What's New and Updated in Virtual Portmeirion?
April 30, 2003
The Children's Tour of Portmeirion has been completely revamped and loaded. Moving right along ....
April 28, 2003
Two new tours loaded today: A new Art Tour that covers murals, signs, statuary, and trompe l'oeil art in the village and includes all new photos. Also, a brand new section with photographs of the Flowers of Portmeirion.
More in the works.
April 18, 2003
LOTS of content added with today's update. New maps (it's taken me three years to update the village map and add matching pages)! There's a map from the Minnfford turnoff into Portmeirion up to the Toll Booths, a Village map, and a new Woodlands map. Dozens of new pages and new photos of features. Check out the Village Database first -- it's arranged with three map pages containing links to pages/photos of every possible feature connected to Portmeirion. Also, see the new maps page with links to historical maps of the village and woodlands. You can track the progress of the construction of the village, and see how the places and the names have changed from 1925 until now. I also added a new commentary on architectural tricks that Clough used on the some of the buildings as he played with perspective and size. New interior photos of Royal Dolphin and Priors Lodging have been added in this update, thanks to some generous village visitors. Keep sending us those photos to share!
Now that I have completed this mammoth project with the maps and new pages, I will be systematically updating every feature page and redoing all the tours, as I have about 800 new photos to add/upgrade. I'm also editing some Quicktime movies to upload, and have several new tours in the works. The largest new tour I am preparing is a photographic walkthrough of the village, to take the place of the original famous tour that started this web site. Also, new background/wallpaper images for downloading are being prepared. I have a number of interior shots from hotel rooms and cottages that I have added with this update and will continue to add in future updates. I also have all new photos for Plas Brondanw (including some terrific new QT movies), and some additional photos of Castell Deudraeth and its restored Victorian garden.
Enjoy, and keep checking back.
March 26, 2003
Nine million lucky UK viewers recently watched the final episode of the British drama series Cold Feet, which had scenes filmed at Portmeirion. See the media section for information (includes a spoiler). US viewers will have to wait until the episode shows up on the Bravo Channel, which is currently screening older episodes of the series.
I'm bringing up a reorganization of the site today. Next update will contain lots of new photos, new tours, and new maps. More content!!
March 9, 2003
Check out the World Wide Wales site at http://www.worldwidewales.tv/ Do a search for portmeirion and you will see a charming movie on Portmeirion. The site is brilliantly done, with lots of movies about all aspects and places related to Wales. You need the latest free FlashPlayer installed to see the movies, so stop by Macromedia at http://www.macromedia.com/ if you don't already have it
January 12, 2003
Happy New Year!
And we're hoping for a much kinder year than last year. In that spirit, we are introducing our new Online Shop today. The shop contains tote bags, mouse pads, coffee mugs, calendars, and wall posters using some of our best Portmeirion photographs. All are reasonably priced and excellent quality. We will add more products later. Let us know what products and pictures you would like to see added. I have received numerous requests for posters particularly, and so I am pleased to offer an excellent poster at a very low price. All profits from the online shop will go towards paying our web hosting costs.
March 16, 2002
The Aerial Tour has been doubled in size with more pictures. The Angel Cottage pages have been updated with better photos. I'm working my way through the entire file of features, updating and adding new photos, as well as preparing a whole new interactive map and a new walk-through tour.
There's a new book out this month entitled Evans to Betsy by Rhys Bowen. It is the sixth book in a series of mysteries set in North Wales in the imaginary village of Llanfair and featuring police constable Evan Evans. This particular volume's plot includes a "Sacred Grove New Age Center" which was based on Portmeirion. The author grew up near Portmeirion and knows it well, so the architecture and ambiance inspired her when she writing about this imaginary Druid center in Wales. If you look closely at the front cover image, you will see buildings that look very much like Government House and Dolphin cottages, and a statue's base very similar to the pedestal that Hercules rests on. The mystery is a delightful read, and I highly recommend the whole series. Minotaur Books, March 2002; ISBN: 0312286457
March 8, 2002
I have updated the Hotel and Castell Deudraeth tariffs for 2002 and added a pdf of the new tariffs brochure.
One of my photographs of the Pantheon is featured on the cover of Bed & Breakfast News. March 2002. vol.2, issue 3
I have discovered a delightful Welsh children's book that is illustrated with lovely pictures of Portmeirion. It tells the story of a family's visit there. The book is Pentrefi Hud by Sian Lewis and Jenny Williams, published by Cyhoeddiadau FBA, 2001. ISBN: 1901862488 GBP 4.50
You can obtain a copy from Bys a Bawd, a bookshop at Llanrwst, Wales. http://www.bysabawd.com/
I've added a lot of new photos to the Castell deudraeth pages, including many interior ones of the bedrooms and the penthouse suite. The Links page has been updated and added to.
Belvedere was repainted from a light pink color last year to a deeper hue. I have posted new pictures showing the new color.