I didn't want to come home from Snowdonia.




The scenery was stunning, the weather was glorious, and ... well, it was all just perfect.

Things we enjoyed ...

Riding a steam train to the top of Mount Snowdon

Walking back down the mountain

Having the perfect cup of coffee at the bottom of the mountain.

Sea views off Llandudno.

Finding a beautiful campsite on a sheep-farm.




We didn't book anything before we left. After our last trip to North Devon, where we'd found somewhere that looked good on the internet but which was like someone's backyard in reality, we decided that it would be better to wait till we could actually see what we were getting. The kids were rather doom-and-gloomish about this (I distinctly heard someone mutter "irresponsible" at one stage) but it worked out perfectly.

And oh, the lambs!





I had never actually seen lambs gambolling before. They jump and frolic just like kittens do. And in the evenings, when their mothers call them (and they all seem to know each other's voices), they call back and go running across the field to nurse and snuggle. It is beautiful to see.

Exploring the forests above our campsite

Finding a magical cottage in a clearing in the middle of the woods.





I long to live in this cottage. You can't access it at all by road, there's no electricity there, and I'm sure it's freezing cold in winter, but it's still the place in the world that I'd most like to live. A little stream runs by it, there are cliffs behind it, daffodils growing round the stone walls, sheep grazing, and views across the valley ... It's perfect.

Watching the kids playing at the campsite

The easter egg hunt along the river bank at the campsite. Nobody in our family believes in the Easter Bunny anymore, but we figured that since none of us believes in the resurrection story either we shouldn't let a mere lack of faith in the bunny stop us embarking on our traditional Great Egg Hunt.

Climbing.





There's nothing like climbing on a glorious day, when the sky is blue and you can hear birds singing around you, and you can see patchwork fields below you. And, where we were climbing, once you were at the top of the cliff you could walk over the ridge to see glorious sea views down the other side.

Picnicking by a lake in the forest

Exploring the village of Betws-y-Coed (extremely pretty; if you like B&B's and scenic walks, this would be right up your street)

Visiting Gwydyr Castle, with its beautiful gardens and incongruous peacocks, which was just a stone's throw from our campsite

And Harlech Castle, with its slightly scary fall-off-able ramparts.

It was a lovely holiday. And the rest of the pictures - including a wet Sophie post egg-hunt - are here.