Penrhyn Castle

SUNDAY

I started the day opening my birthday presents (new running gear, an AirTag, and some cosy pyjamas) over breakfast with Prue, Harriet, and George. 

After that, we set off on a 75-mile round trip to Penrhyn Castle, near Bangor, in heavy rain. We picked it because it's a National Trust property with lots to see indoors and two cafes and it turned out to be a sound decision given the weather.

Penrhyn Castle sits on the Menai Straits with the Eryri mountains in the background, though with all the low cloud and mist we could barely see the sea some 500 metres away. Thankfully, there was plenty to explore inside the massive 19th-century castle, which is full of lavish furnishings. 

The castle was built with money made from enslaved labour on Jamaican sugar plantations and the local slate mining industry, although some of the owners' wealth was also used to improve infrastructure in North Wales—roads, railways, schools, workers' houses, and farms.

I’ll definitely be back to do the Parkrun here!

On the way home, we stopped off to catch up with a relative at Tregarth, and later that evening, we had more family come over to share some news—the birth today of a great niece.  Looks like I'll be sharing future birthdays with both her and Prince Harry.

We said our goodbyes to Harriet and George, who headed back to Nottingham in the evening. 

All in all, it was another fantastic birthday and a big thank you to all of you Blippers who sent me their best wishes.