Sunday,
Had a bit of a sleep in, and then had a wonderful cooked breakfast, nothing was too much for our host, including catering for Reuben’s coeliac condition! Did a bit of internetting and then headed through Monmouth via a nice drive through narrow lanes with hedgerows which followed fast flowing river. Saw the covered bridge and other highlights of the town before heading on to Cardiff and the outdoor Welsh Folk Museum at Fagans. A bit like Sovereign Hill, this large site has original buildings (transported and rebuilt on the site) that depict Welsh/Celtic life over the past couple of thousand years. From thatched circular huts all the way to the 1970’s.
One particular terrace/row of cottages had small houses that depicted the change of the past couple of centuries - great to see the differences in such a compact space. Things like roof and wall cladding, furniture and how technology (radio, TV, appliances, heating) changed over time. Great to see the simple old farm houses and how there was a miners institute which was built by funds supplied by the workers and was used for education and recreation. We walked over to the castle gardens with the ponds and walk up the stairs to a rose arbor, which was fantastic. There were small garden plots designed with symmetry and a range of plants, there were amazing gates, and hedges to provide some surprises as we walked around. The castle building was also impressive with large rooms and huge tapestries and four poster beds - the rich sure did live well.
Decided to take the scenic route home and headed north out of Cardiff and first stopped of at Castle Coch. An amazing little castle built by a rich guy and looks like the archetypal castle with a drawbridge and cylindrical towers perched high up on a hillside. Then headed on to Brecon and across to Abergavenny before getting back to Monmouth. There were intermittent showers all the way home but the drive was amazing up through the valley. Now and then small mining communities down near the river with lots of (cheap) terraced housing for the miners. This is traditional coal mining country and lots of history of disasters and fighting for rights and better conditions. Still visible slag heaps of discarded rock piled up but no sign of the mines (must be hidden behind the hills or lower in the valley).
Wendy was being provender from the back seat and dished up some yummy banana and honey sandwiches and even cups of tea and coffee! The landscape her is stereotypical English countryside. Dotted with small farms, fields with hedges and stone wall, small woods here and there and sheep and cattle braving the elements. ... and did I say it was green? Must be absolutely idyllic in the sunshine. We did have a few patches of sunlight, offsetting the light coloured fields against the dark grey sky. All in all a good idea to see a bit of the countryside rather than the dual carriage motor way. A good day and thanks to Liz for being our guide.
Helped Liz cook up a lovely prawn risotto and and enjoyed another marvelous meal. Ella (the labradoodle) really enjoys company and would like to play all day. Hit the sack a little earlier tonight.
Had a bit of a sleep in, and then had a wonderful cooked breakfast, nothing was too much for our host, including catering for Reuben’s coeliac condition! Did a bit of internetting and then headed through Monmouth via a nice drive through narrow lanes with hedgerows which followed fast flowing river. Saw the covered bridge and other highlights of the town before heading on to Cardiff and the outdoor Welsh Folk Museum at Fagans. A bit like Sovereign Hill, this large site has original buildings (transported and rebuilt on the site) that depict Welsh/Celtic life over the past couple of thousand years. From thatched circular huts all the way to the 1970’s.
One particular terrace/row of cottages had small houses that depicted the change of the past couple of centuries - great to see the differences in such a compact space. Things like roof and wall cladding, furniture and how technology (radio, TV, appliances, heating) changed over time. Great to see the simple old farm houses and how there was a miners institute which was built by funds supplied by the workers and was used for education and recreation. We walked over to the castle gardens with the ponds and walk up the stairs to a rose arbor, which was fantastic. There were small garden plots designed with symmetry and a range of plants, there were amazing gates, and hedges to provide some surprises as we walked around. The castle building was also impressive with large rooms and huge tapestries and four poster beds - the rich sure did live well.
Decided to take the scenic route home and headed north out of Cardiff and first stopped of at Castle Coch. An amazing little castle built by a rich guy and looks like the archetypal castle with a drawbridge and cylindrical towers perched high up on a hillside. Then headed on to Brecon and across to Abergavenny before getting back to Monmouth. There were intermittent showers all the way home but the drive was amazing up through the valley. Now and then small mining communities down near the river with lots of (cheap) terraced housing for the miners. This is traditional coal mining country and lots of history of disasters and fighting for rights and better conditions. Still visible slag heaps of discarded rock piled up but no sign of the mines (must be hidden behind the hills or lower in the valley).
Wendy was being provender from the back seat and dished up some yummy banana and honey sandwiches and even cups of tea and coffee! The landscape her is stereotypical English countryside. Dotted with small farms, fields with hedges and stone wall, small woods here and there and sheep and cattle braving the elements. ... and did I say it was green? Must be absolutely idyllic in the sunshine. We did have a few patches of sunlight, offsetting the light coloured fields against the dark grey sky. All in all a good idea to see a bit of the countryside rather than the dual carriage motor way. A good day and thanks to Liz for being our guide.
Helped Liz cook up a lovely prawn risotto and and enjoyed another marvelous meal. Ella (the labradoodle) really enjoys company and would like to play all day. Hit the sack a little earlier tonight.
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