Showcase Wales
Cardiff, Wales
October 18-22, 2005
 

October 21st we leave Cardiff and head north through the Brecon Beacons mountain range to our first stop, Llangoed Hall for coffee and a visit. Now this place is closely related to Laura Ashley http://www.llangoedhall.com/ as her husband owns it now. As you can see by the pictures, this is one place I would have loved to have stayed in...absolutely stunning in it's decor and furnishings. The apron you see is the first thing that Laura made in sewing class as told to us by our host Callum Milne. Llangoed Hall, was formerly Llangoed Castle. According to records there appears to have been a house on this site since 560 AD. It is also said that the first Welsh Parliament was held here. We then drove through the Elan Valley and the picturesque Valley of Cwm Ystwyth to the National Library of Wales where we were greeted by lunch and then a tour through this extraordinary library. It was raining outside, but you can see by the pictures that the library commands an impressive view...if you look far enough, you can see Ireland from here. http://www.llgc.org.uk/ then it was on to the Bae Aberman in Barmouth for our evening dinner and overnight. I am showing you the dining room as set up for our dinner and the next picture is out of my bedroom window the next morning...what a view! My room was the top window on the right that is open just a bit. http://www.baeabermaw.com/Home/home.htm