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Travel tales of an empty nester
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Home  >  Blog  >  Mum’s gone to Wales: Caernarfon

Mum’s gone to Wales: Caernarfon

Trish Burgess Posted on12/07/201629/06/2017 Caernarfon, Wales 21 Comments

It was a fairly last minute decision to book a trip to Wales. Rory was home for the summer, his girlfriend was happy to come with us but we didn’t know where to go (call myself a travel blogger?!)

After some circuitous internet surfing, we plumped for North Wales and an apartment in Doc Fictoria (Victoria Dock) in Caernarfon. It proved to be the perfect location with views over the Menai Strait to Anglesey and so many attractions within about half an hour’s drive.

sunrise Caernarfon
Sunrise in Caernarfon. View over the Menai Strait from apartment.

Just crossing the border from England to Wales felt very much like arriving in a foreign country and it wasn’t just that the road signs were in Welsh and English. The A55 from Chester along the North Wales coast is an excellent road: tunnels cut straight through the mountains and the views across Colywn Bay and Conwy Bay are magnificent.

Caernarfon itself is a beautiful royal town in the county of Gwynedd. A world heritage site, it has the most picturesque castle and, within the walls, a surprisingly good selection of independent shops and restaurants situated in pretty streets.

Caernarfon castle

We ate in town on three of our five nights – it was so easy, no need to take a car, just amble along the marina for five minutes and take your pick. I can thoroughly recommend our choices of Chinese, Tuscan and Greek fare plus a delicious Dutch breakfast.

Fu’s Restaurant, Doc Fictoria, Caernarfon

A bright, contemporary Cantonese restaurant in Doc Fictoria. The food was tasty, service friendly and efficient. Loved the décor, with huge terracotta army figures, including a headless one which didn’t quite make the journey west intact.

Doc Fictoria, Caernarfon
Fu’s restaurant located in Doc Fictoria

 

Osteria, 26 Hole in the Wall Street, Caernarfon

We adored this tiny Tuscan restaurant on two floors within the heart of the old town. An unusual menu: sharing platters of bruschette, cured meats, cheese and delicious fried coccoli bread could be chosen either as a starter or a main. This was followed by a choice of three or four hot dishes which change daily (pasta and a fabulous meatloaf when we visited) . The food was superb; so authentic and fresh. We chose to share three of the four puds between us – soft milky panna cotta; hot, pillowy chocolate fondant and a melt-in-the-mouth pear tart.

Osteria, Caernarfon, starter and dessert
Shared platter plus shared puds

 

Ouzo & Olive, 14 Hole in the Wall Street, Caernarfon

Another great find on Hole in the Wall Street. A meze/tapas type menu, we opted for bread, one cold meze and then surprised the waitress by ordering the complete hot meze menu, bar three dishes. She laughed and wondered whether we would manage to eat it all. We did. Washed down with a very drinkable house red served in a rustic metal carafe, this was a fantastic evening and excellent value for money.

Ouzo & Olive, Caernarfon

 

Scoops, 8 Palace Street, Caernarfon

Suggested by a fellow blogger, Liz, a font of all knowledge when it comes to Wales, we had to try this little café selling artisan ice cream and homemade traditional Dutch pancakes. Sitting outside, watching the other shopkeepers nearby set up for the day, I breakfasted on a pancake with bacon, pine nuts, honey and goats cheese while Dougie tried one with apple, bacon and mushrooms. Utterly delicious, as was the coffee. We had a look inside and it was so pretty, with bright crocheted blankets draped over the chairs and a beautiful outdoor sitting area at the back. This was the perfect start to the day.

Scoops, Caernarfon, pancake

 

We used Caernarfon as a base for our trip but there were times I just wanted to spend time just mooching around this lovely town. As the Welsh football team were still in with a chance in the Euros, there was a real buzz with Welsh flags proudly displayed along with the usual bunting draped across the streets: it was certainly a fantastic time to be staying in Wales.

 

 

Packing my Suitcase

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21 Comments

  1. Bryce Reply
    12/07/2016 at 7:33 pm

    And Wales had gone to France and did rather well, methinks.

    Dangerous words …..it was like arriving in a foreign country; that could trigger a Wexit, methinks

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      12/07/2016 at 8:12 pm

      Ah Bryce – I’ve missed you!
      This part of Wales was incredibly Welsh, I think about 80% of the town speak Welsh and the county of Gwynedd voted to remain. I felt like making it clear to everyone we met that we voted remain too – in case they got shirty. Dougie just spoke more Scottish than usual…

  2. Emma Raphael Reply
    14/07/2016 at 10:59 am

    Sounds like a gorgeous part of the world, and I like the sound of all of that food!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      21/07/2016 at 2:27 pm

      You would have loved the food – and all good value and within walking distance!

  3. susanna Reply
    16/07/2016 at 3:32 pm

    I’m absolutely in love with Wales. It’s so close (I live in the SE) yet it very much feels like another country.

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      21/07/2016 at 2:28 pm

      That’s the thing – it really does feel so different and this makes the holiday even more special, I think.

  4. Mina Reply
    20/07/2016 at 7:21 am

    Wales is a beautiful place..I have been to Anglesey once..And I found it really breathtaking..After seeing all these pictures, I feel like going there right now..

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      21/07/2016 at 2:28 pm

      I had never been to Anglesey – so different from Snowdonia just a few miles away.

  5. Sarah Reply
    21/07/2016 at 12:17 pm

    What amazing eateries! The quality of food there is astounding, as are the views. 🙂

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      21/07/2016 at 2:31 pm

      The weather was patchy but when the sun shone it was glorious. I was quite staggered by the food choices: there were still others on our list we didn’t have time to try.

  6. Clare (Suitcases and Sandcastles) Reply
    01/08/2016 at 5:53 pm

    I love the photos, Trish! The Tuscan restaurant really appeals and obviously the Greek . I’m soaking up the sun and gorgeous messes right now…

  7. Sarah Christie Reply
    02/08/2016 at 9:33 pm

    I bet the atmosphere was incredible at the time. We haven’t spent any time in Wales, but I really need to add it too my list. The restaurants all look great too. There is so much to do in the UK so many wonderful places to see x

  8. Claire at Tin Box Traveller Reply
    05/08/2016 at 6:24 pm

    What a great spot for a spur of the moment break and some great foodie finds! That pancake has got my stomach rumbling! #MondayEscapes

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      06/08/2016 at 8:34 am

      It was great just walking into town for dinner rather than having to drive somewhere. Best of both worlds being so close to the mountains and on the coast.

  9. Lauren (The Helpful Hiker) Reply
    07/08/2016 at 8:58 pm

    The restaurants all sound amazing! We went to Brecon this year and loved it so keen to explore more of Wales. I definitely think we need to spend some time in North Wales, there are just so many fab places there. #MondayEscapes

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      08/08/2016 at 10:33 am

      I agree, once you have a taste of Wales, you feel the urge to explore further.

  10. Packing my Suitcase Reply
    13/08/2016 at 12:47 pm

    What a beautiful place… the sunrise is amazing, wow!
    I love the narrow streets and the food looks great.

    Thank you for joining #MondayEscapes 😀

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