Wales July 2015

We arrived on the Wednesday armed with cottage pie for tea together with some veg from our garden. Lyndon and I went shopping to get the rest of stuff we needed whilst Jonathon had his first (of many) ice creams at Gianni's.

While tea was cooking we headed down to St. Justinian's to see the new lifeboat, have a stroll along the coastal path, take a few photos and get some fresh air.

As you can see, it was a lovely evening and there were lots of flowers to take photos of.

The weather was too bad for a "proper" boat trip on the Thursday but the ferry was going over to Ramsey Island so off we went. It was dry up to lunch time then we got very wet!

There were lots of foxglove around.

Not sure what had happened to this one.

Not sure what these two find to talk about all day

A look back at the mainland

The heather was just starting to come into flower.

Little boy lost (but we found him again)

As you can see, the scenery was lovely. The view on the right was my lunch time view - lovely. There were a few other people on the island but not many so it was really peaceful (apart from the noisy birds!) and we felt like we had the place to ourselves.

The wild flowers were lovely - lots of different sorts, plenty of colour etc.

The bracken is making a takeover bid for the island so has to be kept under control.

We did see some birds. These choughs, for example with parent feeding chick.

They're talking again!!

Pipit

Just about managed to get dried off before the ferry (Gower Ranger) came to take us back to the mainland and home to get warm and have tea (Chicken and apple curry tonight). That's the end of my cooking for this holiday - Lyndon's promised us fish and chips tomorrow!

Next stop was here, a National Trust property with lovely grounds and a good cafe.

There were birds with chicks on the pond but my photos weren't up to much! Also plenty of mallards etc.

This was the house but we didn't venture inside because the weather was too good.

Not sure this would work as a selfie!

The walled garden had loads of flowers but, even more interestingly, had the most wonderful veg gardens.

The veg and fruit that they grow are used in the cafe so not many food miles involved.

Leaving the gardens behind, we went to see the Geler Jones rural life collection. Jonathon was lucky enough to be allowed to sit on the plate of one of the steam engines.

From there to the farm to see a few animals.

There were quite a few pigs, including 9 piglets - very cute and very nosy.

Next stop was Cae Hir Gardens, a 6 acre garden split into 4 acres (reasonably formal) and 2 acres across the road - ponds and more informal other than the very neatly clipped yew hedges.

These flowers are nicknamed "Fox and Cub".

The garden was on a steep slope and there were lots of little paths as well as the larger ones. It was really interesting to walk around.

It was created over a number of years by Dutchman Wil Akkermans and is now run by his children. There was a book of photos that showed how it had been developed. How he came up with the original idea I don't know but I'm so pleased he did because it was a lovely place to visit.

Lyndon was supervising!

After a yummy cream tea we set off again, this time to see the falls at Cenarth.

Jonathon decided to venture further into the falls than either Lyndon or me.

The end of another great break.

Thanks Lyndon for a wonderful few days!