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On Saturday 26 July 1886, the family travelled to North Wales for a weeks holiday in a chalet at Trawsfynydd Holiday Village.

Much of their time was taken in visiting the 'Great Little Trains of Wales', starting on Sunday with the miniature railway at Blaenau Ffestiniog. They looked around the station then took a ride on the train. On Monday they looked at the area around Trawfynydd then to the Bala Lake railway.

On Tuesday they went to Tywyn. The children wanted to ride on the local mainline train but, as Brenda was not so keen, she decided to remain behind and look around the shops. Malcolm took the children on a short trip to Talyllyn to see the narrow gauge railway and, on arrival back at Tywyn, was met by an ambulanceman. He said to not worry, but that he had Brenda in the ambulance because she had fallen on some shop steps and broken her leg. They had waited as, if she had been taken directly to hospital, Malcolm would not have known where to find her. That was particularly kind of them as they had been due to finish their shift just as they got called to Brenda. The ambulance departed and Malcolm took the children back to their chalet to freshen up before setting off for the hospital. As they arrived,they passed the ambulance coming out have delivered Brenda. The driver waved to Malcolm but he did not realise in time to respond.

Brenda had pins inserted into her leg and remained in hospital so Malcolm and the children continued their holiday but visited hereach day. On Wednesday they went again to the Ffestiniog railway and the same again on Thursday but that day went on to Barmouth, visited the Welsh Highland railway and finally to Bangor.

On Friday they went into Trawsfynydd then walked up the lower slopes of Mount Snowdon, observing the mountain railway as they went. The challenge was to great to reach the summit however.

A final trip was made to Bangor on Saturday before collecting Brenda from the hospital. The chalet was tidied up and they set off for home with Brenda in the front seat and her right leg in plaster. They reached Hereford at about dinner time so Malcolm parked and found a fish & chip shop. There was a long queue so it was taking a long time to get served. Brenda's leg started to hurt as it was swelling so she sent the boys in to fetch him but he resisted as he would have to return to the back of the queue again. She sent them again as she was getting distressed but Malcolm hung on until he was served. He had to re-arrange the loading of the car so that Brenda could sit in the back seat with her leg up but the consequence was that William had to sit on her lap.