Caffe Nero

Caffe Nero, a photo by [davidrobertsphotography] on Flickr.

The newly opened branch of Caffe Nero in Llandudno is proving to be quite the success. It feels a little bit small inside (although seating is spread across two floors) but the staff are friendly and the coffee/snacks are certainly good. Worth a visit.

Top of the Pass

Top of the Pass, a photo by [davidrobertsphotography] on Flickr.

The Nant Francon is a steep sided glacial gorge dropping to Bethesda between the Glyderau and the Carneddau. The right hand side carries the busy A5 road, whilst the left carries a quiet lane from which this photo was taken.

Looking back at the Lleyn

Looking Back..., a photo by [davidrobertsphotography] on Flickr.

I went down to Trefor on the Lleyn Peninsula on Sunday in order to take a photographic look around the massive old granite quarry that is there. Whilst climbing up the former Incline to reach the Quarry, I turned around and took this shot of the beautiful coastline down there, with the snow capped mountains of Snowdonia in the distance.

Older than we thought...

The Black Lion, a photo by [davidrobertsphotography] on Flickr.

Some interesting news has emerged with regard to one of Conwy's oldest buildings, the Black Lion in Castle Street.

It now seems that it is far older than previously thought and is now regarded as the 2nd oldest medieval building in Conwy town (Aberconwy House being the first). It has been the subject of a Dendro-Chronology (counting tree rings) lab test and its timbers have been dated as felled in 1441/2 when it was an urban 2 bay open hall house with jointed crucks. The conversion into a stone walled hearth-passage vicarage by Vicar John Brickdall was dated 1589. It therefore has national importance.

Given this news, isn't it about time that CCBC took a far firmer line with the Owner that has left it to languish in a state of near dereliction? The same owner that wanted to install three en-suite bathrooms and demolish part of the building to build a car port, if my memory serves me correctly! I think its Listing should also be upped to Grade I and it was given a more sympathetic owner willing to treat it with the care its age demands..

The original article about the history of the Black Lion can be viewed here.

Only Here For The Beer...

Only Here For The Beer..., a photo by davidrobertsphotography on Flickr.

Start of the Annual 10Km Nick Beer Road Race on Llandudno Promenade this morning. Over 800 runners took part in the run right around the Orme and back to Venue Cymru. The winner usually completes in around 30 minutes, which is pretty impressive!