We just settled in last night, unpacked the van and got stuff put away in the cottage.
It’s a really nice layout in a dinky little footprint. You enter through the middle of 3 doors (2 are now windows – this was once 3 separate spaces) and into a hallway that opens out westwards to an open plan living room with kitchen.
Out from there is the nice, big conservatory with comfy chairs, that when the clouds and mizzle clear will give a nice view over the white plastic-covered silage bales to the sea. Hey, Farmers gotta farm, right?!
At the eastern end is a big double bedroom with a large ‘Jack and Jill’ 2-door bathroom with walk in shower.
A steep & narrow staircase leads to an open loft space that has two single beds and a tiny room on the eastern end for storage.
Charlie Bigham Lasagna & garlic bread for tea (aren’t we posh!), accompanied over the course of the evening by 3 of the beers from Magic Dragon & Snowdon Brewing – ‘Green One’ (Citra session IPA), ‘Dolphin’ (NZ hopped IPA) & Snowdons ‘IPA’. All very nice beers. As a homebrewer though, I think I and most from our brewclub have brewed beers of at least as good a level. Humble brag for Chiv Tap Brew Club members!
I was knackered after the drive, just like Toby, and given the rain was coming in, I went to bed leaving Jane to her crotchet. Another wonderful creation in the making, this time using a 3km long ‘mega whirl’ cake of colour-changing yarn!
Having woken up at around 6:30am, I had a wander into the conservatory to check out the view. The rain was proper rain and the clouds weren’t much higher than our hilltop abode. So, back to bed it was!
Oh! I’ve brought my camera bag. Another hobby that I would like more time to improve. Two Nikon Digital SLRs, lenses, filters, tripods and straps and a GoPro. The sunset pic was my first DSLR photo for over a year. Hopefully, I get to use it more this week. Yes, phone cameras have improved, but sometimes there’s no comparison.
Hoping we get some clear skies at night because if so I’ll be trying to capture the Milky Way. While not a designated Dark Sky Reserve or Park, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is known for its dark skies, “offering excellent opportunities for stargazing”, according to Google AI!
Eventually we got up. I made some coffee and given it was still raining but forecast to clear, we decided to have a brunchy breakfast. Grilled sausage, Bury Black pudding slices, bacon with scrambled eggs and Heinz beans (to be served onto the plate – not in a bloody ramekin!). Missing a good mushroom & tomato, but otherwise decent if I say so myself.
Showered, changed (I’ve only brought shorts, so was hoping it was a warm wind), & van loaded, we set off to suss out Porthgain before deciding where to start our coastal walk.
Due to people who can’t park properly, on arrival no spaces were available so we buggered off to Abereiddy to pay £5 for the privilege of parking on beach stones. Grifters gotta grift, right?
A mooch on the beach and a run and ball chase for Toby, whilst I split slates in the hope of finding a record-breaking fossil. Sadly I just got dirty hands.
We set of on our 4.5mile circular walk from the Traeth at Abereiddy and along the cliff tops to Porthgain, before an inland route back to the van.
First stop was the Blue Lagoon, a place where Jane and our friend Ian nearly lost their lives as kids, cramping up in the freezing cold water as they tried to swim across it.
Testament to their bravery/stupidity, there are still berks that go there, only to launch themselves off the very high building ruins into the flooded quarry, now opened up to the sea as a safe harbour.
Back around and onto the cliff top path and many little coves and beaches, most inaccessible or empty of people.
Along the cliff tops we saw so much wildlife from butterflies & ladybirds up to oystercatchers and fulmers. No chuffs today though, but we live in hope.
Eventually we got to the old mines and then, passing the white cairns that helped ships find their way into the harbour, we headed down the steep steps to Porthgain harbour.
From here we sussed out The Shed, renowned for its seafood and then the Sloop Inn where it was only polite to rehydrate with a pint of West Wales Golden Ale.
Up the hill and then hang a right and we headed inland on a path back to Abereiddy. It tunes out to be a belting circular walk of around 4.5 miles and I’m pleased to report no real issues with body parts (ankles, Achilles, knees and hips). So fingers crossed.
I do however have to report that as I write this I look like Jerry The Berry due to my sunburn!
We arrived back to the van, loaded up Toby & thanked the young gent who had relieved us of our £5, before heading home.
A quick freshen up, Toby had his tea and we then spent the rest of the evening with our friends down in Puncheston. No detail required or offered, but suffice to say we had a lovely time with lovely people!
Catch you tomorrow for some fancy food ‘Down South’!