| Aberdovey
(7 miles) is home to the famous Aberdovey
Golf Club of which my Great Great Grandfather was a founding
member. Now over 100 years old, it is one of the best links courses
in the UK and no golfer ever tires of playing there. The green
of the par 3 12th hole is pictured on the right as
is a section of the spectacular Aberdovey beach - 5 miles of golden
sand and dunes.
Aberdovey is also home to the Yacht Club where many sailors learn
the art of handling boats in tidal water.
Inland from Aberdovey is Machynlleth,
home of the Owain Glyndwr's first Welsh Parliament and today home
to the fascinating Centre
for Alternative Technology which is well worth a visit. |

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Wales is famous for its castles, both
English and Welsh. It has, I believe, more castles per square
mile than any other country in the world. The English castles
were built mostly by Edward I as his "Ring of Stone" to subdue
the troublesome.
Two of these castles are close. The closest is Castell-y-Bere
only five miles from the house, but this was knocked down by Edward
I and little remains. The castle pictured opposite is Harlech Castle
and although further away is in much better shape and was garrisoned
as recently as the English Civil War.
These castles represent the pinnacle of Medieval castle building
and were built at huge expense by craftsmen from all over Europe
in the 13th Century. You can see more castles here. |
| Wales is also rightly famous for its
"Great Little Trains" of which two are within easy reach of the
house: the Talyllyn Railway and
the Fairbourne
Railway.
Pictured opposite is one of the Talyllyn Railway trains on its
way from Tywyn
to the Dolgoch Falls. And below is one of the Fairbourne Railway
trains with the mainline bridge over the Mawddach Estuary in the
background. Below right is the best beach in town! |

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