Snowdonia - The Gem of Wales

   Snowdonia means beauty, peace, adventure and serenity. Its 24-mile-long finger of land pointing into the Irish Sea. The biggest mountains in Wales and England are to be found here in the Snowdonia National Park. the Llŷn Peninsula is a protected ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’

Along with the natural beauty ,Snowdonia and Llyn also have lots of adventurous activities like Walking, climbing and water activities , Also enjoy the special rides on Snowdon Mountain railway and lake railway

The northwest is very traditional and very dense  Welsh-speaking part.The Snowdon highlands sheltered Liywelyn ap Gruffydd inthe 13^th century and Owain Glyndwr in the 15^th during their struggles against the English.

Attractions –

Snowdonia National Park :-

Snowdonia National Park  is situated in north Wales, it was founded in 1951. Covering some 823 square miles, the Snowdonia National Park is the second-largest National Park after the Lake District.

In the Welsh it is called Eryri ( Eh –ruh-ree) and the Welsh name of Snowdonia is “Yr Wyddfa” meaning Great Tomb. According to a legend a giant called Rita Gawr was slain here by king Arthur, and is buried at the summit.

It is an area with a population of  over 26,000 people.

The main attraction is Mount Snowdonia , stracched through 35 miles east to west and cover 50 miles north to south, with the height of 1085 metres / 3,560 feet. Snowdonia National Park has well over 100 summits of varying heights and difficulties, to test the most experienced of climbers. Snowdonia was the training ground for some of the early mountaineers, who conquered Everest. For those who wanted to climb  these mighty mountain without any difficulty , Snowdon Mountain Railway is there to help them .Believe me , This is one of the great railway journeys of the world - an unforgettable experience.

The Landscape of Snowdonia National Park is spectacular and varied, with 37km/23 miles of coast line, mountains, high passes, craggy peaks, sheer precipices and cascading waterfalls, it contains over 100 glacial lakes, and woodlands of coniferous and broad-leaved trees, which cover 17% of the ground area.

Rainbow beetle of Snowdonia

Enquiry –

Administrative head office , Porthmadog ( having six branches at different locations):-

Number – 01766770274

Website – www.eryri-npa.co.uk

Note – Dont forget to pick up the copy of the free annual visitor newspaper “Eryri/Snowdonia” available at all the branch offices.

For weather forecast of the park visit www.metoffice.gov.uk

Caernarfon Castle :-

One of the must watch site is Caernarfon Castle, it is in the town Caernarfon . Caernarfon, situated between the beautiful Menai Straits and Mount Snowdon is a busy Welsh market town and a major tourist centre. Caernarfon Castle is the World Heritage Site, the most famous of Wales' castles, and the investiture in 1969 of Prince Charles as the present Prince of Wales. Indeed the town is dominated by King Edward the first's impressive medieval fortress and town walls, built as part of the iron ring of castles to secure his English foothold in Wales after the death of the last Prince of Wales. 

But the town is older than its medieval castle would suggest. Much older. The must see features are the eagle tower, Edwards statue over the Kings gate , museum of the royal welsh fusiliers and Segontium roman fort. It represent the reflection of the walls of Constantinople. Its an interesting place to visit with along the lofty wall walks, beneath the twin-towered gatehouse and within imaginative exhibitions located within the towers.

Opening Time :-

1st April to 30th June : 09.30 am - 5.00 pm daily

1st July - 31st August : 09.30 am – 06.00 pm daily

1st September - 31st October : 09.30 am - 05.00 pm daily

1st November to 29th February : Monday to Saturday 10.00 am - 4.00 pm ,Sunday 11.00 am - 04.00 pm

1st March - 31st March : 09.30 am - 5.00 pm daily

Ticket Cost

Around  £ 5 for an adult and around £ 15 for a family

For more information :-

http://www.caernarfon.com/

Portmeirion :-

Portmeirion is one of Wales' premier visitor attractions, welcoming 250,000 visitors every year. 70 acres of exotic woodlands are Surrounding the village ,with easy to follow woodland trails and coastal walks. Portmeirion is open every day of the year from 9.30am to 7.30pm.

Llyn Tegid :-

Llyn Tegid or the lake Bala , the home for a shy monster name Teggie ( according to the legend ) and The gwyniad - a rare species of fish left over from the last ice age - lurks some 80 feet under water.

It is the largest natural body of water in Wales and a great attraction  for sailors and surfing lovers who benefit from high winds sweeping down from the Aran Mountains. Cyclists find much to challenge and inspire them in three mountain ranges, as well as numerous forest and moorland tracks at the edge of the National Park. In fact the small town of Bala, situated at the northern edge of the Lake, swarms with sightseers and sporty folk for most of the summer.

Dolgellau :-

Dolgellau is situated in the  southern part of The Snowdonia National Park, at the foot of the Cader Idris (Cadair Idris) mountain range with three main routes to the summit. The area displays abundant wildlife, including two Osprey nest sites about an hours drive away (one to the north at Glaslyn and another one to the south by the river Dyfi). There is a great deal of bird life around the Mawddach Estuary and the woods and countryside.This town pulls lots of tourist and serve as a great attraction of Snowdonia with many popular walks only two or three miles from the town centre. These include Torrent Walk and Precipice Walks (old and new). Another very popular walk/cycle ride starts from the town car park and runs nine miles along the old railway line to Barmouth on the coast.

Reaching there and getting around :-

Towns are well connected by the buses. Following are some of the important websites for the further information on buses and trains

Buses

-          Biggest bus operator – Arriva Cymru 

-          Buses to trailheads inside Snowdonia National Park are operated by Snowdon Sherpa www.gwynedd.gov.uk/bwsgwynedd

Trains

-          Cambrian Costline 

-          Conwy Valley Line 

-          Rheilfordd Ffestiniog Railway 

Visit the site

http://www.gwynant.com/

http://www.aboutbritain.com/articles/snowdonia-national-park.asp

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Indoor Kite Flying - Amazing Event , Give it a Try

   I always love Kites , Colourful flying high up in the sky , It gives me a sense of freedom . Recently I came across with this magnificent thing name Indoor kite flying. I was just wondering what that is?

Indoor Kite Flying 

I know, many of you might be thinking the same. Kite and indoor ? they doesn’t go together ! But ITS VERY MUCH POSSIBLE.

From Japan to Germany…from India to Italy, a new breed of kite flyer is being born. At all times of the day and night you will find these dedicated enthusiasts inside schools, warehouses, gymnasiums, churches, ballrooms and even shopping malls, chasing an element exactly opposite traditional kite flying…a windless environment!

Many indoor kite flyers enjoy outdoor kiting with the wind at their backs, although they experience common limitations and restrictions, mostly weather and wind related…too cold, too hot, not enough wind, too much wind, etc. However, one restriction stands out above most…the inability to fly in the entire 360 degree window surrounding them. Typical outdoor wind conditions may allow a skilled kite pilot to fly as much as 180 degrees side to side and approach direct overhead manoeuvres; however, indoor conditions commonly allow a skilled pilot to fly 360 degrees and any overhead direction. Indoor kite pilots create wind utilizing various walking patterns, and shoulder, arm and wrist movements as well as acrobatic twisting, spinning and twirling making the kite flying experience more of a dance. Each body nuance is mirrored in the kite creating an artistic reflection of the flyer’s creativity.

Frequently called, “one of the most amazing things ever seen”, indoor kite flying challenges the observer to question the very idea of gravity. Kite flying is not what it used to be. Technological innovations such as super strong lightweight fabrics and composite carbon rods allow a skilled indoor kite pilot to manoeuvre futuristic looking, aerodynamic pieces of artwork through a windless environment with ease.

Just add air! These lightweight, super efficient indoor kites require no wind. Defying gravity, indoor kites are propelled by a gentle balance of movement and precise technique. These marvels of architectural design range in size from 1 to 10 meters and are guided on fly lines up to 20 meters long. Indoor kite flying is a true demonstration of art in motion.

So do enjoy this new breed of crazy kite flying , who knows you also might get addicted to it.

Website –

Kite Flying UK

http://www.kiteman.co.uk

Check out for the Indoor kite flying event in USA

http://aerialexperience.com/

Hot Air Balloon Flight in UK - Make your Dream Come True !

        Have you ever imagined yourself flying up in blue sky with your loved one! If you have any such dream then, taking a flight in hot air balloon is a perfect option for you. In UK, there are several companies and organisations running these dreamy flights in some wonderful locations.

Some great locations are :- Bath, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Derbyshire, , Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, London, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Wiltshire, Yorkshire and Wales or Scotland Devon, Dorset, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Kent.

Many time, several hot air balloon companies co-operate together to form networks so that they can offer balloon rides in a number of different regions which can give you flexibility on where you can take your balloon flight. So it is useful to be aware of whether you are booking with an individual operator or with a network. We aim to keep the list up to date and complete, but this cannot be guaranteed.

All commercial hot air balloon rides operators in the UK should be licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and have an Air Operators License number and we recommend that you inquire about this with the balloon operator before you book your flight.

Balloon Flight Ideas:-  

• Enjoy the Balloon flights on special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Birthday, Mothers day, and Fathers day. Enjoy the blue sky beautiful scenery and make the day memorable.

• Gift the “Gift Vouchers” of Balloon flights to friends and family members on their special events of life like Wedding, Honeymoon, birthday, and anniversary.

• Enjoy the flight with your kids to, you will love the expression of wow on their face.

• Propose the love of your life on the blue sky on the beautiful, colorful balloon. 

• Enjoy the clear summer sky.

Collection of websites for Balloon Flights:-

Virgin Balloon Flight

Hot Air

Into The Blue

Adventure Balloons

Balloon Ride

Balloon Rides Ltd

Go Ballooning

Wickers World

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The Diamond Jubilee of the Queen as a Monarch , Send a message to The Queen

       UK is all set ready to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the queen Elizabeth II as a British Monarch .the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will centre around an extended weekend on 2, 3, 4 and 5 June. The Queen Came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and her coronation took place on 2 June 1953. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002.

The Queen is receiving lots of presents and greets from all over the world. So if you want to send a greeting message to her then here is the Official link for the message :-

Send a message to The Queen | The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Check out our other article to see how the Britain is going to celebrate the occasion. You will also get some important link for the events 

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Ramsbotton , A Cool British getaway and the Home of The World Black Pudding Throwing Championship

        If I have to talk about long walks, Local food, relaxing days, friendly people and beautiful landscape then I would love to talk about the British countryside.  One of such lovely place is Ramsbottom , it’s a old mill town. You can enjoy nature's beauty , cycling , walking , funful events, history of railway , pubs, local product shopping, beautiful sculptures on road and Antique shops .

Ramsbottom is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England. It is situated on the bank of the River Irwell, in the West Pennine Moors. The name Ramsbottom is believed to derive from the Valley of Garlic; it’s not related to “Rams” the cattle. Ramsbottom is a "thriving market town in spectacular surroundings". Its Victorian architecture, Pennine landscape, its industrial heritage and the heritage East Lancashire Railway station contribute to cultural tourism in the town. It is also the home of the famous “Blackpudding throwing competition” and “the chocolate festival”

Tourist Attractions :-

The Irwell Sculpture Trail -The Irwell Sculpture Trail is one of the largest public art projects in the country having some 20 sculptures in all. The trail runs from Salford along the Irwell Valley through Ramsbottom, on to Bacup and beyond..  It includes a Tilted Vase, created by Edward Allington.  The sculpture, manufactured in bronze, occupies a central position on the site of the original market place.

Peel Tower – The Peel tower in Holcombe village , commemorates Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister of Britain between 1841 and 1846, founder of the modern Police Force (once named 'Peelers' and still often referred to as 'Bobbys').  He is also renowned for repealing the Corn Laws. The tower, opened in 1852, is a popular landmark sitting on the top of Holcombe Hill (1100ft.) on the west side of the Irwell Valley offering a magnificent view to those who climb the 150 steps leading to the top.

The Rake and Millennium Bench – The Rake near the Peel Tower has always inspired many artists , you can find paintings , souvenirs and other art work with the beautiful views of the place.

Near to the Peel Tower and overlooking the valley is the Millennium Bench with its wonderful view it offers a good break to the visitors.

Farmers market – Second Sunday of every month you can enjoy the “farmers market”, Farmers come in large numbers to sell their home grown and  homemade products.

East Lancashire Railway - The line started in 1989 and runs each weekend.  Many special events take place throughout the year including Thomas the Tank Engine weekends and Santa Specials during the Christmas period. Many of the engines using the line are steam powered with classic engines often visiting the region.

Famous Events :-

The World Black Pudding Throwing Championship : –

The world black pudding throwingcompetition is an even which has gained the limelight for this small town. This event takes place on the month of September ( 2nd Sunday ) every year, in Ramsbotton.  People travel to Ramsbottom from as far away land as Australia, Hong Kong, Africa and Sweden, to compete in the Black Pudding Throwing Championships. Revisiting the old Yorkshire-Lancashire rivalry, competitors use black puddings to knock stacks of Yorkshire puddings off a shelf.

Contestants gathered at the Royal Oak pub to throw black puddings at a stack of Yorkshire puddings piled on a plinth 20ft off the ground. The rules is that ,  you can throw three competition standard 6oz puddings - underarm only. Whoever knocked off the most Yorkshire puddings is the winner. Historically , Ramsbottom, Bury, now part of Greater Manchester, was in Lancashire.

It is said that the contest is based on an incident during the Wars of the Roses when both armies ran out of ammunition and threw food at each other. It is believed to be a revival of the Lancashire-Yorkshire rivalry

Black pudding is traditionally made of cooked pig blood, fat and rusk, encased in a length of intestine.

Chocolate festival – Every year in March-April this festival takes place in Ramsbottom. Many chocolatiers come to show case their delicacy The Festival features a huge choice of things to see and get involved in including the chocolate market, kid’s activities and food counters.

Apart from all these attractions and events, Ramsbottom also have some good antique galleries and shops .If you have a liking for antiques, then, I am sure you will end up buying some good stuff for your collection.

How to Reach –

Ramsbottom is just 10 miles away from Greater Manchester ( Manchester is 164 miles away from London ), Its easily reachable by Car, buses and trains.

Bus from Manchester - X35: Manchester – Walmersley via Ramsbottom , Bury

Check out the time for the train to ramsbottom - National Express

Video on Black Pudding Throwing Competition 

Map Ramsbottom

View Larger Map

Other Links -

Town Center 

DMC

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UK Border Custom Control - What You Can and Cannot Bring to UK

Planning a trip to UK? Or coming back to UK from some vacation? Then, before loading your travel bags for UK, you must know what you can and what you cannot bring to UK along with you. Here I am giving you some general tips:-

You should not bring with you:-

• Live animals
• Unlicensed drugs or drugs without the medical prescription  
• Pornographic material and child pornography
• Dairy, meat and other animal products
• Fireworks , Ammunition, firearms and explosives
• Loose Food items without the commercial packaging and product ingredient description
• For pets , under the pets travel scheme you need to obtain the Pet Passport
• Some types of radio transmitters which are not authorized for use in the UK
• Flick and gravity knives
• Self defense sprays such as pepper and CS gas sprays
• Rough diamonds ( you can’t bring it in UK without a licence or permit )
• Anyone arriving in the UK from outside the EU with more than the equivalent of 10,000 Euros in cash must declare it using a cash declaration form.
• Certain animal products such as ivory, tortoise shell and the fur of endangered species which are covered by a strict international treaty.

What you can bring:-

Along with your regular and general travelling stuff like clothing, toiletries, personal jewellery and other clearly personal goods, you are allowed to bring the following to bring the following things with some guidelines:-

• 4 liters of still table wine
• 16 liters (or 28 imperial pints) of beer
• Tobacco products for personal use - 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of loose tobacco. As of December 1, while allowances remain the same, you can make up your duty free allowance from a mixture of tobacco products. For example, 100 cigarettes, and 25 cigars would meet the tobacco limits.
• 1 liter of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22 per cent alcohol by volume, or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs.( Mix and match of alcohol products for alcohol allowance is accepted )
• £300 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs - rising to £340 after January 1, 2009

You need to be 17 years and above for the tobacco and alcohol allowance.

Enjoy your Visit !

For more details click here 

UK Border Agency 

Pet travel

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London Olympic 2012 - Hotels and other Accommodation Options

  London Olympic 2012 is going to be one of the most magnificent events of the year. All eyes are set on London.  UK is not leaving any stone unturned in your welcome. By now most of the sports enthusiasts have already made their accommodation arrangements. But some must have been late in this race, if you are the one, then no need to be dishearten, Olympic 2012 is having enough space for everyone; apart from the traditional hotels and hostels there are some interesting options also present inside and on the outskirts of the city.

Let us share some information which would be helpful for you if you are looking for the accommodation for the UK Olympic 2012.I am sure you will enjoy this read and save your Money on your stay !

Rented Properties -  There a range of properties available in the market to server for Olympic 2012.

Like , Rented house , One room of a house on rent , Bed & Breakfast . The sites like Rent for Olympic games are there to solve the demand and supply problem. So give it a try . If you have property to rent in uk for Olympic , then go ahead and list that here. If you are a tourist , then you can find accommodation here on the price range of 15 to 25 Pounds per day.

Some other Similar websites for good accommodation options are are :-

• Visit London
• Specially For London – Inclusive London
• Accommodation for the games 
• The London Bed &Breakfast
• London lodge
• Cheap Hotels ( Help in Charity )

Just follow the links 

Visitors across the UK - From castles to campsites, the UK offers a wide variety of accommodation for people with tickets to events at the venues in Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, and in Weymouth and Portland. In fact, VisitBritain has over 37,000 places from across the UK listed in its accommodation directory.

Holiday Inn is the official hotel provider of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

You can find some good deals on Top Travel Bargain  site . Its an easy to use hotel and Hostel search engine.

Thomas Cook , provider of short breaks - Thomas Cook is the official provider of short breaks and has a range of Games Breaks available including tickets, accommodation and other services.

For more information Visit :- www.thomascooklondon2012.com

Camping accommodation –

Camp in London - Camp in London , set in a lovely, 19-hectare green field in Walthamstow London, E17 8AX will be transformed for 23 days into one of the largest campsites that London has seen. Its central London location is just 4 miles from the heart of the city and a 5-10 minute shuttle bus ride from the Olympic Park. Click here for more information and booking.

Some more Camp/ Caravan /Cabin websites. Follow the links for information and booking :-

Cosy Oak - Cosy Oak  provides facilities for Campervans / Caravans / Tents / Tipis / Yurts

Camping at the Games - Camping at The Games (brought to you by the crew at Campingninja) has teamed up with Sports Clubs and Centres across London, and near to other Olympics and Paralympics Venues, to utilise the great spaces and facilities they have. They are turning their lovely green, grassy areas, into places for people to camp during the 2012 Games. So, choose your great value place to go camping and enjoy the Olympic atmosphere. Here are just a few of the advantages of staying at a sports club campsite: Follow the link

Pillow.co.uk - If you’re planning to attend the London 2012 Olympics, and you’re looking for great quality budget accommodation, why not stay in these fantastic pre-erected tents. Follow the link Pillow.co.uk

Camp in a garden – The novel website campinmygarden.com, which launched last year, puts travellers in touch with home owners willing to let you pitch a tent on their property. There are already more than 500 sites listed in Britain, and dozens in the capital. Most will allow access to a shower or bath, and a kitchen. You're unlikely to be charged much more than £10 a night

Click here campinmygarden.com/

Last Tip - why not look at places outside London, but well within commuting distance?  The South Coast is full of cheap hotels just waiting out for the customers.

Write to us if you need any information. Have a happy Stay ! 

Olympic on News

Washington Post 

The Australian 

BBC Olympic

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