I sometimes think that winter is my favourite time of year here. Llandudno and North Wales in general becomes less crowded and there seams the space to appreciate what we have on our doorstep.
The last couple of days have provided us with the best of winter weather – blue skies and frosty mornings – a definite rarity by the sea. Perfect weather for a walk along the beach or promenade with the prospect of a hot chocolate in a nice warm café at the end of it.
People who only come in the summer months definitely miss out on experiencing a different side to the area. Whilst some of the more popular attractions such as the tram or cable cars might not run outside of the main season, there are plenty of other things to do to take their place. Whether it’s driving through Snowdonia admiring the snow on the mountain tops or a long walk with a drink by the fire at the end of it, there is always something to do, even if the weather might not be so favourable.
It’s also the time of the year when we have the time to get out and do things ourselves, rather than just recommending them to other people! A couple of places that we have been to recently have been the Aber Falls Distillery and Anglesey Sea Salt (Halen Môn). Both of these places are a good choice if you’re looking for an indoor activity if the weather is looking a little challenging….
Aber Falls Distillery offers tours complete with a tasting opportunity at the end. Although it is technically Aber Falls Whisky Distillery, it’s known for its gin more than anything at the moment as none of the whisky is ready for sale yet, so it’s this that you’ll be sampling at the end of your tour. There is a new visitor centre being built at the moment, which will include a new café/bistro as well as an interactive visitor experience. This is due to open at the end of next year.
Anglesey Sea Salt is somewhere we keep returning to – even more so now that they’ve got their new outdoor café. Tours run everyday apart from Christmas and New Year and provide an insight into this successful business. This tour also includes a salt tasting, which just goes to prove that not all salt tastes the same! A great little shop too!