I Don't Do Beaches

I like my holidays a bit more full of interest than lying on the sand looking at the sea.  Here's what I got up in Wales last week:

Saturday

Arrived at the cottage and flopped in a tired heap.  Isn't the view a cracker?

Sunday

Went for a walk to find a waterfall.  Got lost due to the footpath magically disappearing, bothered some sheep, couldn't find the bloody waterfall.

Came home.  It was a jolly nice walk though.

Monday

We went to Hay on Wye, aka the land of second-hand bookshop.  I only bought 5 books.  Are you all impressed? 

 

 I may have bought this tweed hat though.  Weird I know, but I likes it!


Tuesday

Stayed in the cottage in front of the fire and read lots, partly because we were lazy but mostly because it was snowing.  Look - that's snow on them there hills!

Wednesday

Something you should probably know about the women of my family when on holiday - we don't do A roads and motorways.  We are fans of boldly going.  Also, we are easily led off route in search of an interesting place name.  It produces good results though!  We saw Bethlehem, so naturally had to go there.

Then discovered an ancient monument sign and ended up climbing up the largest Iron Age hill fort in Wales. As you do. I forgot to take a bobble with me and spent most of the walk like this.

We stopped at an amazing old coaching inn for a well deserved lunch - highly recommended.

And then went to Dinefwr in the afternoon and had a wonderful time there.  Shall do a separate post about this I think so as not to bombard you entirely with photos.

Thursday

We went to Abergavenny. I hereby gift their Tourist Board with the following slogan:  Abergavenny - Surprisingly Nice.  It has a castle and a lovely tapestry and lots of charity shops.  Frankly, what more do you need?

Friday

Did some fairly epic gallivanting.  We went through some rather wild parts and then up the Devil's Staircase (single lane, 1:4 very winding ascent.  Not recommended in a 1.2 Renault Clio.  Thank god I wasn't driving) on our way to Strata Florida Abbey which was a little cold and wet but rather enchanting nonetheless.  Lots of Welsh princes buried there, as well as this poet fella.  Isn't that last line lovely?

So that was the week that was.  I like Wales very much, but my ability to pronounce Welsh place names has not advanced at all.  I hereby give a shiny shilling to anyone who can tell me how to say this one.