Llanrwst, a historical market town in North Wales, is where my father was born. Inspired by research on our family tree, I found this out as well as three cousins whom I had not knowingly met before. With Vanessa and Niels (two of my now-adult children), I met up with these long neglected relatives. We also met Pat Rowley, the local fount of historical knowledge of Llanrwst.

This small and beautiful town nestles in the Welsh countryside, strategically situated on the banks of the river Conwy. The bridge over the river was built in 1636 and was for a long time the only connection between the east and west of that area in North Wales. The tea-house on the other side of the bridge, Tu Hwnt i'r Bont, was at one time a 15th century court-house. The almshouses were built in 1610 to house the poor of the area. The Parish Church of St Grwst was built in 1470 after a previous church on the same site was burnt to the ground in 1468 during the 'Wars of the Roses'. In 1815 it still had a thatched roof. The 13th Century stone coffin of Llywelyn the Great is held in the chapel, built in 1633.

The Swan Inn in Denbigh Street, now the Swan Building, now used by Bob Parry - an estate agent, was owned by my grandfather from 1903 to 1911. He inherited the inn from his first wife, who died aged 24, see photo of their now derelict gravestones.

Gwydir Castle has a history extending back to the 14th Century when it was a manorial house and has been successively added to since then. Apart from its architecture and long history, it is also famous for its peacocks, and is also known for its many ghosts. It has the reputation for being one of the most haunted houses in Wales. We didn't experience any spine-chilling moments during our visit though.