Portmeirion

We went several years ago, stayed onsite, loved it.

It was having a facelift when we were there, but the work was unobtrusive.

Ate in the restaurant in the castle and the one by the water.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

I will be staying there for a long weekend at the end of March. I'm quite excited as I've wanted for years to go there and will be happy to give you my report afterwards. 🙂

Correct me if I’m wrong, but we decided not to go there when we were in the area because it looked too hilly and DH would have struggled.

My daughter took me for a birthday treat to a hotel called the Cross foxes and we visited PortMerion for the day
It was a lovely sunny day and we did enjoy it, but it’s not somewhere I would want to stay…

Absolutely loved it - and am planning to go again. Majestic Tours are running excellent trips/ tours - very reasonable Coach trips covering Llandudno, Portmeirion, Snowdonia etc etc. it takes all the pain out of driving. My friends and I are planning to go in September.
You will enjoy it.

Yes, I’ve been and enjoyed it. It was somewhere I’d fancied going so took the opportunity while in north Wales.

I was fascinated by it, but found it felt a bit out of time and out of reality, a sort of building version of Stepford Wives. Nothing was whatbit purported to be.

Having said that, it is very pretty, the views to the sea are wonderful. We ate in the hotel and had an excellent meal.

But it was bit weird and otherworldly.

I think that’s the point Monica, isn’t it, it’s a folly, where the buildings weren’t designed to be functional, but to represent an Italian landscape in a stunning setting - only Clough Ellis knew why he wanted to achieve that I guess, but it has worked, it’s a completely unique place.
It is hilly, but the views over the sea are amazing, I’ve spent some very happy hours there sunning myself outside the hotel.

I've been to Port Meirion a few times. Well worth a visit.

M0nica

I was fascinated by it, but found it felt a bit out of time and out of reality, a sort of building version of Stepford Wives. Nothing was whatbit purported to be.

Having said that, it is very pretty, the views to the sea are wonderful. We ate in the hotel and had an excellent meal.

But it was bit weird and otherworldly.

Exactly what I thought Monica but you have put it much more succinctly than I could…

I hated it. It gave me the creeps. Everything seemed so false just like a film set.

I truly hated 'The Prisoner" - maybe that helped to put you off?

There was a very interesting series called The Village, covering a year in the life of Portmeirion. Worth a watch, possibly still available on ITVX or similar?

Went years ago when the children were young and loved it. Came back with heavily discounted Portmeirion china.

I have fancied going there, but am put off by the climbs as my ticker is a bit dodgy.

It’s hilly, but nowhere near as steep as Clovelly. I saw so many people really struggling when I went there, a lady fell over on the cobbles right in front of us, and cut her head on the cobbles. Another very beautiful and unique place though. Long live the eccentrics!

I went once. It is pretty unique but I have no desire to see it again- a bit like an architectural Disneyland.

It was pretty wet so be prepared as some have said, for hills and limited shelter, just a lot of walking around and exploring the vistas.

But if that's your thing...

About 20 years ago, we were on holiday in N.Wales, and were in the area, so decided to visit Portmeirion. It was closed for lunch, and hubby wasn`t willing to sit and wait the requisite hour or so, so we never did see the place.

We’ve been four or five times when on holiday in the area, The last time we went we stayed in Porthmadog in an apartment with a view of the harbour from one window and the steam trains from another, wonderful. We took our son when he was two - he was a runner and disappeared along the beach with Mr C in hot pursuit. His brother was due a few weeks later which meant I avoided the chasing. .

I’m my view it’s best seen in sunshine with a head on that suspends disbelief. It is very pretty, can also be very busy. The last time we went there was a land train that went around the grounds above the village, beautiful views and no effort. I’m not good on hills and was waiting a TKR, I could manage the village without problem, there are plenty of places to sit down.

We’d go again, probably by coach as it’s a bit further than we like to drive these days.

It is definitely worth a visit, but yes, it is a bit 'otherworldly' and it is hilly, so you do need to be prepared to do a bit of walking. I quite liked it - I do like places which are a little different and out of the ordinary though.

Casdon

I think that’s the point Monica, isn’t it, it’s a folly, where the buildings weren’t designed to be functional, but to represent an Italian landscape in a stunning setting - only Clough Ellis knew why he wanted to achieve that I guess, but it has worked, it’s a completely unique place.
It is hilly, but the views over the sea are amazing, I’ve spent some very happy hours there sunning myself outside the hotel.

This is the point, for me, Casdon, Portmeiron does not come across to me as a folly. Folly's are straight forward things that are exactly what it says on the tin.

But Portmeiron came over to me as being surreal, somewhere where I was mentally floating in a space that had no time, no reality or anything solid where I could mentally ground myself.

Yes I’ve visited when visiting family close by. Would like to go back again one day. It’s somewhere to consider if looking for a venue for a special occasion.

Thank you for your replies. Booked to go this month now and I'm really looking forward to it.

I have visited for days and stayed in the houses there. It's like marmite, l love it, my sister hated it. I hope you enjoy your visit.

I loved it - but was a bit disappointed there were no giant rubber balls chasing people down the beach!