´We want people to be able to disconnect from the rush of society and encourage real connections and learning. We believe that the remoteness of the venue and the fact of sharing the facilities, will allow people to focus on their skills and therefore boost an authentic and meaningful learning experience´
We decided to run our courses in Noddfa, Penmaenmawror for three main reasons: the local knowledge of our hosts, the beautiful surroundings and combination of Snowdonia and the coast, and the hidden natural beauty of the region.
Located at the foot of Snowden Mountain, in the vicinity of Conwy, we chose the Noddfa Centre because of its simplicity, its gentleness, the beautiful gardens and labirinths and the warmth and friendliness of the people who run it. Surrounded by the beautiful Welsh landscape and being very close to the coast, Noddfa provides a space where we can focus and pay full attention to our skills, disconnect from city-life and even explore the natural area.
The centre was initially built by the Gladstone family as a country manor in the 1800s and bought a century later by the Owens family (Owen and Owen department stores) it is now run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary who named it Noddfa, a Welsh word meaning ‘refuge, a place of welcome and peace’, a place where you can regain energy.
The venue is beautiful, surrounded by acres and acres of woodland leading up into the Snowdon mountains and comes with adequate facilities to make our stay comfortable and easy. Those of us who have memories of summer camps, school trips or activities as such, will probably remember the fun moments of laughter and midnight chats, we hope to recreate some of that magic and bring back some of those moments and boost feelings of empathy, respect and connection in a different way to how we do it on a day to day basis.
The simple facilities and the remoteness of the retreat give us a time out from the rush of our daily lives; a space where we can connect with ourselves and develop our skills.
*There are single bedrooms and shared bedrooms and they will be assigned to participants on arrival. Please let us know if you have any special requirement.
Penmaenmawr
Penmaenmawr is a small town on the north coast of Wales. It is located between the town of Llanfairfechan to the west, Conwy to the east, the Snowdonia National Park to the south and the Menai Strait to the north-west. Penmaenmawr beach is viewed as the finest beach in North Wales and stretches for 4 miles.
It is easily accessed by car and bus and there are generally two-hourly through train services on weekdays and Saturdays to Holyhead and to Chester via Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Prestatyn and Flint. Additional trains call during the morning peak and in the late afternoon/early evening. After arrival at Chester, most trains go forward to either Birmingham International or Cardiff Central via Wrexham General, Shrewsbury and Hereford. There are also a few early morning and late evening services to Crewe.[6]
Conwy
Conwy, Less than 5 miles from Penmaenmawr is a town rich in history, which much of it still preserved within the walls and traditional structures of its buildings. In the heart of it is the mighty 13th-century castle, whose walls encapsulate this remarkable medieval town.
Surrounded by lush Welsh countryside and watched over by the mighty mountains of Snowdonia, it’s a most beautiful place to visit. The Quay is host to a number of amenities and is a particularly stunning place to visit during the warm summer months. Whether you’d prefer to sit with a refreshing drink outside of the cosy quayside pub, take an exciting boat tour around the coastal area or hike upon the many surrounding mountains – it’s all possible in the quaint town of Conwy.
