Corwen, Snowdonia and North Wales - Trip 2 - Part 1
November 22nd, 2006
Update: I just added a map showing very roughly our route to Corwen.
After a successful and entertaining previous adventure to Corwen in North Wales we where already planning a second return trip. With the arrival of our international guests Helen (Sarahs mum) and Juile (Helens friend) we didn’t have to wait long pack the car and set off again.
Hiring a larger car (mainly for Julies luggage) we set off early Saturday morning towards Telford and the Ironbridge - the birthplace of industry. We arrived in Telford at about 11am welcomed by beautiful scenery and a chilli climate. After walking over the bridge and strolling around the river taking some photos we headed towards a small hot pastie shop that had caught my eye.
The store billed itself as having the best pork pies in the country unfortunately you can only buy them cold due to the local food service laws. Mel bit the bullet and purchased a pie, of which she only half finished while Helen, Julie and I enjoyed one of the best hot pasties I have ever tasted.
Totally satisfied with our quick lunch snack the girls indulged in a little bit of souvenir shopping. Jumping back in our car Sarah and I enjoyed our heated seats as we continued our trip to Corwen, Snowdonia and North Wales.
We arrived in Corwen at about 12:30pm and checked our bags into Owain Glyndwr Hotel or OGs as it is affectionately know as by the locals (). We quickly threw our bags into our rooms and introduced Corwen to Helen and Julie. We bumped into Eryl and organised to meet him back at a local pub called the Harp later that night for a quite nightcap. Drinks organised we jumped back into the car with a plan to see a little bit of Snowdonia National Park.
Snowdonia National Park is located in the north west of Wales covering 823 square miles. As we wound threw the bitterly cold mountains we occasionally pulled over to take some quick shots of the unspoilt welsh countryside.
As we travelled further west through Snowdonia we where getting closer and closer to the west coast of Wales. A quick decision saw us travel all the way to Porthmadog get a glimpse of the coast and turn around heading back to Corwen via Bala.
Arriving back in Corwen we headed to the Crown for a quick drink. However upon arriving we found the pub was packed due to a rugby game which recently finished. We decided to head to The Eagle where out night out really started and for most of us ultimately finished.
There is a slight blurry patch between starting and ending at the Eagle but I do know that during those hours many a pint of Kronenberg was consumed washed down by some Gin and tonics. I also recal meeting some of the weird and wonderful characters of Corwen including Brenda (who had been drinking since 12am) and her husband Carlos, Butch the amazing well trained American Bulldog and his really strange owner.
The drinking didn’t slow down when we finally met up with Eryl and his wife Fiona. I have sung the praises of Eryl and his hospitality before and this time was no exception.
Eventually our party broke up Helen and Julie leaving first closely followed by Sarah and myself. Mel held the fort for a couple of hours more and eventually had to be let into our hotel by the owner after ‘misplacing’ her keys.
The next morning.
The next moring is was reminded why drinking is oh so evil. My hangover was so great I could not get out of bed. When I eventually made my way down to breakfast I sacraficed my full english breakfast to the rest of the table in order to head back to bed.
Keep an eye out for the next post which will include te end of our adventure and all the pics.

November 28th, 2006 at 11:05 pm
“End of your adventure???”
November 29th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
@wayde: Still trying to get over my hangover. Probably upload he pics tomorrow or the next.
November 29th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
Ahhh - I thought you meant you were coming home
I’m having a lively discussion on my blog with a BritPack member who says he’s met you. And that you came onto him…