HOTEL
& SNOWDONIA FEATURE ON LEADING USA VISITOR WEBSITE!
A
leading UK website aimed at discerning American visitors recently published the
first-ever blog by Ian Spindley, Marketing Manager at a leading independent
Snowdonia hotel and restaurant called the Royal Sportsman in Porthmadog,
Gwynedd.
His
blog extols the many virtues of Porthmadog, Llyn, Gwynedd, the Cambrian Coast,
Snowdonia and, of course, the Royal Sportsman Hotel!
Snowdonia
in Wales has so much to see and do – when compared to Scotland, the Lake
District, Cornwall or its near-neighbour Ireland – that it’s really hard to
know where to start!
So
how about where and what it is – before describing its vast wealth of
attractions, activities and unique heritage. ‘Snowdonia Mountains and Coast’ in
north-west Wales includes the stunning scenery of Snowdonia National Park –
with rugged Mount Snowdon, the highest in England and Wales, at its heart – and
the Llyn Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Cambrian Coastline
adjoining.
Our
inspiring mountains end along almost 200 miles of seashore. The new Wales Coast
Path – the first of its kind in the world – links wooded estuaries, big
beaches, wild western cliffs, sheltered harbours, sandy resorts and secluded
bays.
Country
and coast are peppered with a special mix of World Heritage fortresses and
slate quarries, Celtic shrines and cultural centres. Add a living Welsh
language and North Wales becomes a unique part of the UK.
Against
this backdrop of world-class natural beauty, you can easily explore medieval
castles, historic houses and elegant parks and gardens. Visit galleries and
museums, learn about myths and legends, go deep underground to discover our
mining past, or take steam train journeys through the mountains.
Snowdonia’s
fascinating history stretches from prehistoric communities to 20th century
statesmanship – and everything between – and there are dozens of sites of
historic interest.
Stone
castles are a local speciality. Mighty Caernarfon, Harlech and Conwy – three
UNESCO World Heritage Sites – are links in the medieval ‘iron chain’ of walled
towns built by English King Edward I.
Nominated
for World Heritage status is the North Wales slate industry. Many heritage
attractions include underground cavern tours, stories of how quarrymen lived,
and current day production.
Slate
was carried from quarries on Snowdonia’s narrow-gauge steam railways around the
region and to the sea, where ship-building harbours such as Porthmadog
developed to transport it for house-roofing all across the globe.
Today
visitors flock from around the world to Porthmadog – the UK’s narrow-gauge
capital – to explore the remarkable scenery on these charming ‘Great Little
Trains of Wales’.
Another
modern shaper of world history was David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of
Britain from 1916-1922. His main achievement after the First World War was
helping to create the welfare state. He grew up in Llanystumdwy and his
childhood home is now a museum.
Nowadays
Snowdonia is Wales’s undisputed activity capital, crammed full of all kinds of
outdoor adventures like golfing, walking, cycling, climbing, zip-wiring,
horse-riding, wildlife-watching, and water-sports.
After
all that exploring, visitors need good food. Snowdonia has an international
reputation for culinary excellence, and standards are high at all levels. Many
hotels, restaurants and pubs emphasise high-quality, natural, seasonal,
locally-produced ingredients – notably fresh fruit and vegetables, locally
caught seafood (particularly crab, bass, lobster, cod), mountain-reared Welsh
Black beef and succulent sweet saltmarsh lamb.
American
travel writer Bill Bryson stayed at the Royal Sportsman Hotel in Porthmadog 20
years ago while writing ‘Notes From A Small Island’. He said in the book: 'I
examined the meagre stock of local hotels with some care. I felt entitled to a
spell of comfort and luxury after my night in a cheerless Llandudno guesthouse.
And I chose an inn called the Royal Sportsman. . .'
All
of this scenery, history, culture and excitement – and so much more – is just a
few hours from all of England’s major cities. . .so take the path least
trodden!"
We
look forward to welcoming groups of cultured American guests keen to explore
our mountains, castles and seashore, and enjoy a true taste of food from Wales!
“
See www.royalsportsman.co.uk/hotel/
for hotel details; www.royalsportsman/facebook.com
and/or @royal_sportsman for interesting news/developments; and www.visitsnowdonia.info for more
information on the area.
Published
by Steve Langley, of The British Traveler.
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