Curry at Caernarfon

Last year on the August Bank Holiday Sunday Kath introduced some of the Chester riders to lanes around Cernarfon, where she was brought up.  It was so enjoyable, that we added it to the rides list for this year (although brought forward from the original date in September due to light and other events that day)

added bonus on Kath's rides - sharing biscuits
or flapjacks at the start!

So people either made their way directly to Caernarfon, or met up at Broughton to share lifts.  The A55 makes it a very quick and straightforward journey to the other side of Snowdonia, and we were assembled in the car park ready to go by 10am. 










First port of call was the loos, after the journey.  Then we headed to the Lon Eifion, Sustrans route 8 path alongside the Welsh Highland Railway.

We followed this route, then came off (somewhere!) and followed up a hill and through a cobbled farm yard, with a row of peacocks sitting near the barn.  There were so many blackberries, Richard and I picked a couple of handfuls before setting off again (putting me at the back of the group where I pretty much stayed all day!)

We climbed up to Rhyd-Ddu, a tiny hamlet after Snowdon Ranger that includes Ty Mawr tea rooms - run by a dutch couple serving dutch pancakes, apple pie and strong coffee (among other things!).  We just about squeezed in with a couple of families, and enjoyed a leisurely break as service is quite slow (takes a while to cook everything!).  It also tipped it down with rain while we were in there, so we were not in a hurry.

When we finally left the cafe, we donned raincoats as it was still damp, and we had a long descent into Beddgelert next.  During which it really came on wet again, but a lovely road and super descent.  Beddgelert was very busy (bank holiday Sunday!) and we popped along to see Gelerts Grave while we were there.

Gelerts Grave

Waiting for the train (welsh Highland)
 - but not due in for 20 mins so we set off again.

Dropping down Pass of Aberglaslyn (A498)
from Beddgelert

We continued past Tremadoc rocks and Eric Jones cafe, and along to Criccieth, where a layby gave us an ideal photo stop with views across the bay and to the castle.

This is when the sun came back out, and we dropped into Criccieth, locked up our steeds and headed to the Blue China cafe.







After this break we climbed up out of Criccieth by the castle and followed some lovely little lanes back across the breadth of the Lleyn Peninsular, picking up route 8 again.  

Passing through Llanystumdwy

Finally we arrived back in Caernarfon, after following the coastline with views across the straits to Newborough forest on Anglesey.

But the day was not over!  After a few farewells, and some quick changes, we headed back into Caernarfon, for a quick drink in The Black Boy pub, followed by a curry in the Bengal Spice.  

Same time and place next year?