Probably the Best Cafe in Wales?
In June 2011 my wife and I decided to take advantage of some good weather so we pointed the trusty Lunar Quasar towards Wales and the very pleasant Gwern-y-Bwlch Caravan Club Site in Llanbrynmair, Powys.
Don't let the fact that it is missing a toilet block because anything it may lack in flush loos and hot showers it makes it up over and over again in peace, quiet, spectacularly restful views and wonderfully friendly and helpful wardens.
This little piece of Powys is ideally located to tour a very beautiful part of Wales from. The area is still served with good rail connections and whilst we were there my wife and I decided to take the train along the breathtakingly scenic Cambrian Coast Line to the very pleasant seaside resort of Barmouth. This is a train journey that is really worth doing as for most of the journey the train seems to cling to a line that snakes between the edge of the cliffs and the ocean.
The final mile or so of the journey takes you from Fairbourne Station over the old Barmouth Bridge across the wide Mawddach Estuary into Barmouth itself.
Barmouth is an agreeeable little town with plenty of small shops and places to investigate and explore. There are lots of interesting places to eat and drink especially clustered around the harbour area. There are also plenty of pleasant looking cafes for just a relaxing tea or coffee, perhaps a cream tea or cake or something more substantial.
One particular cafe though caught my eye in particular. As soon as I saw it I just knew that it would offer so much than a cream tea! After being married for 33 years this cafe could have something on the menu that would make my wife and I feel like newlyweds again! I couldn't wait to go in and focus my eager attention on to what must be a fascinating menu! I grabbed my wife's hand. "We're going in this one", I said excitedly. Suddenly she glanced up. She saw what had been the focus of my attention. "Oh no, no no no no!" she exclaimed as she dragged me away to an Olde Fashioned Tea Shoppe in the High Street for a cream tea!
The fact that I will never ever know the mysterious secrets of Barmouth's famous "Arousal Cafe" still troubles me to this very day .............................................