FOR years the ‘model village’ of Portmeirion in North Wales has been on my list of ‘places to see and things to do’.

Built by visionary architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion is an Italian style village (his very own Shangri-La) which stretches down a wooded hillside to the stunning Dwyryd Estuary.

With the mountains of Snowdonia in the background, Portmeirion is a fantasy village created from scratch eight decades ago.

Originally a holiday retreat for the upper classes, today it has changed very little from Clough’s time with its mix of shapes, colours, European and Oriental influences and surreal atmosphere.

As guests of Gwynedd Council, the Attractions of Snowdonia and Tourism Partnership North Wales, we were privileged to stay at the Hotel Portmeirion in the village itself. Regarded as one of the top hotels in North Wales, the hotel offers top notch accommodation, superb dining and sheer luxury in its range of rooms and suites.

We stayed in the Lower Fountain suite which has its own private access and overlooks the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool and picturesque estuary. With its elegant classical design, our accommodation was a delight, a sheer indulgence.

Portmeirion, with all its archways, fountains and beautiful buildings is a paradise but also a great base from which to see more of the Snowdonia region.

During our three day stay we managed to get out and about quite a bit and enjoyed visits to the historical Harlech Castle, the pretty seaside town of Criccieth and the fascinating Llechwedd Slate Caverns in the nearby mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. On our way home we called at Bodnant Garden near Conwy, a stunning 80-acre garden with views over the Snowdonia mountain range.

Perched on a rock overlooking both land and sea, Harlech Castle dates from the late 13th Century and is regarded as one of the most formidable fortresses of North Wales. As a World Heritage Site, it has massive inner walls and towers which still stand to their full height.

Harlech Castle offers a real step back in time along with panoramic views over the waters of Tremadog Bay. It’s well worth a visit if you’re in the vicinity, along with the town itself which has a pretty shopping centre and church.

Likewise, the traditional seaside resort of Criccieth offers a real taste of the Welsh seaside with its castle sat on the hillside overlooking Cardigan Bay and separating the town’s east and west beaches. Situated on the Llyn Peninsula, Criccieth offers traditional seaside pastimes for all the family and has a good selection of small hotels and guest houses.

Further inland at Blaenau Ffestiniog is the Llechwedd Slate Caverns which give a fascinating insight into the world of slate mining and much more. The major attractions are the underground tours which take the visitor deep into the mountain to explore the mine and experience the life of a Victorian slate miner.

Personally I enjoyed the adjoining Victorian village which includes a pub, bank, sweet shop and home from a bygone era.

Our trip to Bodnant Garden on the way home was certainly one of the highlights of our visit to Snowdonia. Rightly described as one of the most beautiful gardens in the UK, Bodnant Garden has recently undergone major work to improve facilities for visitors – a move which seems to be working well judging by the number of cars and coaches in the car park. Despite the number of visitors, Bodnant Garden is so vast there is no fear of the place being overcrowded and there is plenty of open space for all. I can well imagine how fabulous Bodnant will look in autumn when all the trees are changing colour.

Bodnant Garden is in two parts with an upper garden surrounding Bodnant Hall and consists of terraced gardens, informal lawns and massive trees. The lower portion, known as the Dell is formed by the valley of the River Hiraethlyn and contains Bodnant’s wild garden.

Bodnant Garden, a National Trust property, is open from the end of February to late November and is a must-see for all gardening enthusiasts.

Of course there comes a time when all good things must finish and as we packed our bags to leave our little luxury oasis of Portmeirion, we were sad that our time in this surreal corner of North Wales had to come to an end.

Portmeirion is a model village on a grand scale and reminiscent of both Italy and Switzerland.

With its stunning architecture, special feel and woodland walks, it is a place like no other. Hard to imagine, I know, but you really have to visit to understand the special qualities of this fantasy village. I’m sure its architect, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, would have been delighted that visitors are still flocking to see his creation all these years on.

It is perhaps best know as the setting for the 1960s TV programme The Prisoner when the village was used as the backdrop for the cult series.

The village and the rest of Snowdonia is well worth a visit!