Wednesday 18 April 2012

Pembrokeshire Adventure

seems like we've been back ages and I haven't managed to tell you about a fabulous holiday M and I had in Wales.  we went to Pembrokeshire and stayed in a little hamlet called Aberbach.  we set off from M's after the Pennines had experienced snow.... so we were a bit worried....



we need not have worried at all coz we arrived in Wales to brilliant sunshine.  we found the cottage easily as it stood facing us as we rounded a corner


after a cuppa and some cake :-))  we decided to put on walking boots and head down to the beach half a mile away

on the way down the little track we spotted lots of sculptures including this rabbit

further along was a pretty beach ..........


..... and some bright-coloured boats.

the next day was Easter Sunday (leave the car at home... even in Wales) so off we went to explore our area and headed off down to Aberbach beach and on to Abermawr.....



....................and the headland beyond


here you can see Abermawr beach from the clifftops

and at our lunch-stop you can see Aberbach and Abermawr beaches


Monday it rained so we had a lazy day in the cottage.

Tuesday we went off to the top of Garn Fawr....


... then down again to the coastal path.



M climbed this...... while I ate a chocolate biscuit and watched ;-)



we had lunch and then continued along the coastal path for a couple of miles until I saw this (just one hill too many) and decided it was time for me to turn around a walk gently back to the starting point :-)
M continued to the next headland before turning back for 'home'.



Wednesday we headed for St David's Cathedral, Bishop's Palace, and St Non's (the birthplace of St David) and then a walk along the dramatic coastline

we spotted a lovely Green Man in the Cathedral........



 ...... and very strange 'ancient' symbols in the wall near the Bishop's Palace



.........and great toilet facilities LOL



...........birds collecting feathers for their nest at the Palace .......



then on to St Non's where I met a lovely bullock (I resolve not to eat beef)



then on to St Non's Chapel.....



after lighting a couple of candles we headed off for the ruined St Non's Chapel, the Well, the Shrine and the coastal path.  I almost stood on this little fellow.....


and a seal popped up to greet us....


...... or was it a sea monster????



on the way back to the cottage in the car we came across a strange beast running in the road.  it looked like a sheep but ran like a dog ............
......... when we came to a farm gate it ran into the farmyard..... and the side view proved that it was indeed a sheep-dog!!!  lol



Thursday we went off to St David's Head........  after walking for what seemed like miles I thought I had found the perfect lunch spot............ only to find this...............


Dolphin and Whale Watchers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

after they went we watched a dolphin for a while but in the absence of a brilliant camera I can only offer this..........



truely there is a dolphin there in that photo..... it kept on rising up .... but with a digital camera there is a terrible delay and by the time I took the image only the dolphin's fin was showing.  but if you look at the middle of the photo there is a white seabird......  then look for the black speck below that.... that is the dolphin's fin and part of it's back lol.  but we enjoyed watching it even if we didn't capture the image very well.



this might be better :-))




then........... after a perfect day we had a perfect sunset.

on Friday we visited Porthgain and Abercastle.  very quiet little sea 'ports'.
Porthgain has an old abandoned brickworks which dominates the village ....


.... which isn't much more than this picture below shows....



we walked along the 'Road to Jerusalem' to the Quarry...........



............... where I felt such sadness.  but looking at the clouds and our lack of rainwear we decided to head back to the village and shelter.  just in time...... to spend our lunch-break in the car...



on, now, to Abercastle............. but before we got there M spotted a bird of prey while he was driving so it was up to me to get the camera and shoot.....  so sorry about the wee mouse.



Abercastle isn't the best of seaside places ..... but if you want a beach with no one on it..... or want to launch a small boat..... or need the loo.... this is the place lol



but if you walk the pretty coastal path you will eventually come to a signpost that points you to a very fine dolman.....  in a field of cattle, sheep and caravans.  note to self.... remember this place when you get your campervan ;-)


if you are as lucky as we were you might even see a lamb born....



..... near a dolman by the sea.  how magical is that?



Saturday was our day to vacate the cottage and come home.  but we still hadn't managed to see HB and Mr HB as our mobile phone connection had been appauling.  but luckily about half an hour north of our cottage we got a signal and got in touch and so within another half an hour had arrived at the HB's residence and were being offered a lovely hot cuppa :-)  what a brilliant end to a fabulous holiday!!!

blessings, always, Willow x