North Wales

🚐✨ Vanilla Goes to Wales: A Three-Day Tale
🌅 Day One: Stafford → Llangollen → Conwy → Llandudno
Vanilla rolled out of Stafford (ST17 0UR) with a purr in her pipes and diesel in her veins.
61 miles later, after topping 65 mph on the straights, she eased into Llangollen and parked outside the Ponsonby Arms (LL20 8RY). Not a bad first stop — pint for you, rest for her. 🍺
From there she zig-zagged through Acrefair and Llandegla, stretching her legs at 48 mph, before pulling up at St Asaph (LL17 0LY). Castle views greeted you in Conwy (LL32 8HT), and then came the seaside charm of Llandudno (LL30).
Vanilla looped the Marine Drive up to the wonderfully named Rest and Be Thankful (LL30 2XD). Perfect motto for a campervan trip. A quick sugar top-up at The Sweet Emporium (Mostyn Street), and the day ended with the sea breeze tickling her wing mirrors. 🌊
Miles today: 124.
Mood: Seaside swagger.
🏔 Day Two: Llandudno → Snowdonia → Barmouth → Dolgellau
The morning began with bursts up to 76 mph as Vanilla darted out of Llandudno and headed for the mountains. 🏞️
She climbed to Abergwyngregyn (LL33 0HR), where waterfalls spill from the hills, then pressed on to Penrhyndeudraeth (LL48 6AD), crossing the Pont Briwet bridge. If she had lips, she’d have whistled at that view.
Lunch-time brought you into Barmouth (LL42) — wide sands, promenade strolls, maybe chips by the sea. Vanilla idled nearby, guarding her spot like a faithful hound. 🐾
Afternoon meant short hops: Dolgellau, Co-op for supplies, a trundle through Nannau, and finally into Arthog. The pace slowed, but every mile was rich in views.
Miles today: ~100.
Mood: Mountain mistress.
🌿 Day Three: Arthog → Bala → Oswestry → Stafford
Vanilla stretched her suspension like a cat waking from a nap. First stop: Frongoch (LL23 7UY), then skimming the edges of Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid, LL23 7EL). You paused for the water’s calm, while she sulked — “Why can’t vans skim stones?”
The homeward path was a dance of lay-bys and detours: Rhos-y-gwaliau, Oswestry, then Brewood. Speeds flickered between dawdle and dash, but the miles rolled steadily east.
A last hurrah at The Wildwood (ST17 4RA) — fittingly named — before Vanilla trundled back to Milford Road (ST17 0LJ). 🏡
Miles today: ~118.
Mood: Road-weary, heart-full.
📊 Vanilla’s Stats (because she insists!)
Total distance: 342 miles 🛣️
Time driving: 12h 28m ⏱️
Idle time: 1h 57m 💤
Average speed: 23 mph 🐢
Top speed: 76 mph 🐎
Fuel used: 53 litres (£78 worth) ⛽
CO₂ burped: 102 kg 🌍
📝 Final Thoughts
This wasn’t a grand epic like the NC500, but a three-day patchwork quilt of roads, castles, mountains, and seasides. North Wales gave you views worth pulling over for; Vanilla gave you the steady hum of a loyal travelling companion.
Together, you carved a neat loop: Stafford → Llangollen → Conwy → Llandudno → Snowdonia → Barmouth → Dolgellau → Bala → Oswestry → Stafford.
Or, as Vanilla might purr:
“Not bad for a mid-July jaunt. Same time next year?” 😏🚐✨Read more