Wales

Covered a fair bit of ground today. By morning tea time we had driven through Manchester, Liverpool and Chester, and were in Conwy in North Wales. Conwy is on the north coast of Wales, and is famous for Conwy Castle built in 1282 by King Edward I, known as Edward Longshanks. To get to the town you have to drive over the adjacent river and almost through the castle, so its a very intimidating arrival.

Walked down to the river, past the castle and along the walls, admiring the town and looking for the inevitable coffee shop, before turning south through the Snowdonia National Park and Gwydir Mountains, and down the Dyfi Valley past all the slate quarries to Machynlleth for lunch. We emerged from the hills at the coastal town of Aberystwyth and traveled down the coast to Cardigan for an afternoon tea stop outside the castle where Lord Rhys Ap Gruffydd held the world's first eisteddfod to choose his court singers in 1176.

Arrived in Fishguard around 5pm and checked into Hamilton Backpackers Lodge, which is really like staying in somebody's home, and has a great reputation. A sunny day with lovely views all the way down through Wales.