This day is a mix of roads less travelled and a hidden but not a secret masterpiece. We begin by travelling through the south of the county of Gwynedd through quiet coastal villages and into Harlech where the fourth of the Iron Ring of Edwardian castles still rises majestically above the shore. Like the other three, the castle is well preserved. However, its quieter location means you are often able to let your imagination run wild and imagine yourself defending an outpost in dangerous territory.

 

Moving back along the coast we cross over the estuary to Portmeirion.  The ultimate fantasy village, the fruition of architect Clough Williams Ellis’s vivid imagination, is a real showstopper. Made famous in the classic TV series, The Prisoner, the whole composition is a Technicolor assault on the senses. As well as new and recreated buildings, Williams Ellis used the natural environment to enhance the wow factor by creating vistas of coast and mountains through the unexpected turns of the streets.