The "steps over the fence" is called a stile -- you may have come across the word in books. It's an ancient way to let people pass without risking animals getting out. Building a stile is much easier than building a gate, it's less likely to break, and it can't accidentally be left open! The water entering the Conwy is brownish because it flows over acidic rocks and soils, and it dissolves humic acids out of the soil. This is a natural part of the area's ecosystem, and is not pollution. (Hooray, I finally get to use information from the "soils" chapter in my ecology textbook!)
I used to live in an area like that and after heavy rain, when we filled the bath it looked like we were bathing in tea. Just the dye from the plants/soil.
The reason for the water being brown is because it contains peat washed from the ground higher up the mountains. You saw the falls after we've had very litlle rainfall and drought conditions. Imagine what all the waterfalls would look like in full flood. The sound of the falls at Conwy would be deafening and it would be difficult to communicate with each other near to where you were.
I’m not sure if it’s because the water is naturally rich in iron too. There’s an iron supplement called Spatone that is sachets of water from Snowdonia.
What a shame you didn't visit Betws-y-coed, (sign 5.29 minutes into video), the village is a real gem, with really interesting places to visit. I spent a lot of time there in my younger days, up to my 40s, 40 years ago. If you visit North Wales again, be sure to visit two gems of Wales, Caernarfon castle and Conway castle. Caernarfon castle is where the now, King Charles lll, had his 1969 investiture as the prince of Wales. Beautiful to see Wales again, I haven't been back for 40 years, I live in the US now. Cheers.
@@Wilkse1 That wasn't Betws Y Coed at 5:02 that village with the bridge was Llanrwst. Betws is about another 15 miles away from there. Drove it yesterday actually.
I grew up around Snowdonia. The nature is very nourishing for the soul . You did a good job in showing its chafacter with all the little stiles, sheep, slate walls and endless dry stone walling. The rivers there are so alive, fresh and clean.
It is often neglected, but I`d urge anyone coming to the UK not to forget to go to Wales. I`ve lived here ( in England ) most of my life and have sojourned this isle a hundred times over - but never found any land more beautiful than Wales, damn it !
@@midwestamericans3806 That's due to England's historical anti-Wales attitude. The sooner we get full independence the better. I've always hated being part of this so called union.
It’s so great that you explored the country and not just LONDON. Sure there is a whole lot that you did not see but the variety of experiences in your videos is great.
Stoke on trent, one of the most important towns of the industrial revolution.pottery, etc, canals. Your literally drove through the centre of of the industrial revolution, shropshire, ironbridge,etc.
The town you didn't remember the name of is Llanrwst. My favourite place is a village to the south called Betws y Coed which is beautiful. The river was black because of the slate that part of North Wales is made of.
Stoke-on-Trent "not a whole lot there history wise" just you know... the home of the potteries, Josiah Wedgwood, cream ware etc etc. pretty important city historical wise in the UK... and indeed world wide
I'm pleased you enjoyed your brief sojourn on the easternmost fringes of Snowdonia (Eryri). The heart of the national park is further west, where the higher mountains and more dramatic scenery are situated. There are also the major castles, such as Caernarfon and Harlech. Whilst at school in England, I spent each Christmas break at at a roomie's home in a village on the edge of Eryri. It was a magical place for a boy aged eight-13, particularly as we were allowed to trek alone, using public transport. I haven't been back in over 20 yrs, and my old friend and I are now both in our 70s, but you triggered great memories. Thanks.
I’m English, wife is Welsh and the best holidays have been spent in west Wales but Snowdon and the surrounds are awesome, it’s glorious, great video as always 👍
Have you ever done The Crib Goch Ridge - looks pretty awesome and scary. Tryfan is very cool to, I went up Tryfan many years ago and did the Adam and Eve Jump - a real rush - you ain't got to the sumit of Tryfan until you do the Adam and Eve Jump...hehehee.
I travelled through Wales and totally underestimated the time it took to drive from Portmeirion to Llantrisant and so arrived too late to visit the Royal Mint. It was a beautiful mystical magical journey and if Merlin had ridden out of the trees on a unicorn I would not have been surprised. The land calls to your soul and I then understood where the poetic nature of the Welsh people comes from.
Stoke on Trent has a huge history. Stoke is one of the six towns that make up 'the potteries'. At one point they made almost of all of the fine China in the world. It has a unique accent and dialect, it’s own 'fast food' oat cakes. Name a famous China, from Doulton to Wedgewood, it all came from the potteries, baked in the bottle kilns that were everywhere. A few remain
Stoke has history out of the wazoo, but now the industry has gone, it is a depressing hole that is sliding further into poverty and I say this as someone brought up there in the 80s/90s
They did rent a car for that very reason, but got cold feet while driving. Which is understandable considering how much narrower the roads are in comparison to the US.
Peaty water causes that colour, it's a very soft water and is good for your hair/complexion, unlike my local water which is hard and builds limescale in pipes etc. Stoke-on-Trent has lots of history... Wedgwood/transportation/industrial revolution and a football team called the Potters x
I live in the area where you were in Snowdonia, it's a shame you didn't get to check out the more mountainous areas, you stuck to the edge of the park, and you were only a short drive away from seeing some amazing mountain scenery without even getting out of the car. I went to University in Stoke, I'm not sure the not much history comment would go down too well there, it's known for being the epicentre of western ceramics innovation, design and production, that's why it's commonly referred to as 'The Potteries'. Glad you enjoyed your trip though, if you ever make it back to Snowdonia ask for some tips for where to go next time, you were so close to seeing some truly spectacular scenery!
I think the castle you were trying to see was Dolwyddelan. (Dol-wydd-elan). There are many native castles in Wales. The other Welsh native castle of note in Snowdonia (Eryri: meaning mount of eagles) is Dolbadarn which has a stunning position. The big castles everyone talks about are mainly on the west coast in North Wales. The history between Wales and England is a long and complicated one. The big castles were built mainly by Edward I, who was known to be cruel and vindictive to the native people of Wales. The Welsh fought so ferociously and for so long, he felt he had to build the castles as outcrops for his troops etc to try to subdue the Welsh. Although they are engineering feats of the day, they are also a very sad symbol of the cruel attempts at domination of the local people of Wales.
@@grahamtravers4522 the last Prince of Wales was married to Simon de Montford’s daughter . She died in childbirth giving birth to a daughter Gwenllian who lived to age 57, dying in a convent in Lincolnshire after the fall of Wales. In the Carneddau Mountains of Snowdonia her father (Llywelyn) her mother (Elen) and Gwenllian her self have mountains named after them.
I'm 58 years old and still have scratched the surface of our great country, met many wonderful Americans along the way. The slate mines are fantastic, you can get a guided tour, they say 'Welsh slate roofed the World'.
I am sure you have seen visitors vlogging about the Midwest so you will understand how it always comes across as great and interesting how us Brits find your appreciation of places in the UK that we really do take for granted. You say about the Welsh language - it was nice to hear our new King addressing the Welsh Parliament in their native language today.
1n the 1960s, hundreds of local railway routes were closed after a nationwide assessment. Most of the bridge abutments were left intact, often minus the deck
Well done for tackling the country roads so well. Tourists miss a whole lot of UK by just doing the (rip off?) central London same old things and not getting out in our wonderful Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and English landscapes and smaller towns. Rain won't kill em. it's what makes the land so iconic.
It's a great shame you didn't really see Snowdonia -you just drove down the eastern edge of it. But it does show others that you really need to spend several days in the area to see it properly.
It's been said that you could spend two weeks every year for 40 years in a different part of the UK seeing visitor attractions and still not see everything. There is really so much to see! That's why trying to see the whole of Britain in two weeks (other than a taster trip) can get a bit frantic and misses so much. I'd suggest to foreign visitors that staying in one region might make a more enjoyable holiday than the 'If it's Tuesday, it must be Cornwall' kind of touring holiday.
The town you drove through is Llanrwst. It's a lovely little place. Across the bridge you past is a nice park. The castle you went to drive to with the sheep is Dolwyddelan Castle. I love just driving around Snowdonia there are so many castles there all in different states of disrepair as some of the "newer" ones were built using the stones of some of the oldest. Some of our roads are really small and I don't recommend going to fast, but why would you want to with so much to see. I highly recommend going to Beddgelert. It's a beautiful small village on the west side of Snowdonia. The story of how the village got it's name is a story we are all told in our childhood and if you are a dog lover it will probably make you tear up. Hope you enjoy your stay 😁
Wow.... What a wonderful vlog you have produced. This is very unique to have a young couple from our neighbours USA holidaying in Gods own Wales. Belive me you have only seen a fraction of the beauty of Wales. Its not just the scenary, its the history, the mystery and folklore to explore. You definately need more time and a contact to help you plan a lifetime of memories. Bless you for visiting my homeland.
I think we're finally going to discover what we've all been desperate to know since you started your trip i.e. what on earth were you doing in Stoke-on-Trent.
3 miles from Llandudno, where you spent day 11, is Conwy Castle, and the old town walls that you can walk around the top of. Shame you missed that. Climbing Snowdon takes a whole day, unless you take the steam trian to the top.
The Climb Snowdon website says that most people ascend Snowdon from Llanberis in 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Which is about what it took me when I was 20 years younger and much fitter than I am now. With rests and stoping to smell the flowers.Getting down was quicker.
The bridge you were admiring is Pont Fawr ("the big bridge) in Llanwrst, which dates from 1636. Apparently it's known locally as Pont y Rhegi ("the bridge of swearing") because it's very narrow and a blind humpback, so you usually meet something coming the other way!
During the intro I said ugly house, the one and only time I went there was in the 1960s. The picture I took of it somehow came out like a double exposure, it was taken on a box brownie (Kodak). No in fact it was a Vintage 1950s Kodak Brownie 127 Box Camera.
Stoke on trent is big in the history of pottery. I'm sure there will be a museum. Also if you get up to North Lancashire or south Cumbria there is a pencil museum! That's where pencils were invented and until about 40 years ago I think all the world's pencils came from that area. I'm glad you managed okay with the driving. You seem to have enjoyed your sightseeing holiday, you certainly got around. I enjoyed your post.
The castle is Dolwyddelan, the thing with castles in Wales is there used to be a tendency to fund the preservation of English castles as opposed to Native Welsh ones. There is a trespass law in Wales, though there are ample public footpaths. And you are right to presume that a stile crossing a fence implies access. The water of most rivers in Snowdonia has that colour because it runs through peat. The white water rafting centre was just below the Treweryn reservoir, where the villagers in the valley were forced to move so the valley could be flooded to provide water for Liverpool. However, the Welsh Water company has to maintain the reservoir at no financial gain to itself. It's a big bone of contention for Nationalists.
To be fair most castle ruins are thanks to Oliver Cromwell. The man destroyed so much of the UK’s heritage. It breaks my heart every time I look at what is left of the castle at Aberystwyth.
@@ffotograffydd Yes, castles were 'slighted'by Cromwellian forces, but Conwy, Caernarfon and the other 'ring of steel' castles are the posterboys of CADW
There is absolutely no differential in English and Welsh trespassing laws. Both countries treat trespass as a civil matter, not criminal. You probably shouldn't give false information to tourists. From north-wales police: A nomadic way of life is not illegal. Entering private land without the owner’s permission is trespassing. 'Trespassing is not classed as a criminal offence. In most cases, this is not a matter for the police. We’d recommend the first thing to do would be to talk to the people occupying your land and ask them to leave, if you feel safe to do that. If they refuse to leave or you feel unsure, contact your local council for advice'
@@sadas25 It could be argued that by providing a stile is giving 'tacit permission' - but if approached by a landowner and asked to leave. I agree with you.
Wales actually has every species of fern that can be found in the U.K. some of them so rare that their locations are kept secret. Ironically, the one you showed was one of the commonest - Bracken. You showed some other species in the video as well.
I always look at the stone walls that go on for miles and miles and think of the time involved to build such vast expanses. When you look at a proper dry stone wall builder doing their thing, each rock is deliberately selected for it's position, and often 3-4 tried and tested before the final choice. An estimated 180,000 miles of these walls in the UK -- the time factor us unreal.
The town you went through but didnt get the name is LLanrwst, i spent my child hood growing up there and made me smile when u passed my old house. glad you visited that area of Wales. lovely country with lovely people. when you mention it reminds you of mini Switzerland that was my view from my bedroom window. so lucky
The reason why the water is an unusual colour, the rain falls on the uplands, often peat moorland , this then colours the water. In some places the water looks like steeped tea. Best Wishes from South Wales.
The fence-gate thing I believe is called a 'stile'. the clour of the water at the falls is caused by tanins from plants and trees in the catchment. Cheers!
The steps over fences are a very common thing, called a stile, designed to allow folk to climb over a fence without putting significant weight on the spars of a wooden fence as well as being a far more comfy way of crossing. Another common one is a sheep gate which is a tight V shaped fence and a gate that flips back and forth so humans can figure it out but a wandering sheep will be contained, most of the time. Road past my house is one of those kind of twisty windy roads, folk who drive at 60 on them tend to be those passing through who live in towns and don't grasp the concept of blind corners or rises and get really surprised when there's a massive tractor coming the other way. Certain times of year, like lambing season, it just makes sense to drop the speed a bit because they will get under fences and onto the roads.
Love Conway falls , makes you understand why ancient man thought the valley was full of spirits. Interesting fact there is a valley in Snowdonia where the RAF test jets , and you can sit on the side of valley as a jet zooms through.
There is a right to roam and landowners have to provide access to land through rights of way. It's complex, but what it means is that generally you can roam without worry as long as you stick to tracks and pathways. If you wander off tracks then thats when issues occur. We do have a trespass law, but it is mostly a civil offence. If you are on a property and asked to leave you should leave by the most reasonable route. In all my years of walking in the UK I have never been asked to leave or move on and I've spoken to many a farmer on my travels.
one of the reasons why many roads in the UK are so narrow is because they were built during the time people were travelling on horse & cart. many roads havn't been adapted for cars. there are villages in the yorksshire dales and peak district that havnt modernised at all. it's like going wayy back in time.
Ethan and Angela, You did a great job checking out the UK. You will never do everything as this is impossible and way too tiring to spend your time off for all the time. The most important is that you liked it and it might be repeated in time 🙂 But remember there are other countries too that are beautiful and unique 🙂 There is sooooo much still to explore 🙂 I loved the open view you had and the genuine interest for everything you have shown your audience! You 2 are a wonderful couple !
I spent all my childhood holidays there in the rain, the mud and the mountains. It was amazing. So glad you got to see it, it’s magical and feels like walking through the lord of the rings
Same here. We stayed in Porthmadog - every year! We loved trains so always went on the Ffestiniog Railway. I always cried when we went to Beddgelert because the story was so sad. Went to Portmeirion - It was Alright. (Joke there, if you don't get it I'm not telling, I'm not a Supergrass.)
One day in Snowdonia - you really need to spend your entire holiday here in order to see it all. Next time you visit why not stay at Portmeirion, which is close to Snowdon and the coast and to Porthmadog and the narrow gauge railways.
The town at 5:30 is Llanrwst, a town I am very familiar with as my parents lived in a little village nearby for many years. The bridge is a well known local landmark.
Also famous for its tendency to flood when the tide is high and the river is full. The reason why the buildings in the local park are built on stilts! I got to know quite a few of the locals when I worked nearby at Rhyd y creuau field centre 20 years ago.
I'm glad you got to taste North Wales, but you only saw a minute part of this fantastic part of our countries. I come from Devon in the South West, but had many amazing holidays in North Wales and now, in my 60's I moved back to my wife's original home on the Wirral and we are a mile from the Welsh Border and an hour from Snowdon and spend an awful lot of time there, often wild swimming in the lakes and rivers. It is the most beautiful place, ranking with the lake district and the highlands of Scotland. When you return, please give yourselves three or four days to explore some of the wonders. I really enjoy your enjoyment, you are a lovely couple and it is a pleasure to follow your adventures.
Wales is so beautiful that I have always had a struggle to know which way to go first! There is never enough time to explore. I think you took the best decisions to relax and just enjoy what you could during the time available. Loved your videos of this UK visit and your reaction channel is one of the best.
Hello Ethan and Angela. Wales is beautiful out in that countryside. I am reminded of holidays in a caravan as a child, which my dad towed up and down those roads. We stayed one night on a farm and I could only just talk. The farmer had killed a fox that was after his livestock. All I kept saying was "poor doggy". I must have thought it was a Welsh corgi. I have happy modern memories of even narrower hedged roads in Cornwall on holiday with the dogs, one of which we believed to be half corgi. It generally has better weather than Wales and competes on the countryside and beaches.
I've watched a few of these videos with different people. It's nice to see a couple who came to the UK and embraced a different country and really immersed themselves in it.
There are more amazing castles in Wales than any other part of the U.K. I could list them, but there are so many to wear my finger out typing. Snowdonia? You should have at least climbed to the top, you can even get a train up to the top. I climbed to the top many years ago when I was 30 years old, this was during a heatwave with temperatures of 95 degrees. It was exhausting because some parts were so steep, the hot weather didn't help. While myself and my brother in law were struggling to walk, a group of British marines in full uniform with 60 pound bags on their backs were running up the mountain and by the time we had reached halfway, they had ran up to the top and were running back down.
Pleased you enjoyed the beautiful countryside. There's a great Castle in Conway, I'm suprised you didn't see it. Anyhow great video once again. I really enjoyed it.
The town you drove through is Llanrwst. I love 40 mins away and you chose a beautiful area to explore. Good for you exploring our beautiful Snowdonia National park x
Glad you enjoyed your time in Wales. From your video footage it looked like you just passed near one of the best and most beautiful castles in North Wales, Gwydir Castle. You missed a real beauty and an historic gem! Next time here, I'd recommend Pembrokeshire in South-West Wales... Stunning beaches, Coves and 186 mile Coastal Path with the sea always in view. You'll love it!
I live about an hour away from Snowdonia and we often visit the area my wife loves it there. Pity you didn't check out a slate quarry. They are amazing places to visit. Ethan would love it as it's mining underground and you get to tour the mine. Welsh slate is the best in the world.
the reason why Welsh slate is so sought after is because it is EXTREMELY old and, therefore, very hard and durable. They say if you cover your roof with Welsh slate it lasts for at least 200 years.
It is great to see how much you enjoy our lovely countryside. When you consider how much there is to see for the size of the Uk compared to the size of the USA we are truly blessed. Nowhere is that far from another. That black water is due to age-old peat washed down.
As you love castles It's a shame you didn't see Conway castle, which is one of the best examples in Britain. If you ever return to Wales, you really have to see it. I also recommend you search out the 'Fairy Glen'.
FYI Snowdonia is famous for the Slate mines so black rocks and the soluble rock soil would probably make brown coloured water. Slate was used up until about thirty years ago for a major roofing product, ie. Slate Tiles in fact our bungalow is roofed with it and we’re in Gloucester (pronounced Gloster). The big mines or quarries now are next to Mt Snowdon. That’s up near Carmarthen Castle area. They have a mountain railway to near the top which is something you need to mark if you ever come back, I think it’s the second biggest mountain in the UK buts that’s checkable.
I live in south Wales, so happy that you're enjoying our beautiful country guys Snowdonia is stunning no matter the weather. In South Wales there's a place called Port Talbot which has a place called Margam Park,. You guys should check that out next time your in the uk, it's so beautiful there, they have a part called Go Ape when you can do climbing etc, has a big Manner house for visitors too, it's set in 1000 acres of parklands, has wildlife, fun activities & plenty of history too. The falls in Conwy is pronounced Conwee. 🏴
Brilliant, loves these videos. How I wish you kept the car in Scotland, being a Scotsman. So now you have driven on these roads, can you imagine doing 180mph on similar roads on the Isle of Man TT?
I did the same...with the tire thing. My sister overreacted so I had to check. Other than that, no worries. You get used to it after a while...and yes, they do drive fast. I just gave right of way always.
The nice town you went through at 5:12 is Llanrwst - in my area! And indeed, a cute shot 11:17. (The double L begins with the tongue against the roof of the mouth and a quick out-take of breath, the W is literally a double U so counts as a vowel in that case.)
Reference the narrow roads, a few years ago I did a ambulance driver training course. Part of that course we had to drive down roads that were, felt, narrower than the ambulance we were in, as close to the speed limit as we could. And we were not doing blue light training, so we couldn't use the emergency warning systems to alert people coming the other way to our presence. Now that was scary. We were expected to drive both safely and at speed. There were no bumps or even near misses! It was actually in Kent rather than Wales, but the roads were just as narrow.
The driving looks fine! LHS of the road, car the right way up and pointing in the correct direction; all good. Sounds like, throughout this trip, you're finding a lot of reasons for another trip :-) I hope you get the opportunity to come back, it's so much fun watching you discover a new country!
The water is brown because it filters through the peat top soil. It is perfectly clean, in fact cleaner than processed water, or at least better for you. It also tastes delicious and is what gives Scots whisky its flavour.
The "steps over the fence" is called a stile -- you may have come across the word in books. It's an ancient way to let people pass without risking animals getting out. Building a stile is much easier than building a gate, it's less likely to break, and it can't accidentally be left open!
The water entering the Conwy is brownish because it flows over acidic rocks and soils, and it dissolves humic acids out of the soil. This is a natural part of the area's ecosystem, and is not pollution. (Hooray, I finally get to use information from the "soils" chapter in my ecology textbook!)
😅😅😅😅 love your last sentence.
It's great to learn that it's not always 'useless' information. Pub quiz future champion!
I used to live in an area like that and after heavy rain, when we filled the bath it looked like we were bathing in tea. Just the dye from the plants/soil.
Harry makes those!
peat which is acidic
The reason for the water being brown is because it contains peat washed from the ground higher up the mountains. You saw the falls after we've had very litlle rainfall and drought conditions. Imagine what all the waterfalls would look like in full flood. The sound of the falls at Conwy would be deafening and it would be difficult to communicate with each other near to where you were.
I’m not sure if it’s because the water is naturally rich in iron too. There’s an iron supplement called Spatone that is sachets of water from Snowdonia.
@@katewelsh3095 also a lot of copper in the water.
When he says WALES it sounds like WELLS.
The "weird steps" are called STILES and are found on public rights of way.
Yep. Same as whales or wails.
What a shame you didn't visit Betws-y-coed, (sign 5.29 minutes into video), the village is a real gem, with really interesting places to visit. I spent a lot of time there in my younger days, up to my 40s, 40 years ago. If you visit North Wales again, be sure to visit two gems of Wales, Caernarfon castle and Conway castle. Caernarfon castle is where the now, King Charles lll, had his 1969 investiture as the prince of Wales. Beautiful to see Wales again, I haven't been back for 40 years, I live in the US now. Cheers.
Betws-y-Coed is wonderful. I lived in Trawsfynydd for a while. I love North Wales with a passion.
The Swallow falls are impressive
The town they drove through at 5.00 was Betws y coed , just before the bridge over the Conway
@@Wilkse1 That wasn't Betws Y Coed at 5:02 that village with the bridge was Llanrwst. Betws is about another 15 miles away from there. Drove it yesterday actually.
You kind of missed the real mountainous areas. It’s impressive how high the mountains are so close to sea level.
I’m an American from Pennsylvania, and I now live very close to Snowdonia. I love it here!
I grew up around Snowdonia. The nature is very nourishing for the soul . You did a good job in showing its chafacter with all the little stiles, sheep, slate walls and endless dry stone walling. The rivers there are so alive, fresh and clean.
Thank you, we really loved Wales.
It is often neglected, but I`d urge anyone coming to the UK not to forget to go to Wales. I`ve lived here ( in England ) most of my life and have sojourned this isle a hundred times over - but never found any land more beautiful than Wales, damn it !
Totally agree with you, never hear to much about Wales and its such a shame, even if we just saw a tiny bit.
@@midwestamericans3806It's not Wells, it's Wales!
@@midwestamericans3806 That's due to England's historical anti-Wales attitude. The sooner we get full independence the better. I've always hated being part of this so called union.
Wales is nice but the Highlands of Scotland are better.
@@Philzoid such a poor attitude and untrue in modern day England. What we need to do is sort out our incompetent government.
It’s so great that you explored the country and not just LONDON. Sure there is a whole lot that you did not see but the variety of experiences in your videos is great.
Stoke on trent, one of the most important towns of the industrial revolution.pottery, etc, canals. Your literally drove through the centre of of the industrial revolution, shropshire, ironbridge,etc.
They didn't go through Shropshire. They probably went through Cheshire to get to Stoke from north wales.
I live in North Wales and nice to see our US friends also enjoy our country.
The town you didn't remember the name of is Llanrwst. My favourite place is a village to the south called Betws y Coed which is beautiful.
The river was black because of the slate that part of North Wales is made of.
Stoke-on-Trent "not a whole lot there history wise"
just you know... the home of the potteries, Josiah Wedgwood, cream ware etc etc. pretty important city historical wise in the UK... and indeed world wide
Stoke City FC is one of the oldest football clubs in the world
I'm pleased you enjoyed your brief sojourn on the easternmost fringes of Snowdonia (Eryri). The heart of the national park is further west, where the higher mountains and more dramatic scenery are situated. There are also the major castles, such as Caernarfon and Harlech. Whilst at school in England, I spent each Christmas break at at a roomie's home in a village on the edge of Eryri. It was a magical place for a boy aged eight-13, particularly as we were allowed to trek alone, using public transport. I haven't been back in over 20 yrs, and my old friend and I are now both in our 70s, but you triggered great memories. Thanks.
I’m English, wife is Welsh and the best holidays have been spent in west Wales but Snowdon and the surrounds are awesome, it’s glorious, great video as always 👍
Have you ever done The Crib Goch Ridge - looks pretty awesome and scary. Tryfan is very cool to, I went up Tryfan many years ago and did the Adam and Eve Jump - a real rush - you ain't got to the sumit of Tryfan until you do the Adam and Eve Jump...hehehee.
It's so interesting watching you drive around where I grew up. No matter where I go, I still think Wales is my favourite place in the world.
The beauty of North Wales is truly breath taking
@@cloudbasenirvana Mid Wales is awesome too. Often gets overlooked.
I travelled through Wales and totally underestimated the time it took to drive from Portmeirion to Llantrisant and so arrived too late to visit the Royal Mint. It was a beautiful mystical magical journey and if Merlin had ridden out of the trees on a unicorn I would not have been surprised. The land calls to your soul and I then understood where the poetic nature of the Welsh people comes from.
Beautifully put. You've caught a bit of hiraeth 🏴👍
@@iriscollins7583 My favourite Welsh word which has no direct translation to English.
@@iriscollins7583 thanks so much, your kind comment made me well up.
Stoke on Trent has a huge history. Stoke is one of the six towns that make up 'the potteries'. At one point they made almost of all of the fine China in the world. It has a unique accent and dialect, it’s own 'fast food' oat cakes. Name a famous China, from Doulton to Wedgewood, it all came from the potteries, baked in the bottle kilns that were everywhere. A few remain
adrian mcgrath True but to be fair having spent the day soaking up beautiful scenery Stoke would be a let down lol.
Stoke is a heave-hole. I had the dis-pleasure of driving through it late last night.
Stoke has history out of the wazoo, but now the industry has gone, it is a depressing hole that is sliding further into poverty and I say this as someone brought up there in the 80s/90s
i'd have skipped Glasgow, and rented a car to see a bit of Scottish Highlands, but it's good you got to see some of Wales.
They did rent a car for that very reason, but got cold feet while driving. Which is understandable considering how much narrower the roads are in comparison to the US.
A car is really needed to see the more out of the way places in the UK. Public transport is OK to get between the main cities.
Peaty water causes that colour, it's a very soft water and is good for your hair/complexion, unlike my local water which is hard and builds limescale in pipes etc.
Stoke-on-Trent has lots of history... Wedgwood/transportation/industrial revolution and a football team called the Potters x
The brecon beacons is beautiful. My son lives there. Foreigners always underestimate how beautiful wales is. Glad you enjoyed our country. x
"Lanrwst" is that pretty town at 5m30 😉 ~ Snowdonia is a truly beautiful place. Especially from the seat of my motorbike. 😁👍👍
I live in the area where you were in Snowdonia, it's a shame you didn't get to check out the more mountainous areas, you stuck to the edge of the park, and you were only a short drive away from seeing some amazing mountain scenery without even getting out of the car. I went to University in Stoke, I'm not sure the not much history comment would go down too well there, it's known for being the epicentre of western ceramics innovation, design and production, that's why it's commonly referred to as 'The Potteries'. Glad you enjoyed your trip though, if you ever make it back to Snowdonia ask for some tips for where to go next time, you were so close to seeing some truly spectacular scenery!
University of Stoke.....one of the great educational establishments.
I think the castle you were trying to see was Dolwyddelan. (Dol-wydd-elan). There are many native castles in Wales. The other Welsh native castle of note in Snowdonia (Eryri: meaning mount of eagles) is Dolbadarn which has a stunning position. The big castles everyone talks about are mainly on the west coast in North Wales. The history between Wales and England is a long and complicated one. The big castles were built mainly by Edward I, who was known to be cruel and vindictive to the native people of Wales. The Welsh fought so ferociously and for so long, he felt he had to build the castles as outcrops for his troops etc to try to subdue the Welsh. Although they are engineering feats of the day, they are also a very sad symbol of the cruel attempts at domination of the local people of Wales.
... not just to the people of Wales. Ask Simon de Montfort !! 😉
@@grahamtravers4522 the last Prince of Wales was married to Simon de Montford’s daughter . She died in childbirth giving birth to a daughter Gwenllian who lived to age 57, dying in a convent in Lincolnshire after the fall of Wales. In the Carneddau Mountains of Snowdonia her father (Llywelyn) her mother (Elen) and Gwenllian her self have mountains named after them.
I'm 58 years old and still have scratched the surface of our great country, met many wonderful Americans along the way. The slate mines are fantastic, you can get a guided tour, they say 'Welsh slate roofed the World'.
Stoke on Trent is a bit rough really, but you may have heard of the pottery district which is where all the pottery used to be made such as Wedgwood
I am sure you have seen visitors vlogging about the Midwest so you will understand how it always comes across as great and interesting how us Brits find your appreciation of places in the UK that we really do take for granted.
You say about the Welsh language - it was nice to hear our new King addressing the Welsh Parliament in their native language today.
1n the 1960s, hundreds of local railway routes were closed after a nationwide assessment. Most of the bridge abutments were left intact, often minus the deck
Well done for tackling the country roads so well. Tourists miss a whole lot of UK by just doing the (rip off?) central London same old things and not getting out in our wonderful Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and English landscapes and smaller towns. Rain won't kill em. it's what makes the land so iconic.
It's a great shame you didn't really see Snowdonia -you just drove down the eastern edge of it. But it does show others that you really need to spend several days in the area to see it properly.
You saw some pleasant rolling hills - you certainly didn't see any of the proper mountains.
It's been said that you could spend two weeks every year for 40 years in a different part of the UK seeing visitor attractions and still not see everything. There is really so much to see! That's why trying to see the whole of Britain in two weeks (other than a taster trip) can get a bit frantic and misses so much. I'd suggest to foreign visitors that staying in one region might make a more enjoyable holiday than the 'If it's Tuesday, it must be Cornwall' kind of touring holiday.
The town you drove through is Llanrwst. It's a lovely little place. Across the bridge you past is a nice park. The castle you went to drive to with the sheep is Dolwyddelan Castle. I love just driving around Snowdonia there are so many castles there all in different states of disrepair as some of the "newer" ones were built using the stones of some of the oldest. Some of our roads are really small and I don't recommend going to fast, but why would you want to with so much to see. I highly recommend going to Beddgelert. It's a beautiful small village on the west side of Snowdonia. The story of how the village got it's name is a story we are all told in our childhood and if you are a dog lover it will probably make you tear up.
Hope you enjoy your stay 😁
Wow.... What a wonderful vlog you have produced. This is very unique to have a young couple from our neighbours USA holidaying in Gods own Wales. Belive me you have only seen a fraction of the beauty of Wales. Its not just the scenary, its the history, the mystery and folklore to explore. You definately need more time and a contact to help you plan a lifetime of memories. Bless you for visiting my homeland.
I do love you showing me parts of my own country I've never seen, and ime nearly 50.
I think we're finally going to discover what we've all been desperate to know since you started your trip i.e. what on earth were you doing in Stoke-on-Trent.
hahaha They really have kept up the suspense!
My thoughts exactly.
Haha! I thought that exact thing when I saw where they were going. Why on earth would anyone purposely go to stoke?
@@paul404 People that live there?
The only time I went to Stoke-on-Trent was to recover my car that had been stolen. Horrible place.
3 miles from Llandudno, where you spent day 11, is Conwy Castle, and the old town walls that you can walk around the top of. Shame you missed that.
Climbing Snowdon takes a whole day, unless you take the steam trian to the top.
You can walk to the top and down again easily in 2-4 hours (with rests). You must be very unhealthy if it takes you all day.
The Climb Snowdon website says that most people ascend Snowdon from Llanberis in 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Which is about what it took me when I was 20 years younger and much fitter than I am now. With rests and stoping to smell the flowers.Getting down was quicker.
The bridge you were admiring is Pont Fawr ("the big bridge) in Llanwrst, which dates from 1636. Apparently it's known locally as Pont y Rhegi ("the bridge of swearing") because it's very narrow and a blind humpback, so you usually meet something coming the other way!
Llanrwst
During the intro I said ugly house, the one and only time I went there was in the 1960s. The picture I took of it somehow came out like a double exposure, it was taken on a box brownie (Kodak). No in fact it was a Vintage 1950s Kodak Brownie 127 Box Camera.
Thank you for taking me with you on your journey .
Thank you for following along
Stoke on trent is big in the history of pottery. I'm sure there will be a museum. Also if you get up to North Lancashire or south Cumbria there is a pencil museum! That's where pencils were invented and until about 40 years ago I think all the world's pencils came from that area.
I'm glad you managed okay with the driving.
You seem to have enjoyed your sightseeing holiday, you certainly got around.
I enjoyed your post.
Not disturbing the sheep is a very specific warning for the Welsh.
😂
The English should not disturb their family members for the same reason.
The castle is Dolwyddelan, the thing with castles in Wales is there used to be a tendency to fund the preservation of English castles as opposed to Native Welsh ones.
There is a trespass law in Wales, though there are ample public footpaths. And you are right to presume that a stile crossing a fence implies access. The water of most rivers in Snowdonia has that colour because it runs through peat.
The white water rafting centre was just below the Treweryn reservoir, where the villagers in the valley were forced to move so the valley could be flooded to provide water for Liverpool. However, the Welsh Water company has to maintain the reservoir at no financial gain to itself. It's a big bone of contention for Nationalists.
To be fair most castle ruins are thanks to Oliver Cromwell. The man destroyed so much of the UK’s heritage. It breaks my heart every time I look at what is left of the castle at Aberystwyth.
@@ffotograffydd Yes, castles were 'slighted'by Cromwellian forces, but Conwy, Caernarfon and the other 'ring of steel' castles are the posterboys of CADW
Not just Welsh castles that were slighted. Cromwell obliterated half the castles in England.
There is absolutely no differential in English and Welsh trespassing laws. Both countries treat trespass as a civil matter, not criminal. You probably shouldn't give false information to tourists.
From north-wales police:
A nomadic way of life is not illegal. Entering private land without the owner’s permission is trespassing.
'Trespassing is not classed as a criminal offence. In most cases, this is not a matter for the police. We’d recommend the first thing to do would be to talk to the people occupying your land and ask them to leave, if you feel safe to do that.
If they refuse to leave or you feel unsure, contact your local council for advice'
@@sadas25 It could be argued that by providing a stile is giving 'tacit permission' - but if approached by a landowner and asked to leave. I agree with you.
5:31 That town is one of my favourite places, the lovely Llanrwst! The tearoom across that bridge is awesome! It used to be a medieval courtroom.
You got balls mate. Big American balls. Most tourists are nervous with the narrow roads and driving on the left.
Wales actually has every species of fern that can be found in the U.K. some of them so rare that their locations are kept secret.
Ironically, the one you showed was one of the commonest - Bracken. You showed some other species in the video as well.
Fern Cotton?
Most common.
I bet you’re fun at parties
@@Missed_Apex_GT
What’s a party?
@@markborder906 lol
I always look at the stone walls that go on for miles and miles and think of the time involved to build such vast expanses. When you look at a proper dry stone wall builder doing their thing, each rock is deliberately selected for it's position, and often 3-4 tried and tested before the final choice. An estimated 180,000 miles of these walls in the UK -- the time factor us unreal.
The rocks had to be cleared before you could cultivate - if there was even enough soil to do so...
The town you went through but didnt get the name is LLanrwst, i spent my child hood growing up there and made me smile when u passed my old house. glad you visited that area of Wales. lovely country with lovely people. when you mention it reminds you of mini Switzerland that was my view from my bedroom window. so lucky
O wow yea that would've been awesome to see that everyday.
The reason why the water is an unusual colour, the rain falls on the uplands, often peat moorland , this then colours the water. In some places the water looks like steeped tea.
Best Wishes from South Wales.
The fence-gate thing I believe is called a 'stile'.
the clour of the water at the falls is caused by tanins from plants and trees in the catchment.
Cheers!
Harlech Castle is my favourite castle. Ever.
you know you are going to have to come back to visit Wales 😉😍🤩
..i've just come back from the Elan Valley, another beautiful area😎
O we know.
The steps over fences are a very common thing, called a stile, designed to allow folk to climb over a fence without putting significant weight on the spars of a wooden fence as well as being a far more comfy way of crossing. Another common one is a sheep gate which is a tight V shaped fence and a gate that flips back and forth so humans can figure it out but a wandering sheep will be contained, most of the time.
Road past my house is one of those kind of twisty windy roads, folk who drive at 60 on them tend to be those passing through who live in towns and don't grasp the concept of blind corners or rises and get really surprised when there's a massive tractor coming the other way. Certain times of year, like lambing season, it just makes sense to drop the speed a bit because they will get under fences and onto the roads.
Kissing gate.
The brown ish water is because of the peat on the hills as the streams run through it.
Hedges are used to divide field because they present the ground being washed away as much because the roots hold the earth together
Love Conway falls , makes you understand why ancient man thought the valley was full of spirits.
Interesting fact there is a valley in Snowdonia where the RAF test jets , and you can sit on the side of valley as a jet zooms through.
There is a right to roam and landowners have to provide access to land through rights of way. It's complex, but what it means is that generally you can roam without worry as long as you stick to tracks and pathways. If you wander off tracks then thats when issues occur.
We do have a trespass law, but it is mostly a civil offence. If you are on a property and asked to leave you should leave by the most reasonable route.
In all my years of walking in the UK I have never been asked to leave or move on and I've spoken to many a farmer on my travels.
GETT ORFFFF MYYYY LAAAANNND!!!!
one of the reasons why many roads in the UK are so narrow is because they were built during the time people were travelling on horse & cart. many roads havn't been adapted for cars. there are villages in the yorksshire dales and peak district that havnt modernised at all. it's like going wayy back in time.
Yes, best advice to US cousins, rent the smallest car you can fit in with luggage.
That’s just the way I like it 🙂
Ethan and Angela, You did a great job checking out the UK. You will never do everything as this is impossible and way too tiring to spend your time off for all the time. The most important is that you liked it and it might be repeated in time 🙂 But remember there are other countries too that are beautiful and unique 🙂 There is sooooo much still to explore 🙂
I loved the open view you had and the genuine interest for everything you have shown your audience! You 2 are a wonderful couple !
Thank you so much! Really appreciate the kind words.
I spent all my childhood holidays there in the rain, the mud and the mountains. It was amazing. So glad you got to see it, it’s magical and feels like walking through the lord of the rings
Same here. We stayed in Porthmadog - every year! We loved trains so always went on the Ffestiniog Railway. I always cried when we went to Beddgelert because the story was so sad. Went to Portmeirion - It was Alright. (Joke there, if you don't get it I'm not telling, I'm not a Supergrass.)
One day in Snowdonia - you really need to spend your entire holiday here in order to see it all. Next time you visit why not stay at Portmeirion, which is close to Snowdon and the coast and to Porthmadog and the narrow gauge railways.
Glad you didn't just doo the cities - the mountains and the coast are a huge part of what makes the UK the UK.
The town at 5:30 is Llanrwst, a town I am very familiar with as my parents lived in a little village nearby for many years. The bridge is a well known local landmark.
How cool!
Also famous for its tendency to flood when the tide is high and the river is full. The reason why the buildings in the local park are built on stilts! I got to know quite a few of the locals when I worked nearby at Rhyd y creuau field centre 20 years ago.
I'm glad you got to taste North Wales, but you only saw a minute part of this fantastic part of our countries. I come from Devon in the South West, but had many amazing holidays in North Wales and now, in my 60's I moved back to my wife's original home on the Wirral and we are a mile from the Welsh Border and an hour from Snowdon and spend an awful lot of time there, often wild swimming in the lakes and rivers. It is the most beautiful place, ranking with the lake district and the highlands of Scotland. When you return, please give yourselves three or four days to explore some of the wonders. I really enjoy your enjoyment, you are a lovely couple and it is a pleasure to follow your adventures.
Wales is so beautiful that I have always had a struggle to know which way to go first!
There is never enough time to explore. I think you took the best decisions to relax and just enjoy what you could during the time available. Loved your videos of this UK visit and your reaction channel is one of the best.
Hello Ethan and Angela. Wales is beautiful out in that countryside. I am reminded of holidays in a caravan as a child, which my dad towed up and down those roads.
We stayed one night on a farm and I could only just talk. The farmer had killed a fox that was after his livestock. All I kept saying was "poor doggy". I must have thought it was a Welsh corgi.
I have happy modern memories of even narrower hedged roads in Cornwall on holiday with the dogs, one of which we believed to be half corgi. It generally has better weather than Wales and competes on the countryside and beaches.
Stoke-on-Trent has plenty of history, if you're into ceramics, the railways, canals of the industrial revolution etc.
Lots of spice addicts in Stoke.
Snowdonia is MAGICAL. I go hiking, climbing there a lot as it’s not that far away from where I live ❤
I've watched a few of these videos with different people. It's nice to see a couple who came to the UK and embraced a different country and really immersed themselves in it.
The access over the fence near the bridge is called a 'stile' . If using one of these over a wall or fence then you are on an official footpath,
There are more amazing castles in Wales than any other part of the U.K. I could list them, but there are so many to wear my finger out typing. Snowdonia? You should have at least climbed to the top, you can even get a train up to the top. I climbed to the top many years ago when I was 30 years old, this was during a heatwave with temperatures of 95 degrees. It was exhausting because some parts were so steep, the hot weather didn't help. While myself and my brother in law were struggling to walk, a group of British marines in full uniform with 60 pound bags on their backs were running up the mountain and by the time we had reached halfway, they had ran up to the top and were running back down.
Pleased you enjoyed the beautiful countryside. There's a great Castle in Conway, I'm suprised you didn't see it. Anyhow great video once again. I really enjoyed it.
The town you drove through is Llanrwst. I love 40 mins away and you chose a beautiful area to explore. Good for you exploring our beautiful Snowdonia National park x
You have captured some beautiful scenery, but we pay a heavy price for all that greenery - it never stops raining!
Didn't rain for months last Summer. Was in Wales yesterday and it wall to wall sunshine. Maybe take your head out of your arse sometime.
The town early on is Llanwrst. If you want to see a decent sized castle, you need to go to one like Conway or Caernarfon.
I'll be there tomorrow! Our old caravan is there and we're going for a few days. ❤️
The thing I love driving around Wales is it can look different depending on the weather and amount of sunlight
my great grandfather came from Betws-y-Coed, I think you missed out a lot of Snowdonia
Glad you enjoyed your time in Wales. From your video footage it looked like you just passed near one of the best and most beautiful castles in North Wales, Gwydir Castle. You missed a real beauty and an historic gem! Next time here, I'd recommend Pembrokeshire in South-West Wales... Stunning beaches, Coves and 186 mile Coastal Path with the sea always in view. You'll love it!
I live about an hour away from Snowdonia and we often visit the area my wife loves it there. Pity you didn't check out a slate quarry. They are amazing places to visit. Ethan would love it as it's mining underground and you get to tour the mine. Welsh slate is the best in the world.
Yeah I did Llechwydd last year and absolutely loved it as much as the one I did as a kid. And the landscape of slate slag is amazing
The slate museum in Llanberis is free and worth the time!
the reason why Welsh slate is so sought after is because it is EXTREMELY old and, therefore, very hard and durable. They say if you cover your roof with Welsh slate it lasts for at least 200 years.
The castle! Ha ha! There are so many castles in North Wales. The water is coloured by the minerals from the rocks.
It is great to see how much you enjoy our lovely countryside. When you consider how much there is to see for the size of the Uk compared to the size of the USA we are truly blessed. Nowhere is that far from another. That black water is due to age-old peat washed down.
It rains a lot in Wales, hence holidays in mud, wind, hail wearing plastic Macs. But fun! It’s often boiling hot, too when you’re on the coast.
It's milder on the coast.
Thanks for visiting us, love from North Wales!🏴🇬🇧
As you love castles It's a shame you didn't see Conway castle, which is one of the best examples in Britain. If you ever return to Wales, you really have to see it. I also recommend you search out the 'Fairy Glen'.
Criccieth castle isn’t too far from snowdonia beautiful little seaside village with the old castle on the hill right by the sea
@@taylorpower3862 Great view of Criccieth Castle in the sunset on Blacck Rock Sands beach.
The pretty town at 5:00 is Llanrwst which is steeped in history dating back c. 900 years.
The village you drove through with the bridge is called Llanrwst 😁
Had a blast around there on my bike this morning. Great part of the world. Take care
If you want to explore North Wales more, then let me know if you come back and I’ll happily drive you around and guide.
conwy falls is just outside the town Betws-y-Coed. One of my late welsh grandmother's favourite places.
I was camping across the road from Conwy falls while you were there, and spent a few times in the cafe 😊
Very nice!
FYI Snowdonia is famous for the Slate mines so black rocks and the soluble rock soil would probably make brown coloured water. Slate was used up until about thirty years ago for a major roofing product, ie. Slate Tiles in fact our bungalow is roofed with it and we’re in Gloucester (pronounced Gloster). The big mines or quarries now are next to Mt Snowdon. That’s up near Carmarthen Castle area. They have a mountain railway to near the top which is something you need to mark if you ever come back, I think it’s the second biggest mountain in the UK buts that’s checkable.
Thank you for visiting and enjoying North Wales it’s a great place full of history.
I live in south Wales, so happy that you're enjoying our beautiful country guys Snowdonia is stunning no matter the weather. In South Wales there's a place called Port Talbot which has a place called Margam Park,. You guys should check that out next time your in the uk, it's so beautiful there, they have a part called Go Ape when you can do climbing etc, has a big Manner house for visitors too, it's set in 1000 acres of parklands, has wildlife, fun activities & plenty of history too. The falls in Conwy is pronounced Conwee. 🏴
After driving for a week on our narrow roads, no roads in America should scare you ever again 😀
Brilliant, loves these videos. How I wish you kept the car in Scotland, being a Scotsman. So now you have driven on these roads, can you imagine doing 180mph on similar roads on the Isle of Man TT?
I did the same...with the tire thing. My sister overreacted so I had to check. Other than that, no worries. You get used to it after a while...and yes, they do drive fast. I just gave right of way always.
So where you hit the kerb is 3 miles from my house. If you were driving to Stoke you would have driven right past. I'm so glad you enjoyed Wales.
How's your Snooker legend Dad Terry getting on?
@@blackporscheroadster-yw8hb Dad’s doing well, thanks. Doing bits of coaching and punditry but mainly enjoying his retirement.
The nice town you went through at 5:12 is Llanrwst - in my area! And indeed, a cute shot 11:17.
(The double L begins with the tongue against the roof of the mouth and a quick out-take of breath, the W is literally a double U so counts as a vowel in that case.)
Reference the narrow roads, a few years ago I did a ambulance driver training course. Part of that course we had to drive down roads that were, felt, narrower than the ambulance we were in, as close to the speed limit as we could. And we were not doing blue light training, so we couldn't use the emergency warning systems to alert people coming the other way to our presence. Now that was scary. We were expected to drive both safely and at speed. There were no bumps or even near misses! It was actually in Kent rather than Wales, but the roads were just as narrow.
Glad to hear you made it out of Stoke-on-Trent....
They made it out, but are now spice addicts.
The driving looks fine! LHS of the road, car the right way up and pointing in the correct direction; all good.
Sounds like, throughout this trip, you're finding a lot of reasons for another trip :-) I hope you get the opportunity to come back, it's so much fun watching you discover a new country!
I've literally just got home from a weekend camping in Snowdonia, cant wait until I can go again in a few weeks
The water is brown because it filters through the peat top soil. It is perfectly clean, in fact cleaner than processed water, or at least better for you. It also tastes delicious and is what gives Scots whisky its flavour.
Good to know! I should've tried it!