Visit Wales?

You may have seen the recent TV adverts from the Welsh Assembly, 'Holidays Unpackaged', well I've just returned from a holiday and Wales, so how does do they compare to reality.

Last day - Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Last day of the holiday - time for just one more excursion - the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

I'd seen it featured on a TV show earlier in the year and as it was close to the route home I added it to my itinery. Recently it was added to the list of World Heritage Sites.

Sunset Now

Last full day in Wales and it end it ended with a spectacular sunset.

But the day started with heavy rain so it was destined to be a bit of a mixed bag.

Conwy & Padarn

Paid a return visit to Conwy today.

The town has a lot of charm and contains one of the best castles in Wales - there are some very high towers that command stunning views.

Moelfre & Traeth Lligwy

Today I took a drive over the Menai Bridge to Anglesey and visited Moelfre for the start of a walk along the coastal path.

Moelfre is one of the nicer places I have visited on the island and it is reminiscent of Cornwall.

Llandudno & Great Orme

Drove to the top of the Great Orme and took the Tram back down into Llandudno.

Rainbow

View from my holiday cottage this evening.

Bodnant & Penrhyn

The weather forecast didn't look so good today so decided to head somewhere where a bit of rain wouldn't matter. First stop was Bodnant Gardens and fortunately the sun managed to stay out until just as I was leaving.

Caernarfon & Llanbedrog

Looking at the satellite weather forecast it was clear that I would need to chose my destinations carefully today to make the most of the available sun.

Started the day in Caernarfon - had a walk around the town, visited the castle and found a bistro serving Sunday lunch.

Powis Castle

Day 8 - Time to move on to the new base for the second week of my Holiday. I'm relocating from south west Wales to the north west - half way there I took a major diversion to visit Powis Castle.

Given it's location - it not somewhere I could normally visit so it was an opportunity not to be missed.

Mwnt & Llanerchaeron

Last day in Pembrokeshire - tomorrow I head north for a week in Swowdonia

Promising start to the day - the warmest so far.

First off - head to the beach at Mwnt (pronounced "moont"). I read great things about it and I wasn't disappointed.

Tenby & Bishop's Palace Lamphrey

Well the promised sun hardly ever materialised but it was a pleasant day none-the-less. Started in Tenby with a walk around the town followed by an excellent lunch in the Hope & Anchor (Sea Bream).

After, a long walk down the length of the beach.

Newport, Cwm yr Eglwys & The Rainforest Centre

Started off at Newport - which I've seen described as being like Tenby. I think they forgot the word "not" as it's nothing like Tenby.

Aberporth & New Quay

Dull but dry day - perfect for walking.

Started of with the coastal footpath at Aberporth and finished with a walk around New Quay

Also worth mentioning is the excellent lunch at the "Old Watch House" restaurant in New Quay.

Kidwelly, National Botanic & Llansteffan

First stop of the day - Kidwelly Castle - apparently I visited it as a child but It's too long ago for me to remember.

Poppit, Cenarth and Major Fail.

After the long drive to Wales yesterday I didn't want to spend too much time in the car. Started off a mile from where I am staying at Poppit Sands.

And in the afternoon a long walk though the valley at Cenarth along the banks of the river Teifi.

St. Dogmaels Morning

My base for the next week is a Cottage in St. Dogmaels. This was the view from the front door that greeted me this morning.

Tintern Abbey & Dinefwr

Day 1 of my Holiday to Wales - visited two spectacular locations on my way to the cottage.

First , just over the border in the Wye Valley was Tintern Abbey.

  

The second stop was at the Dinefwr Park and Castle.

   

iPhone 3GS review

I finally switched to the iPhone when the new model, the 3GS, was released on the 19 June. My main requirement was not the phone but the data capilities. I also wanted it to replace my existing iPod Classic.

R.I.P. Personal Computer World 1978 - 2009

I was sad to learn of the demise of one of the UK's longest running computer magazines.

I started reading it not long after it's launch, and before I owned my first computer. I learnt a lot from it and it helped me over the years as a bought my various computers. It even carried program listings for my Sinclair ZX-81 and QL. I still have a wall-chart they gave away that shows all the BASIC commands and their syntax for all the popular operation systems of the time (around 1983) which allowed you to take a listing published for, say, the BBC micro and workout how to convert it to run on a Sinclair Spectrum.

Leonardslee Gardens

Another sunny day - judging by the traffic going past my house early this morning everyone was headed to the coast today. I decided to head inland instead and visited Leonardslee Gardens.

With seven lakes to walk around, it's a pleasant place to spend some time.

Balmy Night in London

Could it be that summer has arrived?

  

Wide Angle Views at Hever Castle

My previous post about My new Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens has been the most popular post on my blog since it was published nearly a year ago. I imagine the viewers were quite disappointed to just find a single image there. This post aims to rectify that. - All these photos were taken with the Sigma Lens and a Nikon D300.

Littlehampton

Nice sunny morning, so spent some time at Littlehampton.

More Pictures after the break....

Caravans

I think there is some prejudice and preconceptions regarding caravans, but I usually have at least one holiday in one each year and the standard is nothing like as basic as it used to be.

Last Stop, Padstow

Final day of the Holiday - started with an excellent breakfast in the Rick Stein Cafe.  Then walked around the harbour, purchased some gifts and a crab sandwich for the journey home.

Tolverne

The Tolverne restaurant (aka Smugglers Cottage) is situated on the riverbank between Falmouth and Truro. I had passed it on a couple of occasions as I travelled by boat and had been meaning to stop off for a visit for some time