Alice in Wonderland Trail in Llandudno | North Wales Walks | Cool Dudes Walking Club

A three-mile Alice In Wonderland Walk around Llandudno. This trail was created in 2013 and features lots of sculptures and stories about Alice Liddell, who holidayed in Llandudno and inspired Lewis Carroll's books.
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Shasta Trinity - Jesse Gallagher
Spring - Vivaldi - Marek on Keyboard

[@RedshiftDougal]

As a young reader in the late 70s and early 80s, I remember Enid Blyton's 'The Magic Faraway Tree' series being... magical. Blyton's frowned upon these days, but I can still remember the sheer buzz of wanting to discover what happened next. Once you enjoy reading that much that young, it never leaves you.

[@cdwc]

I started reading that a couple of years ago. The idea of getting stuck in a land was terrifying.

[@cfishist]

If you look at the film Yanks (1979) on KZbin you can see the road overlooking Llandudno pier for a scene between William Devane and Vanessa Redgrave at the 1 hour 35 min 52 second mark. The gold roof in the video is on the Mostyn Art Gallery. Happy Valley used to have an open air theatre, I think that is how it got it's name. My favourite childhood book was A Dog Called Nelson by Bill Naughton.

[@cdwc]

Excellent facts. Thank you cool dude.

[@RedshiftDougal]

8:40 Couldn't agree more with you, Marek : there's something very special about places that feel abandoned out of season. Thank you for posting so often/regularly on this channel. Please know that you've been an inspiration in getting me back into walking and exploring after many years of increasingly sedentary urban living. Walk on, cool dude!

[@cdwc]

Excellent cool dude. I hope you're enjoying the walking.

[@darloreidy]

I’m told the Cheshire Cat is based on a carving inside a church near me at Croft on Tees - his Dad was pastor the church when Lewis Carroll was a young lad.

[@cdwc]

That is a cool fact cool dude.

[@PowderedCowsMusic]

My favourite book when I was little was 'the owl who was afraid of the dark'

[@cdwc]

I will have to check that out cool dude.

[@AdeAitch]

Very interesting walk, Cool Dude. I imagine a few young children have been scarred for life by some of those statues.

[@cdwc]

Who would have thought Alice would be the scariest.

[@SeanS102]

Llandudno is so beautiful! My favourite book was Fantastic Mr Fox, but it made me hungry for chicken like I was one of the foxes

[@cdwc]

Yes, he makes chicken sound so delicious.

[@elaineforse5914]

Fabulous walk 😊 my favourite book as a kid was as the folk of the faraway tree by Enid Blyton

[@cdwc]

A lot of people agree with you on that one cool dude.

[@glassmoon1541]

My favourite book as a kid was The Otterbury Incident by C. Day Lewis, with my favourite character being the local spiv Johnny Sharp, surely the inspiration 20 years later for Private Walker in Dad's Army. Enjoying your North Wales walks so far Marek.

[@cdwc]

Thanks cool dude.

[@Natalie-mu3ye]

I’ve only seen the Disney version of Alice but as a little kid the topsy turvy reality unsettled me too much! One of my favourite kids books was Boy, Roald Dahl’s autobiography of his school days. Made a big impression, with Dahl’s own drawings and sharp/funny observations

[@cdwc]

I loved 'Boy' too. I found a second-hand copy in a charity shop recently.

[@MadHatterDJ-]

I stayed there for a week on a junior school trip. I would have been around 10 then, I’m in my 40’s now. I remember the toilets being 2p then ah! Great video.

[@Sparrowhawk1974]

My favourite book was the wind in the willows!

[@cdwc]

I don't think I have ever read it. I loved the animation series when I was growing up though.

[@Sparrowhawk1974]

​@cdwc still worth a read now! I have a very old copy in Ryde if you want to borrow it!

[@janecarter6994]

My favourite kids book was The Giant Jam Sandwich and then as I got older, Uneasy Money about a boy who wins a lottery and how difficult his life becomes

[@cdwc]

I will look out for these ones cool dude.

[@suefaulkner177]

Best childhood book...E.E.Nesbit - The Railway Children. Llandudno looks stunning, fabulous buildings & scenery. Liked the Mad Hatter fact🎩, he was my favourite Lewis Carroll character. Does too much tea drinking drive you potty? Is Luton full of loonies? 😂😎👍🏻

[@cdwc]

Llandudno is well worth a visit.

[@petersmithm9]

Pay a visit to Dimbola in Freshwater where the Margaret Cameron Museum is. You will find a few photographs of a more grown up Alice, along with her older sister, plus Lewis Carol and many other notable Victorians. Well worth a visit and the café used to sell excellent cakes. Favourite book as a child was To Kill a Mocking Bird..

[@peterkelly9669]

The Alice statue looks more like the girl out of the ring.😲

[@cdwc]

I agree.

[@catnipforclones]

Big Sadako Yamamura vibes off that Alice, for sure.

[@zelimpdna]

I LOVE that painting of yours! Reminds me of the beautiful artwork you'd get in video game manuals in the 90's.

[@cdwc]

I hope it sells for one million pounds.

[@highlandexplorer990]

Wow, this looks like such a fun trail!! 🍄🐇 Loved the historical tidbits you shared - had no idea about the Mad Hatter fact! 🤔 I'm definitely adding this to my places-to-visit list. Thanks for the awesome video! 👍

[@cdwc]

You should go up the Great Orme first before doing this one if you are limited for time in Llandudno.

[@grahamcope2196]

Mr Men books for sure. Cool walk coolest of Dudes

[@cdwc]

Can't beat the Mr. Men illustrations.

[@deblord7495]

Learn something new every day! Had no idea there was an Alice walk in Llandudno or that the place was linked to the main character! My favourite from the story is Alice herself and was mesmerised by her interactions in such a strange world. Favourite books as a child had to be The Magic Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair collections by Enid Blyton. Just pure beautiful fantasy which really captured my childhood imagination. Must read those again. Another top fact walk Marek! Nice one

[@deblord7495]

Gorgeous painting too!

[@cdwc]

I think about 50% of people on here list the Magic Faraway Tree as their favourite. Enid Blyton would be best pleased.

[@dougzirkle5951]

Those Wonderland statues were terrifying. Beautiful landscape shots!

[@judybee]

'I have a very very old copy of A.I.W. which belonged to an ancestor. Special. And she is my favourite. I thought I would be the only one who said The Magic Faraway Tree but I was wrong. I also wanted to be ALL of the Famous Five. Didn't care which one, Timmy the Dog would have done. ''Curiouser and Curiouser'' said Alice. Seaside towns without anyone around...yep, my kind of place. May all your wishes come true Marek...x J x

[@cdwc]

The Magic Faraway Tree has been the overwhelming winner on here.

[@Somersetmanwalking]

Another brilliant video. thank you👍👍👍

[@cdwc]

Thanks cool dude.

[@totalmattunited]

My favourite character or characters was tweedle dee and tweedle dum. My favourite children's book was The folk of the faraway tree by Enid Blyton.

[@cdwc]

Magic Faraway Tree is very popular on here.

[@davem9204]

Nice reference to the Top Trumps Horror cards in there. I was into the Mr Men books when I was a nipper. Not sure I could manage that many words and pages these days.

[@cdwc]

I liked the detail in Mr. Noisy's shoes. I think it was him.

[@oncelovedtreasures6136]

I was totally obsessed with The Phantom Tollbooth when I was a kid. I just kept going back to it when our teacher had given us other books to read. I'd have to say that my favourite book as a kid was Danny, Champion of the World, though

[@cdwc]

I remember reading Danny, Champion of the World at night before I went to bed and being so excited about them going out poaching. A brilliant book.

[@flechesbleues]

One of my favourite children's books was called Chilly Billy, about a little man who lives in the fridge. I just looked it up and apparently it was written by the same chap who wrote A Year in Provence! As a child of the 80s, I was of course also a big Roald Dahl fan.

[@cdwc]

I will investigate Chilly Billy.

[@MakeLAUGHnotWAR]

6:26 How nimble, must be a Karate Kid...sorry, that was Gruff. Hanging out with the Mayor as a competition prize tickled me, it's got "Fetch me a beer love, er, I mean a "Drink Me" potion" written all over it. I won't lie, I've never read Alice in Wonderland, I've only seen the 3 Disney films. On a semi related note though, I have a vague middle school memory of being told to memorise and recite a poem, and I picked Lewis Carroll's How Doth The Little Crocodile. Somehow I did such a good job I can still remember every word several decades later, but that's Lewis Carroll's excellent writing style doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Had a lot of favourite books as a child, stand outs being Matilda, The Magic Finger and either The Goosebumps Books, or someone writing in the style of the Goosebumps books.

[@cdwc]

I wish I had the memory now that I had as a kid. Maybe my piano playing would improve faster.

[@veronicavoehl]

My favorite character as a child was the White Rabbit. He had things to do and wouldn't be bothered by others bullsh!t. Favorite book was The Velveteen Rabbit. Guess I liked rabbits as a kid. 🐇🐇🐇 It would be cool if the eyes and smile of the Cheshire Cat statue glowed at night. Cool Jabberwocky

[@cdwc]

I hope you've read Watership Down. The ultimate rabbit book.

[@veronicavoehl]

That one didn't make it in the states when I was little. I've seen you mention the movies. I'll check out the book. 👍

[@jasonharding9490]

Hi Marek, thanks for the video. My favourite childrens' book is in fact Alice in Wonderland, although I didn't read until until my late teenage years, I also love the Jaberwocky and the Hunting of the Snark. I remember discussing with friends that everyone had an analogous character in Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass (bit of a simplification I know but an interesting thought). I think my favourite character is the Mock Turtle and I liked to think that was the character I was most like, but in reality I am much closer to the knight (is it the white knight?) in through the looking glass, with the ingenious invention of the upside down tin box strapped to his back, and he doesn't realise that the lid has come open and all of the contents have fallen out. That's basically me.

[@cdwc]

A very good point about the analogous character cool dude.

[@Niac022]

My favorite books growing up were the Black Stallion books by Walter Farley. It starts off as a boy and a horse becoming friends on a deserted island, then it's about them doing horse racing, then dealing with Arabian royals and deserts, at one point there's some ghosts. Originally the author didn't want anyone writing books in his world so in the Black Stallion Legend an asteroid strikes the Earth killing billions, and Hopeful Farm is destroyed during this event when a fault line opened up ripping the land the farm was on in two. Though yes Alec, his friends and family, and the Black Stallion survive that.

[@cdwc]

It sounds like Walter Farley was mental.

[@TravellingTorunn]

Oh Jeeezzz, I memorized 1st verse of that poem when I was in schooI and I still remember it. T'was brillig and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe.... 🤪😂😂 There was an explanatipn too in the book we had. I am impressed that this town has dedicated itself to Alice in Wonderland. And the cat was hilarious though really scary 😂

[@cdwc]

It was a shame that some of the statues were lost in the storm. The statues had not been repaired.

[@wazeroonie6084]

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole was a favourite of mine back in ‘82, Second favourite has to be Quantum Physics of Atoms, Solids, Molecules, Nuclei and Particles by R Eisberg obviously. Third fave? Any Beano Annual.

[@cdwc]

I read a Secret Diary a couple of years ago, there was a lot I didn't get when I read it as a kid.

[@sfsunday74]

My favorite book as a kid was "Betsy and the Great World" by Maud Hart Lovelace & it's still a favorite. It's part of the Betsy-Tacy series & she gets to travel across Europe, in the couple years leading up to WW1. Though you know that I love "Black Hearts In Battersea" quite a lot also. Alice is a particular fave of one of my cousin's so I've shared this with her

[@cdwc]

I have not heard of those Betsy books cool dude.

[@sfsunday74]

@@cdwc They get a mention in "You've Got Mail" but not sure they're well known outside of the MidWest. They mostly take place in Minnesota but 'Great World' absolutely contributed to my love of travel!

[@neilmeadowcroft7569]

I really enjoyed the young children's book, Don't Forget The Bacon. I also have fond memories of an Alice in Wonderland pop up book. Keep up the good work.

[@cdwc]

Here it is for you to enjoy again cool dude kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXPTf6mwia9reJI

[@neilmeadowcroft7569]

@@cdwc thanks for that cool dude master. Never even thought about it being on KZbin. My dad didn't read it with an Aussie accent when we had it. 😀

[@jackd8747]

NO WAY!! The Phantom Tolbooth! Absolutely my favourite book as a kid. I still have a copy now. Actually, I don't. I lent it to someone for their kid to read (morals & all) so it's probably covered in jam and breakfast cereal now. Second place would be the Three investigators books by Alfred Hitchock. Most notably The Mystery of the Green Ghost. That fuelled many a cub-scout fire story. On a Lynton tip. Do have a look at some of the North Devon circular walks around Lynton & Lynmouth - pretty dramatic! Cheers Marek! Jack

[@cdwc]

I have got several editions of the Phantom Tollbooth. I also loved Jules Feiffer's illustrations.

[@jackd8747]

@@cdwc Sweet! I'm pretty impressed Marek, as so many people have never heard of it. I'd like to see the film again too, I think. Cheers! 🍻

[@chegeny]

Wonderful views...thank you, Marek. Llandudno is on our list this November. Yes, The Phantom Tollbooth was my favourite as well. My sis and I were obsessed with that book. I'm old enough to remember the 1972 film, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. My favourite character was Michael Horden's Mock Turtle.

[@cdwc]

I must watch that film. I was never a big fan of Alice in Wonderland though. I found it a bit creepy.

[@isolationstation5157]

Love the piano 😊

[@cdwc]

Almost note perfect.

[@thatschilltssk6274]

I could definitely see myself moving to North Wales. Im currently the highest bidder on the Jabberwocky painting but I can’t see that lasting, this could break all previous records for this artists work.

[@cdwc]

It should get £100,000

[@mareli9211]

Alice has to be my favorite children’s book (but it wears well into adulthood). Happy to see this walk. I want the Cheshire Cat statue in my yard!

[@cdwc]

I have just bought a second hand copy of Alice in Wonderland to read.

[@timelordvictorious]

Also my favourite character from Alice in wonderland in the mad hatter.also the spider wick chronicles was the best book when I was a kid

[@ColinPaterson295]

Cool. walk cool dude

[@cdwc]

[@drummerboy6464]

My favourite character was the mad hatter. Favourite children's book, the wonderful wizard of oz

[@cdwc]

He was a close second for me.

[@RJ-444]

Imagine if that Queen of Hearts was on your journey home and you couldn't ever avoid looking at her... absolutely horrific. Child: The Magic Faraway Tree. Moody Teenager: The Picture of Dorian Gray.

[@cdwc]

I read Dorian Gray when I was a moody teenager too. Ha.

[@johnheath-fi5po]

One of my wife's favourite writers. Some scarey status Marek. A great trail. The Madhatter is my favorite.

[@cdwc]

[@EccentricAuntWanda1]

Watch out for the vorpal blade! 🔪

[@cdwc]

All of the language in that poem is majestic.

[@myoldreteacher]

The Cheshire Cat Griffin Pirate Stories

[@Robutube1]

Books: Either 'The Cave' by Richard Church or any of the numerous Just William books by Richmal Crompton. Bugs: Glad you're feeling better Marek - onwards and upwards! Any chance of any more 'Marek copies a masterpiece' painting episodes? I really enjoy those👍. Boots: I'm just back from walking in the Forest of Bowland/Ribble Valley - recommended.

[@Natalie-mu3ye]

I would also love to see some more Masterpieces!

[@cdwc]

I just read a review of 'The Cave' it looks cool. I may do some more masterpieces in the Autumn cool dude.

[@MrOllieBD]

Another lovely little video Marek and some amazing views of the storm front across the bay! Stay Cool Sir 👍

[@cdwc]

Thanks cool dude

[@johnmabey3245]

Bogwopit!!

[@CharlesMarlow1898]

My favourite children's book? "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkein. Unsolicited, nevertheless, here you go, my favourite poem's "In a Station of the Metro" by Ezra Pound.

[@cdwc]

Excellent choices cool dude.

[@CharlesMarlow1898]

Thanks, likewise cool dude.

[@davis123321123]

Jen: The Faraway Tree Michael: Stig Of The Dump

[@cdwc]

These are school library classics!

[@DARkwindowsdrawn]

My favorite children's book is super fudge by judy blume

[@cdwc]

Judy Blume is great!

[@rugglez]

I'm off to eBay to put a bid on. Good luck everybody - especially me.

[@cdwc]

Bid one million pounds. Thanks

[@rugglez]

@@cdwc That would mean all my pocket money gone in 1 go, but I might risk it.

[@Vurtonable]

I think Phantom Tollbooth was one of my favourites too. Hunting of the Shadroth later. My mum was a children’s librarian so reading was enforced. But Narnia was always up there for me. James and the Giant Peach, Fungus the Bogeyman, my side of the mountain, wind in the willows, the children of the green knowe, secret garden, Anne of green gables, the railway children, one from NZ I’ll have to find the title as it was fantastic, anything Roald Dahl, the twelve and the genii, Robinson Cruseo, the borrowers, the ghost of Thomas kempt. Anyway Mazza, Wellington NZ has a very famous cable car that’s still running. Australia has many cable cars but most take you across deep ravines so more like roller coasters for old people and thrill seeking tourists. Blue Mountains has a few I seem to remember being put on one that went on a 75 degree angle down into a valley on a school trip. I remember great fear for my life. Anyway…

[@cdwc]

Those are all great books. Anne of Green Gables is my Mum's favourite children's book. I read it a couple of years ago and it was very funny. Meanwhile 'Mazza' is worse than the pigeon talk.

[@Vurtonable]

@@cdwc my mistake, we agreed on Makka didn’t we. :)

[@streetwalkerphoto]

Favourite book as a child? Fungus the Bogeyman. So glad Harry Potter didn't exist when I was a littlun

[@cdwc]

I like Fungus the Bogeyman. I had a folder and pen set.

[@MagicGreenSquid]

Fave children's book? Well, when I was quite small, it was "Witches, Ghosts And Goblins" by Ruthanna Long. I went on about it so much at school that my teacher borrowed our family's copy and read it to the class in instalments, which made me proud (though I didn't know that word). He even organised a dress-up competition based around the book. My saint of a mum brought my pirate costume to school just in time for the comp, as she'd been still busily working on it that day. I didn't win and I cried.

[@cdwc]

I tried to buy Witches Ghosts and Goblins just now but got mixed up and ended up with a book called Goblins and Ghosts by another lady called Ruth.

[@MagicGreenSquid]

@@cdwc Hopefully that one is good, too.

[@maldaror7097]

50 p should get you 50 pees, fond memories of Phantom Tolbooth, but anything with Bottersnikes and Gumbles was my thing.

[@cdwc]

I agree with the pee = p costing plan.

[@timelordvictorious]

Which we had a Lewis Carrol trail in the north east .shame because Charles Dodson did stay there

[@LaPumpo]

forget half price bus fares, can the marek lookalike winners get half price public toilet fares lol

[@cdwc]

Marek lookalikes are allowed to go in their pants.

[@varis0843]

What is the ambient song that plays at the pier facts section just after the flower clock? I tried to Shazam it but it said it was something called Lemonaide, which didn't quite sound right.

[@cdwc]

Two Moons - Booby Richards

[@CitizenInWonderland]

50p to use a public toilet?!, their taking the piss!

[@antygod]

50p to use the toilet? that's literally taking the p...

[@michaelwhite8031]

The White Rabbit. The Hobbit.

[@cdwc]

No-one likes the White Rabbit

[@michaelwhite8031]

Only me then....l have always liked misfits.

[@SweetNigeyB]

My favourite individual book as a kid was Prince Caspian by CS Lewis, but I spent most of my time reading Asterix, Tintin and Fighting Fantasy.

[@cdwc]

I loved Asterix and Fighting Fantasy too. Forest of Doom, Deathtrap Dungeon, Caverns of the Snow Witch and Trial of the Champions among my favourites.

[@SweetNigeyB]

@@cdwc did you ever read the GrailQuest series by JH Brennan? Very funny gamebooks, I think they would have been right up your proverbial alley.

[@anthonyhatter196]

"Shaves head for chance to win bus travel discounts"...... Best book was Stig of the Dump. In fact I am off to order a new copy now! Best Alice character is indeed the Cheshire cat. But the whole book gets trippier and trippier as I get older. Is that just me? CD #123

[@cdwc]

I have just bought a second hand copy to read it again.

[@Joiujzd]

[@cdwc]