A visit to the Welsh countryside has been on my to-do list for such a long time! For some reason Wales has a special place in my heart and I absolutely love the rugged nature of the country. Now that we live fairly close to Wales (in the Cotswolds) and I – finally – got my driving licence, it was the perfect time to go!
We rented a car for the weekend and drove off to West Wales, Camarthenshire to be exact. I mean, this is probably not the best drive for a beginner driver: I definitely practiced my hill starts! From where we live to Camarthenshire is about a two hour drive, with beautiful nature along the way. As soon as we crossed the Welsh border we saw hills, mountains, tall trees and gorgeous autumnal colours. A shame I was driving because I could’ve stared out the window for the entire drive!
We decided to stop off along the way, in a part of the Brecon Beacons that they call ‘Waterfall Country’. A must-see if you’re in that part of Wales! It was nice for us to stretch our legs and get some fresh air, although it was a bit rainy. Monty absolutely loved running around, he even had a little wade in the water.
If you are doing a countryside weekend away, I personally think it is so nice to stay in a locally run cottage, lodge or something similar. FBM Holidays offer some fantastic holiday homes in West Wales. They have dog friendly cottages and homes that sleep from 1 to 24, so you can bring the entire family. From 3 to 5 * accomocations – get all the luxury you want.
We stayed in a tiny village right next to Brecon Beacons and it was glorious! With a friendly welcome from the staff and a tasty meal we felt at home straight away. In the evening, a beer by the fireplace was perfect for us to warm up and unwind after a long day of driving and walking.
A long sleep and satisfying breakfast later we were ready to tackle the next day.
Have you ever climbed Pen Y Fan? I can now say I have! We decided to tackle this famous mountain even through the weather was pretty horrible. Cold, very windy and icy rain – definitely not the best circumstances to climb a mountain. When we arrived at the top it was so windy I couldn’t even get my phone out to take any photos! All in all, I’m very happy that we managed to walk it but would definitely consider the weather a bit more next time.
What is your experience of West Wales? Have you ever stayed in a holiday home like a cottage or a lodge? Let me know your thoughts! It’s something I want to do more of, espeically now that we have a little dog. I think supporting the local people (instead of staying in a big international hotel) is a nice way of supporting the area you are visiting.
Comments 1