North Wales

[Argus]

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I'm in the process of moving from Berkshire to the Criccieth area in North Wales over the next few of months. As always, new locality means lots of unknowns..........

Are there any members in the area who can advise on the source of hardwood up there? (typically Oak and other British species).


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[TheTiddles]

I can tell you lots about that area of North Wales, the main one being "DON'T GO THERE!" :lol:

Aidan

 

[Racers]

Hi,

Don't know about wood, but its a nice place I have been there a few times, cracking castle and coast.

Pete

 

[BradNaylor]

We've got a holiday place near Caernarfon, and can confirm that it is a lovely part of the world.

The locals are a lot more welcoming than they were 30 years ago; it's a good idea to learn a few phrases of Welsh though. As with locals everywhere, they like it when incomers make the effort.

There is a hardwood specialist near Abergele - Hoyle Hardwoods. 01745 860376

I did a Google search for them and up came a thread from this very forum featuring myself pre-ban!

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... highlight=

You could PM Brianhabby for more local info.

Cheers
Brad

 

[yetloh]

Not that close, but you could try Powis Castle Sawmills.

Jim

 

[Argus]

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Thanks to both for the replies.

No need to convince me about the quality of life up there and as a Welshman I can get by in the lingo.....

Powys is a bit of a distance, but Caernarfon is only 15 miles.

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[brianhabby]

The link that Brad has given above gives a good run down on Dave Hoyles place, I've used him a few times now and he is always very helpful. I don't have much experience with choosing hardwoods but this guy comes across as giving honest advice.

Maybe we'll meet up sometime Argus, although Criccieth is still a fair drive from Colwyn Bay. I know we have at least one other member in North Wales, maybe he'll show his face soon.

regards

Brian

 

[user 5053]

There are quite a lot of little sawmills in Wales. Contact the Welsh Timber forum or Coed Cymru for more info. You can get a Cambrian rail rover ticket for just £6.00 a day which goes right around the Cambrian coast and as far as Aberystwith and Pwllelii, stops at Criccieth and is one of the most scenic railways in Britain.

 

[crazylilting]

Pentraeth industrial estates.

I think the fella goes by John Richards & Son

Unit 11 Pentraeth Industrail Estate, LL75 8LJ

(01248) 450887

A very welsh man by the way i think you'll like him

 

[crazylilting]

Where abouts is this Hoyle Hardwoods. I did a google and couldn't find them. Thanks

 

[9fingers]

Dave Hoyle is listed by BT


D Hoyle
Tel: (01745) 860376
Tyddyn Uchaf Fm , Abergele, LL22 8DT

Bob

 

[crazylilting]

Thanks very much! Will check him out. It's always good to have more then one choice with wood suppliers now i have two to compare and deal with.

 

[ste_5150]

Hi folks. I've been lurking for a little while but haven't posted because I'm an absolute beginner so I don't really have a lot to bring to it just yet!

Argus, thanks for bringing this one up - I've been working towards that much-feared trip to the hardwood supplier, but not really sure where to go yet. I'm in Wrexham so I've been looking more in a West Cheshire direction but it sounds like there's a lot more in your direction. Thanks to everyone who has posted suggestions - they've been a great help to me too. Anyone aware of anything a little over the border that may be useful? I hear there's a reasonably big place in Wem but obviously I don't know anything about them!

Cheers,

 

[gwaithcoed]

Hello Argus,
Can't help you with hardwood timber supplies but I can tell you that you are moving to a beautiful location. I live in Morfa Bychan near Porthmadog only about 6 miles from Cricceth been here for the last 12 years.
Regards Alan.

 

[richburrow]

You are going to love it there!!
As a family we went on holiday to Criccieth for 14 years or so, it is a lovely place

 

[Argus]

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Thanks again to all the positive replies.

Far from being the back of beyond North Wales is a very vibrant place, glad to see there are a few suppliers up there. Personally I prefer the small firms who will let you look around.

Alan, we were looking at a place in Garn.... but it may fall through, not far from Morfa, though.



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[mark_h]

I've lived in the Bangor area for the last 20 years. I have used both Dave Hoyle and John Richards. Dave Hoyle is excellent for native hardwoods and most is through and through cut with waney edge on; I use him often. Last time I went to John Richards he had lots of imported stuff cut into more regular planks without waney edges.

Tool suppliers are a bit thin on the ground if you want things above that stocked in builders merchants and the DIY sheds. Rowena in Bangor can get stuff to order, otherwise I go to Grahams in Chester. Tend to use mail order mostly though.

Woodfest in St Asaph is worth a look in June if you are around.

Good luck with the move.

Mark

 

[crazylilting]

Hi Mark,
It's good to see someone local on the board. I live in Abergwyngregyn and will be moving to tregarth in the next couple of weeks. Your right about things being thin around these parts. Doesn't look like it will get any better either. A nice place to live though.

 

[Digit]

A nice place to live though.

That's when we have to balance our desires with our needs. I chose, well the wife did! to live in a little, and I mean little, community in west Wales.
Lovely area.
BUT, no schools, no pubs, no shops, no post office and a two hour journey to see the cancer specialist.
AND NOT A BLOODY WOODWORKING SHOW WITHIN MILES!!!

Roy.

 

[crazylilting]

I didn't really have a choice either. My partner lived here and i moved here to be with her. Traded up from a thriving finishing company in Canada to live a simpler life with her here in wales. She could of lived in Timbucktoo for i care but i really like it here.

It's hard to start a business here though. The area is depressed beyond what i could of anticipated, but thankfully we don't need much to live the rest goes into the woodshop.

Sorry to hear your seeing a cancer specialist, hope your doing well. If there are enough of us maybe we can start our own woodworking show