I’ve mentioned a few times that our house looks over an estuary towards the tourist village of Portmeirion. (See banner picture at the top of the website – which now includes a winter view taken this morning). I went there many years ago, but have not been since arriving back in the UK. That is until last weekend, when they were hosting a Food and Craft Fair. Entry to the village was a tad cheaper than normal, so I thought I’d take advantage and have a look around (not to mention taking a few photos to post of course! 😊).
Portmeirion was the brainchild of Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis. He was an architect and he essentially designed the whole village, often using bits and pieces from other dilapidated or demolished buildings. The land was acquired in 1925 and the village was pegged out and the most distinctive buildings erected between then and 1939. Between 1954 and 1976 he filled in the details.
Though, I have to say that it’s not all about the buildings, as the grounds, “The Gwyllt”, are also a delight, with woodland trails set out for visitors, both young and old, to enjoy. Many of the trees and shrubs originate from all around the world. (See pics 23-27).
The village is recognised worldwide as the setting for the cult 70’s TV series The Prisoner. The Round House, where No. 6 lived, is now a shop selling memorabilia.
As you will see, it wasn’t the brightest of days for photography but, given the huge number of visitors that day, I’m amazed that the images are almost people free.
Alittlebitoutoffocus 
What a wonderful place Mike and thanks for taking us up there. Don’t worry about the quality of your pictures, they are great 🙂 Living in a house with a view like yours, must be like living in heaven !
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Thanks for your comments Rudi. It can seem like heaven sometimes, but it doesn’t feel that way when the rain is lashing down and the wind is over 40 mph / 60 kph!!
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Even heaven is not perfect Mike 🙂
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Lovely photos. Looks like a great day out.
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Thanks for you kind comment Mélodie. It’s certainly a place that you should visit if you’re ever visit North Wales. 😀
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Thanks for taking us to Portmeirion, Mike. Wonderful to see the Wales waterfront and this brightly painted village. You did a great job of capturing the whole village for us, from the building and sculptures to the grounds and trails. Fun to see a coastal redwood there!
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Thanks Jet. And, yes, I thought of you when I saw that huge redwood tree! 😊
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Beautiful shots, Mike, love the big views of your estuary!
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Thank you Donna, you’re too kind! I guess we live in similar places – overlooking water (though in our case for only half the day!) Someone once asked me how close to the sea we lived and I said “About 100 yards when the tide is in, but about 3 miles when it’s out!” 😀
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OMFG! (exclaims the American in typical American class! 🙂 )
This place looks so fun and magical. I really appreciated the description, too. What a view your new house has! OK, if I ever get out of Scotland, well, if I ever get TO Scotland to get out of, you’ve shown me yet another place in Wales for me to visit. (One of several.) I will have to rewatch The Prisoner. (It was on my to-do list anyways.) Lovely photos, as always, perfectly in focus. 🙂
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Glad you liked it. I think it’s a sort of cross between a ‘vision’ and a (rather grand) folly. But it certainly pulls in the punters. It hosts (probably VERY expensive) weddings and sometimes, if we’re lucky, they have fireworks, for which, we have the best view. 😊 You will find that one of the big advantages of living on a small island, is that you can get to visit places very easily. 👍👍
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What an exciting place you are taking us to! A very interesting and nice description in both words and photos Mike.
If I had to pick a few favorites from your photos, then I would choose no 5 Village panorama, no 9, 17, and 18 for the amazing views, no 10 Statue and finally no 15, I wouldn’t mind walking along that path.
Oh.. I almost forgot the unknown flower… 😁
You have a stunning view from where you live. 🙂
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Many thanks Anita, you’re very kind. It’s certainly a very interesting and unusual place to visit. 😊
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