Portmeirion. Is it worth a visit?

Anyone of you ever visited the place?

Not sure when it might happen (August, or so, maybe) but have been thinking of checking the place. The flights to UK aren't exactly expensive. Okay, so it's Wales, but one can get out of there fast, if need be. Your whole fucking island is, what, 10 kilometers (6.21371 miles) wide?

It's pretty underwhelming to be honest, maybe if your planning on spending time in and around that area, it's worth popping there for half a day. But I wouldn't make it the main focus of your trip.

Oh and it takes about 6 hours to get there via train from london.

it will be rammed at that time of year. compared to a decent walk in the mountains it sucks.

It's pretty underwhelming to be honest, maybe if your planning on spending time in and around that area, it's worth popping there for half a day. But I wouldn't make it the main focus of your trip.

Oh and it takes about 6 hours to get there via train from london.

Figured as much. Hadn't planned on staying there for more than a day: pop in, maybe take a few pictures and get the shit out of Dodge. Spend the rest of the time somewhere else.

Portmerion is several slow miles from the nearest major airport and that presumes that you would be flying into somewhere like Liverpool. Yes, England is small and correspondingly so are the roads and in Wales they're twisty, steep and awkward. The railway journey itself, whilst long, would be more impressive than a visit to Portmerion.

If you really want to spend anytime in North Wales then do a proper job of it and spend at least 4-5 days there and see things like Harlech Castle, Caernarfon Castle, climb Cader Idris, Snowdon and ride a bike over the Trawsfyndd mountain pass and Bwlch Y Groes.

Alternatively, if you're not into castles and epic countryside then give North Wales a miss.

Well I went on the prisoner tour and enjoyed it. But a day at the very most, as the village has set opening times.

If you really want to spend anytime in North Wales then do a proper job of it and spend at least 4-5 days there and see things like Harlech Castle, Caernarfon Castle, climb Cader Idris, Snowdon and ride a bike over the Trawsfyndd mountain pass and Bwlch Y Groes.

Alternatively, if you're not into castles and epic countryside then give North Wales a miss.

I am into castles. Not sure about the countryside -- although I do love Heartbeat! And that happens in the countryside!

But yeah, I know there's lots to see, there. Not yet sure how to proceed with it.

You can stay there and sleep in the houses which is quite cool. Prob pricey though. There's a posh restaurant there too.

The train up the coast is awesome, past Harlech etc as said above. Fab beaches (in a British, icy-water, wind-break, choc-ice kind of way).

You can ride up Cader too.

But Portmeirion is well away from much else so you should only do it as part of seeing the whole of that area.

You can never leave.

I went there once, it was alright, unfortunately you have to go to Wales to get there.

But Portmeirion is well away from much else so you should only do it as part of seeing the whole of that area.

Yeah, I think this is the way it should be done, if done.

You can never leave.

I dread this scenario.

I went there on a day trip while staying in the local Butlins, with the family. Off-peak, cheap deal. Literally one of the shittiest places on earth. Definitely the worst Butlins, and that's saying something. Bleak, windswept, covered in seagull shit. Our room had one very low wattage light, and stank of spores. I spent most of the long weekend dealing with a stomach bug, and all of my time at Portmeirion trying not to yak in the (admittedly very clean) bogs. Virtua Racing was only 20p, so all was not lost.

I went there on a day trip while staying in the local Butlins, with the family. Off-peak, cheap deal. Literally one of the shittiest places on earth. Definitely the worst Butlins, and that's saying something. Bleak, windswept, covered in seagull shit. Our room had one very low wattage light, and stank of spores. I spent most of the long weekend dealing with a stomach bug, and all of my time at Portmeirion trying not to yak in the (admittedly very clean) bogs. Virtua Racing was only 20p, so all was not lost.

This Butlins you speak of is an unknown entity to me.

If you really want to spend anytime in North Wales then do a proper job of it and spend at least 4-5 days there and see things like Harlech Castle, Caernarfon Castle, climb Cader Idris, Snowdon and ride a bike over the Trawsfyndd mountain pass and Bwlch Y Groes.

I'm not sure how much weight you should attach to Seldom Killer's comments as he has failed to mention North Wales most spectacular tourist attraction (after the Rhyl Sun Centre obviously) i.e. St Trillo's Chapel - Britain's smallest church! Let's face it everyone loves small stuff and this has the added bonus of smelling of piss. After that forget mountains, castles and all that crap and pop up to Conwy to visit Britain's smallest house!!!11! (Entry £1 - only open April to October)

Forget the beautiful scenery and history - this is where it's at. (It's also best to visit during the winter when it's freezing and rainy).

Hope this helps

This Butlins you speak of is an unknown entity to me.

It was in Pwhelli, and is a Haven now, I think.

I'm not sure how much weight you should attach to Seldom Killer's comments as he has failed to mention North Wales most spectacular tourist attraction (after the Rhyl Sun Centre obviously) i.e. St Trillo's Chapel - Britain's smallest church! Let's face it everyone loves small stuff and this has the added bonus of smelling of piss. After that forget mountains, castles and all that crap and pop up to Conwy to visit Britain's smallest house!!!11! (Entry £1 - only open April to October)

Forget the beautiful scenery and history - this is where it's at. (It's also best to visit during the winter when it's freezing and rainy).

Hope this helps

The chapel sounds intriguing! You sure the smell of piss is a certainty?

The chapel sounds intriguing! You sure the smell of piss is a certainty?

Pretty much but if you give us warning I can pop up and mark my teritory so you'll not have to miss out on that lovely aroma.

Pretty much but if you give us warning I can pop up and mark my teritory so you'll not have to miss out on that lovely aroma.

That would be much appreciated. Wouldn't need to visit London, afterwards.

I was in that area just last week. Could see portmerion in the distance from some of the hills I went walking on but never really felt like spending money to look at a few houses close up when the mountains, lakes & seaside is a lot better.

The valley coming up to barmouth estuary looked absolutely incredible with wildy rich colours, a lot of brown/reds against green bits and all the impressive rock and mixture of evergreen trees. Kind of had a america feel to it at this time of year. As it all warms up it will just be all green though.

An air force base is nearby so you can see pilots blasting through the valley at the same level as the roads! Every half hour or so.

The cader Idris mountain range is a nice not too hard walk, with a cool glacial lake in the middle.

If you do happen to come just to see little not that exciting portmeirion then make sure to have a look at the other stuff.

There is good fishing in the area too if you are into that sort of thing.

There is good fishing in the area too if you are into that sort of thing.

I like to fish, yes, but hadn't really thought about doing it, if I am to visit Wales.

I've always wanted to go see portmeirion since watching the prisoner as a kid (repeats on the Sci-Fi channel, I'm nowhere near old enough to have seen the original broadcast).

If I recall correctly, the chap who built the place up tried to make it isolated and particularly difficult for people to get there so that it wouldn't become over-run with tourists.

If you do go, there's only one way to travel:

Well I went on the prisoner tour and enjoyed it.

That's a lovely thought Lynx.

North Wales achos 'r enilla!

An air force base is nearby so you can see pilots blasting through the valley at the same level as the roads! Every half hour or so.

This is a lovely image. Did you see any aeroplanes?

This is a lovely image. Did you see any aeroplanes?

All the time! It looks like a fun job bombing around the hills at 500mph.

This was two months ago:

Cadair Idris

Cadair Valley