Tag: <span>wales</span>

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Have an amazing time at the finest seaside resort town of Wales.

Llandudno is a beautiful, waterfront resort town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. Situated between the twin limestone headlands, The Great Orme and The Little Orme, the sublime city of Northern Wales is a hotspot for tourism. Imagine yourself surrounded by the seraphic Irish beaches, lagoons of prismatic colors, whimsical little Victorian shops, aged copper mines and scenic walkaways. This summer, grab your luggage and set out to explore the wondrous Llandudno.

Llandudno is named after a Christian saint named Tudno. It is also famously known as the Queen of Welsh Resort. The high land area has seen Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages settlements over the centuries. The various copper mines on promenades were operated until middle of the nineteenth century when the Victorian town went into development as an uptown holiday resort. There are now over 200 hotels and the place is always bustling with happy tourists. One of the renowned hotels was Penforma Hotel, notably linked with Alice in Wonderland. According to a legend, Lewis Carroll was inspired to write about his heroine, Alice, after meeting a little girl, Alice Liddell, whose family used to vacation at the holiday-home of Carroll’s family. The hotel was recently torn down. The Welsh catchphrase for Llandudno is, ‘Hard Hafen Hedd’, which means ‘Beautiful haven of peace’. The slogan was given by a Romanian Queen Elizabeth and it reflects the tranquillity the town oozes.

As the largest seaside resort of Northern Wales, Llandudno is blessed with countless alluring attractions that will make your vacation refreshing and memorable. Start your trip by visiting the Great Orme that stipples the coastline. Standing atop the peak, you will be surprised by the magnificent landscapes of the little Welsh town. The summit’s backdrop is a radiant country park composed of bewitching scenery of fluttering butterflies, blossoming flowers and the songs of seabirds.

The Great Orme has ancient Bronze Age copper mines. A tramcar will take you into the depths of olden shafts where you can have the visual pleasure of centuries old monuments. A superb adventure at Snowdonia National Park can be a highlight of your retreat. The largest Welsh mountain, Snowdon and about hundreds of azure lakes, pristine beaches and moors make up the resplendent park.

The Bodnant Gardens are simply the most dazzling of ornamental gardens. The Gardens are ideal for a serene day spent under cool shades of whispering trees. Another great spot for placid walks is the long Victorian pier.

Moreover, the pier is surrounded by an array of quaint cafes, shops and restaurants where you can relish the best of the Welsh cuisines. Venue Cymru is an immense arts venue incorporating a huge theatre, concert area, arena, conference centre, bars, restaurants etc. The Venue holds live music shows, ballet performances, opera and ice shows.

For history enthusiasts, Llandudno Museum is a place to be. It proudly displays a collection of paintings and a range of items from World Ward and prehistoric times. To end a perfect day, stroll along the calm bank of West Shore. Llandudno is a perfect destination to escape the busy routines. Come back home rejuvenated from the trip of your dreams.

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Source by Cindy A. Wright

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Usually when you think about Australia, the last thing that comes up in your mind is wine. But don`t be fooled, Australia has some of the best and most awarded wines worldwide. So, now it`s time to dig a little deeper into the wine shelves and find what Australian wines and what the wine region is all about.

Wine is produced in every state, with more than 60 designated wine regions totalling approximately 160,000 hectares; however, Australia`s wine regions are mainly in the southern, cooler parts of the country, with vineyards located in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. The wine regions in each of these states produce different wine varieties and styles that take advantage of the particular Terroir such as: climatic differences, topography and soil types. With the major varieties being predominantly Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillon, Pinot noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon blanc.

The three most influential regions are New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. South Australia and New South Wales are most famous for the varieties that are suited to warm climate vines such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, and Victoria known for the cool climate loving Pinot-Noir.

The largest vine growing region is South Australia, and Adelaide is the central wine production area. Located a few kilometres from Adelaide is Barossa Valley, South Australia`s most prestigious growing area. This region is unique because isolated from the rest of the world, which means that there are fewer diseases to the plants, thus resulting with some of the oldest living vineyards in the world. There are around 150 wineries and cellar doors in the Barossa Valley. Half of the cellar doors are open to the public, but most of the others happily open by appointment. Many conduct tours of their estates and wine-making facilities. The magic of Barossa Valley`s world-acclaimed wines lies in the diversity of its growing conditions. The Eden Valley produces distinctive cool-climate wine varieties; while the region`s flagship shiraz is grown in the warmer, low-lying areas. The Barossa Valley is also renowned for its fresh seasonal produce, artisan food producers and award-winning restaurants.

The major production in New South Wales comes from the inland Big Rivers Zone. This area has historically produced much of the commercial Chardonnay and Shiraz from Australia. However, because of severe drought in recent years, more wine grape growers are experimenting with drought friendly varieties like Tempranillo and Verdelho. The Hunter Valley located in NSW is Australia`s oldest wine growing region where you`ll find more than 150 wineries producing world-class wines.

Commercial winemaking in North West Victoria makes up the majority of wine production in the entire region. However, the growing areas of interest are cooler and closer to Melbourne such as Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley. The cool climate areas in Victoria have received a lot of praise for their Pinot Noir.

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Source by Maria Williams

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Come weekend time, and people start thinking of going to unknown destinations to renew themselves. They look for stag weekend unexplored places, where they can not only get some fun, but also learn something new. People take the advantage of corporate boat hire, as well as an activity trip at stag do Portsmouth.

When people plan for a stag weekend getaways, they have to think of many considerations like accommodation, language, health and transport. There are many good weekend destinations in U.K where people can get to explore themselves. They can plan on their own beforehand, or rest their worries on a travel service firm. It is very important to plan weekend destination in advance, so that children and life partner can also take a break from the routine and enjoy as well.

People choose from among the top weekend destinations, they have shortlisted. Here are some of top weekend destinations of 2013.

1. Bristol

Bristol is a stag weekend destination for those who like to have their short holiday completed in a fun and adventurous way. Bristol is famous for its nightlife and motor friendly roads. It is accessible by major transport networks, which makes it promising. Bristol activities can also include quad biking, the famous West Country games and its clubs. People can also take the advantage of playing in casinos while dining at the restaurants. Bristol though not that much popular for casinos as those in Texas, offers a good deal on casinos in terms of cost efficient and entertaining casino deals.

2. North Wales.

North Wales is a stag destination to be chosen by people who are interested in clubbing. There are lots of clubs with various amenities and entertainment at night time. North Wales is also famous for adventure sports activities like White water rafting, clay pigeon shooting, canoeing and surfing. Accommodation is also available easily without any issues. Wales has good number of beaches to sit with family and enjoy. Corporate boat hire can also considered by people who like to sail and see the sea wild life. Accommodation in North Wales, if booked in advance does not cost much compared to last minute booking and travel plans.

3. Newcastle.

Newcastle is famous for the famous MTV Show and is known as the Party capital. People who love night life during weekends and wish to spend their time losing themselves up should visit Newcastle for sure. This place is home to many bars and clubs along with activity sports like quad biking, swimming, football, hiking and more. The bars and clubs in Newcastle are known for many night life activities for party lovers, who like to hang on till early morning sunrays.

Portsmouth can also be considered by people, who want to explore some new activity and take advantage of stag do Portsmouth benefits. People experienced in sailing in yacht charters can also suggest corporate boat hire benefits to their friends for the weekend trips.

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Source by David B Botham

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With the first and certainly the plum fixture of the weekend taking place at the Millennium Stadium tonight, here are some thoughts on this year’s six nations tournament.

Ireland is apparently the favourite, with England close behind. Unfortunately, owing to the lack of depth, Ireland is not likely to live up to the bookies’ enthusiastic appraisal. Despite a wonderful set of results in the autumn internationals, the Irish begin the tournament without Heaslip, Healy and Sexton, all absolutely vital to their cause. That should not trouble them greatly against Italy, even playing away but Sexton’s continuing problems with concussion must be creating huge anxiety, not only for this tournament but for the World Cup too. Their shortage of class replacements is highlighted by the selection, for this game, of loose forward O’Brien, who has played almost no rugby since his long term injury. Kearney, Bowe and Zebo make a potent back three, the centre combination in the post O’Driscoll/D’Arcy era is useful, O’Connell, O’Mahony, O’Brien and Best are all world class forwards but Ireland without Sexton is a side at least 20% less effective.

England should probably be six nations favourites, although they are particularly hard hit by injuries. Farrell, Tuilagi, Morgan, Lawes, Wilson, Launchbury, Parling, Barritt, Eastmond and Tom Wood are all missing for the visit to Wales. With a settled combination, Wales will expect to win this match but an upset will be a big boost for England and make them firm favourites for the title. None of the other teams has anything like the resources of the English. Even missing their best three locks for this game, they are able to put a solid second row on the field. The tight phases remain considerable weapons for them and there are still quality backs such as Mike Brown. On the outside, especially against Wales, weaknesses could be exploited if the Welsh are bold enough to ensure North and Cuthbert get the ball. As the tournament progresses, England will need to add aspects to their play outside forward dominance. In the World Cup, against southern hemisphere teams, the forwards will not be enough.

On paper, Wales look a good team but whether they have the sort of mental strength of the wonderful sides of the seventies is doubtful. With the addition of Webb at scrum half, the back line looks complete and very dangerous. Biggar must be the flyhalf at the world cup and outside him he has terrific three quarters. The loose trio of Lydiate, Warburton and Faletau is top class but much will depend on the front five. If they can match fire with fire against the old enemy tonight, Wales should be feeling well satisfied.

The most difficult team in world rugby to analyse is always the French. So unpredictable and so much a team of moods, nobody ever knows what to expect from the French. Two South Africans, Kockott and Spedding, make their starting debuts tomorrow and the Kockott/Lopez combination is the 14th halfback pairing of the Saint Andre era. After missing the whole of the 2014 campaign, Dusautoir is back and is part of a useful back three in the scrum. Bastareaud and Fofana are a dangerous centre pairing and there is pace out wide. France need to win at home against Scotland but whatever happens, we will probably be none the wiser as to the future possibilities for the French.

Scotland boast their best balanced team for many years. The tight five is impressive with Murray, Ford and Dickinson in the front row, backed by the very large Gray brothers at lock. Unusually for the Scots, they have pace and size on the wings in Visser and Seymour and the elusive Hogg at the back. However, once the injuries set in, the lack of depth will be exposed. As always, they will play close to their potential.

Italy are likely to be the whipping boys of the tournament. Only the admirable Sergio Parisse and the aging Castrogiovanni are world class. They will probably front up in the pack but are likely, as always, to find the going tough at the back, where they do not possess sufficient, pace, size or skill to bother the best.

It is a fairly open tournament this year and there are probably four sides that can win it.

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Source by Terence George Dale Lace

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Gundagai is a town in the Australian state of New South Wales located along the big Murrumbidgee River at the foot of Mt Parnassus. Just a stone’s throw away from the Muniong and Yambla Mountain ranges, Gundagai is popular for its old bridges, monuments, and memorials.

The town’s colourful history has made it a favourite topic of a number of poets, musicians, and writers. Some believe that one reason for this is because the Five Mile Creek north of Gundagai used to be a popular point of rendezvous among teamsters, drovers, shearers, and bush travellers.

Gundagai was first discovered by Australian-born Hamilton Hume and Briton William Hovell in 1824, when the Wiradjuri Aborigines dominated the area. Europeans first arrived two years later. In the 1830s, a village was formed until the Gundagau was gazetted as a town in 1840.

The town was ravaged by a flood in 1844 resulting in the deaths of around 83 people. A local Aborigine, Yarri, was commended for his heroism during the incident. He was among those who saved stranded residents using his bark canoe. A marble headstone was erected in his memory at the Gundagai cemetery where he was buried in 1880.

A 15-year gold rush swept the town in the 1850s before another “gold fever” resurfaced in 1894. The most famous historical mines include the Robinson and Rice’s Mine southwest of Gundagain and the Prince of Wales Mine a few mile west of the town.

Some of the most popular historical tales in Gundagai were of bushrangers who killed two policemen. The Ben Hall bushranging gang killed Sgt Edmund Parry while holding up a mail coach near Jugiong in the 1860s. Another gang led by “Captain Moonlite” killed Senior Constable Webb-Bowen during a hostage incident at a farm in 1879. The remains of the two policemen are interred at the Gundagai cemetery.

Must-See Places:

The Dog on the Tuckerbox bronze sculpture is perhaps the icon most closely associated with the town. It is situated across a restaurant and gift shop complex 8km north of the town on the Hume Highway. Opposite the Dog on the Tuckerbox, which is part of Australian folklore, is the Snake Gully Tourist Centre.

The Marble Masterpiece was completed by mason Frank Rusconi for 28 years. It is a miniature Baroque Italian palace standing 1.2 metres high within a formal square. Each of the 20,948 pieces of marble gathered throughout New South Wales was cut, turned, and polished by hand. The centre also featured a replica of St Marie’s Cathedral located in the outskirts of Paris.

The Gundagai Historical Museum displays old coins and crockery retrieved from the original townsite, which was ravaged by the flood. A T-model Ford, wagons, machinery and equipment, clothing, gold scales, and a sundial are among the collection.

The Gundagai Courthouse is one of the town’s oldest buildings. It was where “Captain Moonlite” was tried.

The Niagara Café is an old Greek restaurant established in 1942. It was once visited and commended by former Prime Minister John Curtin.

The Mt Parnassus peak has fine views of the town and river beds. Magnificent lookout spots also include the Rotary Lookout, Mt Kimo, and Reno.

Gundagai Bridges:

Prince Alfred Bridge – believed to be the first truss bridge in Australia

The Sheahan Bridge – Australia’s second-longest bridge after the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is made of concrete and steel

The Railway Bridge was completed in 1869. It has sections made of timber and sections made of iron. It used to be part of the old Hume Highway but at present, it is only open to pedestrian traffic.

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Source by Scott Williams

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The Wales national football team don’t have the greatest history as a far football is concerned, they have only qualified for one World Cup Finals in 1958, where they were beaten 1-0 in the quarter finals, by the eventual winners Brazil.

In 1977 Wales played Scotland in a World Cup qualifying match, which, had they won, would have seen Wales reach the World Cup Finals in Argentina in 1978. A hand ball by Joe Jordan was to prove a decisive factor in the game, which Scotland won.

Even before the game, Wales were to lose their home ‘advantage’ when the fixture was re-scheduled to be played at Anfield, England, rather than in Wales at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. This followed the Football Association of Wales’ decision to move the game to secure a larger crowd and to make more money. A huge number of Scottish fans attended the game, far more than would ever have been possible at Wrexham, which created a very hostile atmosphere for the Welsh players who were also playing on an unfamiliar pitch.

The game itself remained goalless until, in the 78th minute, came the fateful moment for Wales following an incident with Scotland’s Joe Jordan

The Scotland striker, Jordan, jumped with Wales defender David Jones to challenge for a long throw-in into the Welsh penalty area, with Jordan then deliberately punching the ball towards the Welsh goal, to the astonishment of the Welsh fans and players, the French referee Robert Wurtz awarded a penalty. Television replays clearly showed it was Jordan’s and not Jones’ hand that had touched the ball, but the referee had made his decision.

Scotland’s Don Masson scored the penalty, which broke Wale’s hearts, and with minutes remaining as Wales pushed forward in search of an equalising goal, Kenny Dalglish scored a second goal and the Wales dream was over and it was Scotland who would go to the World Cup finals.

Prior to the game everyone in the Wales was talking about Argentina and the World Cup finals and many still feel upset about the incident to this day.

To rub salt into the Welsh wounds, Joe Jordan refuses to own up to his handball and has never apologised.

Diego Maradona was famously involved in a handball incident in the 1986 World Cup when he scored a goal against England, and then claimed it was the ‘hand of God’ that had intervened.

More recent ‘handball’ incidents include that of Thierry Henry in the qualifying game against Ireland for the 2010 World Cup Finals, which have now eclipsed Wales’ injustice, and while Joe Jordan has made never made any claims of divine intervention, he will be fortunate to find any Wales supporters who will forgive him easily.

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Source by Steve Goodwin

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In New South Wales, Australia, the Department of Family and Community Services (the Department) is responsible for statutory child protection, which includes maintaining a system to receive reports about children who have been harmed or who are at risk of being harmed. Under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW), a mandatory reporter includes a person who delivers services to children, or who has a management role in relation to the delivery of services to children. The full definition can be seen at section 27(1) of the Act. This is a very wide definition that includes most medical doctors, dentists, child psychologists and psychiatrists, counsellors who work with children, child protection caseworkers, police officers, hospital workers, school teachers and early childhood care workers, and other employees of schools and pre-school institutions. Providers of residential services to children are also in scope. In addition, the managers of institutions that provide any of these kinds of services are likely to be mandatory reporters, as are some non-practitioner employees who come into contact with children when providing support to professional colleagues or services to children directly. If you are uncertain about whether you are a mandatory reporter, you should take steps to find this out. Breaching the Act, by failing to make a required report, can lead to professional misconduct charges being laid against a mandatory reporter. On the positive side, section 29 of the Act provides that making a report is not a breach of ethical standards, even though it involves disclosing confidential client information. Mandatory reporters who make a report to the Department are protected from professional misconduct charges, defamation proceedings, and civil proceedings in relation to the report, and the reporter’s identity is protected in most circumstances. A NSW Court of Appeal decision in 2014 upheld the protection of reporters’ identities, and noted that the purpose of section 29 is to protect good faith reporters’ identities “for the obvious reasons that persons… referred to in such reports may [otherwise] visit consequences on the reporter and the prospect of that occurring may deter or inhibit persons from making reports.” This protection of a reporter’s identity, and the other protections under the Act mean that mandatory reporters can confidently report their suspicions when a report is required, knowing that the source of the report is unlikely to become known to persons named in the report.

When is a report required? A report to the Department (usually made to the Child Protection Helpline, telephone 132-111 in New South Wales) is required if a mandatory reporter, in the course of his or her work, has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child (or a particular grouping of children) is at risk of significant harm. The critical terms here are “reasonable grounds”, “suspect”, and “risk of significant harm.” Risk of significant harm requires more than just risk of harm generally, and might be expected to involve a risk of physical, psychological or developmental harm that could potentially have long-term consequences, including the risk of a child being killed or abducted or requiring hospital treatment. Mandatory reporters should always be alert to the possibility of a child being at risk of harm, and use forensic judgment to determine whether the suspicion is based on reasonable grounds. Important indicators of possible risk may include unexplained injuries, the child having heightened anxiety or fearfulness, domestic violence in the home, or parental misuse of drugs or alcohol. The Department has a comprehensive manual – The “New South Wales Mandatory Reporter Guide” – which includes a structured decision-making system to help mandatory reporters make decisions about their suspicions of risk to children. Risk of significant harm reports are critically important to the Department’s work, and the Department relies on mandatory reporters to be the Department’s eyes and ears in identifying children who may be at this level of risk. Reports from mandatory reporters can be linked with other reports and information held by the Department, to enable risk to be evaluated and addressed appropriately. A single report is rarely the trigger for intervention on its own, unless the report identifies a critical event such as actual harm to a child, but through the aggregation of multiple reports and other information in hand the Department can build up a comprehensive picture of a child’s situation and the risk factors that are present for the child. Some risk factors seen in isolation might not justify any action, but multiple factors can lead to risk being reassessed and the child’s case being given a higher priority. For example, the Department might initially receive reports about a family being transient or homeless, which of itself might not require immediate action by the Department (the parents may just need time to sort out accommodation), but if those initial reports are followed by reports of domestic violence between the parents, drug use by the parents, or the children being unfed or physically mistreated, the matter will be looked at more closely by departmental caseworkers. Where a report alleges physical or sexual abuse of a child, the report is likely to be passed to the Joint Investigation Response Team (J.I.R.T.) covering the area where the child lives, so that an investigation can be carried out quickly to ensure the child is protected from harm and any perpetrator of such abuse is prosecuted if a crime has been committed. J.I.R.T. staff are drawn from Department, NSW Police and NSW Health, to facilitate joint investigations of offences against children.

While it may be uncomfortable for a professional person to disclose patient or client confidences, the law is clear about the obligations of mandatory reporters. This has been the law in NSW since 1978, and most other states of Australia for more than 20 years. There can be a fine line between risk of harm and risk of significant harm, but reporters should not err on one side or the other – for example, reporters should not adopt an “if in doubt report it” attitude – because the obligation to report only arises where risk of “significant” harm is suspected. It is a matter for the mandatory reporter to consider whether his or her suspicions are based on reasonable grounds, and point to the child being at risk of significant harm. The Department receives well over 100,000 relevant reports each year, and reporting other (non-significant) situations to the Department can impact on the Department’s ability to quickly assess and allocate more serious cases for attention. Where the risk of harm does not reach the threshold level, resources are available to guide reporters about how to best deal with these kinds of situations. The Department’s website has a lot of material, and professional associations also issue guidance to members. If this information does not answer a specific question, a lawyer who is experienced in child law cases will be able to provide helpful advice.

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Source by Stephen G Bourne

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The Bodnant Welsh Food Center has set itself as one of the top foodie destinations in Great Britain. Visiting here means engaging into a wonderful culinary experience like no other!

The complex houses a working farm, a wine cellar and gourmet restaurant among others. The center is a testament to Wales’ ever growing passion for regional food and its production. It occupies 18th century stone buildings, which are part of the Furnace Farm estate. This Welsh Food Center aims to attract both tourists and locals alike with its plethora of food and drinks! At Bodnant, you can embark on a true blue Welsh food tour, whether you decide to visit for a few hours or the entire day. This award-winning center lies at the heart of the Conwy Valley, with the stunning landscape of Snowdonia serving as a worthy backdrop.

Your first order of business could very well be a stop at the center’s farm shop. Here, you are guaranteed to find some of the best local meat and produce in the country. Head over to the dairy section, to sample not only the local milk but also some top dairy products like handmade cheese, yogurt and ice cream. The on-site bakery, on the other hand, regularly produces fresh traditional and seasonal breads. Some of the best sellers include the Welsh Cakes and Bara Brith.

And just when you think you have died and gone to food heaven, you will soon realize that the journey is just beginning. The next section worth experiencing is the bee-keeping site, where sweet and healthy honey and honey lotions are produced. In fact, such site is hailed as the National Beekeeping Centre of Wales. To see the bees in action, make your sure to plan your visit at the right time of the year.

One of the most popular sections at the Bodnant Welsh Food Center is the wine shop, which sells not only the finest local wines but also products that come from the biggest wine regions in the world. Don’t just browse around – go for a wine tasting and food pairing session to make the visit more memorable!

A visit to the Bodnant is not only about eating, it is the total Welsh culinary adventure. At the center’s cooking school, several courses that last from one to four days are offered all year round by top Welsh chefs. You can choose to learn how to prepare and cook local fish or bake that perfect cake for the family to enjoy! But if you really do not have time for any classes, at least have a satisfying meal at the center’s premier Hayloft Restaurant.

To reach Bodnant Welsh Food Center, you can choose to drive the A55 Expressway along the North Wales coast. Another alternative is to take the train that goes from London to Holyhead. Get off at the Llandudno Junction, and take a local line to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Request to stop at Tal-y-Cafn, which lies at the center of the Bodnant Estate.

If you feel like a few hours is not enough to fully enjoy the Bodnant Welsh Food Center, consider staying a night or two at the estate’s 5 star bed and breakfast accommodation, housed in the 18th century Furnace Farmhouse.

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Source by Nagib Georges Araman

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Rent Smart Wales is the Welsh Assembly scheme for registering landlords, letting agents and properties. It came into force in November 2015 allowing landlords and agents up to 12 months to become registered. It applies to any person who owns residential rental properties in Wales, UK.

There are two types of registrations required for Landlords.

1. The landlord registration is a paid registration for all landlords who own a residential property in Wales which they do not live in. The fee for this is £33.50 if you apply online and £80.50 if you do a paper application. As part of the registration process you are required to supply details of all the properties you own.

Where you have any jointly owned properties, they are required to be registered in joint names with a lead landlord nominated to receive the rent. If you own properties in your own name along with properties in joint names you will need two separate registrations. One for individual properties and one for joint properties.

2. The second registration is for the management of the property. If you use a letting agent all you need to do is link an approved agent to each property. The online system provides a list of Agents authorised through the Rent Smart Wales scheme. The agent has to confirm they are acting for you and managing the property.

If you choose to manage the properties yourself then you need a license which will cost £144.00 for an online application or £186.00 for a paper application. You will need to attend a training course and pass a test from a Rent Smart Wales accredited trainer to ensure you comply with and are familiar with all the rules and regulations for renting and maintaining a rental property. Training courses vary in price depending on the training company but normally start from around £75.00.

Since 23rd November 2016, Rent Smart Wales has prosecuted landlords who fail to comply with the regulations. Enforcement orders can include a variety of penalties from fixed fines to loss of rent and rent repayment orders.

Any tenant who applies for a benefit, of any type, are asked to supply details of the property they are renting and councils or government departments are cross checking to ensure landlords are registered and licensed to manage the property under the scheme. Councils have authority to prosecute anyone who doesn’t comply with the requirements. Mortgage Lenders and Insurance Companies are being asked to ensure they don’t lend or insure unlicensed Landlords.

The process for registering is completed through the Rent Smart Wales website. Obtaining a management license will take a little longer. Don’t fall foul of the Rent Smart Wales Registration Scheme.

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Source by Karen M Newton

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It is not surprising to see majestic castles standing tall in many areas of Wales. These castles have stood as silent witnesses to the passage of time and the rich history of Wales. When you visit Wales and stay at the luxurious Wales holiday cottages, you must not miss going to the different castles in the country. Wales holiday cottages will put you within near distance to these historic places. Here are two of the great castles in Wales.

Bodelwyddan Castle

This beautiful Victorian Castle is located in Denbigshire and is a short drive away from your Wales holiday cottages. This beautiful Victorian Castle is set in 260 acres of formal gardens, parkland and natural woodland. It was built in the 15th century but was remodeled in the 1820s in the Gothic revival style. In the 1980s, the period rooms were restored to its magnificent glory and it now houses the artworks from the National Portrait Gallery, V&A and Royal Academy. The park has an adventure play area for the kids added on in 2011. You can also see the remains of rare practice trenches that date back to World War I and will take you back to all the horrors of war. The open parkland that surrounds the castle is ideal for games as well as picnics so you must bring a picnic basket prepared at your self-catering Wales holiday cottages. There are also formal gardens and a woodland walk that goes through an orchard, a butterfly glade and a bird hide.

There is a Victorian games room that you might want to try out and a garden maze if you have the time. You can enjoy having some tea and snacks at the tea room and buy some souvenirs at the gift shop before you leave. The Castle is open on different times during the year so it would be best to call their office and inquire for the schedule on the day that you want to go there. Admission fee is £6.60 for adults, £5.50 for seniors and students and £2.75 for children up to 16 years. Group rates and family tickets are available. Children below 5 years old and disabled visitor’s carer are free.

Conwy Castle

The Conwyn Castle stands majestically on a rock above the Conwy estuary. This dark stoned fortress has an authentic medieval look to it. Rising high above the backdrop of the spectacular Snowdonia skyline, this historic site continues to draw as much attention today as it did during its time. It was built between the years 1283 to 1289 at a cost of £15,000 which was the largest single sum that King Edward spent in building a castle. It was designed by King Edward’s popular military architect, James of St George and was a replacement for Deganwy Castle which was destroyed by Llywelyn the Last. Today, the Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument managed by Cadw and part of the World Heritage Site.

The castle is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 1st April to 31st June and 1st September to 31st October. From 1st July to 31st August, it is open 9:30 to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission fee is £4.80 for adults, £4.30 for seniors, students and children from 5 to 16 years while family tickets cost £13.90. Children below 5 years are free of charge.

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Source by Mary Godago