Dismal Weather and Pesky Pooches

It should have been a spectacularly beautiful drive south down the A487 from Dolgellau to Machynlleth and onwards towards Cardigan. However, although the rain kept off long enough for us to pack-up without getting damp, as we travelled through the pass close to Cader Idris the weather closed in. We did get occasional glimpses of the mountain through shreds of shifting rainclouds. Without getting too Burkean about it, the experience definitely was more sublime than beautiful. We passed the Centre for Alternative Energy, and considered momentarily stopping by for old times sake - it had been a bit of a favourite haunt back in the late 70s when we all a bit 'Save the Whale' as Billy Connolly puts it. In the end we pressed on, through  rain soaked Aberystwyth. As we travelled through Ceredigion, as BBC Weather had promised, the cloud lifted a tad and the rain stopped. At Aberdaron we pulled off the road. Having bought some bread sticks we fancied some hummus. It's all very well getting all starry eyed about how nice and old fashioned rural Wales is, until you decide to buy something slightly foreign - Hummus in Aberdaron? Not a chance! It is a pretty place though, apart from the busy 'A' road running right through the centre. What is more, it had easily accessible parking down by the sea without a height barrier.

The Harbour at Aberdaron

Painting your house a jolly colour seems the thing to do, but most were not quite so dayglo as the Castle Hotel.

 It was a short drive from here to the Cardigan Camping and Caravan Park which we had pre-booked. There were many positives about this newly established site. The owner is very friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere is relaxed, the facilities are great and spotlessly clean. It is quite an exposed spot, and though this does give you open views, I guess in stormy weather you may get a bit of a buffeting. One note of caution is that it is important you identify exactly the position of the place on a map before you arrive. At the fork at the southern end of Cardigan bypass our satnav sent us down the A478 rather than the correct direction on the A487. Clearly, in such a remote spots postcodes can cover quite an area and in this case bamboozled Muriel. The only negative aspect of the stay concerned the numbers of furry four-legged friends running loose around the site. The owner clearly loves dogs, and her very friendly pooch just wanders about the site. This gives a carte blanche to everyone else to do the same, so the place is very doggy - and I'm not.

We took a nice stroll down the lane before we ate. Lots of swifts gadding about above the fields and wild flowers in the hedgerows, We would have stayed longer but another front was forecast and the weather looked considerably more settled towards Herefordshire, so we decided after one night to head back to Eastnor Castle near Ledbury.

Before leaving we drove a mile or two out of Cardigan up the side of the Teifi estuary. It is lovely. We promised ourselves that we would return, but perhaps stay somewhere directly beside the sea where we could walk straight onto the coastal path. Another time!

Afon Teifi

Like so much of the far west of Wales, very reminiscent of Brittany.

Gill tries out the panorama feature on her Moto phone - very good!