Wales Blog - Day 3! (Monday 29th August)

Hi Guys!

Today we had a pretty hectic day!! We got up pretty earlier to go out and feed the animals, and went for a lovely walk round the farm in the sun!

We decided that the weather was so nice we should head out to the coast! We headed to Llanerchaeron (a National Trust place) for lunch and a walk on the way! The were snack type lunches, but we really enjoyed them! However, we wouldn't recommend the ploughman's to cheese fans as the cheddar wasn't very strong!!

After lunch, we had a walk around the house and the gardens! I'm not going to lie - I really hate looking round old houses like that so I was quite relieved that by National Trust standards, it was quite small! However, the gardens were absolutely gorgeous!! In particular, there was a lovely garden with a huge vegetable patch, greenhouses and apple trees! It was the most impressive vegetable patch I've ever seen!! There was even a farm with loads of cute animals, so this would be a perfect place to take young children! 

My Pulled Pork Sandwich

Mum and Frankie had Welsh Rarebit!

Dad's Ploughmans!

Inside the House

Inside the House

The Gardens...

The Animals...

After a walk, we set off once again in the car and headed to Llangrannog. We had never been there before, but when we arrived there was free parking and a park and ride bus which we took down to the beach! There were three separate patches of beach in between a gorgeous hill/cliff! We decided to climb the hill to look at the views from above, and we found a bench to sit on and relax while watching the view! After a few minutes sat there, out of the corner of my eye I saw a disturbance in the water, and realised that there were dolphins!! We watched them for ages, and there only appeared to be two at first, but all after a few minutes, more and more started turning up!! It was amazing, and the views were breathtaking!

More updates tomorrow! Don't forget to subscribe to get notifications when I post!

Becca xxx

Wales Blog - Day 2! (Sunday 28th August)

Hi Guys!

This morning we went out to help feed the animals with farmer Rob! It was pretty disgusting weather, but we always end up having great fun! We threw loads of balls for Bryn (if you read my blog regularly, you probably would have seen that Bryn LOVES balls being thrown for him)! We came prepared this morning, and bought one of those ball throwing things so we could pick up the ball and throw it easily! After a few minutes of this, Bryn disappeared, and it turned out that he got so tired, he went and hid behind the laundry room door!!

Bryn Hiding!!!

After feeding the animals, we went out for Sunday lunch at The Plough. This was our very first time eating there, and was a suggestion from Fiona who owns the farm. It was absolutely DELICIOUS!! As well as this, the food came so quickly!! Literally a minute after we ordered our starters, they arrived!

Car Selfie!

Seafood Fishcake Starter

My Roast Lamb!

Dad's Roast Beef!

Mum and Frankie had Roast Turkey!

My Roast Lab with all the Trimmings!!

Me, Mum and Frankie all had a local Cheeseboard each for Pudding!!

We headed straight from The Plough to Carmarthen to have a quick look round the shops! We've been to the town many times before, and it has a cinema and a few restaurants as well as lots if high street stores!

This evening we've been for a couple of walks round the farm, and I have also practised driving for the first time since we were here this time last year...!! I really need to book some lessons!!

Now we're relaxing and watching the latest star wars film, so if you're excuse me I'm going to end my blog here so I don't miss the end!!

The View from our Cottage!

Evening Walk!

More updates tomorrow!

Becca xxx

Wales Blog - Day 1! (Saturday 27th August)

Today we travelled to Wales! We set off at 9am so that we could go and see Mum's Auntie (Jo), who lives in Malmesbury with her dog Bobby! As we pass by on our way in holiday, we decided to pop in for a cup of tea and a quick catch up before continuing on our journey!

Crazy Excited Car Selfie!

Bobby!

Our next stop was Tredegar House, a National Trust place about an hour and a half away from the farm! We stopped there to have lunch, which has become a tradition every time we go to Wales - although they've changed their menu, and the food wasn't great today :(

We arrived at the farm and 16:15, and had a lovely catch up with Rob and Fiona (the owners of the farm)! We also went for a walk and briefly saw the animals before coming back to our house to relax and eat dinner!

Thanks for reading!

Becca xxx 

The Creative Cafe, Narberth

We visited The Creative Cafe in Narberth way back in August 2012 during our first visit to the farm. Unfortunately, the weather was awful for our first ever holiday in Wales - 2 weeks of non-stop rain! And not just normal rain either - full on raining cats and dogs...the kind of rain that soaks you through after literally 10 seconds!

Although we still had an amazing time on the farm (we're British, the weather will never stops us!), we were rather limited with what we could do due to the fact that we were soaked through the minute we stepped out the door! Therefore, we needed to find somewhere to go that was practical with the weather conditions. We soon found a place in Narberth called The Creative Cafe! 

When you enter The Creative Cafe there is a selection of plain ceramic bowls, mugs, coasters, etc. to choose from. Once you have picked the item/s you wish to paint, you grab a table and start decorating! Paints are provided by the cafe. While you are painting, there is the chance to order food and/or drinks, which I believe (don't quote me on this, it's been a long time since I was there!) you order via waitress service. The cafe is generally quite loud, especially on  rainy days, but I remember there being a good, fun atmosphere!

When you have finished painting your ceramics, you hand them in to be put in a special oven - they are in there for 1-2 days (I can't remember exactly), therefore ensure that you don't go to the cafe on the last day of your holiday, otherwise you will be unable to pick up your work! 

I really recommend the cafe to family's with youngish children as an activity for a wet day. However, although we really enjoyed the cafe, you have to buy the ceramics to be able to do any painting, and in my opinion they were quite expensive. I would also strongly suggest that you call in advance and book a table as we did - understandably, particularly on rainy days, there is high demand for tables in the cafe! Also bear in mind that you will have to return to the cafe a few days later to pick up your artwork. 

Below is a picture of our completed ceramics! 

Cwmcrwth Farm

I have been to West Wales 6 times in 4 years, and have stayed on Cwmcrwth Farm every time! To me and my family it is like a second home! Situated right by Capel Isaac and only a 15 minute drive from the lovely Llandeilo, Cwmcrwth Farm is a wonderful place to stay! Although it is within only half an hours drive of Carmarthen, the farm is very peaceful and picturesque.

The accommodation on the farm consists of three holiday cottages, all situated in the courtyard - the Hayloft (sleeps 4), the Coach House (sleeps 7) and the Milking Parlour (sleeps 6). The Milking parlour has been our home for every visit, and it the perfect choice for those people who like walking as it has a large boot room. However, the other two houses also have boot racks outside the doors, which is a necessity when you are staying on a farm in Wales! Although I have only stayed in the Milking parlour, my grandparents have stayed in the Hayloft and loved it, and I have personally been to look round the Coach House which has a wonderful spacious feel to it due to a lovely high ceiling. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, why not stay in Mafanwy's Ark? Mafanwy was farmer Robs oldest and most special pig - they even had her before they moved to the farm, where she survived a lightening storm than caused the destruction of her home! She was so special because she refused to leave her piglets when this happened and kept them safe until Rob and Fiona found them in the morning. Mafanwy sadly died just recently. In her honor, Mafanwy's Ark was created. This is basically a very large pig sty, which sleeps 4 people!! This would be perfect for outdoorsy adventurous people who want a new experience! You can also bring your dogs to stay with you on your holiday!

The Milking Parlour

The Hayloft (left) and the Coach House (right)

Mafanwy's Ark

Rob and Fiona own Cwmcrwth Farm and they go above and beyond their duties to make every guest feel welcome and at home. Due to the fact that they own a working farm, they are extremely busy, but always find the time to do anything for their guests. Whether you are new guests, or returning guests, you always get a warm welcome from Fiona when you arrive. When you enter your cottage, you will find a surprise on the table - Fiona always leaves a snack for when you arrive! We have so far had warm chocolate brownies, chocolate muffins, sausage rolls and the famous Welsh cakes! Due to the fact that they own a working farm, all you have to do is ask, and Fiona will get you sausages and bacon! On our latest visit, we also tried highland cow burgers and steaks.

Although young families are the main people to stay on the farm, this doesn't mean that they are the only ones that can enjoy it. When we first started staying on the farm, I was 13 and my sister 11. We absolutely loved it, and 4 years later, ages 17 and 15, we still do! My grandparents loved it just as much as us! Anyone of any age would love their stay on the farm!

For those of you who want to get stuck in, farmer Rob can find you lots of jobs! Every morning, all the guests are welcome to join him and his dogs, Meg and Bryn, on his feeding rounds - this includes feeding the goats, rare breed Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, the chickens (and collecting their eggs, which you can keep), the rabbits, the donkeys and the horses. As well as this, you can put the donkeys out in their field, cuddle the rabbits whenever you like, and give the horses and donkeys treats of carrots whenever you want.

Highland Cow

Highland Cow Calf

Gerty the Golden Gernsey

Dora the Angora

Buffy the goat (who loves her beard being pulled)!

From left to right - Toffee the pony, Derek the horse and Eddie the miniature shetland

Dominic and Millie

The late Daisy the sheep who was bottle fed and lived in Rob and Fiona's house during this time!

Meg the dog trying to intimidate some piglets...after this picture was taken, the piglet won the staring contest and Meg ran off scared!

Bryn the dog - he will love you for life if you throw something for him

As well as getting to know all the animals, there is a lovely pond in which you can pond dip, and each cottage is kitted out with a barbecue for when you have nice weather (even if you don't, you will still have a great time - on our first holiday it poured with rain for 14 days straight and we still came back)!

Cwmcrwth Farm have won many awards, which you can a list of on their website.

To myself and my family, Cwmcrwth Farm is a second home. I can't describe how much I love it! Everyone else who stays on the farm also ends up loving it, and when living on a working farm, you never know what to expect - there are always surprises - we have experienced newly born piglets, a goat that loves her beard being pulled, and a couple of very naughty run away ponies...so get ready for a very exciting stay!

We visited all the places in this blog while staying on the farm, so everything you read about is within approximately 2 hours drive from Cwmcrwth.

So, what are you waiting for?! Go ahead and book!