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BANGOR CONTINUED

Bangor Museum is a gem - an interesting source of information and lively exhibitions covering the story of human habitation in the area from prehistory to the present day. Because of its size and location Bangor is not only an ideal staging post to discover the delights of hiking, hill walking or climbing in Snowdonia it has itself some light and moderate walking paths around and above the city. The eastern side of the city is in the shadow of Bangor Mountain (a sharp rock face running the entire length of the valley) which is an arduous trek to the top where the Bangor Golf Club is situated but also gives a splendid view of the city, penrhyn bay, southern Anglesey and the Great Orme's Head. The western side of the city has the open spaces of the Roman Camp - a large hill that rises above the city and perches above the Menai Straits. A leisurely walk up here in the summer gives a magnificent view of Liverpool Bay and the straits themselves.

From these heights it is possible to see the layout - with the main body of the city spread out through the narrow valley below, the High street with its shops and pus running parallel the main thoroughfare on which stand Theatr Gwynedd, a number of important University buildings and municipal establishments - running down to Hirael and penrhyn bay dock (outlet for the produce of the Bethesda slate quarries). Across the few hundred yards of the straight lie the wooded slopes of Anglesey and nearly reaching them from the Bangor side is Bangor Pier (built in 1896) which was recently renovated to its Victorian glory. A walk along the pier will give you some of the finest views of the Snowdonia Mountains anywhere in north Wales.

As with most Welsh towns Bangor's nightlife revolves around a vibrant pub-scene - you can choose wine-bar elegance or quayside inns for a quiet night out or alternatively join the fast and furious scene down the High Street , or retire to savour a genuine Welsh welcome at some of the predominantly Welsh-speaking pubs in the area. The alternative is a visit to one of the two nightclubs in the city, both of which have themed nights all week and a late opening licence.

Bangor is also the venue for most organised sports in the area - the famous Bangor City play at the Farrar Road ground, The Bangor Rugby Club was a founder member of the WRU, and Bangor Cricket Club is on of the most successful in north Wales; these combined with easy access to the National Mountaineering Centre at Cape Curig, and the National Watersports Centre at Plas Menai, Y Felinheli and the state of the art track and field facilities at the Maes Glas site in Bangor and the Treborth site make Bangor a natural place to plan your stay in this part of Wales.

Bangor plays a pivotal role in terms of transport in north west Wales - it is the main train terminal for much of Gwynedd and a vital link for the Irish Ferry at Holyhead. Nearly all bus routes in the county start or end in Bangor linking Anglesey, Caernarfon, Snowdonia, and the Welsh Riviera of Llandudno and the surrounding resorts. It is also a centre which offers plenty of accommodation in terms of hotels, B&B's and the Youth Hostel.