Holyhead to Conwy (2019-09-17)

Didn’t we have a lovely time, the day we went to Bangor, or so went the lyrics of Fiddlers Dram’s 1979 hit song (their only hit song), and today we went to Bangor, although it wasn’t part of the plan, but I am getting ahead of myself.

With our walking tour over, there was no Eurwyn to pick up our suitcases this morning, so we dragged, pushed and struggled with our bags over kerbs, cobblestones and stairs, as we walked the kilometre or so from the Boathouse to the Holyhead railway station.

We got to the station an hour ahead of our scheduled 11:28 am departure, to find the arrival and departure board not working.  But no problem, Jim the technodweeb had downloaded the Welsh Railways app before we left home, so he could check on his phone - our train to Conwy was still scheduled for 11:28 am.  But as Holyhead is the end of the line, we wondered when the incoming train would arrive.  No problem, look on the app for trains coming in from Conwy, and it is on time arriving at 10:37 am.  The train pulled in right on time, so along with the rest of the people waiting, we boarded the train, stowed our suitcases and backpacks, and sat back to wait 45 minutes, when the doors closed, and the train left the station.  So where were we going?  When the conductor came through checking tickets, we asked if the train stopped at Conwy, to which he replied “no”.  So I asked if it stopped anywhere before Conwy, to which he replied “Bangor”.  So that was why we went to Bangor today, not to cuddle with Jack, nor to open a bottle of cider.

From the station platform, it was clear that Fiddlers Dram was talking about a different part of Bangor than what we were seeing - the train had arrived through a tunnel, left through a tunnel, and all we could see was two hillsides and a few buildings covered in scaffolding.  But we had an okay time sitting at the station until “our” train arrived at 12:01.

Even when on the correct train, Conwy is a request only stop, and is16 minutes after Bangor, so as soon as we had stowed the bags, I went looking for the conductor.  I walked all through the 3 carriages, and no sign of the conductor, but the tea lady told me that she would let the conductor know, “if she saw her”.  The clock was ticking, and Conwy was getting closer, when I finally found the conductor, back in the first carriage.  “No problem” she said, “bring your luggage up to the front door of the second carriage, as I will only open one door”.  So we pushed and shoved our way through two carriages, sorry, sorry, and arrived at the appointed door, with a few minutes to spare.  It seems that Conwy has a very short platform, so only one door of the train will be opposite the platform when the door opens.  Who would have thought eh?

The directions to Bryn Derwen were excellent, and we soon dropped our bags off, had a cup of tea, and headed back into town, to see that all was as it had been on our last visit.  The Raj was still there, and still served Dhansak, the castle was as intact as on our last visit, the smallest house in Britain was still the smallest house in Britain, but best of all there was a new cake shop.

Bryn Derwen Guest House

Look At Those Meringues

Conwy Castle

Smallest House in Britain

Conwy From Llandudno Junction 

As it was still only mid-afternoon, and Conwy was full of tourists, we decided to take a walk over to Llandudno Junction to see the new movie “Downton Abbey”.  It seemed fitting to watch a British movie in a British theatre.  No spoilers, but we thoroughly enjoyed the show.

The movie came out about 5:30 pm, and we walked back to Conwy amongst the rush hour traffic, to find Conwy almost deserted - the tourist buses were all gone.

So we had dinner at The Raj (we were the only customers), and enjoyed it, but it was certainly not as good as we remembered it, nor as good as the Indian meal we had in Beaumaris.  Oh well, we can’t win them all.