Cities 3, Cathedrals 2, Castles lots
Bangor’s 6C cathedral is possibly the highlight of the UKs third smallest city (St David’s no 1 and St Asaph no 2). We’d reached there via Harlech and Caernarfon’s splendid English edifices. Edward 1 of England knew how to make a lasting statement of domination and subjugation.
In between there are lots of small settlements and towns like Penrhyndeudraeth and Porthmadog. Narrow gauge railways join them and former slate quarries to the coast. The flat coastal plain looks like it’ll be a Morecambe Bay with rising sea levels. The wise ones live up the hill sides. Of which there are a few.
Harlech has a steep street (40%) we look at but resist the tempation to cycle down and up. Its castle is a warm up act for our afternoon coffee stop: Caernarfon looks a bit more prosperous than I remember it (a regular work destination). Mind you it should be jumping. If that Castle was in the Cotswolds it would be.
Mainly ncn8 today, leaving it for a section to hug the coast closer.
Travelling reflections 