Plato's Places to Go No.1 - Portmeirion

In short, this place in amazing.

In the 1960's TV series "The Prisoner" the protaginist is basically knocked out and dumped in this strange place. If it happened to you and you woke up there on a sunny day, you probably swear blind that you were in Spain. Well until you spoke to anyone who worked there anyway, then you'd realise that you were in Wales I guess.... Anyway, it's got stunning architecture and it's situated at the mouth of the river Dwyryd. When the tide goes out it reveals a lovely sand bank that you can go walking on (just be sure to check the tide time!).

Its a bit pricey to stay there (from around £170 per night) but it's one of these experiences that you have to have a blast of if you get the chance. The main villiage is open to the public during the day and the accomodation is dotted around the villiage and there is also a main hotel down by the water. About 5 at night, the villiage closes and it's guests only so you can have a wander about the place till your heart's content.

If it's a nice day you can swim in their outdoor pool or run around in the pools of water left in the estuary. I must admit the main body of visitors are made up of senior citizens but it kind of adds to the slow pace of the place and you get a nice nod of the head as you walk by anyone.

Five minutes up from the Portmeirion hotel is Castell Deudraeth which has some additional rooms and a lovely restaurant that's housed in a nice conservatory on the back of the building. Looking out onto nice gardens it's a perfect spot to have a drink before you're asked to go to your table where your starters await. A meal and wine comes to about £70-80 at Castell Deudraeth. It's certainly an experience that you can't afford every weekend and yes you could go on a weeks holiday in Spain for the cost of a weekend in Portmerion but at the end of the day you probably wouldn't tell your kids, grandkids and anyone else you ever met about the time you went to Spain. Portmerion's not cheap but can you put a price on a lovely peaceful, romantic weekend? Go for it!