[SA Chris]

Looks like we will be in N Wales from Saturday until middle of the next week. General plan is a few easier mountain routes and a spot of bouldering, plus doing some tourist stuff. It's about 8 years since I was lat down that way, so could do with beta on;

a) Good overnight parking spots for van, and are there any break in hot spots to avoid? Is most roadside parking OK, or are police anal about that kind of thing.
b) Some places for a decent evening meal - not super spenny, but decent food though
c) Some non-climbing activities for wet / rest days. Mrs SA has never been before, and my knowledge of non-climbing activities extends as far as going with school trips to mines, castles and a sealife centre on Anglesey. Easy bike rides, scenic flat walks and any other good tourist activities (nothing is too naff or cheesy!).
d) Anyone fancy meeting up for a pint or a boulder, drop us a mobile number. Up for anything in the area, except Parisella's which I don't think will suit me.

Probably going to be in Leeds area and maybe Peak from later in week until the next weekend if anyone fancies meeting up there too. 

Thanks

[Johnny Brown]

Pack a surfboard, go to the Lleyn. Weather is much better than snowdonia, if the last week is anything to go by you'll be lucky to see much of the mountains. Water is warm this time of year, a 3/2 is plenty.

[Bonjoy]

I usually park the van in the big, nice and flat carpark 100m or so up the pass on the right from The Vaynol in Nant Peris. Far enough off the road to be quiet, has a toilet block and no signs saying no overnight parking. Obviously this lends itself nicely to a couple in the pub too.

[dave]

Obviously this lends itself nicely to a couple in the pub too.

Did you catch their names?

[SA Chris]

Pack a surfboard, go to the Lleyn. Weather is much better than snowdonia, if the last week is anything to go by you'll be lucky to see much of the mountains. Water is warm this time of year, a 3/2 is plenty.

Due to space limitations I will be packing wetsuit, but got no space for boards, so will have to hire in Abersoch. Current forecast doesn't look too bonny for surf, but will probably head down for some bouldering if it's crap in the mountains.

[tomtom]

Pack a surfboard, go to the Lleyn. Weather is much better than snowdonia, if the last week is anything to go by you'll be lucky to see much of the mountains. Water is warm this time of year, a 3/2 is plenty.

Johnny's spot on about the weather. If its crap in the hills, its often much better by the coast. Climbing wise head for Tremadog if the cloud is low around Snowdon etc...

Lots of good Biking if weathers crap - head for Coed y Brenin down south of Blaenau Ffestiniog...

If it all gets a bit crap up in Snowdonia, the wee campsite next to the Boulders at Cae Du (just north of Twyn so 40-50mins drive away) is a pretty special place to camp - right next to the sea - and they allow fires, and of course is right next to the boulders on the beach. Of course if the winds strong and theres a big swell it might be 'entertaining' to be that close to the sea :-)

Rainy day/tourist things I dunno, but avoid the 'electric mountain' shizzle at Llanberis - I was quite underwhelmed... Llandudno is a good place to mooch about if the weathers really shit (pleasant victorian seaside town) probably many places for Mrs SA to have a coffee etc.. whilst affording you the chance to go and play at a certain all weather bouldering cave...  Dont know what the slate mine museum stuff at Blaenaeu is like... 

Thats all I can think of for the mo...

[SA Chris]

Cool, cheers guys. been to Cod - y - Breadbin before and enjoyed it, but looking for more flat non-technical biking stuff at the moment.

[Doylo]

You should do some sport climbing. Llandulas Cave stays pretty dry in rain usually. Penmaenhead in colwyn bay really good for a day or two easier ticking. And then theres obviously the Orme which is top dollar. Also the weather is usually better over the coast area so if its too shit in the mountains thats the place to be. Plenty of eating places in Llandudno, Tribells chippy hmmm. Take yer missus on a nice leisurly trek down the pier.

[SA Chris]

You are right, I really should. But shoulder is still not 100% and fitness is such that 6a would probably be a challenge, hence limited to mountain puntering and bouldering.

[SA Chris]

Any food suggestions other than a chipper in Llandudno

[Drew]

Food? Best place (although they only do lunch) is big building. It's called Y Caban, and is fucking lovely! As for evening meals, the Vaynol in Nant Peris is always popular (and has the added benefit of having the aforementioned carpark stumbling distance away. The Gallt y Glyn do a good Pizza and a Pint night with a good vibe (Wed and Thu night IIRC), and The Bridge Inn (Menai Bridge) is top food, but a little bit more pricey apparently.

[Bubba]

Last time I went to the curry house in Llanberis it was pretty good, but this was a few years back now - not sure if it's still ok.

[Pantontino]

Aside from Sunday the forecast looks okay.

Wandering around the slate quarries is always a good way to spend an afternoon.

Plenty of nice beach walks to go on with your lady. I went to a gig recently at the Ty Coch pub at Morfa Nefyn. Lovely spot for a walk and a pint. http://www.tycoch.co.uk/ Perhaps combine it with a visit to Porth Ysgo.

The Anglesey coastal footpath is well worth checking out. try this: http://www.anglesey-today.com/llanddwyn-beach.html http://www.visitanglesey.co.uk/anglesey_coastal_path-20.aspx



Holyhead Mountain is nearly always sunny and dry - plenty of good easier routes too.

Go for a wander around Caernarfon, check out the castle and go for a pint on the harbour front at the Anglesey Arms.

Caban in Brynrefail and the Gallt y Glyn in Llanberis are good places to eat. The curry house in Llanberis is also decent.

Vaynol Arms in Nant Peris and Cwellyn Arms in Rhyd Ddu are good pubs. The Fricsan is also worth a look if you want a full on party night at the weekend. 

The best place/time to meet up with climbers is evenings at the Cromlech - most nights there will be a collection of locals hanging around after work. I'll probably be there at least one night, weather depending. The boulders dry very quickly so even if it has rained during the day they will usually be dry. Don't forget RAC boulders too - a lovely sunny spot with lots of good low grade problems and some harder traverses. And if the weather is good head up to Wavelength, the best bouldering in the area.

[SA Chris]

Great stuff, thanks!
Had just pmed you actually.

[nik at work]

We used to go on holiday to the house on the beach just next to the Ty Coch when I was a little 'un. A cracking spot, I went back a few years ago and it had hardly changed at all.

Good to hear it's still a top spot.

[benpritch]

Vaynol food seems to have taken a bit of a nose dive recently. Still good drinks wise.

[Pantontino]

Just pm-ed Chris with some stuff about cycling, but thought I'd put it on here for future reference:

V12 don't hire bikes anymore, but there is a place in Caernarfon next to the harbour car park by the castle. Not much flat cycling around Llanberis, apart from a connection by the lake side to Brynrefail (perfect excuse to go to the Caban cafe, which shuts at 4 by the way). My missus often takes our kids for a ride by the sea at Dinas Dinlle, which is south of Caernarfon.

Another popular one is further south near Dolgellau, the Mawwddach trail:

http://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/pages/maw_c_ph.htm



Another great pub in a fantastic location...not that I'm obsessed with pubs or anything. 

[Pantontino]

Just asked my cycling mate and he says the Mawddach is brilliant, and that you will be able to hire bikes in Dolgellau.

[Nigel]

Vaynol food seems to have taken a bit of a nose dive recently. Still good drinks wise.

Totally agree. Do not eat in The Vaynol unless you are at death's door. If that is the case then eat crisps and drink Guinness. The food is way overpriced and way substandard, i.e. not even passable. Also gets my goat that a ladies drink e.g. double G&T will cost you nigh on £6. Other than that a great place to sink a few pints.

[dave]

we had some good food in one of the capel curig pubs, I think it was the one with the horse&cart thing outside it. the pudding portion was tres generous.

[tomtom]

Vaynol food seems to have taken a bit of a nose dive recently. Still good drinks wise.

Totally agree. Do not eat in The Vaynol unless you are at death's door. If that is the case then eat crisps and drink Guinness. The food is way overpriced and way substandard, i.e. not even passable. Also gets my goat that a ladies drink e.g. double G&T will cost you nigh on £6. Other than that a great place to sink a few pints.

Was distinctly 'average' when I ate there in July... the food did the job, but wasn't great.... I'm sure most of the cafes in/around snowdonia have summer rates and winter rates... 

[slackline]

Perhaps a bit late, but I enjoyed wandering around the abandoned WWII ammunitions store just outside Llanberis when it was pissing it down (added bonus is that its relatively dry inside)...




Come out of Llanberis and join the main road, the take the next left up towards the small industrial estate.  Park up and walk up the road that branches off on the right and go across the large clearing on the right, heading for the fence, come round the front of it on the road side and you'll find a gap in the fence.  You then scramble/slide down.

Take head-torches as there is zero light inside, and be very careful where you're treading as there are uncovered man-holes that you wouldn't want to fall down!

[SA Chris]

Weather turned out excellent (apart from Tuesday) and we were in the mountains alomst every day. Cheers for advice all.

[Houdini]

The Gallt y Glyn do a good Pizza and a Pint night with a good vibe (Wed and Thu night IIRC)

Nonsense.  The Gally-Y-Glyn is a shithole run by a sour witch.

The Spice of Llanberis is poor, best head to Bethesda for a take-away from the curryhouse in the high street.

[robertostallioni]