Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire
Our first holiday in Pembrokeshire ever . That must be good, but in August with the school Holidays?
We aimed to do the three main peninsulas and then drive through the Cambrian mountains to our regular folk festival at Shrewsbury for the bank holiday weekend.

1) Broadhaven
We aimed for Trefalen farm campsite on the beach. It was full but a farmer's field campsite was not much father away an gave us a relaxing informal stopping place.
We did the beach, walked round the Lily ponds from the old Stackpole Estate, walked to Barafundle bay, and along the coast to the west. It's an amazing coast . A playground for sea kayakers exploring the coves, and climbers taking on the challenges of the vertical cliffs. Weather was great so we stayed four nights.

 lilly ponds

Hidden bay to the West

Barafundle bay

2) West Hook farm near Marloes and close to Skomer Island. lots of places with English and Scandinavian names rather than Welsh.
Weather not so good. But we spotted seal pups on a beach on the headland. One looked really young , maybe new born . We looked the next day from a different view could see remains the umbilical cord.
Two walks in intermediate drizzle ended at Marloes. The pub was unfriendly, but the cafe the next day was warm welcoming and tasty.

West Hook Farm Campsite

Seal pup with mum

next day. Seal pup with umbilical cord showing.

Brownie with salted caramel icecream at the cafe in Marloes

3) Whitesands for the weekend - Zoe and Richard join us.
Lots of space in the fields, but all on a slope. Weather was worse than ever. Used 4 WD and even rear diff lock to drive through the muddy slopes to an almost flat spot.
Zoe & Richard joined us after work all ready for surfing the next morning -9am was the plan! Well by 9am we are usually just thing about breakfast. However it rained and blew at us all night, with water leaking in past roof vents and side vents. Worse still, there was no surf. Sunday was no better so we packed up and moved to Celtic camping near Abereiddy - weather was better and we enjoyed a walk to Abereiddy and the Blue Lagoon-to be entertained by the youth groups daring to jump in.
Monday-defied the weather forecast and allowed a pleasant walk to Abereiddy and Porthgain . The walk and small harbour revealed a history of slate mining, brick making and stone quarrying. Caught the bus back-which is just right for as after a 5 mile walk.

Zoe, Richard, plus one.

Jumping into the Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy 

Old quarry buildings at Porthgain

Porthgain 

4) In land. Found a remote parking spot near lake Berwyn , then found the lake and had a surprising sunset to marvel about - contrary the "double"rain forecast.

LLynn Berwyn picnick spot

The picnic spot was really for the view point

4)Tried to drive, and camp near llyn  Teifi but menacing notices declared it to be a "Site of special scientific interest " with unlimited fines for driving without land owner permission. We hadviews of stunning scenery of remote hills and lakes.

A different road further North took us to a small farm campsite at Trywyln, and from their on to Shrewsbury