West Wales southwards
W were planning an early start, which was definitely precipitated by the fire alarm, which nobody seemed capable of turning off. No worries! One of the most extraordinary places I have ever visited, Portmeiron, an incredible mix of kitsch and stunning natural beauty. It is like a truly magical, yet odd, Disneyland, without the rides! It was designed a hundred years ago and took 50 years to create out of material from abandoned stately homes. Nobody actually lives here permanently, but of course there are lots of apartments to rent, very costly, I imagine. The entire village has been used for a number of TV and film sets. I did spend most of my time enjoying the more natural aspect of the village, with breathtakingly beautiful views towards Snowdonia. And yet I couldn't help being blown away by the phenomenal colors and architecture of the buildings. The perfect weather made the colors even more incredible. This was certainly my favorite view, over the Dwryd estuary. What a start t...