A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones S1:E8

Snowdonia

Griff begins his adventure in Snowdonia, an area famed for its landscapes and industrial past. He explores picturesque Portmeirion, a collection of buildings designed to resemble an Italian village by designer Clough Williams-Ellis. Griff heads to the slopes of Mount Snowdon where he hopes to complete his challenge and find the rare Snowdon Lily.

Gower

Griff visits the Gower peninsula, an area made up of 30 miles of dramatic coastlines, 50 beaches and 70 square miles of farm and common land. The Gower was once almost cut off from the mainland so has learnt to be self-sufficient and use locally sourced products. Griff’s challenge in this programme is to provide a meal for a famous Welsh rugby player using only locally sourced food.

Pembrokeshire

Griff visits Pembrokeshire where he discovers a collection of Morris Minors, tries his hand at coasteering, learns about the dung beetle and finds out more about an area which has provided landscapes for Hollywood films. Griff is also challenged to find and walk a Pembrokeshire Welsh Corgi, native to this area of Wales, whilst being judged by a dog trainer.

Anglesey

In episode four, Griff visits Anglesey - nicknamed the bread basket of Wales - where he drives a vintage Land Rover, visits a salt manufacturer and helps out on a working mill. He is also set the challenge of finding a puffin.

Mid Wales

In episode five, Griff visits Mid Wales where he pans for gold, trampolines in the middle of an estuary, learns more about a legendary sunken kingdom and embarks on a search for the Holy Grail. Mid Wales is famous for its myths and legends as well as its winding river and stunning coastlines. Describing the area, Griff says: “This region has one of the lowest population densities in the whole of the country. Limited road and rail connections mean that it is also one of the most inaccessible parts of Wales and it’s these factors that lend this area a certain other worldliness.” Griff starts his journey deep in the countryside in a tree house which can be rented as a holiday cottage. Here he receives his challenge for this week - to track down the Holy Grail – the drinking vessel supposedly used by Jesus at the Last Supper.

Conwy

In episode six, Griff travels to Llandudno, known as the Naples of the North, to Conwy to see its famous castle and also visits the oldest living tree in Europe. Griff’s journey begins in a lighthouse on Great Orme, converted into a B&B with stunning views over the Irish Sea. Here Griff receives this week’s challenge, which is to track down a traditional Welsh dresser, an item of furniture that was synonymous with this part of Wales. Welsh dressers tended to be owned by farmers as they were the wealthiest people in the area.

The Welsh Border

In episode seven Griff travels to the Border region of Wales where he walks across the top of the Severn Bridge, canoes up the River Wye and is challenged to perform the Welsh National Anthem.