Dinas Island Walk from Pwllgwaelod, Pembrokeshire

• coastal walk
• scenery
• pub food
• pub garden

A lovely three and a half mile walk around a craggy promontory with spectacular coastal scenery almost all of the way round. The undulating path is flanked by the sea on one side and sheep filled fields on the other with vibrant purple heather and yellow gorse blooming at this time of year. The little cove of Pwllgwaelod is home to 'The Old Sailors,' an inn thought to have been in business for at least 500 years. Former customers were smugglers and seafaring folk. Now weary walkers and beach enthusiasts call in for refreshments and delicious snacks and meals with seafood featuring predominantly. There are tables in the large garden and small dining room overlooking the cove. Booking is advisable if you want to eat inside.

Pendine Sands & Enormous Barrel Jelly Fish, Carmarthenshire

• historic interest
• beach
• Barrel jellyfish
• walk
• food

The Museum of Speed at Pendine Sands is a small stylish open plan space in which the 1920's sports car 'Babs' is the focal point. The car was used by Parry Thomas on his fatal attempt at the speed record in 1927. The attempt took place on Pendine Sands which stretches 7 miles from Gilman Point in the west to Laugharne Sands in the east and has been referred to as "the finest natural speedway imaginable"

The beach is still used for occasional car races but is mainly frequented by holiday makers and beach enthusiasts.

This weekend the exceptional high tides brought in and stranded quite a number of enormous Barrel Jellyfish varying in size from dinner plate to catering tray. It was fascinating to see them close up and wonder at their globular texture and huge frilled tentacles.

We walked for an hour without reaching the end of the beach. On our return we were joined by a group of people driving ponies and traps. What a pretty site on a warm September morning.

Laugharne just a few miles down the road was our choice for lunch where we enjoyed a delicious meal in the Stable Bar conservatory overlooking the walled garden. Now that the peak holiday season is over it was possible to get a table without booking but only just. This is a popular restaurant with locals too and very soon every table was occupied.

Flying Boat Centre Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire

 

• special interest Flying Boats
• Flying Boat Interpretation Centre

The dive team from The Flying Boat Centre Pembroke Dock have been busy this summer. Their boat has been seen moored above the submerged Mark1 Sunderland on the Cleddau river where preparations are taking place for an eventual recovery.

For nearly 70 years the unique wartime example of a Short Sunderland Flying Boat, one of the most famous types in aviation history, has rested on the seabed off Pembroke Dock. One of its Pegasus Engines has been recovered and many of its component parts are on display at the fascinating Flying Boat Interpretation Centre, Sunderland House, The Royal Dockyard, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire http://www.pdst.co.uk/

Opening times are Tues - Sat 10pm - 4pm Please phone before visiting to avoid disappointment.

SAT NAV & POST CODE USERS BEWARE!

SAT NAV's are not infallible. Drivers should always plan their routes and have a road map handy when traveling to unfamiliar destinations.......even SAT NAV users!

Rural areas are particularly difficult because a number of properties spread over a large area might share the same Post Code.

Mistakes can and do happen. Recently Quality Cottages clients turned up to their holiday home to find another family comfortably settled in. The family had relied on their SAT NAV & the post code. Instead of questioning the location of the keys, they were in a different place from where expected, they trusted their technology was correct and the information from their agents wrong!

SAT NAV's are an aid but users should stay alert and be prepared to take over navigation when necessary.

A few tips for those left in charge of toddlers in the North Pembrokeshire area.

Mr R was given the daunting task of taking care of his three and a half year old grandson for the day. It is some years since his children grew up and left home. Had he lost his touch?

Conscientious as ever he spent a sleepless night trying to formulate a plan of action. Only too soon the day dawned and his bright eyed, pink cheeked companion arrived all smiles and full of anticipation. His trust in Grandad never failing.

First stop Cafe in the Solva Boat Club onTrinity Quay at Solva Harbour. What a salvation. Mr R and Grandson were soon kitted out with the finest crab catching equipment and set to work. Many hours, mackerel heads and ice-creams later and their quest was deemed a roaring success. Grandad hadn't lost his touch after all.

The day was completed with an excellent meal supplied by the fish and chip shop in Goodwick where the kindly proprietor found a suitable table and various toys to be enjoyed along with such favourites as sausages and chips.

You can rest assured that Grandad and Grandson both slept soundly after their thoroughly enjoyable and busy day.

Congratulations!

Quality Cottages would like to congratulate Mr & Mrs Thomas owners of the elegant Georgian holiday home 'Moray Villa' in Tenby. Moray Villa is one of only three finalists out of over 150 entries nominated for a Pembrokeshire Tourism Award in the category Self Catering.

Just a few minutes stroll from Tenby's lovely beaches and the bustling town centre with its wealth of little shops, cafes and restaurants - this is an ideal home for all year round holidays.

Solva & Newgale on a blustery day.

Enjoyed a walk along the wooded path to the headland at Solva. There were tantalising views of the picturesque village and boat filled estuary. On breaking out of the trees and onto the ridge we were thrilled to see the ground full of deep purple heather and sunny yellow gorse blooming together. Lingered long enough for the lively gusts to blow the cobwebs away and then made our way back along another path, through the village to the Cambrian Inn where food is served all day long. We enjoyed a hearty traditional sunday lunch.

On the way home we couldn't resist Newgale's endless sands and white whipped rollers. We leaned into the wind and walked as far as we could until the rocks closed in around the end of the beach. The return was easier as we were bowled along with the wind in our favour.