10th July 2016 Return to Wales

On sunday 10th we headed off to Wales again. We had arranged to join other members of the welsh terrier group called Weltaf for a walk in the woods outside Dolgellau on Saturday 16th. So on the  sun and mon nights we went back to the great site at Chirk. We yet again walked to Chirk castle and took Jonesy on the bus to Wrexham. From here we had two nights at Barmouth followed by just the Friday night at a campsite outside Dolgellau where it rained for the duration of our stay. Here are just a few of the photies we took of the Weltaf walk.

Preparing for the walk outside Karens

Jonesy meets up with his sister.

Jonesy preparing an ambush.

Lesley Jonesy's breeder far right.



Group Photo.

 

L to R  Jonesys half brother, his dad and Jonesy.

 

Sunday 8th May 2016 trip to Wales.

We had 7 nights touring Wales. We left Sunday 8th and visited Llandudno, Harlech, Barmouth, Devils Bridge, Llandovery and the Shropshire town of Ludlow. We enjoyed each of these places apart from Llandovery which we mainly used as a stopping off place on the way to the Brecon Beacons where we walked up Pen Y Fan.

On the seafront at Llandudno.

View from Tan Y Bryn Farm campsite near Llandudno.

Rhos on Sea near Llandudno.

The beach at Barmouth

Famous railway bridge at Barmouth

We went on a very long but beautiful walk near Devils Bridge this is one of the many photos we took.

Woodlands Caravan Park at Devils Bridge, a great site with really modern facilities. Also on ACSI card price 19 euros a night

Woodlands Caravan Park

Up on Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.

Looking up towards Pen Y Fan.

View from the Bridge near the Charlton Arms Ludlow.

Ludlow town centre. A delightful town with lots of old classic cars knocking about. We stayed at Ludlow Touring Park which was about a half hour walk outside the town. Rather expensive but with good facilities.

Ludlow Castle during the Beer Festival.

 

Northumberland

On Thursday 21^st April we left home with the intention of going to Northumberland. To break the journey up we stopped one night at the Caravan Club site at Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales.  This was a well positioned site for the town pubs and for good walks. We ate in The Crown and I can really recommend the food and Theakstons beer, the only negative was that  Jonesy wasn’t on his best behaviour in the pub.

The following day we went to the Camping and Caravan Club site at Dunstan Hill just outside Craster and Embleton. We had 2 great days there, it was cold but sunny and we walked about 9 miles along the coast.  We also enjoyed a pint at the Jolly Fisherman Inn at Craster.  One evening we went into Embleton and found the main pub full so we ate at the Dunstenburgh Castle Hotel where we were allowed to take Jonesy into one of the comfy lounges.  Jonesy became a bit of a celeb here with all of the staff taking an interest in him, the manager even came and sat with us for quite a while talking to and feeding Jonesy some biscuits. On the Sunday we packed up and went visiting Cragside, the National Trust estate at Rothbury.

After visiting the amazing Cragside we went to Seafield Caravan Park at Seahouses. This was another of those large commercial sites that are ideal during the low season. They did an offer  of 3 nights for the price of 2 and this included free access to the excellent leisure facilities, a training gym, sauna, steam room and 20 metre pool.  Of course we used these on two occasions.  Every day we walked  at least 8 miles along the beaches and on one day we went up to Lindisfarne and Berwick upon Tweed.

Dunstan Hill site.

Woodland walk at Dunstan Hill



Dunstanburgh castle looking south from beach.

Same beach but facing North.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Craster

Craster.

Benthall near Beadnell bay

Beach at Benthall

National Trust Cragside estate near Rothbury the house, was built in 1863  . It was the first house in the world to be lit using hydroelectric power. Built into a rocky hillside above a forest garden of just under 1,000 acres, it was the country home of armaments manufacturer, Lord Armstrong and has been in the care of the National Trust since 1977.



National Trust Cragside estate

National Trust Cragside estate. The bedroom that was occupied by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1884

National Trust Cragside estate
 

National Trust Cragside estate

National Trust Cragside estate

National Trust Cragside estate

Bamburgh Castle and main street.

Bamburgh castle from the beach.

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne village, Holy island.

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

 

















































3 nights at Chirk.

To introduce Jonesy to the motorhome we went to Chirk Caravan Club site for 3 nights from Sunday 13th March. The weather was dry and sunny for most of the time and we really enjoyed the excellent walks nearby. We even took Jonesy on the bus to Llangollen and on one of the days we bussed it to a midway point and returned along the canal. As the site is situated next to Chirk Castle we were able to use our National Trust membership and walk through the grounds and castle.
This was always going to be a big test for Jonesy but he came through with flying colours. He retained his excellent sleep pattern going to bed around 9pm and getting up around 6am. We took him to a 'drinkers pub' the first night where he was fairly settled just chewing beer mats. Then on another night we took him to a classier place where we had a meal with him mainly lying down in front of us...well done Jonesy.
When returning home we stopped at the NT house and grounds at Erddig. Again another excellent walk with temps soaring for this time of year.