Wet, wet, wet at Caenarfon Castle and Plas Yn Rhiw

Today we awoke to torrential rain... not deterred we donned waterproof shoes/trousers/jackets/hats and set off for Caenarfon Castle.  The hills that were to give us a view merely disappeared into the low lying rather black clouds today. However, we duly arrived at Caenarfon Castle as it opened.

Climbing several stairs that spiralled narrowly to various ramparts and walkways the view got better the further up we went.

Needless to say the pictures today lack some colour - as did the sky, but here goes.

Before going into the castle a quick look at a statue of David Lloyd George 

This is where HRH Queen Elizabeth II invested her son, Charles, as Prince of Wales on 1 July 1969...so much has happened since then.

That done (and not a piece of cake consumed) we set off for a small but cosy house not far from Pwllheli, namely Plas Yn Rhiw.  The house was completed in 17th century and the final occupants, three sisters, donated the property to the National Trust (in the 1940s) in memory of their parents.. ending several years of family saga.

Pete knew that there were no facilities for lunch there, so we stopped at a local supermarket to buy cheese and biscuits - these we consumed in the house's car park which had a rather nice, but if very wet, view.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained we viewed the house  (no pics permitted inside the house) before setting off into a very pretty garden.

An outside alcove which looked a peaceful retreat for afternoon tea and a good book - sadly not today though..

Apart from the small, although formal, natural garden, various wooded areas surround the property.

The garden is built on a fairly steep slope with magnificent views of the sea (all you can see here is a rather white-out vista)..  We were advised by one of the volunteer guides that the sea (now with considerable surf) looks turquoise blue in the sunshine.

and at the bottom of the garden, a very small stone-walled building with a slate-tiled roof turned out to be... the outside privy for two... cosy!!  Below the 'seats' was a drop of about 4 feet with a small stream rushing through..

At the end of this smalll part of the garden and visible from the house, were two bird feeders supplied by the 'boss' of the property.  Nuthatch, Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Greenfinches and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodepecker were some of the visitors.

and finally, a few poppies that sang out with resplendent orange to end the visit on a brighter note!

We drove back home in pouring rain and water-logged roads.  The River in Beddgelert is now rushing down through its course.. it last flooded 10 years ago apparently..  this big of infomration was accordingly to a very informative lady who supplied us with Tea and Toasted Tea Cakes in the tearooms opposite where we are staying.s