We thought it would be remiss of us not to point out Wales’ incredible music heritage and how easy it is to pay a trip to one of the places where the band was formed or the music made. We have an extraordinary musical heritage it’s part of our identity and we’ve homegrown many a successful band in the past and present.  There’s is definitely enough music made here in Wales to soundtrack a whole road trip to Wales if that’s what you need, who doesn’t need that?

I’ll start with Led Zeplin. Led Zeplin composed Stairway to Heaven in a small cottage in Snowdonia, owned by Robert Plants family…can you believe that?  TAs Patric Keefe says in the HolidayIdeas Group…. ‘When you understand that they wrote a lot of their music here, it makes sense that (whatever the weather) it’s a perfect soundtrack for the beautiful scenery’.

We are all very proud of our home-grown musicians from all over Wales. These are the guys you will know about Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Shirley Bassey, Stereophonics, Stuart Cable. Bryn Terfel, Catfish And The Bottlemen, Manic Street Preachers, Feeder, Super Furry Animals, The Joy Formidable, The Automatic and Catatonia just to name a few. John Buckland Coldplay Guitarists is from Mold.

Incidentally, Cerys Matthews has created a festival in Hawarden Flintshire North Wales called The Good Life Experience and she has her own BBC 6 Music Radio.

Foel Studio Is In Welshpool

It might not be as famous as Rockfield in Monmouth but it’s certainly earned its place in Welsh music folklore.

“A Legend In Its Own Right”

Adrian Walls, a member of our fantastic Facebook group (which you can join here) says: “During the 1980s I spent a lot of time as a roadie for UK New Wave bands, mostly from Manchester and the North West, delivering amps and bands to wherever they were needed.

“As a semi-resident of Montgomeryshire, it was always my greatest pleasure to take to or pick up from Foel Studios.

“Dave Anderson’s studios was a legend in its own right and virtually the studio of choice for Rough Trade Records.”

One look at its former clients list will tell you all you need to know, with James, The Fall, The Stranglers rubbing shoulders with Scritti Politti, My Bloody Valentine and even Showaddywaddy.

If you’re a music nut and fancy a look, the studio has its own website here and it’s only about an hour away from the coast.

Fancy Buying Some Music Rather Than Making It?

A little bit further afield from Foel is the semi-legendary Cob Records of Porthmadog, which prides itself on being “Wales’ premier record store” and has been around since the flower power days of 1967.

Despite having had to close down its Bangor branch some years back, the shop is still going strong and has recently reopened following lockdown.

The post Love Music? Love Wales – The Land of Song appeared first on Holidayideas Wales.

What you might not be quite so aware of is that it looks almost as beautiful on the big screen.

Since the dawn of time (well, since 1958 at least), film makers have been packing up their crews and heading for our gorgeous country, to use it as a backdrop for their latest magnum opus.

The first film we think to be filmed in Wales (we’re sure you’ll let us know if we’re missing one) is 1958 war drama The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, filmed in Beddgelert and Nantmor. The most recent as I write this, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of here filmed in Gwrych Castle in Abergele North Wales.

Welsh filming locations made so many viewers fall in love with the show Keeping Faith a drama filmed both in English and in Welsh. The drama really puts the spotlight on our amazing beaches and stunning views across the Welsh countryside. It was mainly around Laugharne – a town on the south coast which lies on the estuary of the River Tâf and was once home to the poet Dylan Thomas.

Nearby Pendine Sands, a seven mile long beach of Carmarthen Bay, and Oxwich Bay on the south of the Gower Peninsula area of sand dunes, salt marshes and woodland were also used and well worth a visit.

Further filming took place at Southerndown, a village in southern Wales with a rocky and sandy beach enclosed by beautiful cliffs and surrounded by open countryside, and at Llansteffan where Faith’s father-in-law Tom moors his boat near the estuary of the River Tywi.

Ingrid Bergman in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness was filmed in parts of Moel Dyniewyd it was said to be transformed into a Chinese city and, according to the Daily Post, a Chinese fort was built at Nantmor near Beddgelert too. Check the picture out it doesn’t look very welsh does it.

Hugh Grant Fims in Wales

One of Wales’ biggest starring roles came in often-forgotten 1995 Hugh Grant film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain.  What a lovely film.

Much of the filming was done in Montgomeryshire using two hills between Llanrhaeadr and Llangynog and Llansilin.

Adrian Walls of our fantastic Facebook group (which you can join here) says: “It was filmed above the village of Moelfre. A fake peak was made on the side of a hill, so that the film crew could all park around it. The hill is now a mountain bike race course.

The peak itself is at Craig Gamyll. The mountain has its own fame – in ancient geological times it was subject to an incredible landslip losing a lot of its volume and significantly altering the surrounding landscape.”

Hugh Grant in The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain

Medieval adventures and bawdy romps!

People alway talk about the comedy Carry on up the Khyber, filmed in Llanberis, which was also the venue for 2003 Angelina Jolie-starring Tomb Raider sequel The Cradle of Life. Plus 2017 medieval adventure King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and also 2010 fantasy film Clash of the Titans. I know right, I was shocked too when I read this.

Facebook group member Tansy Rogerson remembers: “When I worked at the Quay in Deganwy the cast of Clash of the Titans all stayed with us. It was great in the evening as I’d catch up with them on the pub up the road. They were a lovely bunch.”

Another King Arthur film, 1995’s First Knight, included some scenes filmed at Penrhyn Castle, with another Facebook group member, Ruth Williams, remembering: “I had a few sleepovers in one of the castle turrets at Penrhyn Castle during the filming!”

Clash of the Titans was partly filmed at Dinorwic Quarry

From the big screen to the small screen

Porthmadog, of course, has been used for a number of TV shows but it is still most famous for its role as ‘The Village’ in the 1960s television show The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan as Number 6.

More recently, TV series The Crown (which actually shot the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle itself) and Game of Thrones (another to use Penrhyn Castle) have also pitched up.

Netflix series The Crown used the actual Caernarfon Castle to film the investiture of the Prince of Wales.

The post Wales on film (and TV!) appeared first on Holidayideas Wales.

Unique getaways & Unusual Places to Stay in Wales

Outdoor and the quirkiest of Stays.

If you looking for something wildly different, a best kept secret and totally quirky boutique clamping in places like a Tree House or a private castle, here you will find a list of peoples suggestions of where to look for something a little bit different in Wales  (also check out a book called Wild Wales on Amazon).

• Pods – At Brynteg Glamping
• Dragon eggs –  hanging tree tents, Childerness, Powys 
• Ruthin Castle, Private castle in Ruthin Denbighshire
• Wander, Horse wagon, Breacon Beacons 
• Woodies, Llangernyw
• Penvale Lake and Lodges LLangollen
• Higher Farm B&B
• Faraway Follies Gypsy Caravan and tree house
• Tyn Rhyl Boutique B&B, Rhyl  – 16th Century historical house 
• Tyn Famau Retreats – Geo Lodges
• Ty Twt – Conwy  
• The Dog House  – The Shoot lodge Kennels. Llandegla 
• The Hiveaway – Gaint Beehive, Ceredigion
• Gwyd Hw Off grid Tree House, Powys
• Dragon Crunk, Large Hobbit House, Vrynwy valley

• Copse Camp – Off grid 
• The Dragon Tower, Mold Amazing spaces George Clarke 
• The Wheat Silo, Nr Hay-on-Wye, Powys
• Erw Glas Campsite, Llanwrst
• Showmans wagon Bontddu, Near Barmouth
• Cwt Bach Corwen Shepherds hut in a field, on a farm
• ManorHaus Ruthin – Art Hotel each room has something unique
• Owl Lodge  Llandegla – A converted Game Larder  
• BlueBell Corner at The Forge Corwen.
• Seren Mawr – Geodome Brecon beacons, Powys
• The Airstream  – USA Trailer, Ceredigion 
• Conker Glamping Pod  – Off Grid glamping conker, Childerness, Powys 
• The Tower, Nercwys. Imposing 500 year old B&B
• The Hide – St Donats Vale of Glamorgan
• The Decoy Bunker, Monmouthshire

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Event organisers of ‘Open Doors Denbighshire’ respond to the coronvirus by offering people the chance not to miss out on the usual host of iconic and historic buildings this year and asks you to join them on their ever first ‘virtual’ Open Doors event in September.

The Ruthin and Denbigh Civic Association responsible for organising the heritage event are offering participants the usual walks and talks this September and the opportunity to see inside the historic buildings but without having to leave the comfort of home. 

Two Saturdays in September 19^th Denbigh and 26^th for Ruthin will deliver a slimmer version of the usually Open Doors weekend. Remarkably the effect of the Coronavirus has resulted in a different variety of buildings being offered to view. The previously unseen properties will be part of the event for the first and the last time. 

‘The idea was a direct response to the Coronavirus and trying to find a way to keep the event open this year and continue to tell stories and enjoy the buildings just in a different way” – Anne Roberts Chair of Ruthin & District Civic Association. Both events are free to join and will be broadcast on Open Doors Denbighshire facebook with a mixture of Facebook Live and pre-recorded videos.

How To Watch Open Doors… Tune In Via Open Doors Denbighshire Facebook Page Online.

It will be broadcast on Open Doors Denbighshire Facebook. People simple open the page and can watch a film of numerous places visited by the historians. They can ask questions or go back and watch another time. Viewers can watch from a phone, computer or even a connected TV. The broadcasts will be scheduled every half hour from 10am.

“We are using Facebook as it is not only a great way to promote the event it’s a simple low-tech option and a cost-effective way to keep everyone connected. There will be a mixture of live content and pre-recorded films for this digital event. And lots of new building not seen before” – Shelly Barratt Coya Marketing 

 

“At a time when social distancing prevents gathering in real life, steaming is an excellent opportunity to connect with heritage enthusiasts. We don’t intend on replacing the event this way in the future, but it is a great way to allow more people to join in an enjoy these fantastic events at this moment in time.” – Gavin Harris Ruthin Town Mayor

Visit the Open Doors Denbighshire facebook to join in on the events. 

Visit Cadw to find other Open Doors in Wales here

To Visit Ruthin Click Here

To Visit Denbigh Click here

The post Open Doors Denbighshire Event Moves Online appeared first on Holidayideas Wales.

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Nobody gets paid to enter their trip, and nobody is charged to download an idea either. No one location is promoted more so than the other.  It’s a simple formula purely to help people with a staycation, and holiday at home ideas. By sharing we can discover what’s on the doorstep, you don’t need to sit on a cramped plane, you don’t need a passport and you don’t need a big budget to do a lot of the ideas on here in Wales.

We have purposely not sign-posted you to many of the hot tourist attractions or many of the honey spots in Wales, as you can find information in these duplicated on many of the websites such as Visit Wales and Go North Wales for instance.  We wanted to share with you the places the locals visit, the insider information. I lot of these ideas are not worth promoting on commercial websites as they are just not commercial but thoroughly enjoyable to experience.

We want to share with you the cheat sheet to a wonderful holiday with lots of things you can do without it costing you the earth.

We think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Welcome to Wales.

The post Holiday Ideas on your doorstep! appeared first on Holidayideas Wales.