1st December - Boston Lodge and Portmeirion

Saturday 1st December and a cold bright morning awaited the twenty nine walkers, a tiny baby (Margaret's grand daughter) and one push chair as we gathered at the Ffestiniog Railway's Harbour station in Porthmadog. A little early for the guides who were to meet us, we had an easy amble along the flat, mile long Cob to Boston Lodge, chatting and taking in the views, stretching from Harlech Castle to the snow clad mountains further north.

Boston Lodge is probably the oldest working engineering works in the world, and unless you are full time or voluntary worker for the Ffestiniog Railway, it's out of bounds to the public - except for group visits like ours. Which is why three guides were on hand at the Works to tell us what we were seeing and to answer the many questions, a job they did very well.

The quarry dug to build the Cob eventually provided a platform for the Victorian buildings, and later additions, now known as Boston Lodge. Our three groups soon lost sight of each other, as we were led through the various workshop, the most frequent comment being about the size of the complex. It might be a narrow gauge railway, but there was nothing small about the engineering taking place there. We saw railway engines, carriages old and new, and lots more beside, all either being built, under repair or just away from the winter weather. This was very much an active working location, and I think we all came away impressed by what we had seen (although I think Jane wanted to get busy, tidying up with a brush and shovel).

Lunch was taken on the collection of benches and chairs used by the works staff, sitting high above the road taking in a fine view of the Glaslyn estuary. Then the hard part of the day, following the old carriage/cart track over the little hills to Portmeirion - it must have taken us at least twenty minutes. There was a Craft and Food Fair taking place at Portmeirion, so soon we were split up, browsing, drinking coffe, listening to the brass band, and of course, marveling at the buildings in this unique village.

The return walk was uneventful, apart from Dave and Pat developing their own version of hide and seek. Back at Porthmadog some soon disappeared, perhaps heading home to watch the rugby. The rest of us enjoyed the conviviality of Spooners Bar at Harbour Station, which seemed a fitting place to end a railway themed day.