Portmeirion, a picturesque village just outside Portmadog is the creation of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. Designed by him and constructed mainly over the period between 1925-1975. It is said to based on the town of Portofino in Italy, though this was denied by Williams-Ellis, who died in 1978. The village is now owned by a charitable trust and its surreal atmosphere is a must for photographers. Everywhere you look there is a "shot" (despite the weather) full of bright colours and nice detail. It puts me in mind of a living version of a Beatles album cover. Most of the buildings are available either as hotel rooms or self catering though I personally have reservations about a long stay because of the sheer number of visitors passing through. There is a charge for visiting the village to help reduce numbers and it is only open at certain times so I guess there are quieter times when the "day shift" have gone away. The site was made famous in the 1960's as the location of "The Village" in the cult TV series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan.