09th September 2015
Llanberis & Dolbadarn Castle
Llanberis taken from the view point overlooking Llyn Padarn, with Snowdon off to the left.
After yesterdays adventures, I had a really good nights sleep, not getting up until around 07:00, about the same time as Andy. After breakfast, we talked about what we were going to do today. After some thumbing through leaflets and looking at maps, we decided to go to Llanberis, and try and get on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. I know they advise to prebook, but we thought we would see if we could get tickets.
Andy had decided to stay at the cottage, he wanted to just chill out and also get some personal things sorted out, plus a trip to Tesco for ingrediants for tonights meal.
James and I left at around 10:30, arriving in Llanberis around 11:20, we went straight to the car park at the back of the railway station, but just as I was about to pay for parking I noticed a sign informing us that there were no spare tickets for todays trains!
So we left that car park and drove to the car park near to Dolbadarn Castle. On our way out of the car park we didn't see an entrance to the castle, so we walked towards the Llanberis railway staion, taking photos of Llyn Peris.
Looking across Llyn Peris towards Pen-Y-Pass and Snowdon.
From here I tried to point out the entrance to The Electric Mountain, which Andy and I visited way back in 2005, but you couldn't see it from this view point. We continued to head towards the Llanberis Railway Station, when I noticed an old door in a wall, so me being nosey, I mean curious, I went over to have a look, the door had a gap at the top of it, so I took a look through the gap, all I could see was a small space, then a dry stone wall, which headed off to the right. Above the door was a slate plaque, which had the following inscription on it "Visit of T.R.H. Duke & Duchess of York April 27 1899"
The doorway in the wall
The plaque above the door.
We continued to the station area, having a look around the few shops that were here. There is also the National Slate Museum, which is free, but we didn't have a look around this, maybe next time. We then walked away from this area, the track splits in two, one track goes to a footbridge over a little inlet, I went this way. While James went the other which went up hill to a viewing area.
One of the Llanberis trains approaching the station.
Looking from the inlet past the footbridge, across Llyn Padarn to Llanberis.
This building is what used to be the Llanberis Quarry Hospital, opened in 1860, to take care of any of the 3000 quarrymen who worked at Dinorwig quarry.
Because of the nature of a majority of the injuries sustained, the surgeons became experts in limb salvage and brain surgery.
They also purchased an x-ray machine in 1898, only a few years after it's invention.
There were around 40 accidents a month, of which 5% were serious.
The running of the hospital, was paid for out of the quarrymens wages. They would earn on average, between 12s and 16s a week, then to have money deducted from their wage to pay for the hospital.
After taking some photos I headed up to the viewing point where James was also taking photos. I took some photos from up here, then we headed back to the car. We had some sandwiches and a drink. We had decided to walk to Llanberis centre, but as we walked out of the car park, right opposite us was the entrance to Dolbadarn Castle, so we decided to go and take a look there instead.
We passed through the gate and onto a narrow bridge over Afon Y Bala. The track then starts to climb gently up, then the castle comes into view. There is a stone built building, that is all boarded up, next to the gate to the castle. We both started to take photos. I was a bit disappointed, as from the castle you couldn't get a good view down Llyn Peris.
Dolbadarn Castle
Looking down Llyn Padarn, Lllanberis on the left.
We returned to the car, and then headed out of Llanberis, going up through Pen-Y-Pass, then down to the Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel, turning right here, we pulled over into the parking area, so we could see about getting some photos down the valley towards Llyn Gwynant.
Llyn Gwynant off centre of the photo.
We headed back to the car, but as we did so, I noticed a car had a parking ticket on the windscreen, which I thought a bit strange, it was then that I noticed a sign saying "Have you paid and displayed", ooppss! good job we were only there for around 20 minutes, and also not far from the car.
From here we headed back to the cottage going via Beddgelert, arriving back at the cottage around 16:30. Andy made our evening meal, chilli con carne, which was very nice.. nom nom!! all done and dusted by 17:30, now to just chillax with some beers and very good company.
Oh! and a turn up for the books...NO headache tonight!!
