Hi there everyone 😀
A couple of days into our July stay at the lodge Jackie and Phil joined us for a short visit … and the weather was amazing. Not quite heatwave, like it was back home, but lovely blue skies and warm sunshine. It was the perfect weather for both getting out and about and for chilling on the decking back at the lodge.
Jackie and Phil arrived early afternoon and we spent the rest of the day sitting in the sunshine and taking a dip in the pool. It was a lovely relaxing way to start off their visit.
With the weather being so good we managed to pack plenty in for the two full days they had with us … starting with a visit to Plas yn Rhiw, a National Trust garden not too far away.
Martin and I have visited this garden several times and we have tried to take Jackie and Phil there before … but the weather was just too bad. This time that was most definitely not an issue and it was lovely to see the garden at the height of summer …
As usual … the views out across the coast were spectacular …
… as were the agapanthus …
The Manor House has been closed for a while for renovation works …
… but as we’d checked in we were told that we could visit Sarn y Plas, an historic cottage, beneath the woods of Plas yn Rhiw, along the ‘old’ road. It was once the home of poet RS Thomas and his wife, ME Eldridge. It was the first we’d heard of this place so, of course, we had to go and have a look … but not before a piece of my favourite roulade from the tea room …
To get to Sarn y Plas we headed right out of the car park … and took a short walk down the ‘old’ road. It wasn’t long before we came across the cottage, tucked away behind the stone walls and hedgerows …
It’s a tiny cottage …
… with just a couple of rooms … but the view …
Outside, the cottage is surrounded by mainly wildflower gardens … but it really was all about the view …
We didn’t stay long, but I’m so glad we got to visit. I picked up a card with one of Thomas’ poems …
From here we were heading for Llanbedrog, but we did have a quick stop at Hell’s Mouth for a bit of a refreshing paddle along the way …
After a picnic lunch in the grounds of the gallery …
… we decided we were up for a walk up to the ‘tin man’ … the fourth time for Martin and I … but the first for Jackie and Phil.
It was pretty warm by now and we were all very glad of the shade from the trees as we took a slow walk up …
Martin and I must definitely be getting a bit fitter as the walk don’t seem quite as strenuous as previously and, whilst that last flight of steps was still an effort, we seemed to make it up in no time at all …
On such a perfect day weather wise the views were stunning …
After taking the mandatory selfies …
… we headed back down … taking those steep and uneven steps very carefully. This is the view of some of the hydrangeas on the car park, which are always amazing, as we got back down to the bottom …
It was then time to head back to the lodge, where we managed a quick, but very refreshing, swim and BBQ, before a night up late watching the World Cup final … which ended up with the best result we could have hoped for.
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What gorgeous houses and gardens, and I'm very impressed with you walking uphill in the heat. It sounds like an altogether lovely day, and I so so enjoyed reading about it.
ReplyDeleteHaving both lost a good bit of weight we have definitely got better at walking up hills without feeling like we are going to need mountain rescue … well, most of the time anyway. I did have a bit of an incident recently, where I think I may have overdone it … I’m putting it down to the heat though … and mountain rescue were not required to attend 😂😂😂
DeleteAs I was looking at your photos I too thought you both looked a lot slimmer 😊- well done for getting up that hill and noticing it was easier.
ReplyDeleteI love to stay somewhere like that little cottage, the flowers and views would make me a very happy girl!
The cottage was in an absolutely beautiful spot. Looking back I’ve just realised I haven’t included a photo of the poem I picked up. I must dig it out and add it in 😀
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