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Mar
28
Posted on 28/03/13, filed under Accommodation, Activities, Anglesey, Food, Snowdonia, Visit Wales, Wales | Comments Off
Tags: Easter, north wales, open
Don’t let the weather reports put you off, there’s still loads going on in North Wales this Easter.
Here’s a quick run down of some of the best places to go and things to see and do over the long weekend:
GREAT THINGS TO DO
The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways - Two unique narrow gauge railways with a fascinating past
Wales Coast Path – Take a long or short hike along the coast.
DELICIOUS FOOD
Dylans Rataurant – Contemporary restaurant right on the waterfront in Menai Bridge
Maram Grass Café – Award winning Bistro on the front at Newborough, Isle of Anglesey
Talardy Hotel St.Asaph, on A55 – Open for rotisserie speciality dining and brand new rooms
Riverside Restaurant at Chainbridge Hotel Llangollen
NEW PLACES TO STAY
Plas Rhianfa Country House Hotel – Live the life of luxury in a newly refurbished chateau style hotel
Pentre Mawr Llandyrnog, Vale of Clwyd - Glamping in safari tents with all high end luxury mod cons
Manor House Hotel Llangollen – Contemporary boutique style hotel in town – where Wales meets the world
Rhuthin Castle Hotel - New luxury spa and boutique bed rooms
EASTER FAMILY FUN
The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways – Two unique narrow gauge railways with a fascinating past
Anglesey Arts Forum – Traditional and contemporary craft at a number of locations across the Isle of Anglesey
Easter Eggstravaganza at Greenwood Forest Park near Bangor and Welsh Mountain Zoo Colwyn Bay
Easter craft fair at Erddig (National Trust property) near Wrexham. Hand made crafts
New Winter Garden at Bodnant Gardens
Portmeirion - North Wales’ unique coastal resort
NATIONAL TRUST EASTER EVENTS
29 March-1 April - Easter trails in Chirk Castle
30 March - Easter fun at Penrhyn Castle
31 March – Cadbury’s eggtravaganza atPlas Newydd
Find out more about North Wales and Easter in Wales
Mar
28
Posted on 28/03/13, filed under Bank Holidays Seasonal and Break Ideas, Days Out, Festivals | Comments Off
Tags: April 2013, days out, Easter Holidays, family holiday, things to do, Wales
The Easter holidays are the ideal opportunity to take a short break or family holiday in Wales, or even just plan a few really good days out. Now that spring has arrived the evenings are just that little bit longer which adds a bit of extra time to that family day out. Here is our pick of top things to do in Wales this April:
Do something completely different this Easter. Spend daytimes exploring the beautiful countryside and coastline of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, and enjoy a packed programme of entertainment in the evenings at Rhosygilwen’s Music Without Frontiers Festival of music, dance, food and stories.
Named Jazz on The Sands, this year’s Porthcawl Jazz Festival offers one of the best line-ups to date including The Kenny Ball Jazzmen, internationally acclaimed Chris Dean Trio of Syd Lawrence Orchestra fame, trumpet master Digby Fairweather, B D Lenz claimed to be one of the best US jazz guitarists, rising saxophone star Simon Spillett, international flautist Eddie Parker, The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Big Band, The Dave Cottle Quartet with Oliver Nezhati, and Sicknote Steve.
The Laugharne Weekend is 3 days of talks, music, poetry and prose. This year’s line-up includes Sir Peter Blake, Mark Thomas, Caitlin Moran, and Tracey Thorn. Other acts include a live theatre performance and a cartoonist drawing pictures of Dylan Thomas. There will also be a food fair at Laugharne Castle on the 6th and 7th.
Spend the day in the great outdoors at Loggerheads Park solving clues, following trails and having fun against the clock to complete the countryside challenge. There will be a prize for the family that completes the challenge in the fastest time. There will be the choice of either a shorter challenge or a longer, more difficult challenge suited to families with older children. Later in the month Loggerheads will also host an Abseil Challenge on 27 April.
Rally North Wales will be the opening round of the 2013 British Rally Championship with its 53rd rally over two days, based in Welshpool. The event offers a thrilling day out for competitors and spectators alike with nail biting fast action across all stages.
Carmarthen Bay Film Festival is all about encouraging and supporting independent film and cinema in Wales, the UK and Internationally. Now in its second year the 5 day festival will show more than 60 films, with a hefty prize available to the best film of the festival. So pop along to Stradey Park to be inspired and entertained.
The Real Ale Trail is a beer festival with a difference. Visit proper Welsh pubs based in Flintshire’s beautiful countryside, then move on to the next by bus. While away a day rediscovering the charm of authentic Welsh pubs and unique real ales, without having to worry about who’s driving. Also, step aboard the real ale train at Llangollen railway featuring a well stocked bar and free drink.
Get down to Bute Park for three days of everything flowers and plants. There will be floral marquees and a plant village both bursting with beautiful plants & specialist nurseries and a show gardens full of design ideas. Activities for all the family include arts and crafts, make a bee hotel, fossil hunting, tree climbing, a chance to plant seeds, and an owl sanctuary.
The Royal Welsh Show Ground in Builth Wells plays host again to Wonderwool Wales, a wool and natural fibre festival. There will be exhibitors and trade stands covering all aspects of Felting, Knitting, Weaving, Spinning & Crochet along with Textile Art with raw materials, equipment, books and finished product. There are also demonstrations and a selection of fibre animals on display including sheep, alpacas and angora rabbits.
Search for more events
Discover what other events and festivals are taking place during the spring.
Mar
27
Posted on 27/03/13, filed under Accommodation, Activities, Guest Blog | Comments Off
Tags: Cardiff, competition, cricket, ICC Champions Cup
The ICC Champions Trophy 2013 is coming to England and Wales, with the opening game of the tournament in Cardiff on June 6
th a heavyweight clash between current ICC World Cup holders, India and South Africa, winners of the inaugural Champions Trophy tournament in 1998.
The world’s top eight cricket nations contest the ICC Champions Trophy, so the best players on the planet will once again be in the Welsh capital.
As well as the opening game and a semi-final of the competition, Cardiff will also host England versus New Zealand on Father’s Day, June 16
th.
This match is a repeat of the first international cricket game to be held in Wales in 1973, when Swansea’s ground hosted the contest. The clash this June between these two nations, who know each so well, is sure to be another tough test for England, as they look to continue their unbeaten record in Cardiff and repeat their victory of 40 years ago.
Tickets for ICC Champions Trophy start from just £20 for adults, £10 for Under 21s and £5 for juniors under 16 years of age.
For more information on the ICC Champions Trophy visit www.icc-cricket.com or follow #ct13 on twitter for the latest updates.
Enter our prize draw!
Visit Wales have teamed up with
Glamorgan Cricket to offer a family ticket, for two adults and two children, to share Father’s Day on June 16th in style at the England versus New Zealand game in Cardiff and what’s more we’ll even include a night’s stay with breakfast at the fabulous
Celtic Manor resort for the night before the game.
For your chance to win this fantastic prize, just fill out the form below:
Mar
20
Posted on 20/03/13, filed under Guest Blog, Wales | Comments Off
Tags: Food, guestblog, hygiene
The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety and food hygiene across the UK.
These days we’re all more conscious of what we’re eating and making the right choices.
But how can you do the same when you eat out?
You can’t tell the hygiene of an eatery by the food, interior design or even the cost.
But there’s no need to guess any more, as the Food Standards Agency, in partnership with Local Authorities, has introduced a simple food hygiene rating scheme.
Think of it as a way to see inside the restaurant kitchens and get some ‘behind the scenes’ information.
And you might be surprised by some of the results.
It’s possible that a cheap takeaway might have a higher food hygiene rating than a smart, expensive restaurant!
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
Each business is inspected by a local authority food safety officer and given a hygiene rating between 0 and 5.
The top rating of 5 means a business has ‘very good’ hygiene standards and every outlet should be able to reach this.
These ratings are now available for you to search and check on the FSA website and app.
And look out for the distinctive green and black sticker in the window of your favourite restaurants.
Display is voluntary however, so some restaurants may choose not to show their rating.
Check before you choose
So whether you’re meeting friends for a leisurely pub lunch, grabbing a quick snack in a cafe or planning a meal for a special family occasion, check out your choices first by visiting food.gov.uk/ratings.
We recommend you choose restaurants or takeaways with the higher ratings.
And when you’re out and about, it’s not too late to check with the food hygiene rating app.
It’s free to download, so why not look up your local restaurants now? It’s quite addictive.
Go to food.gov.uk/ratings and check out your local restaurant or download the app
for free from the FSA website (or search for `food hygiene rating’ in the app store) available on both Apple and Android devices.
Mar
18
Posted on 18/03/13, filed under Accommodation, Bank Holidays Seasonal and Break Ideas, Days Out | Comments Off
Tags: Easter, easter 2013, Easter Holidays, family days out, farm atttractions, half term, Short Breaks, short breaks UK
The Easter holidays are looming and you may be wondering how to keep the kids happy for two whole weeks. Whether you fancy a couple of great days out, a short break, or proper family holiday, there is something for everyone in Wales this Easter. With so much choice of things to do we’ve given you a few ideas to get you started.
Do some exploring and take in a bit of heritage too
Visit a National Trust Property or Cadw site during the Easter break and you’ll find lots of exciting events lined up for kids, and a great day out for the adults too. The National Trust have teamed up with Cadbury to organise a series of Easter egg hunts across the UK. Visit Dinefwr Park and Castle, Llanerchaeron, or Dolaucothi Gold Mines to take part in a trail and have your face painted too.
Take a family holiday at a resort
Take some of the stress out of the Easter half term holidays by taking a holiday where everything you need is on site. Bluestone are offering an Easter break package which includes lots of activities for the kids including an Easter egg treasure hunt, and Easter egg delivery service where your egg gets delivered to your lodge by an Easter bunny, and Easter bonnet lantern making craft workshop.
Or if you want to head to the North, how about Pontins at Prestatyn Sands where there are lots of great events on over the Easter holidays including The Shaolin Warriers, as seen on Britain’s Got talent, and one of the nation’s favourite bears, Sooty, live on stage.
Visit a farm attraction
There are plenty of farm attractions all over Wales that offer a great day out for all the family. With a wide range of animals including traditional farm animals, more exotic animals and pets in need of a cuddle, they’ll be something to put a smile of everyone’s face.
In North Wales, try Bodafon Park Farm in Llandudno, Foel Farm Park on Anglesey, or Greenacres Animal Park in Deeside. Or if you’re heading for Mid Wales try Fantasy Farm Park in Llanrhystud, Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park, or Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in Crymch.
There is a large choice of animal attractions in South Wales, and some of the best include Folly Farm in Kilgetty, Greenmeadow Community Farm in Torfaen or Cefn Mably Farm Park near Cardiff, and Walnut Tree Farm Park in Newport.
Or really get into the Easter spirit and visit a rabbit farm. If you are in Mid Wales pop along to Machinations rabbit village in Llanbrynmair, where the rabbits live in luxury accommodation with their own mini town. Or head North a bit and visit Dwyfor Ranch Rabbit Farm on the LLyn Peninsular, which is great for family day out.
Take a break in a remote holiday cottage
Easter is all about that ‘spring’ feeling and as the clocks will have just gone forward there will be lots of extra daylight to explore some wonderful Welsh scenery. The best way to do this? Stay in a remote cottage right in the heart of Wales’ most magnificent countryside. How about Isallt Bach on the Llyn Peninsular, Ty’r Beudynear Machynlleth, or even Tai Isaf Holiday Cottage in Bala which is only accessible by 4×4 or Penrhyn Cottage in Pembrokeshire which has no electricity! Check out more self-catering cottages or search our accommodation database.
Visit our Easter 2013 page for more ideas for the Easter weekend.
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