Daf and I spotted a sign for the Celtic Fair on the A55, followed the directions and ended up on the quayside in Conwy – not a bad place to end up! The castle makes an awe-inspiring backdrop and the boats moored up in the estuary add an air of romance.
We enjoyed wandering around the stalls of local produce and gifts and yes, our purses were lighter by the time we left!
One special mention has to go to the very rich, very chocolatey truffles made by Y Gyfrinach Felys of Trefor Gwynedd. We are really fussy about the chocolate we eat, usually we have 90% Lindt which tends to make everything else greasy, sweet and tasteless, and the Y Gyfrinach Felys truffles passed our, very stringent, test! – www.gyfrinachfelys.co.uk – Get some for Christmas!
But the most fascinating thing was the number of children, ably assisted by an assortment of parentsand grandparents, who were crab fishing along the dock-side.
There were buckets full of greedy little crabs who just couldn’t resist the taste of bacon, dangled in a bag on the end of a fishing line. The intense concentration of the little fishergirls and boys was brilliant to watch and kept us amused for ages. Several of the children who have stayed at Coed y Berclas have spent happy hours fishing for crabs off either Beaumaris or Bangor Pier and there is now a bucket and net here waiting for the next budding enthusiast.
One of the dispalys was of a number of owls from the local owlery – we think The North Wales Bird Trust. Stroke them then count your fingers; although this young lady kept smiling.
Also on the quay at Conwy is a wonderful mussel sculpture of carved and polished granite – it’s a beautiful thing and a must to touch – well worth a visit.
Dorothy