I took a ride on one of the UK's most iconic steam trains - but I'd never do it again
On group holidays, you often find yourself partaking in activities that wouldn't typically be your first choice.
In my case, during the final day of my Welsh getaway, this involved boarding the Llangollen Railway - a Heritage Railway Line.
Starting from the quaint town of Llangollen, the train embarks on a 10-mile journey through the Dee Valley to Corwen.
The thrill of stepping onto an authentic steam train with enclosed carriages, reminiscent of those featured in the Harry Potter films, was initially exciting. However, for me, the magic ended there.
For railway enthusiasts, though, the two-hour round trip through the Denbighshire countryside would likely be a thrilling adventure.
Aboard the train, many passengers (myself included) leaned out of the pull-down windows to watch the steam train power forward, its plume of smoke trailing into the sky.
Before entering a tunnel, we were advised to close all windows to prevent the black soot from infiltrating the carriages.
While the journey was more enjoyable than a ride on the London tube, it didn't feel too dissimilar, in my view, to a train trip from London to the North.
Upon alighting at Corwen station (before our return journey to Llangollen), I noticed the platform was adorned with retro adverts from the 1950s, which is a nice touch.
We ventured into the nearby high street, but with some apprehension about catching the return train, we decided to visit the highly recommended (and nearby) Yum Yums cafe.
Choosing to indulge in scones, clotted cream, and jam accompanied by a cup of coffee, I was relishing my snack at the café's outdoor table when my gaze was drawn to the window behind me.
Much to my revulsion, there was a fly killer machine at the window with numerous electrocuted dead flies within my line of sight.
Feeling rather put off, we decided to head back to the heritage train and journey back to our original starting point.
To put it bluntly, I felt as though I had just forked out £23.50 to sit on a commuter train to a rather uninspiring part of town that only manages to stay afloat due to the unwitting tourists who find themselves there.
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