On Tuesday, 20th June, after a superb breakfast at the Hotel, we packed, checked out and then wandered back into the village. What a contrast to the night before - it was now teeming with visitors!
Today I used the Canon Bridge SX50 - partly because it is a much lighter camera to carry around and partly because the zoom on it does come in exceedingly handy.
If the weather had been cooler I would have preferred to walk alongside the estuary and back through the woods but it was even hotter and more humid so we decided to go on the train that takes you a short tour of the woodland gardens.
The train stops briefly so you can walk to the gazebo and take photos looking down on the village.
Back in the village we had a look round some of the shops and B sat and enjoyed an ice cream - I was still too full from breakfast.
Lady's Lodge and No. 6's house
At mid-day we had to return and move the car from outside Fountains and, as we wanted to explore more at the "top" of the village, we re-parked in the visitors' car park and managed to gain entry again without any problems.
Battery Square - the little piazza onto which No. 6's french doors open
We had a look round the Prisoner Shop which is housed in the building which was his residence.
Toasted tea cake for lunch
Green Dome
Another view of Number Six's house.
View towards Glorietta and Fountain Pool
The plaque by this sculpture reads "Patrick McGoohan 1928 - 2009. Donated by Tiziano Sculptor Mougins France and Jenny Klabin 31st May 2017" This is the 50th anniversary year of the Prisoner.
We then made our way to the Glaslyn Osprey Project. Ospreys have bred in the Glaslyn Valley since 2004 and in 2013 a group called Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife was formed to offer the birds protection and provide the chance for local people and visitors to see the wildlife of the valley.
Many thanks to Rosie from "Corners of my Mind" who first blogged about these ospreys - I hadn't realised they were so close to Portmeirion and we couldn't miss the opportunity of visiting.
Wonderful views from the new Visitor Centre.
The ospreys were nesting over a mile away - somewhere in these trees - you could just make the birds out through telescopes and there were excellent quality nest cams
showing live and recorded footage.
The feeders had a great variety of visitors including Siskin and Redpoll which together with Osprey and Red Kite seen on the journey were all new "ticks" for the year. I've now seen Ospreys in Wales, England (Bassenthwaite and a bird on passage at Brandon Marsh) and Scotland (Loch Garten and Loch Insh).
A lovely wildlife meadow and bug hotel. It is a pity it wasn't cooler as I would have liked to explore more of the reserve.
For some unknown reason the Satnav now set for home sent us to Beddgelert so we stopped off at Glaslyn Ices for one of their superb icecreams. Satnav then completely got "its knickers in a twist" but luckily we realised it was sending us home via Caernarfon! A speedy u-turn and we were hopefully going in the right direction!
A few photos before we leave North Wales from a viewpoint.
I would love to live in number 6's house. It's an amazing place, nowhere else could have been used in that series.
ReplyDeleteSimon Douglas Thompson -Thanks Simon. Yes you are right the whole place is incredible and was perfect as the location for the series.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic trip for you and your husband, I imagine he was thrilled! Great to finish off with the Osprey's and some year ticks, I haven't seen a Siskin or a Redpoll in a long time!
ReplyDeletePam - Thanks Pam - first time we had left son and daughter at home on their own too!! Good job we didn't stop the extra night as son rang as we were nearly home - he was locked out!!!! We usually get Redpolls on birch seeds over the winter in the garden but none last winter and I haven't seen a Siskin for quite a few winters.
ReplyDeleteI've been on that little railway ~ it was part of a very overly crammed in day trip to north Wales, squishing in Portmeirion, the railway trip, and a slate mine tour. Too much in one day and expected back to Aberaeron by 8:00 p.m. for supper! I've so enjoyed you sharing your photos, they are making me want to return now.
ReplyDeleteDeborah RusticPumpkin - Thanks so much. You did cram a lot into one day! I don't think I have ever been on one of those little railways although would like to. We spent 4 days in the area some years back and went to Sygun Copper Mine near Beddgelert (all underground and I found it quite claustrophobic!). It is a lovely area and would like to have another holiday there - Anglesey tempts too - haven't been there since a child!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of Portmeirion. Glad you found the Ospreys and enjoyed your visit, I love the site and it being next to the railway. We saw a Redpoll on the feeders when we were there, the lady we spoke to said it visited every day so perhaps it was the same one. Love the Siskin too:)
ReplyDeleteRosie - Thanks so very much and really special thanks to you for telling me about close proximity of ospreys and the Clough Williams-Ellis garden :) Probably was the same Redpoll as a lady told us the same :) Staff in Visitor Centre very helpful - what great work they do :)
ReplyDeleteOops definitely a good job you didn't! I've had one of each in the garden over the years unfortunately they don't seem to like my garden!
ReplyDeletePam - lol!!!! Yes, as daughter was working until ten o clock he would have had a long wait!!!!! Hang on re; garden redpoll and siskin may still find it - both come to feeders.
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