Where should we stop of en route to Tenby from Yorkshire via Dolgellau

[Notalone]

Hey

We are going to Tenby soon and have chosen to drive the scenic route via Chester, Dolgellau and then down the west coast of Wales. We did this last year and the views were out of this world. However it is a heck of a long drive and we want somewhere to stop off roughly halfway that is typical welsh countryside ie rolling mountains, a stream etc where we can have a picnic and stretch our legs.

Does anyone have any ideas please?

[moondog]

Porthmadog would be nice. You could go to Portmeirion for a picnic and a stroll. Mind you, you would be within an hour of Dolgellau so maybe no.

Rhuthin and Denbigh are nice little market towns. Denbigh has a cute little castle that would be a nice palce for a picnic.

LLandudno too is nice for a stroll on the prom and pier. If it is sunny, there is a shallow free kids' pool on the prom which is very popular.

[WendyWeber]

Somewhere in Snowdonia? Betws-y-Coed, Bala or Blaenau Ffestiniog maybe?

[Notalone]

We were kind of thinking along the Snowdonia way as we have beaches and castles planned already for Tenby. Where in Snowdonia fits the description?

[WendyWeber]

I haven't been to Bala - I know it has a lake!

Have been to Betws-y-Coed though & IIRC it has lots of water, mountains & grass

Oooh, look here - it's a nice short easy walk & includes photos, where to park, where there's a picnic site & everything!

[WendyWeber]

And another one!

[Notalone]

Hello Again. Sorry the previous reply was a bit curt. I was at work and nearly got busted lol.

Moondog - your ideas were fab and Portmeirion looks amazing but think it is a bit far out for us to get to on an already long journey. Likewise Wendy Betws y Coed looks lovely too. I went there years ago and I remember it being beautiful but it is a little too far away too

We will be travelling along the A494 through Bala and then Llanuwychilyn so we would be ideally looking for somewhere along there if possible. Any more ideas?

[moondog]

Those are lovely roads anyway. I think you will enjoy the driving. Just stop as the fancy takes you. Bala has a nice (and very wide) main street with nice pubs.

Are you staying in Dolgellau?
I work there and travel down from caernarfon once a week-never get tired of the journey.

[Notalone]

They (the roads) are stunning Moondog. I absolutely loved it last year - it was breathtaking. We stopped at Bala last year to buy drinks and snacks and it was very quaint from what I remember.

We are actually staying in Tenby but we pass through Dolgellau on the way.