Journey to majestic Wales

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Whether you're new to the U.K. or a seasoned veteran, there's much to do and see here. By sharing travel stories, visiting forces can better acquaint themselves with where and when they want to visit.

As a relatively new "immigrant" here, this is my first story to share, but I assure you more will follow.

This story starts about a week ago on an overnight trip to neighboring Wales ...

The famed rolling hills, quaint cottages and never-ending stone fences beckoned us onward as my family slowly wound our way toward Betws-y-Coed, a picturesque village in the northern part of Snowdonia National Park.

Stopped in the dead center of the road, we looked forward in awe at the narrow stone bridge before us, which seemed to cleverly merge the incoming and ongoing lanes of traffic dangerously into one lane. The bridge was steep and obliged drivers to climb a certain 40 degrees without being able to see oncoming traffic. I nervously gripped the steering wheel and, as if the Welsh spirit itself defined our journey, crept across the historic bridge.

A bend or two later I found myself in the tiny village of Trefriw, home to traditional weavers at the Trefriw Woolen Mills and the Princes Arms Hotel, where we chose to take rest and indulge in the breathtaking views for the evening.

The Princes Arms is situated between Trefriw and a spectacular waterfall. Just beyond that, we found a traditional Roman spa.

Upon check-in, we were greeted by the charming owner Lindsay Gordon, who moved to Wales from Northwest England about 25 years ago. Mr. Gordon personally escorts each guest to their room and shows them the room amenities.

To our amazement, our room was actually a nice-sized apartment with two bedrooms, a living room and a separate bath room. Since I have a five-person family I booked two rooms but ended up canceling the second room as we had a plethora of space in one.

Adding tribute to the room was the gracious host, Mr. Gordon, who was present at dinner that evening and again there first thing in the morning for the complimentary full-service Welsh breakfast.

Ever had Welsh Rarebit?

Well, it's a dish made with flavorful sauce and melted cheese over toasted bread. In a single word, my taste buds describe it as scrumptious.

Welsh Rarebit was one of many courses on the menu. My wife had a plate of local cheese, fruit and eggs, and the kids had a whole spread of breakfast food, to include sautéed mushrooms and black pudding - a local favorite. We all indulged ourselves in a toasted rack of various breads, plus had an assortment of fruits, milk, juice, coffee and - of course - tea.

After breakfast we checked out of the hotel and made the scenic 20-minute drive out of the mountains and down to the walled village of Conwy, which was nestled on the northern tip of Snowdonia, right on the Irish Sea.

The drive out of Snowdonia down toward the beautiful coastline of Conwy was, without question, one of the most remarkable driving experiences I've had so far in the U.K. Imagine coming out of green mountains speckled with stone fences and herds of sheep to see a tranquil coastline emerge on the horizon. This image can't accurately be captured in photos - you really have to see it for yourself.

Once you move beyond the spectacle of the Welsh coastline, you'll find yourself neck deep in the splendor of the country's history. Conwy is completely surrounded by a 14th century medieval stone wall with defensive towers, and is home to an unimaginable medieval castle.

As we toured the castle, I tried to imagine it in its original state 800 years ago. Remarkably, the structure is so well preserved that envisioning it in its grandeur was a relatively simple task.

Standing in the king's chamber or the great hall, I could vividly imagine colorful tapestries hanging from the walls and majestic furniture decorating the place. Though trumpets only sounded in my head, I felt like the king of Wales!

After touring Conwy Castle, we headed over to the castle's gift shop where we learned about Welsh love spoons, and saw 14th century relics on display. According to the shop keeper, historically young men would spend hours carving love spoons with their bare hands in hopes the girl they long for would accept it. If she did, this would demonstrate her interest in him and they would commence a relationship, which is where the term "spooning," came from, she said.

I must admit I was enthralled and bought my wife our next anniversary present right then and there! I bought her a hand-crafted Clogau Gold love spoon on a necklace made from Welsh gold mined right in Snowdonia. Now I'll have to spend three months keeping this commentary from her.

After leaving the medieval fortress we walked around the village and saw the smallest house in all of Great Britain.

Once we were done touring the village, having a café lunch and taking in a bit of caffeine for the drive, we started the 4.5 hour trek back to Suffolk.

Though it's always nice to get home after a holiday, the Welsh experience still lives vividly in my mind.

Being a short drive away, I recommend visiting Snowdonia to any servicemember looking for a short two-day vacation. If we had stayed a few more days, we surely could have seen more of North Wales and perhaps the central and southern parts of the country.

In any case, our trip to Snowdonia proved to be an unparalleled success and the Wallace family is looking forward to the next time we get out and explore more of these wonderful lands.