own gifts. Communication is vital Two-way communication between staff and pupils is key. Pupils must feel comfortable enough to speak up about anything that is concerning them. Staff strive to get to know pupils as well as possible and make themselves available. An open dialogue between pupils and staff is hugely important. Feedback from pupils about their
Pastoral Care in the Digital Age Understanding each pupil’s situation is important. Not all
thoughts on the Pastoral Care provision is equally critical.
pupils will have access to the same level of resources they
They are the ones who are experiencing the care, their
have in school.
thoughts and feelings are crucial to making sure the support is exactly what is needed. Community Genuinely exceptional pastoral care is constant, it
Taking time to do fun things helps to engage pupils by breaking up the monotony of working at a screen. Encourage children to be active away from their screens, take part in Challenges, and post the results back to school community.
permeates throughout the child’s educational experience. It can be in the classroom, part of extra-curricular activities,
When every child feels safe in the knowledge that they
on outdoor education expeditions, or during preparations
are a valued member of the community, that is where
for the school production. Continued support and guidance
their true gifts can be found, nurtured, and given the
prepares children for the world.
freedom to flourish.
Rydal Penrhos remembers them
Rydal Penrhos has always been extremely proud of its community involvement. Whether it be helping with initiatives, raising funds for worthy causes, or having a strong presence across the Colwyn Bay region, the school has been a significant part of the area for more than 140 years and something that’s become a key part of our ethos. This was once again evident at the annual Remembrance Sunday service held by the War Memorial in Queen’s Gardens, which is just a stone’s throw from the school site. There were a host of respected dignitaries at the service – including councillors and the Mayor of Colwyn Bay. Rydal Penrhos’ Deputy Principal Lucy Davies also attended the Remembrance Service in addition to other staff members. Pete Williams, the school’s Director of Music, organised some of the Year 7-13 Choir to sign during the poignant service as well as playing all the hymns and the National Anthems for those in attendance to sing along to at the parade. Sixty-three former pupils lost their lives during World War One, with a further 43 killed in the Second World War. Miss Constance Smith, who was Principal of Penrhos College from 1938-1966, undertook the considerable task of evacuating the school to Chatsworth in 1939 and then moving back to Colwyn Bay in 1945.
NWM 2020 Page 81
EDUCATION NEWS you love? In 2020/21, despite the pandemic, students across the Grŵp’s ten campuses achieved remarkable personal goals and successes.
J A Level student Sohaib Hassan gained an A* in History after studying for the full A-level in only 12 months, enabling him to accept an unconditional offer for Oxford University
J Media degree student Lucy Sharpe, was “in dreamland” after she was chosen to work on UK television’s biggest
Have you applied to college yet?
show of the year: ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here’!
J Student Ambassador Tirion Thomas, who had just
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s three colleges – Coleg Llandrillo,
completed her Health and Social Care Level 3 studies at the
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai – are now accepting
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Dolgellau campus, was announced
applications for the new term in September 2022. The Grŵp’s
the winner of the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the
three colleges have hundreds of courses, from BTECs, to A
Year’s ‘Unsung Hero’ award
Levels, and apprenticeships to degrees, to suit every need and to help you fulfil your potential. Perhaps you are in Year
In a recent Student Survey, learners across Grŵp Llandrillo
11 and currently contemplating what to do when you finish
Menai gave the college group a big ‘thumbs-up’, with the
your GCSEs? Or you are rethinking your plans to go away to
vast majority of students stating that they appreciated the
university, and thinking of studying for your degree a little bit
flexibility and support shown by their tutors. The statistics
closer to home? Or maybe you discovered a new passion or
from the survey mirror the excellent feedback provided by
interest during the lockdown and want to study the subject
the learners.
Wrexham Glyndŵr University launches Nutrition and Dietetics course
Dietetics at the Walton Centre in Liverpool, where she developed a wealth
Do you have an interest in nutrition, diet and their effect on
of experience leading
overall health? If so, Wrexham Glyndŵr University is the
the development and
place to learn more with the launch of a brand new course.
delivery of nutrition and
For the first time, you can study for a BSC (Hons) Nutrition
dietetic services within
and Dietetics Degree in North Wales. It will offer the chance
the NHS. “Roles can vary
to work closely with local partners within health, social
from working with people
care and industry to offer student dietitians an inclusive,
in the health and social
supportive and enjoyable university experience that is
care sector right through to dietitians who work in
unique to the North Wales area. Graduates are eligible for
industry,” she said. “There are dietitians working for
full membership of the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
big corporations, in charge of monitoring the nutrition
and associated specialist groups. The University has strong
content of recipes, meals, foods and beverages. Leading
links with local healthcare and industry partners and the
manufacturers within the food supply chain will often
course has been developed to ensure that it provides you
have a dietitian or nutritionist attached. The key
with the qualities, skills and knowledge that matter most.
difference between dietitians and nutritionists is that we
The degree confers eligibility for registration with the
are registered with and regulated by the HCPC to practice
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to practice
clinical work, whereas nutritionists do not receive the
as a Dietitian in the UK, and graduates are also eligible to
same clinical training and registration to work within the
become full members of the British Dietetic Association
health and social care sector. The HEIW funded course
(BDA) and associated specialist groups upon successful
focuses more on that clinical element which makes the
completion. Course leader Vicky Davies is an experienced
Dietetics course stand out from other nutrition courses.
clinical dietitian who has worked in a range of specialities,
We also provide our graduates with unique opportunities
including gastroenterology, oncology, respiratory medicine,
and support to start their careers within the National
intensive care and neuroscience. Until recently, she
Health Service in Wales upon successful completion of
was the Clinical and Professional Lead for Nutrition and
the course.”
Page 82 NWM 2021
NWM 2021 Page 83
Behind the scenes Excitement is building across the whole of Rydal Penrhos ahead of the triumphant return of the school’s annual Dramatic Society production. With COVID-19 restrictions preventing any such occasion
Not only this, but Rydal Penrhos also has a plethora of
taking place last year, pupils and staff are now busy in
wonderful outdoor venues perfect for a summer concert or
rehearsals and creating the set for Matilda the Musical Jr.,
any type of performance. Their facilities are already utilised
which is sure to be yet another fantastic spectacle for the
by a large number of groups and organisations from a variety
school and wider community to enjoy.
of different fields – the school is proud to be the home of the Pauline Quirke Performing Arts Academy, which runs weekly
Matilda the Musical Jr. is a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s
classes for children aged four to 18.
1988 children’s novel by Dennis Kelly. The play centres on the titular five-year-old character as she navigates her hostile
Led by a fantastic team of teachers with specialist industry
school and family life with the help of a kind-hearted teacher,
experience and knowledge, their students learn and develop
some supernatural abilities and a love of reading.
skills in Comedy and Drama (acting), Musical Theatre (singing and dancing), in addition to Film and Television which
This promises to be an exceptional display of talent,
culminates in a yearly production on the West End Stage.
dedication and enthusiasm by gifted Rydal Penrhos thespians. The budding actors, stage hands, set designers and music and
The group has benefitted significantly from the facilities that
lighting technicians are fortunate to have a large drama studio
Rydal Penrhos has to offer. So much so, the Academy made the
for rehearsals and performances, along with the spectacular
school its new Conwy base.
Memorial Hall where concerts and productions are held. Each and every day of their school life the pupils benefit
Not only does this apply to dramatic performances, but the
from exceptional facilities which enhance their dramatic
school hosts a number of concerts within the Memorial Hall or
performances and creative natures and quite a few famous
the incredible St John’s Church during the year. The school’s
names in the acting and producing world emanate from the
Community Choir recently started up again and although only
corridors of the school.
available to Rydal Penrhos staff members currently, they are looking to offer this to anyone interested once COVID-19 cases
But not everyone realises that the school is also happy to draw
subside.
back the proverbial curtains on these facilities and let the wider community hire them for their own theatrical or choral
Communities are a powerful force for change, and placing
or musical pursuits.
choirs at the heart of local communities it has the potential to do good for society.
The Memorial Hall is a traditional Proscenium theatre with a large stage, the ability to fly scenery and a suite of dressing
As Rydal Penrhos’ pupils get set for their big moment on
rooms. The auditorium seats just under 400 when using both
stage, the school is always willing to go above and beyond for
the hall and balcony setting.
those in the wider community that still want to take advantage of the first-class facilities that benefit their young learners
There is direct street access and a small lobby area where
each and every day.
n
you are able to serve internal refreshments. Equipped with a state-of-the-art lighting desk and sound system, this is a
Anyone wishing to find out more about Rydal Penrhos’
wonderful venue to showcase a performance or for choral and
Theatre and Drama facilities, or to make a booking enquiry,
orchestral recitals.
please contact events@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155.
NWM 2021 Page 85
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Take a drive down electric avenue Local family Business, North Wales Motor Co, are fully embracing the electric car journey as Llandudno Kia, launches yet another electric powered car to their broad range. Twelve models across their sites, North Wales Honda and Llandudno Kia, are already plug in, self-charge or fully electric. This environmentally conscious car, however exceeds expectations when it comes to environmental benefit. The new award winning EV6 has made history after being receiving certification from global climate change and sustainability consultancy, the Carbon Trust, for its low carbon footprint. It is the first Korean car to achieve product carbon footprint certification and a ‘Carbon Measured’ label from the Carbon Trust.* Capable of up to 328 miles (WLTP combined cycle) range from a single charge of its 77.4kWh battery, the EV6 can recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes thanks to its 800V electric vehicle architecture. Not only that but a range of eco-friendly materials have been introduced to the EV6 including PET recycled plastics, floor mats and seat coverings. This
with local dignitaries such as Janet Finch-Saunders
means every single EV6 built contains
and Louise Emry in attendance. North Wales
the equivalent to 107 recycled 500ml PET
Magazine also came along!
bottles. Jade, North Wales Motor Co Ltd marketing director “Manufacturers have dominated the car
(and David’s daughter) has been working in the
industry for so long predominantly with
business for nearly ten years. “The EV6 Launch had
big diesel engines, which are 100% a
a completely different feel from our previous new
thing of the past,” said North Wales Motor
car launches,” she commented. “The atmosphere
Company, managing director David Paveley.
was different. Every person who attended didn’t just
“I am really excited to embrace purpose
go because they felt they should ‘probably look at
built electric cars that are pushing the
getting a new car’. They came along because they
boundaries of what we ever expected ten years ago. The
were genuinely excited and interested in the product. Most
EV6 cannot be described as a ‘niche eco car’. It’s stylish, fast
customers want to make an electric car work for them – if not
and with a range further than most petrol cars, and priced
today then tomorrow.”
to be available to all consumers wishing to transition to an environmentally responsible car. Seeing cars like the EV6
With such a premium, stylish and simply “wow” car, the launch
arrive at our showroom, I can embrace our business with a
had to be just as special. The North Wales Motor Co Ltd team
clear conscience that I have chosen a sustainable, forward-
went to town with decorating the showroom, hiring a marquee
thinking brand to contribute to a sustainable future. The future
for the side entrance of the showroom lined with a Hollywood
is here now at North Wales Motor Company in Llandudno.”
style red carpet with professional pianist Jonathan Mark Roberts playing as the guests were welcomed in. n
According to The Guardian, global sales of electric cars accelerated fast in 2020, rising by 43% to more than three
With test drives and orders for the EV6 well underway, the
million, despite overall car sales slumping by a fifth during the
EV6 can be seen around Llandudno. If you are interested in
coronavirus pandemic.
trying the new EV6 or want to find out more about any of the hybrid or electric range, please contact the team at
The new EV6 was launched at the Argyll Road showroom on
North Wales Motor Co Ltd on 01492 875991 or email
5th November. Over 100 locals joined the days three sessions
sales@llandudnokia.co.uk
NWM 2021 Page 87
Ymunwch â ni yn un o’n
digwyddiadau agored Yn bersonol neu ar-lein
Join us at one of our
open events In person or online
Cadwch le / Book now
wgu.ac.uk/open
Community
News Ruthin Artisan Markets Does Christmas
After a very successful season Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC is
where you are promised not just an amazing array of shopping
Steaming into Christmas with Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
and food opportunities, but also an amazing array of entertainment
Santa will be visiting both railways, providing
throughout the day. A great family day out to really get you in
visitors the opportunity to meet him in his Christmas
the festive mood, parking will be free in the council car parks in
Carriage Grotto at Porthmadog Harbour Station or
Ruthin and the local shops will be open, showcasing the very best
to join him aboard the Welsh Highland Santa trains
of gift ideas and even a free mince pie or two! You can either grab
from Caernarfon!
changing its venue for the last event of 2021 on 11th December. You’ll find them, in conjunction with the lovely people of St. Peter’s Church and Yr Hen Lys/ The Old Courthouse, on St Peter’s Square,
a nice drink and some food from one of the many vendors on the square, or indeed why not try out any of the local cafés where you
Porthmadog: Santa’s Christmas Carriage Grotto will
can sit in and watch the world go by.
be like no other... the team of elves have been very busy, making sure everything is in tip top condition for Santa! Due to Santa’s very busy schedule this
Lawyers discuss “lunatics, idiots and Britney Spears”
time of year, and to keep visitors safe, visitors need to
Lunatics, idiots and Britney Spears – three topics
Caernarfon: Santa will also be riding on the Santa
which are discussed in an eye-opening podcast
Specials between Caernarfon Station and Rhyd Ddu.
by a North Wales law firm. The recent legal battle
Collect your Christmas Hamper full of tasty treats for
between Britney Spears and her father is debated by lawyers in a
your trip on the train then, once aboard, sit back and
new podcast released by Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors about mental
enjoy a trip in the company of Santa and his Elves
capacity and the Court of Protection. Neil Davies and Lucy Speed, of
who will be sure to have gifts for all the children!
book an hour time-slot when they can visit.
the firm’s Court of Protection department, also discuss the origins of the Court of Protection, dating back to the 14th Century and the reign
A selection of steam trains will also be running
of King Edward II. “In those days, people were declared to be either
between Christmas and New Year so there’s plenty
a lunatic or an idiot, depending on their type of mental disability,
of choice for a day out following the excitement of
and that terminology was still used until the Mental Health Act in
Christmas Day! Whether you are travelling from
1959,” explains Neil (pictured). “Despite the terms being very unkind
Porthmadog or Caernarfon both cafés, Caffi De
and unfair, they had quite distinctive meanings. Then in the 20th
Winton and Spooner’s, will be open so you can
Century, the Lunacy Office as it was known, was renamed as the
purchase tasty refreshments before and after your
Management and Administration Department, which in 1947 became
journey!
the Court of Protection.” During the podcast, Neil and Lucy discuss the Mental Capacity Act which came into force in 2007 and underpins all
Tickets can be booked online or via the ticket office
decisions made in the Court of Protection – noting that if the Britney
on 01766 516024.
Spears conservatorship case was heard in the UK, it could have been a very different experience for everyone involved.
NWM 2021 Page 89
MAGAZINE
Abbeyfield – a safe secure home during the Covid-19 pandemic Abbeyfield can keep you safe during the winter months during these uncertain times. They offer safe, secure accommodation in three houses in Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea. All the houses are in lovely residential areas, part of the community and have good access to the local shops and amenities. You will still be able to see your friends and families and come and go as you please, as Abbeyfield residents have their own front door key and door entry system. Abbeyfield has a guest room in Colwyn Bay which can be used for respite, providing you have a care package in place or a holiday let or for somewhere to stay while your regular care giver has a break. Abbeyfield can take all of the worry away from you and ensure you are safe and well cared for, whilst being in the company of likeminded people. Don’t sit at home feeling lonely and worried for the future, join the lovely residents in the Abbeyfield Colwyn Bay Society.
Free For All Free For All is a new podcast dedicated to the classic 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. Join your hosts, film journalist and restaurateur Cai Ross (HeyUGuys, Cinema Retro and the splendid North Wales Magazine) and Chris Bainbridge, lecturer in creative and broadcast media. Recorded in beautiful North Wales, home of the real life Village, Portmeirion. The podcast will be available from 6th December on Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, Deezer, Google and Apple Podcasts.
Welsh Water showcases ‘poo power’ technology Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW), the only not-for-profit utility company in Wales and England, has welcomed a group of renewable and sustainable engineering students from Wrexham Glyndŵr University to witness first-hand how its advanced anaerobic digestion (AAD) plant at Five Fords Energy Park, can put enough green gas into the network to power 30,000 family homes. The company, which is on track to generate record levels of green energy this year, has invested heavily in renewable energy assets over recent years, including its flagship £36 million energy park in Wrexham, North Wales. This site alone now produces 40GWh of gas each year – which is fed into the local network and generates clean, green energy from sewage sludge through a state-of-the-art Advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AAD) facility. “Welsh Water has ambitious targets to become 35% energy selfsufficient by 2025, and 100% energy neutral by 2050,” said Ben Burggraaf, Head of Energy at DCWW. “So far this year, we’ve witnessed a 6% increase in the energy we generate through our extensive renewable portfolio, compared to levels seen in 2020. Our AAD site at Five Fords is a great example of the investment and innovation we’re undertaking what better way for students studying renewable energy at our local university to see the theory put into practice by visiting Five Fords.”
Page 90 NWM 2021
Co me an d s ay he llo... T o y ou r l o ca l i n su ra n c e b ro k e rs ! W e a re b a ck in t he o f f ic e a n d re a dy t o get y o u g r e a t c o v e r a t th e r i g ht p ri c e. Yo u c an alw ays c all us i f t ha t fe e l s mo r e c o mf o rt able .
10% OF F
AL L N EW I NSU RA NC E P OL I CI E S*
C O L W Y N B AY B R AD Y & J O N E S
03 3 3 2 0 26 4 7 3 C A E RN A R F O N B R U C E E D W AR DS , J O N E S
03 3 3 4 0 0 8 7 5 5
DENBIGH G E OR G E W IL L I A MS
01 74 5 6 0 7 47 1
W RE X H AM I NS U R A N C E
01 9 78 4 4 78 0 3
* Cal l y ou r l oca l b r a nc h & qu o t e “ 1 0% OF F ” p ri o r t o qu o t a t i o n. O nl y v a l i d o n p o l ic y p r e m i u m s b e t we e n £ 2 0 0 - £7 5 0 . 1 0 % d is c o un t app li ed to pr e m iu m . A u th o r i se d an d r e g u l a t e d by t h e Fi n a nc ia l C o n d u c t A ut ho r it y ( 3 0 5 56 0 ) . R e g i s t e r e d in E ng l a nd & W a l e s ( No. 4 7 8 7 9 41 ) . R e g i st e r e d o f f i c e : 7 t h F l o o r , C o rn E xc ha n g e , 55 M a rk L a n e , L o n d o n , E C 3 R 7 N E
Abbeyfield Colwyn Bay
Abbeyfield offer supported housing for elderly people Why not try our guest/respite room to see if you would enjoy staying in an Abbeyfield House Ring Anna on 01492 533724 for more information Your family are welcome to visit you in your accommodation at any time, all flats and bedsits have door entry systems. Let Abbeyfield take the strain of every day living; a life of no food shopping, cooking and household bills • • • •
Home Cooked Lunch and High Tea All Bills included Community Alarm Service Weekly room clean and your washing and ironing done
If you would like to view any of our three properties please contact Anna by telephone or email Search @ abbeyfield colwyn bay society on facebook
For more information contact General Manager Anna Hamblett on 01492 533724 or email abbeyfieldcolwynbay@gmail.com
Abbeyfield Colwyn Bay Society 10/12 Alexandra Road Colwyn Bay LL29 7YB
Abbeyfield.com
Walking
world THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW J Distance: 1.5 miles/3.62 kilometres J Time: Allow around 1 – 1.5 hours J Start: Use the car park for Cregennen
CREGENNEN LAKES
Lakes located above Dolgellau down narrow tight lanes. There is an honesty
With December having the shortest days of the year (and often dodgy
box and toilets in the car park.
weather) the opportunity for longer walks becomes limited. So here’s a
J Grid Ref: SH 657143 J Nearest postcode: LL39 1LJ J Ordnance Survey Map: Ordnance
lovely short route that can easily be fitted into the limited daylight hours of our darkest month. It’s to be found close to Dolgellau and beneath the slopes of the mighty Cadair Idris massif in an awesome setting
Survey Explorer OL 23 – Cadair Idris
and involves a circular walk around the twin Cregennen Lakes which
and Llyn Tegid
are in the care of the National Trust. These two lakes are located at an
J What to expect: This walk uses a
elevation of 785 ft./239 metres above sea level with one of the lakes
combination of field paths and tracks
covering 27 acres (and including a small island) and the other covering 13
which are fairly clear throughout. It
acres. The approach to the lakes is down narrow lanes with few passing
also involves some lane walking where
places but this just adds to the feeling of remoteness you get when come
there could be cars. Most of the walk
here. Often called ‘one of the must visit destinations of the Dolgellau
is flattish but boots are best worn as it
area’, Cregennen Lakes give reasonably flat walking on fairly good paths
could be muddy at this time of the year.
and tracks with a little lane walking included too to complete the circuit.
Children should be well supervised
There is a small hillock next to the car park that is easily climbed and
around the lakes and on the lane
offers a great viewpoint for Barmouth and Cardigan Bay beyond so it’s well worth doing this before you set out on the route. Towering above the lakes is the impressive pointy peak of Pared y Cefn Hir, the main summit of which is called Bryn Brith. From the car park the ascent looks
sections.
J Dogs: OK on leads J Suitable for: Walkers of all ages J Refreshments: Best heading into
very steep and it really is, and although there is a path all of the way
Dolgellau where there are cafés, pubs
up the ascent involves negotiating rock gullies where hands as well as
and shops
feet are required. The climb is best left for experienced hill walkers and scramblers and is certainly not suitable for a cold December day when the rock would be wet and slippery. Best stick to the lakeside route at this time of the year so wrap up warm, take some butties and a flask and enjoy a truly great walk that is perfect for a dark December day…
NWM 2021 Page 93
MAGAZINE
WALK DETAILS
2
3
Pen-y-Mynydd
4
START/ FINISH
5
START
3
Exit the car park and go left along the lane. Continue until you reach a marker post on the right. Here leave the lane going right to follow the direction of the arrow on the post taking a grass path past a small sign to reach a stile in a wall. Cross the stile to reach a path junction and marker post.
Points of interest on this section
Points of interest on this section
which forms part of the Cadair Idris mountain range that rises
J Cregennen Lakes are located at an elevation of 785
to an impressive 2,930 ft./893 metres at its highest point.
J The mountain in front of you on this section is Tyrrau Mawr
ft./239 metres above sea level with one of the lakes covering 27 acres (and including a small island) and the other covering 13 acres
4 At the bridge the path forks. Cross the bridge and follow the path besides the lake. Continue on the path to reach a stile in a wall and cross it (there is a small bridge before the stile). Once over bear left towards the second lake. Bear right on the path following the lake edge to curve left at a marker post and
2 From the marker post take the right hand path (Llwyber Path). Follow the path around the shores of the first lake to
reach a boat house. Continue on the lakeside path to cross a stile of pass through a gate.
curve left away from the lake. Follow the path to reach a path junction and marker post right.
5 Now go right at a marker post and follow a wall uphill away from the second lake. Next descend by the wall to reach a lane.
Points of interest on this section
Go right passing through a road gate. Beyond this follow the
J On this section the impressive pointy peak up to your right
lane back to the car park and walk start point.
is Pared y Cefn Hir the main summit of which is called Bryn Brith 3 Here go right to follow a path across a marshy grassy valley. Stay ahead at a path junction right to descend to a bridge at the end of the first lake.
A WORD OF CAUTION Walking in the outdoors can be a strenuous activity and it is up to you to ensure that you are fit and healthy enough to undertake the route described and to approach the venture with caution and care. You should wear appropriate footwear and suitable clothing, take along food and drink plus carry the relevant map and a compass and be able to use it. The details given here are believed to be correct at the time of going to press. However, neither North Wales Magazine nor the author can accept responsibility for inaccuracies encountered. You also must ensure that travelling to any location does not breach any current lockdown restrictions.
Page 94 NWM 2021
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NWM 2021 Page 97
MAGAZINE
IN THE
STARS...
While everyone remembers Russell Grant from his Breakfast TV appearances in the 1980’s, most people don’t realise that Russell was the first astrologer in over 300 years to present a horoscope forecast to a member of the Royal Family (HRH Queen Mother). Now dubbed the “Royal Astrologer” Russell has appeared on numerous television shows, including Strictly Come Dancing. He divides his time between London and his North Wales home near Portmeirion. www.russellgrant.com
December’s horoscopes brought to you by Russell Grant ARIES (March 21st – April 20th) Turning your dreams into reality will be easy at the beginning of December. The New Moon on the 4th could attract an opportunity to write, study or travel; a prestigious organisation will be happy to cover the bill. Don’t be intimidated by a long application; you’ll get the funding. Good news will arrive on or directly after the 19th, courtesy of an uplifting Full Moon.
LIBRA (September 24th – October 23rd) Sharing your expertise with an audience will be a welcome trend at the beginning of December. Starting on the 4th, the New Moon could find you teaching an online course or record some instructional videos. The Full Moon on the 19th could bring pleasing results for an exam or application. Arguments about the division of money or labour could cause tensions.
TAURUS (April 21st – May 21st) A stalled dream could be revived in the opening days of the month. On the 4th, the New Moon will deposit some additional money in your account from an inheritance, royalty payment or legal settlement. Use this windfall to advance your career or professional profile. The Full Moon on the 19th brings more good news on the financial front.
SCORPIO (October 24th – November 22nd) An additional source of income could arrive on or around the 4th, courtesy of an enriching New Moon. Any job that allows you to work from home will be fulfilling, stable and lucrative. Lengthy business negotiations could begin towards the middle of the month. Be patient and supplement proposals with reliable facts and figures.
GEMINI (May 22nd – June 21st) Work will become much more rewarding in December, when you’re given a chance to interview for your dream job in the opening days of the month. On the 4th, the New Moon opens the door to an enticing partnership. Towards the middle of the month, you will struggle to achieve a healthy balance between your personal and professional lives. Try to be fair.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd – December 21st) Spending more time at home can soothe your fiery energy during the first of the month. You’ll be back in the public eye on the 4th, thanks to a fame enhancing New Moon. Don’t be surprised if you are put in charge of a community or educational project; people respond well to your upbeat energy. Your financial situation should improve before the end of the month.
CANCER (June 22nd – July 23rd) Stalled travel plans could finally move forward at the start of December, much to your delight. If your energy has been flagging, launch a fitness regimen on the 4th, when the New Moon will prompt you to be more attentive to your body’s needs. Improve your diet/exercise habits. A spiritual revelation will arrive on the 19th, courtesy of the enlightening Full Moon.
CAPRICORN (December 22nd – January 20th) Solitary pursuits can bring tremendous pleasure at the start of December. On the 4th, the New Moon will urge you to take yourself off to a quiet place where you can hear yourself think. The Full Moon on the 19th may find you reaching a personal best regarding your health; give yourself a handsome reward for having worked so hard.
LEO (July 24th – August 23rd) The New Moon on the 4th could pave the way to a passionate romance or rewarding creative project. An experienced partner will give you the courage to take some risks that are incredibly fulfilling. Hard work will be a theme in the middle of December; you could be putting in long hours for the sake of a demanding project.
AQUARIUS (January 21st – February 19th) The New Moon on the 4th is ideal for joining a society or group devoted to your favourite subject. You’re sure to meet some accomplished people through this association. Spend the middle portion of the month attending to administrative tasks and paperwork. On the 19th, the Full Moon will bring news of an engagement, marriage, or creative achievement.
VIRGO (August 24th – September 23rd) A dream relationship could take off like a kite in the opening days of December. Whether you are single or attached, this should be a delightfully romantic time. The New Moon on the 4th finds you devoting more energy to domestic pursuits. If you’ve been thinking of moving, this is an ideal to time to search for a place to live.
PISCES (February 20th – March 20th) Dedicate yourself to leading your best life at the beginning of December. On the 4th, the New Moon will deliver a fantastic professional opportunity. A position involving publishing, higher education or travel could bring much-needed financial stability. The Full Moon on the 19th could find you leaving one home for one that is more spacious.
Page 98 NWM 2020
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