| Great Escapes: North Wales 5 |
North Wales is blessed with an abundance of natural and environmental gems. There are over 800 square miles of National Park lands, with soaring peaks and ice-age valleys. Still lakes contrast with fast-flowing streams and dramatic waterfalls.
All this, together with river estuaries, dune-backed beaches and lush woodlands form perfect habitats for some of Britain's rarest birds and animals. For instance, the gwyniad, a white fish, which swims in Lake Bala, and the pine marten are found nowhere else in the world.
However, rare creatures can take a good deal of time to find, and leisure time is tight for most holidaying caravanners. So, to make the most of Wales' treasure trove of natural history, we took a look at zoos, nature reserves and even a centre dedicated to trying out new ideas for healthier, less wasteful and more productive ways to, as they say, "live more lightly on earth".
Start here
The start/finish point for our nature tour is the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), which can be found just three miles north of Machynlleth on the A487.
1. Energy-efficient living
Having parked in the CAT car park, travel on the water-powered cliff railway 200ft up to the main displays. By the time you reach the top there are some splendid views over the Dulas Valley to Tarren-y-Gesail, which is the southernmost peak of the Snowdonia National Park.
So what's the thinking behind this Centre perched halfway up a derelict slate quarry? Established back in 1975, CAT has accurately predicted a trend towards looking at more ecologically-viable methods of living: alternative technology describes tools and ways of using them to live off the land in the most energy efficient and least harmful way possible.
Once inside the centre you will come across a timber-framed self-built house crammed with energy-saving features such as solar water-heating panels.
This is home to a number of the centre's residents.
Wind turbines can be seen feeding the centre's battery store and supplying all its electricity requirements: the largest turbine also supplies electricity direct to the National Grid.
There are organic gardens, a geodesic dome greenhouse, a smallholding and animals.
Here, you can feed the pigs (six summer months only), and the chickens, ducks, geese and goats all year round.
As well as all this, there are interactive touch-screen video displays, a bookshop and a restaurant which serves up the most delicious home-grown food.
2. Breakfast/lunch
The self-service vegetarian restaurant inside the Centre is a great place to take a leisurely late breakfast or lunch.
There's a wide range of food and drink on offer, ranging from simple soup-with-a-roll to more exotic dishes.
The restaurant states its aims with a 'policy statement' chalked on a board above the service counter. It reads: "Lip-smacking, fairly-traded, local organic, unprocessed, vegetarian food and drink. Because we want you to experience a tasty, ecologically low-impact, non-exploitative, tummy-filling meal". And yes, I can vouch for the fact that they make good their pledge.
3. The Welsh Mountain Zoo
Zero the trip counter and leave the CAT car park. Turn sharp right onto the A487 for Dolgellau. At 9.6 miles, turn left onto the A470, signposted Dolgellau. Turn right at 28 miles, signposted Blaenau Ffestiniog. At 30.5 miles, bear sharp right for Blaenau Ffestiniog/Betws-y-Coed, then right at the end of Church Street at the roundabout, for Betws-y-Coed on the A470. Bear sharp right over the bridge at 43 miles, then left towards Betws-y-Coed on the A5. At 43.4 miles turn right for Llandudno. Turn left at the traffic island at 60 miles, then take the fourth exit right onto the A55 eastbound. At 61 miles follow the signposts from the A55 for the Welsh Mountain Zoo.
The zoo was opened in 1963 by the lifelong wildlife enthusiast and naturalist Robert Jackson. This conservation zoo is set in landscaped gardens which swoop hither and thither, high on the hillside overlooking pretty Colwyn Bay.
There is a wide range of rare and endangered animals from all around the world to see. Near the car park are the Bactrian camels and the Californian sea lions.
At Chimpanzee World you can have fun pulling faces at the animals. Or, you can take it easy in the Tortoise and Cactus House. Don't miss the Penguin Parade, Bear Falls, the falconry display and Alligator Beach, either.
Later, there's a decent little café from where you can sit and watch the enormous Sumatran tigers laze in the sun. Along with the tigers, the popular Red Pandas attract the largest number of admirers.
4. Conwy RSPB Reserve
Exit the zoo, turning left onto Llanrwst Road (one way). At the bottom turn right then sharp left at the traffic lights, returning to the A55 westbound. At 65 miles, pass the turn-off for the A470 southbound, then turn off left, signposted RSPB Reserve.
The Conwy RSPB Reserve, formed in the 1980s, is at the mouth of the River Conwy. There is an excellent visitor centre here, with viewing binoculars and a number of walks and hides.
Some things to look out for are the reed beds which provide nesting and feeding areas for reed buntings and sedge warblers. And see if you can spot a shelduck, said to be one of the most charismatic and colourful estuary birds which use the reserve to feed and bathe. The sky-dancing lapwing, whose population in Wales has declined in recent times, can also be seen performing their aerial displays.
5. Anglesey Sea Zoo
Continue on A55. At 83.5 miles cross the bridge over the Menai Strait (at 84.4 miles). Exit left at 84.8 miles signposted Plas Nwyedd and Sea Zoo, then left again on the A4080 passing Plas Nwyedd as you follow the signs for the zoo, turning left onto unclassified roads at Brynsiencyn. Arrive at 93 miles.
Anglesey Sea Zoo began in 1983
as an oyster farm. Now, as a fully-fledged sea zoo, it has a number of themed tanks and specialises in showing fish which are native to Wales. Posts from the restoration of nearby Bangor Pier have been used to help create an authentic sea-life environment within the museum.
Near the entrance, a small platform has been built from which children can fish for crabs. Among other things to see are dogfish (sharks which grow to 3.5ft long), piranha, weaver fish, rays, seahorses, conger eel and pollack, which can be viewed swimming amongst the inventive surrounds of a simulated wreck.
At the end of your visit, eat at the café, here, which offers a range of wholesome food. In the shop, you can even buy exotic black pearls and other jewellery from Polynesia.
• Return on the A4080, cross the Menai Strait and turn right onto the A487 for Caernarfon. At 109.5 miles follow the signs for the A4085 (Beddgelert) and continue until the A487 at 128.6 miles. Turn left and join the A470 southbound at 132.5 miles, then return to the CAT centre at 156.6 miles. |
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Distance 157 miles.
Time Eight hours.
Start/Finish The Centre
for Alternative Technology (CAT),
near Machynlleth.
Suitable for All the family.
REFRESHMENTS
The CAT Restaurant.
Tel 01654 702400
Unicorn Inn, Smithfield
Square, Dolgellau.
Tel 01341 422742
ATTRACTIONS
Anglesey Sea Zoo, Anglesey.
Tel 01248 430411
Centre for Alternative
Technology, (CAT), near Machynlleth.
Tel 01654 702400
Conwy RSPB Reserve (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), Conwy.
Tel 01492 584091
The Welsh Mountain Zoo,
Colwyn Bay.
Tel 01492 532938
TIP
If you want a foretaste of the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) before you
visit why, try their excellent
website at www.cat.org.uk.
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