Joshua recommends The Blue Lagoon as the perfect place for cliff diving, wild swimming and hiking. Found on the rugged coastline of South Wales near Abereiddy Beach, Pembrokeshire.

It is a must for hike lovers that are looking for some adventurous activities to do during their hike.

A former slate quarry

Pembrokeshire played a lead role in the slate industry, with around 100 quarries in the county in the late 18th century.

Slate from Abereiddy was transported by tramway to the neighbouring Porthgain Habour and shipped out. The quarry itself was active until the early 20th century and later abandoned and now flooded.

The Blue Lagoon was formed when the channel connecting the quarry to the sea was blasted, allowing the sea to flood in.

Ruined quarry buildings still sit on the clifftop, with the remains of the workmen’s cottages adjacent to the car park, along what was called The Row. You’ll also spot the foreman’s house and the powder store here.

Josh said:

We got up early so as to miss the crowds at the stunning Blue Lagoon and then began our hike along the coastal path checking out Traeth Llyfn and looping back at Porthgain Harbour. This in total is around 4 hours and if you are lucky enough to get a sunny day then it is truly a treat!

Watch Josh’s video here:

All photos and video are from Joshua McCartney.

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Today I’m walking up Moel Morfydd. A mountain that is part of the Llantysilio Mountain Range which is the backdrop to the village I live in, Bryneglwys. These mountains split Llangollen and Bryneglwys and can be seen while driving down the A5104. So I’ve always seen these mountains, but never been up them (Oh the shame!).

Approaching from Bryneglwys side of Moel Morfydd there is a handy carpark just has the start of the path. The views are already pretty breathtaking!

The walk is very steep in places and the path is cover in loose stones, so walking boots are a must! But the path is easy to follow. After a few breaks, including one for a paned and a butty, we reach the top, where you’ll find a stone pillar and panoramic views of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Visit in Autumn for the Mountain in full bloom!

I’d recommend coming in at end of Summer when the heather flowers, the purples, pink and oranges decorate your path. There also “Llys” (I think they are called whimberry or Billberries in English) grown on the bushes, if you’ve never had them in a pie with apples you haven’t lived yet! So we picked some along the way and make a tarten when we got home.

We were even lucky enough to spot some wild grouse! (Luckily our Westie, Cassie was on a lead).

You can keep walking all 3 peaks to find the Ponderosa a Cafe on the edge of the Horseshoe Pass, this 7 mile round trip, which I have not yet attempted.

Historical Fact

Llantysilio Mountains were set on fire during the War to trick enemy aircraft into dropping their bombs onto the mountains instead of cities like Liverpool.

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By Hems Du Winter

Brecon and its surrounding areas is a place I’ve only just  discovered, it boastfully promotes itself as one of the UK’s leading adventure playgrounds, well who’d have known. 

The imposing black mountains as I drive from cheshire host several adventure centres hosting water sports, fishing, canoeing, pony trekking, and epic walking with amazing views and of course the area is a cyclist’s dream!  

I’m here for something else the world famous Hay Book Festival, it was so famous that this was my second first time visiting. For those not yet attended it is an annual eleven-day event straddling 27th May to 6th of June which plans to return to its pre-Corvid glory in 2021.

Is the Hay Festival just an event for literary luvvies?

Far from it! But before we get into the detail, you may be one of these people, admittedly like I, who have heard of it but don’t know much else and would never even consider going.  In a nutshell, it’s one of the world’s biggest and best literary festivals and it takes place every summer in the little borders town of Hay on Wye in Powys.

For over 30 years Hay has brought readers and writers together to share stories and ideas in live sustainable events around the world, the festivals wants to inspire, examine and entertain.

The first Hay Festival 30 years ago was held in the modest surroundings of a pub garden. These days it attracts 100,000-plus visitors over 11 days who engage with 700 speakers and attend over 800 events that feature the world’s great writers, poets, philosophers, historians, adventurers, storytellers, scientists, comedians and musicians. 

It’s moved to a large tented village on the outskirts of town with ten venues, pop-up cafes, shops and restaurants and its brilliant.

The sessions I visited I’d booked before arriving

 I new there would be only so many seats for Stephen Fry. Although the various seated auditoriums are pretty big and can accommodate hundreds of people, it’s always best to book in advance to make sure you get to see the people you really want to see. The popular events, talks and interviews get booked up pretty quickly although there is an office on-site where unsold tickets and return can be bought o the day. The organisation is superb, both online and on site and the Hay website is just fantastic.

Did you know for just £10, you can access Hay on line where you can see as many of the talks and events you like from the last few years.  Wonderful value. We saw a range of talks including a very emotionally-charged interview with yachtsman Robin Knox-Jonson, a wonderful talk from authorises Raynor Winn (if you haven’t yet read her awesome book, The Salt Path, do so immediately) and TV journalists Emily Maitliss and John Sopel.

One of the highlights has to have been former NHS doctor Adam Kay whose book, This is Going to Hurt has been in the Tines best seller list for years!! I ached with laugher. The audiences represent all ages and all backgrounds and there’s usually an opportunity to ask questions after the talks. Authors then move to the amazing bookshop where if you want, they will autograph a copy of their books.  

Friends and I relaxed in deckchairs on the village green, browsed the stalls and visited a festival bookshop which stocks 55,000 titles by visiting speakers. We enjoyed the evenings as they are devoted to music, comedy and film, just superb.

A cliche perhaps but there really is something for everyone, of every age, interest and inclination.   

Pretentious they say? It’s a rollercoaster of the senses.

The atmosphere is superb, there’s nothing at all pretentious about it and in one day attending talks and interviews you’ll experience the full gamut of emotions. It is a rollercoaster for the senses. And it’s just so civilised and relaxed!

I..we didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as we did and went back again in a large group the year after.  We would have returned a third time this year had it not been for the pandemic.

It’s fun going in a group of 14. You attend the talks and events you want during the day and get together in the evening over the dinner table to swap experiences. Brilliant.

Accommodation

Both years we stayed in the 17th century converted mill that is Trebarried Mill in Llanfilo, Brecon, a fifteen-minute drive to the festival site. The Mill has 7 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms enough to fit us all in. Spacious accommodation including two reception rooms, a ‘snug’ dating back to the 17th century with original beams, inglenook fireplace and toasty wood burner. The main living area is split into two. One part has a large dining table (seats 14+) and the other section has ample comfy seating, pub sized pool table, TV and music system and numerous sleeping options with a choice of bedrooms including two large family rooms. Beds include super kings, kings, doubles and a selection of single beds (max 16 -18 beds in total). One of the family bedrooms even has a balcony overlooking the stream!

Obviously Trebarried Mill isn’t just for Hay!  Click here to find places to stay during the festival. Where to Stay | Hay-on-Wye, Hereford
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Wild swimming is, well, swimming.

It doesn’t have to involve not wearing any clothes (phew!) but it does have to involve swimming outdoors, in what one travel writer called “a natural pool of water”.

That’s it.

One member of our fantastic Facebook group (which you can join here) said wild swimming was her “new favourite thing to do”, adding that it “really helps to reset everything come rain or shine.”

We quite agree. And like everything, wild swimming is best done in Wales. Obviously.

Lake Geirionydd

Lake Geirionydd is a perfect place to start your wild swimming adventure. It’s a 15-minute drive from Trefriw, about the same from Llanrwst and a 20-minute drive from Capel Curig.

According to Wikipedia, the lake is almost a mile long and covers an area of 45 acres (180,000 m2), but is never any deeper than 50 ft (15 m). There’s no fish in it either. 

There’s plenty of room for parking and it’s also a perfect place for enjoying a picnic with the family

Two words of warning!

The water does tend to be cold whatever time of year you visit and it’s a hugely popular place so we would recommend getting there in plenty of time if you’re planning to spend the whole day.

Unlike Llyn Crafnant, which is an hour’s pleasant walk away, all manner of activity is allowed at Lake Geirionydd.

It’s the only lake in Snowdonia to allow power boats and water skiing, so if wild swimming doesn’t take your fancy or you’d rather be on a kayak or a paddle boarding that’s allowed too. Don’t forget your wetsuit though!

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relaxing. peaceful. easy

On a fairly sunny, lockdown Sunday morning, my sister and I wanted to get out of the house for our daily exercise and some fresh air. There is only so many times you can walk around the same block, every single day, until it just becomes plain boring. My mum suggested Hope Mountain as she was a regular when she was young. She used to hike up with her jam butties and spend the day up there. Lucky for us, the mountain is literally on our doorstep with it being just a 5-10 minute drive away. 

I had to get the address up on my google maps, it sounds crazy with it being so close to home, but I just had no idea how to get up there. I haven’t been driving long and I have never had to drive up steep hills to get anywhere before, so at some points I had to hold on tight to the wheel and try to not look down. On the way up, we passed a few hikers which I’m guessing are the locals from surrounding villages heading on up to Hope Mountain too. After following google maps through tight country lanes, the destination was on my left. I parked up on the side of the road where others parked too.

Just near the car park, we spotted a small gate so we headed on through and followed the path that took us pass grazing animals minding their own business. I thought it was great you could get up close to the lovely animals, I was pretty chuffed and I think it is a lovely attribute to the walk. It was quiet up here, but we did pass two professional walkers who were ready and kitted out, whereas me and my sister, not quite so. We got caught in heavy rain, so did have to cut our walk short which was disappointing, we will be more prepared next time.

Waun Y Llyn has always been a destination that has drawn people, to walk up and explore. 100s of years ago a walk up Hope mountain was part of a spa retreat for those people who seek nature and relaxation all in one. The area has plenty of wildlife, full of bushes growing bilberry. If you are visiting in August time, make sure to bring along a bag or a bucket and pick your own bilberry which I’m sure will make some lovely muffins.

The area has plenty of wildlife

I captured some amazing photographs of the beautiful views of Wales and the surrounding areas of the countryside that I will make sure to post on my Instagram! I have to return back to Hope mountain because there is still so much I didn’t see!

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This stroll is 4 miles over a fairly gentle terrain. It starts at a holiday Cottage in Melin Y Wig, North Wales, but you can start anywhere on route. You will need adequate footwear.

Just fifteen minutes from the historic and atmospheric old market town of Ruthin in Denbighshire, well off the beaten track, lies the village of Melin-y-Wig. 

In the shadow of the Clocaenog forest and built around the River Clwyd it is a mix of old and relatively new, with ancient stone cottages and farms, and a few ‘60s council houses. Many of the people who live there are from families who have lived there for generations.  

It’s a great community with areal sense of history and it’s been our escape for 57 years ever since a my late parents, having enjoyed their first rented cottage experience elsewhere in North Wales, decided to buy a place of their own and spotted an advert in the Liverpool Echo inviting offers for the cottage. They bought it as soon as they’d viewed it. See it and you’ll immediately understand why.

Magical. Mystical. Magnificent.

It’s right on the banks of the River Clwyd whose source is less than two miles away up in the stunning Clocaenog Forest.

The cottage is secluded without being isolated. It started life as two very ancient one-up, one-down millworkers’ cottages that my parents set about transforming into a comfortable bolthole that we have made extensive use of ever since. It’s a place of rest, reflection and healing, one that’s had a positive impact on anyone who has ever stayed there.  

Passing right in front of the cottage runs the Brenig Way, a 32-mile route for walkers, meandering from Corwen up to Llyn Brenig.

It starts in the beautiful Dee Valley and takes walkers into some of the quietest parts of Denbighshire, where peaceful paths snake though natural woodlands and along steep sided river valleys. It follows ancient drovers roads and passes even more ancient cairns, navigating its way through the Clocaenog Forest to reveal stunning views of the Clwydian range at Pincyn Llys and around Cyffylliog. 

The route culminates in a steady, but isolated, climb along the Afon Clywedog, tributary of the River Clywd passing just a handful of houses, to reach Llyn Brenig, the amazing Brenig reservoir at the Archaeological Trail. 

The route of the Brenig Way has been marked with distinctive waymarkers based on the stone cairns found along the way. It has been designed to be walked over 2 or 3 days and can also be used for day walks. There are plenty of guided and other information available on line.

I have no favourite walks in particular but just love walking up out of the valley in whatever direction I fancy.  The path in front of the cottage takes you away from the village across a small bridge along the river towards Derwen for several miles through woodland, past a few cottages, and old drover’s path and magnificent ancient woodland.  

Follow the river through farms, fields and old tracks and it takes you into Derwen where, in the graveyard of the village church stands a very famous medieval preaching cross. Just Google for more information its mind blowing.

Walk straight out of the village and head for the road that leads from Clawddnewydd to Melin-y-Wig. Turn left at the junction and enjoy the spectacular views towards Snowdonia on your way back down to Melina-y-Wig.

The beauty of the countryside, the peace and tranquillity and the sheer variety of wildlife are just jaw-dropping, It really is like being in another word. The bluebells in season are nothing short of magnificent.

There are five roads climbing out of the village of Melin-y-Wig!  

The first takes you towards Bryn SM and the main A494 road between Ruthin and Corwen; the second leads to the adjoining village of Betws GG and onwards to The Goat pub on the A5; the third winds past the post box by the village centre up into open moorland towards the B5105 running between Ruthin and Cerrigydrudion. The fourth take you up to a wonderful picnic spot   complete with tables set amongst the trees of Clocaenog. Great for walking and cycling, the routesmeander through the forest and are perfect for young families, with ample parking and toilet facilities at the start point. 

This area of Clocaenog Forest is one of the last places in Wales to spot the rare red squirrel and is popular with many other animals and birds such as the otter, green finch and woodpecker. A really pleasant corner of the forest, very easily accessible from the B5105. 

The final route out of the village is a short but steep climb past Tai Teg farm to where the road begins to level out.  Look back and soak up those views.

The best parking, and the only toilets on any of the routes I’ve mentioned is at Bod Petryal bit responsible parking in the village is also possible. Just remember you’re in an agricultural community: the roads are narrow and heavily used by tractors and trailers.  Just make sure you park responsibly and leave no trace of your visit. There’s plenty more information on the area and the walks to be had on line.

If you would like to rent the cottage, here is a link Glanrafoncottage

Find more Holiday Ideas in Denbighshire here.

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When I need to blow the cobwebs away and be inspired by beauty and culture I take this Medieval Town Walk in Ruthin, I thought It would be nice to share it with you.z

My name is Liz I’ve lived in Ruthin all my adult life, and I’ve always wanted to share this story of Ruthin with as many people as I could I believe Ruthin should be on everyones bucket list. I hope you enjoy?

My walk starts at St Peter’s Square, known to locals as the top of town, which is the oldest part of the town. The clock tower in the centre is surrounded by historical buildings, including:

The Old Court House

Built in 1401, you can still see the remains of a gibbet used to execute Charles Meehan, a Franciscan priest. Charles was shipwrecked on the Welsh coast when Catholicism was treasonous — Meehan was hanged, drawn, and quartered in 1679. In 1987 he was beatified by Pope John Paul II as one of the Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales.

King Arthurs Rock… The Standing Stone (Menhir)

No one knows how old it is but this limestone chunk is believed to be that upon which King Arthur beheaded Gildas’ brother is located just off the end of the roundabout in front of the old Barclays Bank.

The Myddleton Grill

The Myddleton Grill is now a restaurant, formally a pub. Known by locals as the Seven Eyes, because of its seven prominent windows on the roof. Built in the 14th century. Designed in the Dutch style with a long, steeped roof is attributed to Sir Richard Clough, an Elizabethan merchant. The dormer windows, each at a different elevation. Acquired by Sir Hugh Myddleton in 1595, who provided London with it first fresh water supply.

St Peters Church

I’m going to call it a slow walk as that’s what I want from my gaunt. To look up in wonderment of this small but perfectly formed town.

I’m standing at the top of our lovely town, right next to the big monument, take a look at the carving on here they are truly wonderful.

I trot and I’m heading straight for St Peters Church to look at the roof, parts are as old as 1282!

The Land of Song!

Heading back to the roundabout and down Well Street we find another wealth of historically important buildings.

The middle ages haven’t left Ruthin you can see lots of timber frame houses made up of wattle and daub. It’s charming and a lovely place to visit and stay if you looking for somewhere quite remarkable.

Siop Nain (Grandmothers Shop), now a tea and gift shop on Well Street printed the first copies of the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Continue down Well Street you will pass other listed building including Castle Mews, Manor House, Wynnstay Hotel, Wayfarer Wool Shop and the Cons Club.

The Wool Shop is my favourite!

Find more Holiday Ideas in Denbighshire here.

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Day 1: County walk, pub grub, historic buildings and back to the shepherds hut for a blinding night of passion.

Some people say it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey, but today the destination is equally as delightful as the journey. We head to an old shooting lodge, turned pub – The Leyland Arms about a 4 mile (1.5 hours) walk away in the village of

The Leyland is a proper country pub, the walls are full of photos for local people usually while on the local shoot. In late summer/autumn you may have to dodge a few pheasants on the home stretch down to the, as there still a very active local shoot in the winter.

The bar is small, but the pub is comprised of lots of rooms, so you can find a nook to make your own. The food is simple homemade pub grub, perfect to refuel after a long walk.

Rug Chapel

It’s hidden just of A494 is Rug Chapel, once the private family Chapel of the local noble family the Newborough’s. This small and plain building gives little hint of the riches within. Ornately decorated this small chapel is a must see. Every inch of the ceiling is decorated, not quite Wales’ answer to the sistine chapel, but still very impressive and beautiful.

Expect scaly dragons, serpents and other strange whimsical monsters this chapel has them all.

Opening times: From April to October. Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5pm

Rug Estate still exists and we continue up the road to their Bistro. Where they serve food grown on their estate as well as other local artisan foods. We opted for their own reared Bison Burgers!

Day 2: Steam Train to Llangollen

We jump on the the train, catch it at the centre of Corwen and buy a return ticket. It follows the River Dee towards Llangollen, stopping off at the small villages along the way. This is quite fascinating in itself as it includes ‘Glyndyfrdwy’ where Owain (Baron of Glyndyfrdwy) proclaimed himself “Prince of Wales” beginning his rebellion against English Rule. I promise you the locals are much more friendly these days.

Lunch Time

We go straight to the food and depending on the weather its usually The Corn Mill, for an outside table on its veranda watching the canoeists. Food is a good pub grub standard and the location is lovely.

Castell Dinas Bran is the walk we heading for to burn off lunch. Its a 13th Century Castel in a hill, it’s pretty special. Head out of the town to the base of the mountain, Castell Dinas Bran (translates to Crow City Castle). This walk is not for the faint-hearted. It gets very steep, so make sure you have suitable footwear, but the view is more breath-taking than the climb! This is a must do in my book.

When we descend and before the train trip home we grab a cheeky local ale in the pub.

Evening meal

Old Wives’ Tales restaurant it has been in the town for years run by a man and wife team. It’s the taste of Portugal, it’s lovely and rustic.

About Staying in the Shepherds Hut

Perfect just for two, Cwt Bach sits in a secluded spot in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ideal for a few days away from the hustle and bustle.

Staying in a shepherd hut is about getting back to basics, although it is definitely more glamorous than camping. It is still about escaping technology and taking some time to really connect with nature.

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