Tag Archives: wales

St Brides Major and Heritage Coast Campsite

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Sunday 8th May, we packed the van and left Fforest Fields campsite at 7.45 and headed south to St Brides Major. We were making good time and paused for a bacon butty on the A470 in the Brecon Beacons. The van was doing a roaring trade catering for the hordes of bikers who were enjoying the road.

We made it to St Brides Major and met up with our other club members, and then headed off to the quarry for the shoot. We managed to lose this leg of the shoot. Lunch was booked at the Star Inn, Wick, so I dropped Rosemary off and drove to the campsite we were staying at. It had been our intention to stay overnight there the night before, but because of a wedding, there had been no camping on the Saturday night. I arrived and dropped the van onto a pitch and raced back up the hill for lunch, on foot it was a little over 20 minutes fast walking and jogging.

A traditional Sunday lunch and some excellent ales, speeches and prize giving and then we were on our own as everyone left for home. We walked back down the road to the campsite and met the owner. Tale of woe, their cafe wasn’t open due to lack of staff. Chefs were hard to come by and could command a high salary.

Next day R and I walked to the coast, over the local stone stiles in places. R was incredibly pleased with the local flora. I continued down the coast, walking into Marcross and back to the campsite. Also walked over the old ruin of an Abbey in Monknash. Nothing to see other than masses of stone and a few ruins.

The next day we headed home. I decided to fill the van with diesel, the first time I had to pay more than £100 to fill the van and it wasn’t exactly empty with 150 miles to go.

First Camping Trip of the Season

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Tuesday 3rd May we headed off to our favourite campsite in Wales, for our first camping trip of 2022. It looked like the weather would be reasonable, and it was. I managed several walks in sheep country, following various tracks across the moors using the Outdooractive app to navigate. It’s like Google Maps for the walker, it uses open-source maps, or, if you pay, OS maps, for navigation. It can find a route for you automatically, or you can plan a route, or just wing it. You can also follow routes which other hikers have contributed. At the end you can also see how far, how much up and down, and your speeds. Just love it.

So, we had several fine days, and the evenings, though cool, were a photographer’s heaven with some glorious sunsets lighting up the hills in a golden glow. During the day, the birds of prey and Red Kites could be seen soaring on the ridges. We managed to get above a kestrel for a photo opportunity. Cuckoos sang morning & evening.

Still being off season, the cafe bar was not fully open, which was a shame as I had forgotten to bring any wine or beer. But, in the end, I was able to purchase a few bottles of beer and a bottle of wine for our evenings. When Friday came along it was pizza night. The first time we managed to be there for the event. Big mistake – we ordered gluten free pizza; the base was a bit soggy.

Several brave and intrepid swimmers took to the lake, I think I will delay swimming until September, when hopefully the water will be warmer.

Our last day there, Saturday, was a sunny day with a Northerly breeze. This had been predicted for numerous days, and low and behold a group of people started walking up the hill with large bags on their backs. Yes, a few paragliders had come to fly the hill. They were flying until early afternoon when the lift disappeared. No one managed to get away from the hill. It was lovely seeing these gliders and I don’t apologise for placing them on my blog.

Sunday, we had to leave early, so we packed away the awning on Saturday evening, in the dry. Sunday we quietly finished packing the van and left the campsite at 7.45, heading south for St Brides Major where we had a shooting match in a quarry.

Steam Dreams from Milton Keynes to Holyhead

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We took an extravagant trip from Milton Keynes to Holyhead and back again. We had to be waiting on platform 3 at Milton Keynes at 7.20. We dutifully arrived early, leaving us time for a coffee in the Costa, while train-spotter spotting. Yes, you could spot them a mile off.

Waved our piece of paper at the barrier, and were sent on to platform 3, which became quite crowded. The heritage diesel engine, a class 47, arrived promptly on-time. We boarded and sat in our Pulman carriage. Champagne to welcome us. Rather decadent at that time in the morning. Then came muesli with yoghurt & fruit, a small Danish pastry washed down with coffee & orange juice. Full English breakfast was then served, so we merrily made our way to Crewe chomping our way through sausages and bacon.

We stopped at Rugby and Lichfield Trent, picking up more passengers. At Crewe, we had a 40-minute wait while the diesel engine was replaced by our steam locomotive – 45690 Leander. The switch was relatively quick, it was a question of waiting for space on the line for the engines to swap over.

Off we went again, stopping at Chester, and then a longish stop at Llandudno Junction where the engine was filled with water from a fire brigade bowser. At this station, a number of people departed to look at a National Trust property & gardens. They would be picked up on the way back. We stayed on the train for the final destination of Holyhead. We crossed the Menai Straights and passed through Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch station. I missed getting a picture of the sign as we passed through on the outward journey. Succeeded on the way back. R noticed how some cows and sheep and even horses, started running at the sound of a steam train. She also told me the wildflowers were lovely, unlike the caravan parks. Some fabulous coastal scenery. R v pleased to see Rhosneigr, where she had gone on holiday many years ago with her aunt, uncle & cousins.

At Holyhead, we stopped for about 2 and a 1/2 hours. Time for a walk around, a visit to the shops and a quest to find a pub for some drinks. The town seemed a bit run down, but plenty of charity shops so R came away with quite a few purchases, books, glasses & a smart top. The pub, the best thing going I thought, was remarkably cheap. The most spectacular piece of engineering we saw in the town was the footbridge from the port to the town. Built apparently to entice travellers into the town centre. Should have a portcullis to trap visitors in the town.

We re-boarded the train. The engine was now at the other end, pointing in the correct direction. The train had been several miles down the track to a place where the engine could turn around, at a siding said to have been used during the transport of nuclear waste. We set off back to Milton Keynes. Managed to snap Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch as we passed through. Stopped at Llandudno Junction again for more water. We now ate our way back to Milton Keynes, starting with canapes & finishing with cheese and biscuits. changing engines again at Crewe.

Took a picture of one of the passengers, he was wearing an American T-shirt with the word “ferroequinologist” and its definition. Ferroequinologist = train spotter.

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Welsh Shoot

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At the weekend we were having our annual shoot against the Welsh. Instead of driving down, shooting and driving home, we decided to stay a few days in Wales. So today we set off to St David’s in Morrison the VW T5 and camp a few days in Wales. It was around a five-hour drive to St David’s where we camped in the Glan-y-mor Camp Site. We had pre-booked and we never did see the owners. The site was open and a few others were there as well. Once set up, a walk down to the sea. It was quite windy today, and the forecast for the night and next day was even more wind as storm Hannah was arriving. There is plenty of walking along the coastal paths here.

The night was windy, we did not put up the van roof, and still, the van was rocked by the gusts of wind. In the morning we walked into the city of St David’s. We, of course, visited the Cathedral and ate lunch in a local pub. In the evening I walked along the coast to a point and photographed Ramsey Island which just appears beyond St David’s

On Saturday we headed back towards St Bride’s Major for the Sunday shoot. We first visited the Melin Tregwynt Mill. Here they weave fabrics. I am not technical about fabrics, but R says they are wonderful and have a different pattern on each side, due to the clever weaving. The Mill was not in operation at the weekend, but we were able to walk through the mill and see the looms sitting there. There was a nice cafe and shop there. R should have bought herself a woollen pullover, she would need it in a few days when we were in France. Interestingly to note that the wool itself does not come from Wales!

We headed on, making a detour to see the castle at Carmarthen, not much of a castle. I was very disappointed, and then it transpired I was expecting the castle where Prince Charles was made Prince of Wales. But that was Caernarfon castle. Oh dear!

We headed on and arrived at the Heritage Coast Campsite at Monknash. This campsite, despite the low season, had a restaurant and bar. We made use of the bar where they had a reasonable selection of craft beers. Apparently, locals used the bar and restaurant despite a well-stocked pub 200 yards up the road.

We walked down to the coast. This was along a narrow road, and then down the side of a stream to the coast. The rocks on the shore were fabulous, large and flat. The light was good, despite the storm, with a brilliant blue sky. There were some excellent breaking waves and Oystercatchers feeding on the rocks. The walk back took us through a field with lots of horses. These were all huddled over one side of the field attempting to keep out of the wind.

The next day was shooting at St Bride’s Major. We met up in the car park of a pub in St Bride’s Major and drove to the quarry. R terrified I would damage Morrison as we drove up the road to it. Then it was back to the Star Inn in Wick for lunch. I dropped R off and drove to the campsite and walked back to the pub. Amazingly we had won this round of the shoot. The first time ever.

In the morning we drove home, stopping off at Penarth for R to reminisce about her early childhood. We walked on the pier and had coffee there. We drove along the road she had lived on but she failed to recognise the house. (Later we learnt from her brother Steve, just what we’d missed.)

Fforest Fields Campsite, Hundred House

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Our second campervan trip was to Fforest Fields in Hundred House.  This was the campsite where I had stayed when I learnt to paraglide at least seventeen years ago.  The same family own the site, though they no longer teach paragliding.  The site has improved immensely since I was last there.  Large ponds have been dug which you can swim in.  The shower block is magnificent with under floor heating all run from a log burner and a huge store of hot water.   We arrived and were met by owner George.  We set up camp for the night.

The following day we went for a brief walk on the hills above the campsite.  The Welsh weather brought a drizzle, but not enough to destroy the walk.  In the afternoon we drove over to Llandrindod Wells to visit Tesco to buy some food.  The route we took was over the hills along some very narrow roads and cattle grates.  That night it rained heavily.

Sunday the weather had eased off, so we walked over to the pub at Hundred House.  This was a lovely walk along a stream, through woods.  The walk back was by a different route which took us over higher ground.  The pub was good, lovely big roast lunch with proper meat that had been carved off a joint, and good value.

Monday came, pouring with rain, forecast more rain, so we called it a day and drove home. 

Portmeirion Village a weekday break in Wales 2nd – 4th February 2015

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Rosemary and I travelled to Portmeirion for two nights to stay in one of their village rooms.  We had booked a cheap non-refundable bed, breakfast and dinner deal for a pretty reasonable rate.  There was a little worry a few days before we left, snow and bad weather had arrived in the north, extending down to the latitudes of northern Wales.  As it turned out there was some snow in the higher parts of the Snowdonia, the roads though were clear, well salted and in excellent condition.  Buckinghamshire County Council please take note.

We arrived at Portmeirion village, checked in at the hotel and were then shown to our  village room, Salutation 2 which was above the main tourist shop, where we settled in.  A quick lunch, and then a walk through the woods to the far side that overlooks Porthmadog. There were woodsmen cutting up fallen trees.  There seems to have been much damage over the past few years to some of the larger pines on the headland.  It started to snow as we headed back to the village, though it was not settling.

That evening we had a very nice evening meal in the Portmeirion Hotel. I started off with pigeon cooked two ways (breast, and the legs confit), and then plaice and to finish pear tart with amaretti ice cream and bubble gum foam. Rosemary started with haddock and deconstructed quiche,  then roast pork and celeriac. To finish she had a panacotta with mango sorbet.

Tuesday was a beautiful clear sunny and frosty day.  Started the day with a lovely breakfast in the hotel, and then explored the village and woods, beautiful view of Porthmadog and of Snowdon covered with snow.  We visited the dog cemetery, the ghost garden and the lakes. Back in the village I ate a bacon butty for lunch, more exploring the village and photographing robins.  Masses of robins were following us around looking for food.  Ended the daylight with an Welsh whisky ice cream.

In the evening walked to the hotel for G&Ts (Brecon gin, of course) and then dinner.  Forgot to mention the meal always started with an amuse bouche, a large spoon with a cube of roasted lamb resting on a puree, and a small glass of soup plus foam.  We both started with swordfish, Rosemary went veggie with a butternut and rosemary risotto, while I ate a delicious ox cheek.  Desserts were the same as the previous night, R chose sticky toffee pudding with brill bits, while I ate a cherry arctic roll with a foamed white chocolate.  Yes they served real ponced food.  Brilliant.

Wednesday we both ate a Welsh fry up, and then headed on back home, stopping on the way to take a few more photographs of Snowdon.