15 August

Time to leave Betwsy-y-Coed.  

Notice the gaelic writing. It appears on all signs in Wales.

Waterloo Bridge

 The weather today was bright sunshine!  What a contrast with yesterday.  Surely it couldn’t last! Just across from our hotel was the Waterloo Bridge. There is an inscription on the arch that reads "This arch was constructed in the same year the battle of Waterloo was fought".

River running in and around Betwsy-y-Coed

Our first goal was the ‘cog train’ at Landberis.  Unfortunately, because the sun was out so were all the fellow tourists.  Tickets for the train were sold out for the whole day by 10am. 

 Anyway, next stop Caernarfon Castle.  A fantastic castle that was built by Edward 1 (Edward Longshanks… the nasty King in Braveheart who draws and quarters poor Willy Wallace) in circa 1280. Edward 2 was actually born in the castle and was the first non-Welsh Prince of Wales.  This started the tradition of the heir to the throne being the Prince of Wales. By the way, Edward 1 also had some Welsh leaders of rebellion… drawn and quartered.

From Caernarfon we made for Brecon.  Our overnight is in a small town close by called Llangattock. 

  Our hotel is called the Old Rectory… because it used to be an Old Rectory.  The rooms are nice and the staff are very pleasant and helpful. 

Our digs for the night. The Old Rectory.

Mountain views from our window.

 Tomorrow it will be in to Brecon to visit the museum of the South Wales Borderers.  I am sure you have all jumped to the obvious connection… the South Wales Borderers were also known as the 24^th Foot Regiment and they are immortalised in the movie…Zulu!!

This is the Regiment that fought at Rorke’s Drift and at Isandlwanna.

PS. The weather remained fine ALL day!