Memories of a Holiday

Until we retired July would always be the month we took a holiday sometimes for one week sometimes a little longer.  I was watching a television programme recently about a year on the coast in Pembrokeshire and it brought back lots of happy memories.  I decided to look through the photograph archives to see how long ago it was.  I was sure it was over ten years ago and so it was, July 2006 infact.  We stayed in a self catering cottage which was basic but comfortable.

 

Below are some photos of our visit.

 

 Above and below St Davids

 

Red Valerian growing in the walls

 Solva

Solva - I still have the hat.

 Pentre Ifan - A Neolithic or New Stone Age burial site.  The giant capstone is about five metres in length and has probably been in the same position for over five thousand years. The stones are Pembrokeshire bluestones from the nearby Preseli hills, the stone which was also used to build Stonehendge

 Newport beach where we saw a small pod of Dolphins far out in the water.  There was a general excitement across the beach as people rushed to the water's edge to watch them.

Dunlin on Newport Beach

 Castel Henllys a replica Iron Age Village not far from the coast.

 

Inside one of the iron age huts, it was hot outside and there was a roaring fire with smoke swirling into the rafters on the inside.

 

 Tenby

The boat to Skomer Island

Dinas Head

Carreg Coetan - a Neolithic Chamber tomb with links to Arthurian legend.  It is a burial chamber of the New Stone Age. Excavations at the site have produced finds of Stone Age pottery, stone tools and cremated remains.

Colby Woodland Gardens

 Haverford West Town Museum and Archives Office

We visited the Musems in both Haverfordwest and Tenby because of their connection to one of my favourite artists Gwen John who was born in Haverfordwest and lived for sometime at Tenby before moving to France.

 

Narberth I don't know what the town is like now but when we visited is was a lively main street with lots of little individual shops, cafes and delicatessens.

I enjoyed looking back at the photos of our visit. 

The second in the series of programmes this week is about a year on the Fens.  As we lived for about twelve years in South Lincolnshire and just over twenty miles from the Wash I'm looking forward to watching this programme too.

At Beaumaris Castle

Returning to Wales and our short break a couple of weeks ago.  We visited the little town of Beaumaris on our first full day on Anglesey.

It was raining and quite windy as we parked on a muddy field not far from the castle.  It was about 9.30a.m. and the castle was due to open then but we had a little walk along the front first.

I spotted some Eider ducks in the water.

Our first view of the castle from the car park.

 A view of the castle from the little public park at the side of it.

 Beaumaris Castle is known as 'the greatest castle never built'.  It was the last of the 'iron ring' of castles built in Wales by King Edward I and is considered his unfinished masterpiece, built with the help of his architect  James of St George.  

 The castle is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Lack of money caused work to cease on the building and its unique squat shape tells its own tale of a dream castle of perfect symmetry which never quite materialised.

We had a little wander around the lovely buildings opposite and into a little square before making our way to the castle gates.

At this time it was still wet underfoot and damp in the air but the heavy rain had stopped.

 We entered the castle and apart from a couple of other people we had it mostly to ourselves for a good half hour.

 The lady above was sweeping up conkers, which had fallen from the horse chestnut tree, so that people didn't slip or turn an ankle on one.  She also told us that she knows of several people who collect the conkers to place around the house at 'spider time' apparently the spiders don't like the smell.

 We watched a little film about the history of the castle and by the time we came out and went up onto the walls grey skies had disappeared and the sun was shining brightly.

 The town looked lovely in the sunshine.

Along the inside of one of the wall passages was the chapel.  Above it was a room which overlooked it.  This is where the King could watch the services in private.

In several corners there were sculptures to be discovered.  I must admit I had a play with this one and enjoyed making it sound through the empty 'rooms' of the castle.

It was getting warmer.  Raincoats came off and sun hats put on.

The views from the castle walls were spectacular.

More photos above of the castle interior.

 From the castle we wandered back into the town.

Across the road from the castle we found Castle Gardens.

A delightful little haven of peace and quiet away from the main street which had become rather busy whilst we were in the castle.

Containing lovely plants and flowers, metal and wood garden sculptures and a gorgeous resident cat.

We rather liked this woodpecker.

and the puffins too.

Below some more photos of the town

I'd like to return one day as there was plenty more to discover but it was time to move on further up the coast.

Moelfre

One of the places we visited on Anglesey was the little village of Moelfre.  We'd spoken to the helpful lady in the tourist centre at Beaumaris and she suggested that we park a little away from the centre and walk in as the parking places there were both few and expensive. 

We found the free car park near the shops as she suggested and walked down a very pretty alleyway onto the main street.  From there it was a short walk to the sea.

It has such a quaint centre with little cottages overlooking the bay.  First thing first was an ice cream as it had had turned from a rainy and damp morning to a warm and sunny afternoon.  There was a lovely ice cream shop at the side of the car park with seats overlooking the sea.

Fully refreshed we decided to explore a little and follow the coastal path.

Looking back at the village from the top of the hill and start of the path.

Along the coastal path.

Above a statue outside the Seawatch Centre.  Inside are interesting displays about maritime heritage.

Fishermen's cottages just off the coastal path.  We'd looked at one of these on a website but at this time of year they were fully booked.  We thought we might check it out for next year but it is fully booked except for three weeks in August.  It must be a popular place to stay and I can see why.

There were lots of cormorants on Moelfre Island.

Overlooking Dulas Bay where The Royal Charter ship was wrecked in October 1859 with the loss of over 400 lives.  There is a monument along the coast which commemorates the lives lost.

Someone had been busy building a stone sculpture.

The RNLI Lifeboat Station 

We went up to the top part of the building where the upper deck of the lifeboat was.  I didn't go down as I have a phobia about the bottom of boats when they are up out of the water.  I've had it for ages and had never heard of anyone else feeling the same way until I heard the choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone say on a television programme that he had this too.

A bunny!  It's always a joy to spot one as I rarely see them nowadays.  There were four in this small field which might actually have been at the bottom of someones garden.

A cormorant resting and drying its wings on a rock near the lifeboat station.