Caernarfon and Portmeirion

{mosimage}Caernarfon is one of my favourite places to fly to.

Admittedly the first time I flew there I was on probation for flying into the London Control Zone, but from that little incident, I have steadily improved my navigation. If you fly into Carnarfon from the North you get the beautiful views along Colwyn Bay (keep an eye out for the Windfarms sited out to sea) and then along the Menai straight. The airport is well set up with all the facilities you need, including fuel and even a small museum. A beautiful sandy beach is just a few minutes walk away (yes I said walk) and best of all the picturesque and enigmatic village of Portmerion is only half an hour away by taxi.

{mosimage}This little gem of a place has been a firm favourite with my family through three (or is it four generations). My mother loved the place! The beautiful scent of the rhododendrons and the relaxed atmosphere were just her cup of tea. I loved it because I loved the TV series that went with it (The Prisoner – Starring Patrick McGoohan). I also loved the scenery and the wide open spaces. Then there are the children. They love it because it has ’secret’ paths in the forest with names like “The Ghost’s garden” and “Secret Grotto”. The architecure is Italianesque and there are plenty of coffee shops to sit and relax. If you need to shop then you can visit numerous gift shops of increase your collection of the world famous Portmerion china, which now has many more designs than the classic “Botanical Gardens”.

Sir Clough Williams Ellis opened “The Village” in 1926 and although he had very little money he made a success of the place. If you want more details look at our very own article here

Taking off from Caernarfon is no less specatacular! The climb out gives you an excellent view of Caernarfon {mosimage}, and the departure gives you spectacular views of Snowdon. The best part for me of course is flying South from Carnarfon and diverting slightly to fly over Portmerion itself! Reminds me of that episode (“Many Happy Returns”), where the Prisoner finally finds the Village. I only thought I was about to be ejected for less than a second!