Welsh Wonder

Rose: The wild beauty of Wales speaks for itself.

Rose: A three-night stay in a cottage in Capel Curig, a few miles outside of Betws-y-Coed, ground zero for hikers, climbers, campers and sightseers in Snowdonia National Park.

Rose: Dinner out at a friendly local pub called Tyn-y-Coed.

Rose and Thorn: Our townhouse in Crickhowell is stylish and comfortable, but it turns out to be only a few steps from a busy roadway. We become aware of this fact only after we go to bed and are kept awake by the din of passing lorries.

Rose: Lots of lovely footpaths and places to walk.

Rose: Pilgrimage to Tinturn Abbey, in memory of Lowell, who loved visiting here. Scaffolding and fencing blocks large sections of the ruins, but the setting, in a wooded, isolated valley, and the magnificent remains still stir the soul and the imagination.

Rose: The road beckons us ever onward, especially since we have saved the best for last: we will spend the final 5 days of our 5 week trip visiting people and places we know and love.