E2407LLA: Johnsons 2-day break – Llandudno & Snowdonia, 13-15 July 2024

Twelve club members joined the coach at Johnson’s in Henley for the three-day trip to Wales. We stopped for lunch and shopping at Chester and were not too bothered by the rain because we could dart into the famous Rows of double-decker shops for shelter. Some of the party walked the ancient city walls, while others visited the market and the spectacular clock. There was an upmarket shopping centre concealed within the Rows and there were plenty of interesting restaurants in the streets below for lunch.

We returned to the coach and enjoyed the ride along the coast to our destination, the Dunoon Hotel, a huge Edwardian building attractively fronted by masses of pink hydrangeas. It was conveniently situated on the main street leading straight to the promenade only five minutes walk away.

Our helpful Johnson’s tour guide organised our rooms and dinner time and we felt ready for a stroll to the beach with its wide promenade ending in a pier and overlooked by attractive large hotels.

At dinner our group was seated at three tables of four in an alcove together which was very nice and friendly and we changed table mates at each meal. The service and food were excellent and served in quite a formal manner which I think we all enjoyed. There was a bar with comfortable seating areas.

On Sunday, after a peaceful night and a full Welsh breakfast, various people got together for the day’s activities. Most set off for the Great Orme and made their way up by tram or on foot; another party went to Ross on Sea to visit Welsh relatives.

The Welsh weather was perfect on Sunday, so everyone had a lovely day and we were sorry not to be spending another day in Llandudno. However, we had a couple of hours on Monday morning after we had packed our bags, which gave us time to visit the beach again and have coffee in one of the many coffee shops, like the Ormo where the decor was in William Morris style. It wasvery noticeable that the traffic moved slowly respecting the Welsh national 20mph speed limit. This made for a relaxed feel while walking in the town. Ironically the limit was repealed on the Monday we returned!

Back on the coach we were taken by the scenic route via the Llanberis pass to Betys-y-Coed with views of the sea and mountains, including Snowdon in the clouds. We scattered to various cafes for lunch and looked round the shops. Most of the many outdoor walking gear shops that used to dominate the high street had turned into tourist gift shops. It started to rain in earnest and we were quite glad to get back on the coach and relax for the journey home. Thanks to the M6 Toll we were back at Johnson’s right on time.

John Rickman

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