This week, on March 20th, is the International Day of Happiness. Now, if you’re wondering what on earth that is, it was created by a former UN special advisor in 2013 to celebrate, inspire and advance the global happiness movement. The date of March 20th is significant because it is the Spring Equinox, a natural…

Gosh, do you know, that Pancake Day feels so late this year we’d nearly forgotten about it! We were zooming from the chocolate frenzy of Christmas, to the chocolate frenzy that is Easter, almost forgetting the fact that pancake day was deliciously in the middle! And the other thing pancake day has in common with…

There are lots of things we’re proud of here in Wales, and one of them (and something that many people don’t realise) is that we’re home to the exclusive Royal Mint, situated in South Wales, near Cardiff. The Royal Mint has an unbroken history of minting British coinage dating back over 1,100 years. Based in the…

Just in case you’ve been locked away in a cave since Christmas and don’t know that every shelf in every shop in the land is now packed full of deliciously plump and round chocolate eggs temptingly encased in sparkles and shiny paper with sickly-sweet promises of a fun-filled Sunday morning tumbling out of each one;…

So, what does it mean to be Welsh these days? Is it about the thousands of years of history and culture that we can look back on and be proud of? Is it the ancient language that has adapted with it’s people to become a symbol of legacy, culture and passion? Is it the awe-inspiring…

Steam trains in north Wales were forever immortalised in the 1950’s by Oliver Postgate’s animated series “Ivor the Engine”, and still today, the steam trains of the Ffestiniog Railway huff and puff their way through the mountain scenery of Snowdonia. Porthmadog is a small town, in the crook of the Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales…

Can we mention the C word yet……….? We’ve been busy thinking about Christmas here at the Oakeley Arms – prepping the menus, organising the parties and of course, getting out all the decorations ready for another round of glitz, glitter and the ultimate in Christmas decorating – the humble tree! The traditional Christmas tree is…

If you fancy a walk with a difference this year then why not try one of the many charity challenges organised? Beat your fitness goals and raise money for a good cause.  There was a time when charities relied on volunteers shaking money tins outside supermarkets to raise precious funds, but these days charities across the country…

This weekend we’re joining in with the rest of the country as we celebrate something special – the great music album. Who doesn’t remember leafing through vinyls or CDs as a teenager in the local record shop, looking for albums from your favourite band or waiting patiently for a new release. However, the way that…

Don’t let rain stop you exploring the great outdoors here in Snowdonia. If you wait for a dry day in the Autumn and Winter you may be waiting a while! Here’s our handy guide to choosing a brilliant waterproof coat and clothing to help keep you dry in all of our glorious Welsh weather, and…