We checked out of Lastra Farm hotel: very nice and friendly, decent food, very good breakfasts, good coffee, good location, 8/10.
Scenic drive south through Snowdonia on a clear and sunny day. We stopped at Glaslyn where there are a couple of Osprey nests. One is 2km away and has webcams on it with a live feed to the hide; the other is closer with no webcams but we could just about see the Osprey on the nest.
There were feeders with lots of birds: young Blue Tits, Siskins, Redpolls.
Then we drove to Barmouth hoping for some lunch, but it was very busy and we couldn’t find a space in the large car park and the ratio of amusement arcades and fat people with dogs to nice eateries was all wrong, so we carried on.
We paid 80p to drive across a wooden toll bridge across the Mawddach estuary at Penmaenpool and had lunch at the George III pub.
Then we drove back across the bridge (80p) and parked on the side of the busy A496. A short walk and we were into the Coed Garth Gell RSPB reserve.
Steep old Oak and Birch woods and a tumbling stream, the site of an old gold mine. Views of Cader Idris across the valley.
Lots of Pied Flycatchers, and we saw a Wood Warbler, and heard a Redstart.
Then on to the Cross Foxes hotel. Bit bonkers and disorganised, but friendly.