Ancient inn with a warm welcome; food&drink MY BEST N.WALES PUBS.

Byline: By Ian Parri Old Ship Inn, Trefriw

THE name of the Old Ship Inn, and the painting of a sailing vessel surfing the waves on the pub sign, can be very perplexing when you're ensconced as far from the sea as this.

Trefriw might be a delightful village up in the beautiful Conwy Valley where the Crafnant disgorges into the Conwy, but it's better known these days for its woollen mill and its Roman spa than for any great nautical history.

But that's where you'd be so very wrong.

And it's a sign of how quickly Mother Nature can reassert herself once we let her get on with it.

In fact, in the 19th century Trefriw was Wales' busiest inland port.

Vessels as heavy as 80 tons docked here to ship out wood, grain, wool and metal ores from the mines in the surrounding mountains to ports such as Liverpool and Dublin, and bringing in coal, lime and fine wines and food ordered by the area's landed gentry.

As recently as 1939 paddle steamers used to anchor here, bringing day visitors from Conwy eager to sample the Spa waters or to walk up to the sparkling lakeland above the village that still draws the punters to this day.

A lack of dredging activity has since regrettably allowed the channel to silt up, doubtless adding to the flooding problems much of the valley is plagued by.

The Old Ship has been a part of village life in Trefriw for the past two centuries, and continues to play a central role, welcoming tourists and locals alike with equal sincerity.

It was formerly a customs house dating back to the 16th century.

To step inside feels almost akin to walking into a traditional warm Welsh farmhouse.

The place seems to be comfortingly awash with expertly crafted wooden artefacts, from the bar to the furniture, and the walls are dotted with pictures of local historical and nautical interest.

Greeted by a crackling log fire in the inglenook fireplace, the atmosphere draws one into a state of blissful inertia.

Listed in the Good Beer Guide 2007, there's always a choice of cask ales on the bar, a list of malt whiskies as long as your arm, along with traditional Welsh products such as Toffoc's toffee flavoured vodka or Worthenbury wines - amazingly produced on the outskirts of Wrexham.

There's just so much to titillate the discerning imbiber's taste buds.

Then there's the home cooking, using as much local produce as possible, and served in two dedicated dining areas, including the classic and popular Welsh shoulder of lamb.

The specials board could also well include braised rabbit, grey mullet, shepherd's pie or smoked haddock.

And in the summer the patrons throng to the waterside patio and beer garden, quite possibly still unaware of quite why this place should be known as the Old Ship.

Old Ship Inn, Trefriw.

Call 01492 640013 or visit www.the-old-ship.co.uk

CAPTION(S):

The Old Ship Inn, Trefriw