A Visit to Portmeirion, Wales

 

Croesco (that means welcome ). Today we are in north-western Wales to visit Portmeirion…a model village on a private peninsula overlooking a secluded cove. If you like lots of resort type activity, this is not the place for you. If you like gentle walks to enjoy beautiful gardens, lovely woodlands, and unexpected architecture, then this is the place for you.

Portmeirion is like stepping into a fanciful dream filled with beauty and uniqueness. If one had been led here blindfolded it would not be silly to think you were on the coast of Italy, except the bright colours on the buildings seem more…more…(having trouble finding the right word!)…more childlike. I think that’s it. The architecture fits Italy but the colours are unusual.

 

Portmeirion evokes a “happy” feeling rather like Disneyland is capable of doing. Yet, here, happiness is a quietness, a refinement, a sense of genteelness. So come on in and experience it with us.

 

 

 

Flowers are everywhere. Since it is early August the hydrangeas are in full bloom, welcoming us as we enter the grounds.

 

Let’s just take a stroll through the village and enjoy some of the scenery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It feels as if we have entered an enchanted Italian village…but we are in Wales. Go figure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colours! The attention to detail!

Do you see the statue on the balcony just ahead? Or maybe it is a real person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ohhh…isn’t that lovely. (Okay. You are right. I am a romantic…but isn’t that scene perfect!)

Do you hear music? Yes, there is an orchestra playing somewhere near here. Let’s go check it out.

 

 

 

 

 

We could go shopping.

There are a few rather interesting looking shops.

Coming?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or would you rather take a stroll down to the water and then continue through the woodland gardens. If the tide is out we could walk for a ways on the beach. Our ticket tells us when high tide is today.

 

 

 

Remember Danger Man? Patrick McGoohan?  That handsome British actor that mesmerized several young women a few years ago? (1966 actually…that was only a few years ago, right?)

Yes, there is a point to my question! Patrick McGoohan (the actor who played a secret agent on Danger Man) was here  in Portmeirion for quite a while as the village served as the film set for The Prisoner, a series in which he starred.

 

That was a lovely afternoon, wasn’t it. Thank you for joining us.

 

 

How to get to Portmeirion

There are so many ways…but first you have to get to Wales.

We flew to London Heathrow, rented a car and drove to northern Wales.

Flying to Cardiff, Wales and driving from there would also be an option.

Where is Portmeirion?

 

 

 

It is near Porthmadog  in NW Wales (check out the map)

 

 

 

 

 

More information

Check out the official website.

Check out this site (includes a video filmed by Antiques Roadshow).

See more of Wales with us…click here.

Travel the world with us…click here.

Happy travels!