• Ellen Withers
  • Andy Withers
  • Grace Withers
  • Oscar Withers

Christmas 2023 Road Trip

A mini road trip between Christmas and New Year to visit our son and test out the Grand Cally for the first time!
This one was 4 of us (Oliver is now too old to enjoy road trips with us) and TWO dogs... We learnt a LOT from this trip
Baca lagi
  • Permulaan perjalanan
    26 Disember 2023

    Christmas Road Trip - DAY 1

    26–27 Dis 2023, England ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    Home to Pen-y pass - Carpark viewpoint, Snowdon

    This road trip is a little different. We set off for our North Wales road trip for the few days between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

    We have a new van, 2 dogs, no Oliver and no campsites booked! Risky I hear you say... Yep!

    But, you know us, shit or bust 🤣

    We started the day by setting off at 0930 this morning and heading north! We stopped at rugby services, had lunch, cleaned up copious amounts of dog vomit 🤢, walked the dogs and set off again arriving at our intended car park just after 1700.

    After letting the dogs out of the van, cleaning up more vomit and watching them vomit some more we made some spaghetti Bolognese and settled in for an evening of rumikub 😊

    Tomorrow's plan was to walk up Snowdon...
    Baca lagi

  • Christmas Road Trip - DAY 2

    27–28 Dis 2023, Wales ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    Pen-y pass - Carpark viewpoint, Snowdon to layby near Penrhyndeudraeth
    Well!! What a night!! We all made it through what can only be described as a tornado over night! 🤣 The rain and blustery winds were so strong that it felt like the van might take off at various points. Despite that, everyone had a basically good and comfortable night. Including the dogs.

    We were surprised at how dark it was when we woke up, and it was really cloudy too, so although an absolutely stunning view from our night stop, it was also a bit bleak!

    The original plan for today was to go up Snowdon, but the weather forecast said otherwise 😂 so we had to find something else to do.

    We stopped at Sygun Copper Mine and walked through that. Was really interesting, and the dogs basically coped with it. The rain was biblical, so we were all soaking wet and dirty from the mine... But it was awesome 😎

    Once we'd dried off and warmed up a bit we headed for Porthmadog for some lunch and to regroup and decide what next.

    After late lunch we went in search of somewhere to stay tonight... There were no campsites open and so we drove around a bit until we found somewhere suitable. We decided on a layby near the gate to an estuary and although it was dark when we arrived we walked the dogs on the beach and it was beautiful!

    Can't wait to see it in the morning 😁

    Another evening of dinner in the van, watching quite an impressive storm and games... we're looking forward to seeing the view in the daylight 😊
    Baca lagi

  • Christmas Road Trip - DAY 3

    28–29 Dis 2023, Wales ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    Layby near Penrhyndeudraeth to Penrhiw Campsite in Ffair Rho - via Barmouth and Devil Bridge Falls

    The storm overnight was extreme! But the little spot we picked was worth it.

    The little people and dogs played on the beach and after a big breakfast we headed out to Barmouth.

    The bridge there was awesome. Barmouth Viaduct is a Grade II listed single-track wooden railway viaduct across the estuary of the River Mawddach near Barmouth. It is 820 m long and carries the Cambrian Line. It is the longest timber viaduct in Wales and one of the oldest in regular use in Britain. We didn't walk over it, but we admired it 😊

    After lunch at the Cross Foxes at Dolgellau we headed to our campsite via the devils bridge falls. We only had time to do the punchbowl walk as it was dusk, but still lovely 😊

    The bridges are interesting, as it is three separate bridges one built on top of the other between the 11th and 19th century, over the river Mynach.

    Apparently the devil built the first one in exchange for the first being's soul that crossed the bridge... Only to be fooled by an old lady who tempted her dog over it with bread 🤣. I suspect it's more likely that the monks built it though 😎... Then, two more bridges were built over the top, who knows why 🤷🏻‍♀️

    We arrived at our lovely campsite and Andy decided he wanted to turn around... We ended up getting stuck and the lovely owner got her quad bike out and pulled us out!! It was awesome... But we made a right mess of her grass 🤦🏻‍♀️

    The usual evening routine commenced 🤣 I'm hoping for kinder weather tonight 🙏🏻
    Baca lagi

  • Christmas Road Trip - DAY 4

    29–30 Dis 2023, Wales ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Penrhiw Campsite in Ffair Rho to picnic area (CF48 2HY ) , A4059

    More travelling today and the weather was pretty changeable.

    There was quite a lot of travelling today, but they visited Henrhyd Falls in the Brecon Beacons National Park, and even got to go behind the falls! 😍😍😍
    It is the tallest waterfall in southern Wales with a drop of 90 feet (27 m). It lies on National Trust land, in the traditional county of Brecknockshire. Though not in the core of the area, it is considered by many to constitute a part of Wales' celebrated Waterfall Country.

    The weather was bad again today and so they were unable to climb pen-y fan 😔 no mountains on this trip... Next time though!

    Earlier to settle tonight, everyone is tired!
    Baca lagi

  • Christmas Road Trip - DAY 5

    30–31 Dis 2023, Wales ⋅ 🌬 7 °C

    Picnic area (CF48 2HY ), A4059 to home

    Today we visited the big pit coal mine and went 90 meters underground for an amazing tour of the mines. Absolutely incredible that people worked that way!

    Exciting day today!! This afternoon we found out whether our new grandchild is a girl or boy at their gender reveal, IT'S A BOY!!! They were so happy and it was so wonderful to see ❤️

    We're so excited to be grandparents 😍

    Unfortunately it appears we all caught a sickness bug (except Andy) so we took the decision to head home last night instead of this morning...
    Baca lagi

    Tamat perjalanan
    30 Disember 2023