Cwm Deri Vineyard, Pembrokeshire

A working smallholding in Martletwy since 1992 now one of Wales' foremost visitor attractions

• 
  
  wine tasting
• 
  
  wine making
• 
  
  vineyard walk
  pets corner
  restaurant/cafe
  shop
  

Enjoy wine tasting and delicious home cooked food at Cwm Deri Vineyard. Children will love the Pets Corner where chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats and sheep will amuse them. The vineyard shop sells home produced wine, liqueurs, alcohol free wines, preserves, free range eggs, cheese, cakes and ice cream.

Cwm Deri Vineyard is well worth a visit when out exploring the Pembrokeshire National Park.

Llanerchaeron National Trust Ceredigion

Llanerchaeron designed by John Nash is a rare example of a self sufficient 18th C Welsh minor gentry estate virtually unaltered.

• historic interest
• architectural interest
• walking & cycling opportunities
  gardens, parkland & working organic farm
  free parking
  refreshments & shop

The exterior and interior of Llanerchaeron are full of dramatic and beautiful architectural details. The majority being original and those that have been restored have been done so in a painstaking and authentic fashion.

The service courtyard with dairy, laundry (wet & dry), brewery and salting house give a fascinating insight into the style of living and the number of staff needed to run such a home.

Two walled gardens have been restored and the organic working farm offers opportunities to see traditional farming practices such as shearing, lambing and hay making.

Set in extensive grounds in the beautiful Aeron Valley there are opportunities for walking and cycling.

An extensive events programme is scheduled throughout the year. Do take time to visit with so much to see and do you surely won't be disappointed. Llanerchaeron is about 2 miles from Aberaeron off the A482.

The Stackpole Inn Pembrokeshire Special Evenings 2009

Celebrate the best of Pembrokeshire produce from the land and the sea with Stackpole Inn's own tasting menus. Each evening will comprise of a variety of tasting courses for you to enjoy with a selection of wines available to complimernt your meal.

Fish & Seafood Night - Friday 2nd October

Game Night - Friday 6th October
Stackpole Pie Night - Friday 4th December

Please ring 01646 672324 for menus and reservations.
Book now for traditional Christmas Day lunch

Bara Brith - Welsh Speckled Bread - Recipe

Recipe given by the North Wales Tourist Board

1lb (450g) mixed dried fruit
1/2 pint (300ml) tea
2 tblsp marmalade
1 egg beaten
6 tblsp soft brown sugar
1 tsp mixed spice
1lb (450g) SR flour
honey to glaze

• Soak fruit in tea overnight

Next day pre heat oven to 170 C, Gas 3, 325 F
Grease 1lb loaf tin

• Add all remaining ingredients to fruit & tea. Mix well
• Place in greased loaf tin
• Cook for 1 3/4 hours (if browning too much protect top with foil)
• Once removed from oven leave in tin for 5 minutes before turning out to cool
• Glaze top with honey
• Store in an airtight tin

Serve sliced, spread with Welsh salted butter and tasty farmhouse cheddar.

Slow Food Wales

Catherine Gazzoli chief executive officer of Slow Food UK says

"Wales' clean air & fresh pastures & produce make it a nation that is ideal to represent what the Slow Food Movement is all about."

"Slow food is not about cooking slowly it is the antithesis of fast food and I'm really impressed by the produce coming out of Wales."

"It is not elitist, it is all about joining producers with their consumers & communities. And Wales has a green mystique which is very different from the rest of Britain - it is its own country with its own identity."

"We want to protect endangered foods with heritage like bara brith and artisan cheese by placing them on the Slow Food Ark."

She believes Wales has a lot to offer from its many types of cheese, its meat & fish, to its laver bread, honey, wines, cider and whisky.

Do sample local produce when in Wales and please share your finds with us.

The Oiled Bird Rescue Centre, near Carew, Pembrokeshire

• birds
• award winning rescue centre
• you can help

This unique award winning centre the only one of its kind in Wales specialises in giving treatment to birds contaminated by oil. The work mostly concerns a wide variety of seabirds but occasionaly others such as buzzards, swans, owls and estuary birds are helped.

The work and day to day running of this special centre (which is not a recognised charity) is carried out voluntarily and there is rarely a day without patients.
Any donations for the Oiled Bird Centre and the new Swan Unit  should be sent to Jean Hains at Lower House Farm, West Williamston, near Carew, Pembrokeshire SA68 OTL

Anyone wishing to visit the Oiled Bird Rescue Centre please phone Jean first on 01646651236 to make sure someone is available to meet you.

Sue B

Cwm yr Eglwys, Pembrokeshire

• scenery
• beach
• historic interest
• walk
• pub food
• pub garden

In two weeks time residents and friends of the picturesque village of Cwm yr Eglwys will be attending a service to commemorate the day 200 years ago when St Brynach's Church was swept away by the Royal Charter Storm of 1859. All that remains is the defiant belfrey standing on the edge of the pretty little beach looking out to sea.

The cove has a sand and shingle beach with safe bathing and lots of rock pools to explore making it an ideal choice for family fun. There is delightful walk around Dinas Island which passes through Pwllgwaelod with another attractive little beach and waterside pub restaurant with garden.

A walk along Westfield Pill SSSI, Pembrokeshire

• nature
• wildlife
• estuary
• scenery
• walk/cycle
• food & drink
• During August an informative walk along Westfield Pill was enjoyed by a group of local wildlife enthusiasts and experts. Many of the rare and common birds, plants, insects and their habitats was observed and recorded.

Westfield Pill is a sheltered inlet from the main Cleddau Estuary a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a WTSWW Reserve. The path runs along the old railway line making it very pleasant and easy walking. Cars can be left in the car park at Neyland Marina where the walk begins. Brunel Cafe and The Bar on the marina serve excellent food and refreshments.

Bethan Cox (Pembrokeshire Biodiversity Partnership) concluded that Westfield Pill habitats help maintain the richness and diversity of our wildlife at both local and national levels.

Good Old-Fashioned Teatime in St Davids, Pembrokeshire

• St Davids
• tearoom
• museum
• local knowledge

As a child I always loved teatime, evening dinner just isn't the same!

Now I have 'discovered' The Sampler Tearooms and my childhood memories are rekindled with their delicious fares. Fine cucumber sandwiches followed by home-made cakes, or one can dive into a goats cheese quiche. Soups and platters of local cheeses are for me only over-shadowed by traditional cream teas of scones, cream and home-made jams, bara-brith or good old welshcakes. Lots of lovely 'specialist' teas, coffees and home-made lemonade too round off this eating experience.

The premises are fascinating too - embroidered samplers are displayed around the walls, some as old as 1728. These were created for various occasions; births, deaths, schoolroom practice pieces. We have all seen them from time to time but here you can read the verses and appreciate the time and effort in the making of these fine works whilst enjoying a coffee break, lunch-time or traditional tea.

There's also something in the cellar....... the owners have an unusual collection of wartime memorabilia. Referred to as 'The Homefront Experience' it displays World War II artefacts and pictures. Included here in the 'museum' is needlework paraphernalia, various fossils and medieval coins associated with the British History on the River Thames and so much more about Pembrokeshire. Sounds a bit 'stuffy' but it's facinating and certainly somewhere to go on a damp day!

The owners are delightful - pleased to assist and advise, and a mine of local information if one is on holiday and bewildered (I know that feeling).
Sue A

Note for Gold Diggers

• special interest Metal Detecting
• information

Keen metal detectors will be pleased to know no special permissions are required to use metal detectors on beaches.

Mainland Wales has approximately 1317 miles of coastline together with the islands of Anglesey and Holyhead that makes a total of 1680 miles......... and Wales has more listings in the official guide book to UK's best beaches than any other part of Britain.

Why not pack your bags and detectors and come and see what you can find.