Visit Portmeiron and Have Fun at Festival N°6
The captivating village of Portmeirion is nestled in Penrhyndeudraeth town in the region of Snowdonia. Developed by architect and environmentalist Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis, its geographical beauty involves the juxtaposition of a 70-acre wooded terrain and a river called Afon Dwyryd. It is one of the tourist sites in Gwynedd, North Wales.
Portmeirion’s Charming Scenery
As a tourism haven, Portmeirion welcomes an estimate of over 200,000 visitors per year. It has four major attractions: The Portmeirion Village, The Gardens, The Estuary, and The Amis Reunis. These captivating spots play a significant role in making Festival N°6 (or Number 6) a memorable time for local and foreign revellers in Portmeirion.
The Portmeirion Village
Described as one of Great Britain’s architectural feats of the 20th century, the Portmeirion Village was constructed in two stages. The first structures were built from 1926 to 1939, followed by those erected from 1954 to 1976. It features quaint Mediterranean exteriors and building designs, such as grand loggias, stunning porticoes, and multicoloured houses. Stone statues are likewise placed in certain parts of the village.
==The Gardens==
This subtropical environment features Portmeirion’s rich flora, ranging from exotic flowers to huge trees. Known as “Y Gwyllt” (or The Wild/Wilderness/Wildwood), it consists of ruins of ancient castles, lakes festooned with lilies, and pathways adorned with rhododendron petals. Guests can commune with nature in various botanical landscapes like the Oriental Garden, Tanglewood, Ghost Garden, Shelter Valley, and Dogs’ Cemetery.
The Estuary
This coastal area provides sightseers a different vista of Portmeirion, with natural water supplied by Afon Dwyryd. It consists of beaches with white sands, as well as a string of gullies and secret caves. It also boasts of rare plant species, including copses of Ulex Gallii shrubs, Euonymus Europaeus trees, and rose pink gentians.
The Amis Réunis
In English, Amis Réunis means “Friends Reunited”. It is described as the “Stone Boat” of Portmeirion. This structure is partly built with recovered parts of the original houseboat pummelled by a cyclone. It served as a hotel restaurant prior to becoming a playground for kids and adults who enjoy pirate games.
Festival N°6 – Portmeirion’s Celebration of Life
Portmeirion is the home of Festival N°6, a unique celebration of arts, music, and culture in the heart of the United Kingdom. The festival derived its name from a character of a television show called “The Prisoner” that was largely filmed within the borders of Portmeirion.
Festival N°6 is held every year for over three decades. This celebration presents contributions from iconic and modern creatives. Musicians like Beck, Pet Shop Boys, Blonde Ambition, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and The Charlatans, among many other artists have graced the stage to entertain a throng of tourists.
The Festivities
Portmeirion’s tourist destinations provide the backdrop for Festival N°6. Organizers aim to give the audience a fairytale escape. Transients can retreat into boutique hotels, cottages, and castles or in their own tent or tipi accommodation after hours of joining the festivities.
Festival N°6 often presents band and choral concerts in The Portmeirion Village, as well as rave sessions and a floating dance party in The Gardens. Events may also include luxurious banquets, food exhibits, live performance art, poetry-reading, stand-up comedy, insightful talks, screenings, installations, wellness sessions, water sports (e.g., paddling, kayaking, canoeing), and other activities related to arts, music, and culture.
