First Impressions of the Ogwen Visitor Centre

I made a brief stop last week at a building which has been nearly a year in the making, Ogwen Visitor Centre, just off the A5 near the lake, next to the celebrated youth hostel and the start of the popular walk to Cwm Idwal. The building itself is superbly constructed from stone and slate and well chosen timber. It has a very convenient car park and a useful kiosk type café. However, my first impressions were that it has been rather spoiled by the current obsession with things digital and with the current fashion of dumbing down information. Have I misjudged it? See comments below.

This image shows the quality of the construction and design. It is clearly built both to impress and to withstand the weather.

This is the main source of information, a touchscreen display which will tell you something of how the mountains were made. Choosing the level at which to relate this story must always be difficult, but this particular display unfortunately chose the level of an average 11 or 12 year old.

The main room is quite large, and lends itself well to these blocks of text which are projected across the wall. It looks modern and it works.

Images are also projected along with the text.

I wasn't quite clear what the screen was about. When I was there it was just a succession of images of the local hills.

A 3-D model of the surrounding hills, with a rather disappointing button system to provide snippets of information relating to parts of the model.

Appy Trails!

If you fancy graduating from a Time Team watching armchair archaeologist to a slightly more active one, then it's well worth looking into the new free Archwilio App, created by the four Welsh archaeological Trusts. The app can be downloaded for Android. You can read quite a detailed article about it on the BBC website.

After trying it out, the historical descriptions are interesting, but many entries lack photographs, although this isn't really a problem if you are physically at the site, and want to get some written information about what you are seeing. You can, in fact, submit photos once you have registered with the app. One slightly off-putting feature is the unpleasant sound effect that plays when you tap an item. Hopefully the app will be improved with user feed-back.

Geocaching on the BBC

We've very interested in the potential of Geocaching to make walking fun and interesting for children, so we were interested to hear a program about it on Radio 4 last week. You can listen again at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03ggfw8.

It's a shame they didn't have the good taste to base the event in Wales, but what can you do?

Cymdeithas Eryri Snowdonia Society: Plas Tan y Bwlch's beautiful hydro scheme

Cymdeithas Eryri Snowdonia Society: Plas Tan y Bwlch's beautiful hydro scheme: Saturday’s walk to see the Plas Tan y Bwlch hydro electric scheme was a popular event with over thirty people taking part. It’s all very wel...

A new walk linked to the Welsh Highland Railway

While researching new walks to feature, Peter came across this lovely new route from Beddgelert to Rhyd-Ddu, on the Snowdonia National Park Authority website. This is a multi-use recreational path, suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The northern most section from rhyd-Ddu to Llyn y Gadair is wide and level enough for some wheelchairs. Other parts of the walk have some steep sections, and there is a footbridge to cross in Beddgelert forest. The walk is especially appealing to steam enthusiasts, as you can use the Welsh Highland Railway to return you to your starting point, or alternatively the bus service along the A4085. For timetables or tickets use the contact details below:

Traveline Cymru: 0871 200 22 33 www.traveline-cymru.info
Welsh Highland Railway: 01766 516000 www.festrail.co.uk

The Pods at Llyn Gwynant.

If the idea of staying in a tent during the Welsh winter leaves you cold (pun intended), but you're not quite ready to concede defeat and throw in with the cosy, pipe and slippers wearing B&B set, then perhaps pod camping would be a good middle ground. These pods are located at the Red Dragon campsite at Llyn Gwynant near Beddgelert in the heart of Snowdonia, and offer a bit more warmth and protection from the elements than a traditional canvas tent.

 

If you are interested in obtaining more information, then please use the contact details below:

Tel: 01766 890351
Email: bryndinas@effectiveprinciples.co.uk
Web: www.RedDragonHolidays.co.uk
Twitter @snowdondragon

 

The pods sleep two people each

 

Internet access available on site.

Shared cooking and washing facilities. Basic but functional.

Handy key safes for when you are out and about.

Shared bathroom facilities.

The stunning surroundings of Nant Gwynant.

Mediaeval Inspiration at Craflwyn

The princes of Gwynedd project has many facets, as Peter discovered when he visited Craflwyn, the National Trust owned site just outside Beddgelert. The Princes of Gwynedd exhibition is not yet open here, but they have done wonderful things with the outside aspects of the project.

Interesting use of pyrography, or making an image on wood by burning.

Some very substantial oak furniture here, with a mediaeval theme.

This is a good sign board showing some of the way-marked trails associated with the project.