It was Sunday and mum and dad were coming today to spend a few days staying with us, so we spent the morning just hanging around Stabl and getting tea ready for later.
Being early risers mum and dad arrived late morning so after sausage sarnies and a chance to unload we started off the afternoon with a drive back down along the coast to Plas yn Rhiw, the closest National Trust property to us.
The National Trust describe the property as being a ...
"Delightful manor house with ornamental garden and wonderful views"... and that is exactly what we found. It is a real treat ... from the moment that you park up in the car park, which is just across the road from the entrance to the property, with fabulous views across Cardigan Bay ...
When stopping for a closer look there are so many different varieties of ferns and so many other wildflowers still to come. For me this is one of the things that shows the best of the UK countryside ... winding narrow lanes, bright sunshine and blue skies, hedgerows full of life and glorious vistas around every bend.
It's a short walk up the path to the entrance to the house and garden ...
It’s a fairly small property and it is perched right up on the cliffside. It is in a lovely spot.
It was a bit dull overhead when we arrived but the sun did put in an appearance as promised and we all really enjoyed the garden, where there was plenty of colour to be seen.
The first thing that caught my eye was the wisteria, which was just glorious ...
... I had to have a closer look and headed off down one of the narrow windy paths to see what I could find ...
The wisteria had pretty much taken over the old stone outbuilding ... inside ...
... and out ...
We had a real good wander around the garden, which can most definitely not be described as formal. In some areas it is a real jumble of planting, with ferns and wildflowers taking root in every nook and cranny ...
Whilst it is only a fairly small garden, it is laid out in such a way that it feels much bigger, with narrow gravel paths leading off in all directions. It is set around the house and outbuildings, which seem to be growing out of the garden ...
Our route took us past plenty of colour ... rhododendrons and azaleas in abundance ...
... peonies, which seemed really early ...
... and whatever this beauty might be ...
We got the most beautiful view of the front of the house ...
... and the view out to sea ...
You can't take photographs inside the house, but it is full of the belongings of The Keating Sisters, Eileen, Lorna and Honora, who came to live in Plas Yn Rhiw in 1939. They were very keen on protecting rural Wales and were active in opposing all kinds of proposals, including that of the construction of a nuclear power station.
The sisters donated the property to the Trust and they lived in the property until Lorna died in 1981.
We stayed for an hour or so and finished of our visit by taking advantage of the small tea room, where we sat in the sunshine and enjoyed our coffees and cakes and just generally enjoyed the view ...
We weren't quite ready to head back to our holiday cottage just yet so decided to call in at Aberdaron ...
... where we parked up in the National Trust car park and had a wander along the prom ...
It's only a tiny village but it is a very pretty spot with another amazing beach overlooked by St Hywyn's Church ...
Eventually it was time to head back with just one last call in at the local garden centre for a quick mooch around just before they shut up shop for the day ...
... and it was back to Stabl for tea and the last episode of Line of Duty ... and then a very big day to look forward to tomorrow 😀
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