A Week Exploring Wales | Holiday in Llanon, Wales

A Week Exploring Wales | Holiday in Llanon, Wales 

Sunset at the seaside near Llanrhystud

near Llanon..

Hello my lovely followers and visitors 😃

Today I thought I would share a bit of information on my latest holiday to Wales, which I returned from mid July. This year my family and myself and our three dogs went to Wales for the second year in a row, where we stayed in a lovely old detached house in Llanon facing the seaside.
The journey took approximately 4 1/2 hours, but when we got there the house was lovely.

Entrance to the Silver Mountain Experience mine, Wales 

The home was a lush blue on the outside and the interior design and layout was very nice, with extremely old stairs that possessed carpet holders made out of wood which would keep the rugs on the stairs in place. Looking closely at the wooden staircase you could tell it was an old house, with the wood carvings created in great detail and the stairs faded by years of sunlight where the rug was not placed.

After unpacking our things we set off to look at the seaside in a neighbouring town. The view was great with rock faces in the distance, and the comforting sound of the waves crashing onto the shore before retreating.


On holiday we visited plenty of places and sights. We visited the beach near Llanrhystud multiple times that week, which is situated about a 5 minute drive from Llanon. Another place we visited which I found interesting was the Silver Mountain Experience, a old mine open to tourists and the public to explore, learn historical facts about and that possessed rumors of ghosts and witches.


We even had a tour into the mines which were dark, damp and extremely cold, but which I found amazingly interesting with my interest in history.

A collage of my favourite photographs taken at the Magic
of Life Butterfly House, CwmRheidol, Aberystwyth.

    Our tour guide even told us about multiple ghosts claimed to have been sighted and heard by tourists and staff, such as one ghosts of a young boy who one day messed around with the framework and fell to his death. This I found chilling as I believe that we all must go somewhere when we die and that ghosts are likely real, and after the tour guide told us about this ghost, and directed us towards the exit, I couldn't help but feel as someone or something was behind me, like the way you feel when you feel something's presence near you; but I turned around and there was
no one there except the old framework where the boy had fallen. This made me wonder if there really was someone there or if it was a placebo effect from my brain after being told ghosts had been sighted. But with the historical information of the mines causing over 40 deaths a week I can't help but not be surprised if there are ghosts from the poor who worked from the age they could crawl until their premature deaths, and so decided to keep them in my mind as I felt sympathetic for the workers struggle to survive, and grateful for life today and the opportunities it provided for us.

Hafod Church, Hafod Estate, supported by the
Hafod Trust and sponsored by the
 Welsh Government

Information of Hafod Estate.

 Further on in the week, we visited The Magic of Life Butterfly House in CwmRheidol, Aberystwyth which I thought was amazing, and was one of the best places I've been to, housing so many beautiful, elegant and colourful butterflies which were all very friendly and in great condition, alongside amazing Scorpions which turn turquoise under UV light, Hercules Beatles, giant moths, Tarantulas and many more exotic insects that looked content in their homes. One of my favourite Butterflies was the Blue Morpho butterfly with it's amazing bright blue winds which sweep past your face; and after

much perseverance and following the butterflies around waiting to catch a picture of their blue wings, I finally got a clear image which you can see above😄🎆

One of Hafod Estates forest walks

We also visited Hafod Estate, in Aberystwyth, Cwmystwyth, once an estate with a estate home, but that was demolished after WW2; which I would guess was due to issues of bankruptcy which led to multiple estate houses across Britain to be sold or demolished, or in Hafod's abandoned, derelict state before it was demolished. It makes me sad to think grand estate homes were demolished or left to become derelict and abandoned due to the poverty that Britain faced. However, much to my delight, Hafod Church is preserved alongside the forest, and the Estate is now run and preserved by the Hafod Trust, which is supported by the Welsh government. Hafod Estate is a great place to visit, offering amazing opportunities to take some lovely images and the estate is free to access with a charitable donation.

One of Hafod Estate's forest walks

The small bridge positioned above a
massive cliff and the river.

It's church houses hundreds of years of history and that is still in use today; hosting a visitors book with visitors from across the globe or in neighbouring locations. The oldest gravestone date I could find was from 1570, which proves how much history the church possessed! I
have included a few images, not the best lighting as they were inside an old stone church, that I assume were provided by the Hafod Trust alongside the support of the Welsh Government, which give historical information about Hafod Estate and the area :)

The estate was lovely, with multiple forest walks you could take, which were great for our working, energetic dogs; and one of which we took included walking alongside and on extremely high cliffs, hills and a waterfall for 2 1/2 hours;

Information of the area. 

exploring is the best thing about holidays in Wales and I love it. The waterfall was amazing with the clear water and the multiple rocks gathered around it. Overall, we had a great day and so did the dogs, who were tired after their long walk.

Gem exploring the water.

The stairs leading to the rooms,
 Llanerchaeron. 

On one of the last days, my family and myself set off for horse riding lessons, something my mum had booked after years of hearing me complain about never having horse riding lessons and wanting to try. The lessons were great, and to my surprise, the teacher said I was " very good" and "skilled" at horse riding, when it was the first time I'd ever ridden a horse and first lesson I had taken in my life 😇  I guess I shall just have to see if I can continue to learn 😁  The best part was that the horse I had was called Nepolian, and rather accurately too, as he was very assertive and bossy, moving to the right to see ahead of the other horses and constantly trying to get to the front of the line to lead 😄
 We also visited Llanerchaeron House, a house still in perfect condition and opened and run by the National Trust. When first attained by The National Trust, it was in a derelict, overgrown state, but is now restored to a perfect structure with so many places to see.

The dining room.

The home was massive, and kept in such good condition including the servant bedrooms, wine cellar, kitchen, bedrooms and all the small rooms outside that servants worked in such as the cheese room which hosted old equipment like barrels to churn the milk, and a laundry room which included old irons placed onto a standing stove which
would heat them up when they were placed onto the edges on shelves, and a very old turning barrel where washing would be placed with soap and churned, much like a very early washing machine. Llanerchaeron House also had gardens restored and on view for the public. Outside near the entrance was a small, pop up cafe that served delicious food from meals to cakes.

The Lounge.

   The national Trust had created the house into a flash back in time, placing historical details, such as a newspaper dating back to Queen Elizabeth's II's Coronation and old magazines dated back to the 1930's and 1940's.

Overall, my holiday was full of interesting sights to see and history; and I loved every part of it. Wales I believe hosts so many natural landscapes that are amazing to see and many historical places to visit; alongside scenic beaches and seaside creatures.


Thank you for reading,

Caris 😃





     

Summer Photo Picks | My Favourite Pictures Of My Holiday, 2016

Summer Photo Picks | My Favourite Pictures Of My Holiday, 2016

Hey, hope all is well,

 Mountains, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. This image isn't
edited at all, everything you see, all the natural colours;
are untouched, and only captured by me on my camera.

Now I have just been on holiday, and anyone who knows me and my blog, will know that if there's anything I like to do more on holiday; is to take pictures to catelogue my experiences. I have gathered together all the pictures I love the most, in order to share them and to highlight the beauty of the South of Wales where I spent my week on holiday with my family. This year, I am going to create a mini album one could call it, of all the pictures, putting a twist to my usual blogging where I end up writing and writing until about five pages later I only just finish, with the thought that a small collage of photos might be nice to share on my blog with all of you.

Llanelli beach

However, before you have a look at the natural beauty of South Wales, I'll first give you some context on my holiday. I went on holiday Saturday the 30th with my family off to South Wales to a small cottage in the middle of the hills and forest in a small village called Gwynfe, based in the county of Carmarthenshire, which was one of the two county's that wales consisted of. 

Dryslwyn Castle, a 13th century castle.

     The journey took approximately three hours, followed by pacing up the small, steep and narrow roads and over the mountains that I swear look like mount Everest's cousins. The further we went, the higher we got into the mountains, until thirty minutes later we reached the cottage, named 'Forest View Cottage'. 

Dryswlyn Castle

Now the cottage was an average size, painted white and with all rooms on ground level, and being so high up in the mountains, the cottage was cold, with its stone structure. Of course, as you may have guessed, there was no wi-fi, no phone signal- unless you drove twenty minutes to Pen Arthur Wood- and not even a telephone inside the cottage, with the owner of the cottage living next door, I guess they didn't see any reason to have one.To sum up, the area was pretty excluded or even 'remote' as some might say. 

The beginning of the National Show Caves

     Throughout the week, we spent some time travelling to different places, going along a mountain route that winds round the mountains and past the sheep who occupy it. The view was amazing, and you'll soon see why :) In summary, we visited Dryswyn Castle, a 13th century castle now with its remains standing high above the
ground, Llanelli and it's beach and it's national nature reservation grounds with a cycle route that a enjoyed so much, we spent two hours cycling around and even came face to face with swans that didn't seem too happy to see our bicycles because their juvenile babies were around, so they started trying to attack the wheels, and may I add; swans aren't the
most friendliest of birds I can think of. We also visited The National Show Caves which were amazing and had an intriguing history to them of bones found in one of the three caves called the 'Bone Cave' that were from around the iron age or older, with the main cave
being the first to be discovered by the Morgan Brothers in 1912 who had finished

Waterfalls in the National Show Caves

their farm work for the day and decided to finally explore the caves, mapping out every detail of it. We also went to Swansea for a bit of shopping, because I really needed some new shoes that preferably weren't broken like my other ones; and finally Pen Arthur Wood, a small woodland walk just twenty minutes down the road, and down the mountains, from Gwynfe.



So here are all the top pictures from my summer holiday, 2016. I could only choose a few because they were all amazing and I just couldn't fit them all onto this blog post. Scroll down the page to view the rest of images, click to enlarge them. All images are taken by me, Caris and my property :) 

National Show Caves

Waterfalls in the National Show Caves

The National Show Caves

This stalagmite was named 'The Angel'
by the Morgan brothers for its tall human-like structure
and long wings which can be seen to the back of
the stalagmite's structure. The Morgan brothers
 first ventured into the caves after finishing
their farm work early in 1912 and they mapped out
the caves as they went. one hundred and four years later,
they're open to the public with their rich history
and interesting past of the 'Bone Cave' which has remains
dating back to before the Iron age. 

I hope these pictures were worth a look, I think they are it it goes to show the real, untouched natural beauty of South Wales.

Thank you for reading,

Yours truly,
Caris

Holiday Souvenirs | All The Things I Aquired On Holiday

Holiday Souvenirs | All The Things I Acquired On Holiday

Stewart my Seagull Souvenir :)

Hello! As you may know from following my blog, you will see that I am posting bits of my week holiday in Ringstead Bay, Dorset. If you haven't yet can these holiday posts, that follow the name " My 2015 Holiday" then click here and scroll down my page to view these posts in order- " http://www.xchattyblondex.blogspot.co.uk/ " Carrying on, I have taken images of all my 'buys' as one could say and here I will show you what I decided to buy and where I got them from. 

Ringstead Bay Seagull souvenir  (a.k.a "Stewart" as I like to call him):

I purchased this souvenir from Ringstead Bay Kiosk, Ringstead (yes I know again it's obvious ha) This was the last of this style of ornament on the shelves, so I grabbed him up as soon as possible. When it comes to nice ornaments the best go first! Especially those that look the most detailed. 

This souvenir was just £3.49 and a definite bargain; considering holidays can be expensive when concerning gifts. This souvenir is one of my favourites.

Silver 3D Glass Butterfly Candle Holder:

Silver 3D Glass Butterfly candle Holder

This souvenir is gorgeous! I love the way the three dimensional butterfly feature on the front catches the sunlight, diverting the sun's rays in various directions. It adds a bright, elegant touch to my room perched on my desk, wings open as if ready to take off. 

Purchased from the National Tank Museum in Weymouth, it didn't cost much despite being on sale in a Museum gift shop. Costing £4.95, I can say I'm proud of my money management; this is another one of my favourite purchases. 

Inspirational Pebbles:

Inspirational pebbles (apologies for
the blurred image x)

I call these the "Inspirational pebbles" because they inspire me. These pebbles were hand painted, with quotations handwritten onto them. Purchased at the National Tank Museum, Weymouth, these pebbles were £3.00 each. Despite being costly, I felt like these quotations on the
pebbles related to me, so decided I would keep them in my room when times get tough either due to College stress or life in general. A souvenir that speaks out to me.


These are the items I purchased on holiday, one of a kind, or common to find, however I will leave this post at that for now, because there's more to be written in the future about my 2015 Summer Holiday :) Keep up with the "My 2015 Holiday" posts because more will be put up soon for you to read right through the weeks.



Yours truly,
xChatty Blondex

My 2015 Holiday | Day 3 Alone With The Dogs

My 2015 Holiday | Day 3 Alone With The Dogs 

Ringstead Bay and it's Beach when
we arrived at the beach.
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

After spending our first day at Ringstead Bay Beach and our second day at Charmouth, on the third day I was left to look after Skye and Gem. My family had gone out for the day and I had decided to stay and go to the Beach with Skye. Being only 10 weeks old, the large pebbles on the beach could be a task for Gem to walk on, so she stayed in her bed nice and comfortable with all her favourite toys. When I was ready to go, I put a lead on Skye and checked on Gem. She had already fallen asleep. Taking hold of Skye's lead firmly, I went out the door, locked it and set off.

Steps leading to the second of the two beaches.
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

The sky was clear blue and the clouds were white, looking as though they had been perfectly moulded to their fluffy shape before being placed into the sky. A gentle breeze accompanied the warm air, making it the perfect weather for the beach. Walking down the drive with Skye panting with excitement beside me; I came to the gate at the bottom of the cottages drive. Reaching over the wooden structure, I attempted to lift the latch which wouldn't budge. I pushed against the gate as I lifted the latch, still no movement. In the end I had to send Skye underneath the gate and climb over, typical. Once over, I set off along the shining, smooth gravel track towards the field. Letting Skye off lead resulting in her racing into the distance, returning seconds later making multiple laps around me. The grass was long and soft and the smell of pollen was in the air. Listening carefully, I could hear the sea and people on the beach.

The second of the two beaches at Ringstead.
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

Once at the bottom of the field, I cut through a open gate into the second field. Skye lead the way until we reached a gate built into the fencing, sending Skye through we reached a small single track road. The road leading to the beach. Whilst walking I could feel the sun's rays behind me as they hit my legs and arms. I just love the warmth of summer. After walking for some time, avoiding walking into people and their dogs and cars, we reached the walkway leading down towards the beach. Skye started to whine with excitement. Once on the beach we set off towards the second beach on the left of the area. When we reached the steps leading to the beach, I let Skye free. Watching this white and brown figure vanish into the distance directly towards the sea made me smile. She has to be one of the craziest and most joyful dogs I have ever had I thought to myself. Returning with a large grin spread across her face, I placed a lead back onto Skye's collar. Her fur was soft but her legs were dripping with salty sea water and dotted with sand from the beach. Once we reached the middle of the second beach, I sat onto the ground. A mixture of sand and small pebbles covered the

Skye settled on the beach.
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

surface. Removing the lead from her collar, I threw a toy into the soft, gentle gleaming water which Skye retrieved in seconds. Watching her run up to the water and dive far into the sea, she moved like an Olympic swimmer. Drawing closer to the toy floating on the surface, she picked it up and ran back to me in a matter of seconds with a wide grin on her face.

Skye on Ringstead Bay Beach.
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

After being at the beach for about an hour and a half to two hours, I decided it was time for me and Skye to go back to the holiday cottage. The grin that had first appeared on Skye's face hadn't budged since. The two of us were happy. Skye still grinning, covered in salty sea water from the calm and gentle waves, head to toe and me covered in sand; we both finally arrived back at the cottage's gate to the drive. Climbing over the gate-which still would not move, Skye followed me underneath, trotting towards the cottage door. The sunlight was less intense and there was a breeze still blowing through the air, past me across to the trees in the wood to my right. Trees rustled as the breeze hit them, as though they were speaking to each other with their vibrant, green leaves. Once inside the cottage, I let Gem out, who cheerfully let out a greeting howl; sounding as if she was saying hello in English. Running up to Skye, she launched herself into the mad Spaniel, before flying back from the force she herself, a little 10 week old puppy could create.

Eventually the dogs came back inside, resting together in Skye's cage sleeping peacefully for the next few hours; until my family came back from the dog competition Quest had competed in. Happy I couldn't wait for my next day on holiday, wondering, where will I go next? With that thought, I smiled and turned on the TV; because hey everyone needs a television on holiday. Right?

Yours truly,
xChatty Blondex

My 2015 Holiday | Day 2 At Charmouth, Weymouth

My 2015 Holiday | Day 2 At Charmouth, Weymouth 

Hello. This is the entry of my second day on holiday in Charmouth. If you haven't read the first and second post about my entry which are listed in order, click now- entry 1-"My 2015 Holiday | Arriving At Ringstead Bay, Dorset" and entry 2- "My 2015 Holiday | Discovering The Cottage & Day 1 At Ringstead Bay Beach". There are plenty of images to show how great it was :) Enjoy. 

Rock pools running along Charmouth Beach
 near the sea. (Photograph taken by me Caris)

The Bridge Leading to the Beach.
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

After spending Sunday, the first day at the Beach in Ringstead Bay, my family and I wanted to discover the surrounding area. We found a nearby beach and once we got there, there was a lot of natural beauty to be seen. The drive to Charmouth led us through country roads leading towards Weymouth. Turning off before we reached the center of Weymouth, the view of Charmouth Beach came into view. To the front of me I could see a concrete walkway with people walking past. Some had young children, others had dogs. Quest instantly appeared from around the corner of the seat that was in front of him. Peering out the window he saw the people and dogs and lay back down again.
Typical Quest, wait for the humans to get out then you can become excited. Skye on the other hand became intrigued, moved towards the window, she positioned her nose by the opening of the window and she breathed in the scent of the sea ending with a large sneeze. The sea scent must have been very strong. I could see two small gravel car parks and in front of them was another beach, this time with sand dunes and what appeared to be a reservoir running into the sea. Swans were swimming gracefully along the streaming water a bit of an odd sight at the beach.

Seagull above the beach.
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

View of the beach with the rock pools
in the center.(Photograph
taken by me Caris)

After getting out of the car we had lunch at a beach cafe. Once we had decided we were too full to anymore of our food, mine being chips, egg and salad, we set off with the dogs to explore the beach. Walking around the corner I felt the sun beat down on me, warming my skin and but blinding me from its intensity. A soft breeze accompanied the intense sunlight. This gave a feeling of delight as it blew past my face and into my hair causing a smile to appear across my face. It was a lovely August day.

Once further along the walkway, we came to a bridge placed from the walkway over the sea defense boulders, which finished on the other

The rock pools.
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

side, to the beach. Again this beach was shingle however the stones were smooth and warm, worn down by the sea and baked by the sun's rays. A Seagull flew over my head so low I felt like I could reach and touch it's smooth, aerodynamically designed feathers. It circled and flew over again, before angling their wings down to the left, resulting in a elegant swerve over my head towards the beach behind me where it vanished into the horizon.

After observing the Seagull that had now disappeared, I turned to look out towards the sea. People were walking along the beach and in the distance. I could see some of them gathered by some rocks placed in the center of the beach, which had submerged when the tide had vanished. Rock pools had developed here within the gaps between the rocks, it's inhabitants waiting for the sea to visit when the tide next comes in. Settling on more rocks based on the beach, I set off with my phone, with it's camera open, to explore the rock pools. The rock pools looked so peaceful and gentle. Looking forward I could see the sea out in the distance, a result of the tide retreating from the beach.

The rock pool where the Crab had been. My
favourite and the most inhabited pool
of them all.(Photograph taken
by me Caris)

Looking into the darkness of the rock pools, I could see seaweed which had inhabited this beautiful sight. Looking closer I could see a small crab, before my shadow warned it that I was time to go. Scuttling towards the darkness created by a rock jutting out in the rock pool, the crab disappeared into the rock's shadow leaving a grin across my face. Best to leave it be I thought and I continued my sight seeing before returning to the beach, hopping on and off of stones to avoid the salty sea water.

When I reached the beach, I joined my family and soaked up the sunshine. Two hours later, we decided to go back to the car but visited the souvenir shop before, that housed multiple beautiful fossils including and pieces of jewellery. Once purchasing a few things for family and a bracelet for myself, I worked me way around the shop in search of sunglasses. Having previously sat on them the first day of my holiday, Monday, I was in need of new ones but this seemed a challenge for me. Finally when my search had been completed, I went back to the car ready to leave the beach. Taking one last picture on my phone before exiting the car park, I wondered to myself, where will we go next. That and I hope it's sunny tomorrow as well. Skye appeared around the corner wanting a stroke, before touching her nose against my palm as if to say thank you for a great day at the beach. Quest peered over the seat, looking through the car window to my left; as if he was glad to go home and sleep after the long day.

My 2015 Holiday | Discovering The Cottage & Day 1 At Ringstead Bay Beach

My 2015 Holiday | Discovering The Cottage & Day 1 At Ringstead Bay Beach

Hello! It has been a bit over a week since I posted about setting off on my holiday in Ringstead Bay, Dorset. So here is another section to my holiday, the second section to the day I left for my holiday: My 2015 Holiday | Discovering The Cottage & Day 1 At Ringstead Bay Beach.

Ringstead Bay and it's Beach.
(Photograph taken by my Caris)

After we had arrived at the cottage and had spent the rest of our afternoon down at the Beach, we decided to return to the cottage to arrange who's bedroom was who's for the week. Walking up the steep cottage stairs that was protected by a soft, fluffy, cream carpet,  I dragged my massive suitcase behind me whilst nearly losing my balance and falling back. Once at the top of the stairs, the steepest part, a white thin wooden door came into view based to the left of the stairs. Another door came into view, same style and colour as the first, based next to the first bedroom and facing the landing rails. Chucking my suitcase down to the floor due to my arms aching with the weight, I went off to discover.

I opened the door with the thin black metal lifting latch. Opening the door and peering around the corner, a chest of drawers came into view accompanied by a blue, medium sized lamp situated to the left of the door. A part of the wall jutted outward hiding the drawers and lamp. In this part of the wall, there was a built in wardrobe with a white painted wooden door. turning away I could see a tall mirror clung to the wall facing the door. Standing there in my blue Coca-cola top, dark blue skinny jeans, leather jacket and white sneaker-style trainers, my outfit seemed to kind of go pretty well. Who would have known that the fact was I just chucked on whatever wasn't already in my suitcase that very morning. The casual look was obviously achieved without knowing. After I stopped admiring myself in the mirror (common we all do it ha ) I turned to the right walking past a window protected by blue flower curtains with a view of the wood on the right of the property. Two beds were based in the bedroom, one on the left and one on the right. The beds had on them two large white pillows and were decorated with bedding that matched the curtains; a material with a white base and small blue flowers printed on top. The exact same print as the curtains. Placed between the two beds, was a small yet very adorable looking bedside table with another lamp on top. This large white lamp based on top of the the smooth white wooden structure gave a elegant feel to the room. This bedroom gave off a comforting vibe as you entered through the door.  

Skye in the clear, calm sea.
(Photograph taken by me Caris).

Walking out of the first bedroom, I came to the second bedroom, a small room that appeared to have a modern look to it. Ivory paint covered the walls, cream carpet covering the floor and two small beds based on either side of the room, topped with white pillows and cream bedding, gave off a modern, hotel-like feel when entering the room. A bedside table was positioned between the two beds accompanied by a medium sized white lamp. A mirror hung on the wall facing a small window with blue cream curtains completed the rooms look. My little brother jumped to the second room leaving me with the first. I was fine by this as the first room to the left of the stairs, of which I had previously looked at had a large wardrobe and plenty of plug sockets to plug in my phone to charge. When you're a teenager your phone is everything to you. I need a socket to charge my phone! The second room was darker and lacked plug sockets so I jumped to the first room. After placing all my things in my room for the Holiday, I went downstairs and instantly went to figure out the WiFi and connect my phone. The kitchen appeared to have pretty much new everything. Clean cream cupboards spread along the top and bottom of the work top. A large window facing the drive up to the cottage was based to the right of the door and a small window on the left next to a cooker, also brand new, which was based next to a built in fridge and freezer.

Me and Skye (a.k.a The Crazy Spaniel) in the
cottage garden after spending the day at Ringstead Bay Beach
(Photograph taken by me Caris)

Later that evening after discovering that internet will always be an issue when staying in a cottage, setting up the TV, getting ready to finally sleep after waking at 7 that morning, I went to my bedroom to attempt to sleep. I say attempt as I struggle to sleep and some nights hardly sleep at all. However once I hit that pillow I fell asleep instantly despite the room being freezing.  

Me and the dogs (Gem Left, Quest center and Skye right)
in the cottage garden. Apologies for the bad image, my
phone is not the best unfortunately. 

After spending the first night in the cottage, I woke up to find my room was freezing! Again! Turning to where the windows were, I could see through a gap in the curtains that the windows were covered in condensation, most likely from me sleeping in the room. Then it hit me: it's the first day of my holiday!!! Once I had had my breakfast, got dressed and ready to leave, we head off to Ringstead Bay Beach for the day. The waves along the beach were cool and calm and the sound of the gentle waves hitting against the sand was very calming. The beach was partially shingle, however there were flat boulders set against the base of the small clay cliffs; placed there mainly as a defense against erosion of the soft clay cliffs the boulders made the perfect seats.
The sun beat down accompanied by a cool breeze and seagulls flying above. I went into the sea and Ringstead Bay has the nicest sea as odd as this may sound. The waves there weren't harsh like some beaches waves and the bay was a warm location to be in, with a soft breeze flowing by. The water was clear, giving vision to all the structures underneath the water. Lunch concision of chips, beans and chips; yes not very nutritious but hey I was on holiday. When the day had gone by, we head back to the cottage satisfied with the first day of the holiday :)



Sometimes the best things are the simple things. Simply visiting a small local and calm beach nearby was stress free. No travel, not fuel wasted and no need to worry about dog friendly beaches. Holidays can be one of the best times of the year.

Yours truly,
xChatty Blondex 

My 2015 Holiday | Arriving At Ringstead Bay, Dorset

My 2015 Holiday | Arriving At Ringstead Bay, Dorset

Ringstead Bay Beach. Photography by
me Caris.

Hi, hope all is well. I came back from holiday yesterday and I loved it! Just loved it so much! And this got me thinking whilst I was on holiday. If I loved and enjoyed it so much, why don't I share my experience of my holiday in Ringstead; promote my experience of this lovely location to everyone. I couldn't easily share this with you due to lack of great internet and my laptop being at home, so I will do it now :)

Ringstead is a small village in Dorset and has Ringstead Bay with it's beach right in its location (the name gives it away yes I know ha). This area lies on the Jurassic Coast, a location in England known well from it's stunning views and fossils. Ringstead Bay is wonderful. The waves are calm and cool and the beach stretches both ways, one on the right end and another from the left end past some sea defense boulders. I was based in this lovely little cottage just a 2 or less minute drive away from Ringstead Bay Beach. Walking there is short as well. It took maybe about 5 to 7 minutes however I had this crazy Spaniel with me, yes my dog Skye, and she was a mad nutter. This is very time consuming when this mad thing of a Springer Spaniel is running round and around in circles and going the opposite direction you're going. But anyway, I will come back to that day later. 

When we got there after hours and hours of travelling in our massive car with plenty of traffic, we finally arrived interesting in what this week would hold for us. When we got to Ringstead, the road lead into the direction of the beach and a small gravel turning off to the left lead to the cottage. Going along this small gravel road I could see cattle based in a barn and others on a field in the distance. The view as we drove along this road was lovely. Off to the right was the Sea, a perfect view from where we were. I could see hills on the far left of the beach as the Bay cliffs jutted out into the water. Houses nestled deep within the hills could be seen. It was as if they were hiding from the wind which aids the movement of the waves. A large house, from what I could see from this distance,  was based on the very top of the cliff. What a view it's inhabitants of that house must have!

Walkway leading to Ringstead Bay Beach.
Photography by me Caris. 

We carried on driving until we got to two gates, one to the left and one to the right. Instructions from the cottage landlord informed us that the massive farm-style gate to the left would be for us to go through. Driving up the drive, the cottage came into view. It was so pretty and looked perfect and unlike most cottages, it was relatively large. It had a long rectangular structure with a thatched roof based on top. Windows facing the drive were located at the front of the cottage with stepping stones leading to the front door. As I got the Dogs out of the Car, Skye and Quest raced off towards the left of the cottage where the Garden with a Sea view was. Gem struggled to pull free from my arms as I gently lifted this strong willed Border Collie puppy out of the travel cage. I placed her onto the ground and clipped the lead to her. I didn't want to lose her to the large fields behind the gate and open wood to the right of the cottage drive. She raced after the other two, trying to jump up and chase them around the garden, only to fall over her own feet when chasing after Skye. Quest had obviously decided the idea of becoming a puppy chew toy was not for him. The Garden was open and stretched from the drive to the end based on the left of the property. A hedge separated the field behind from the garden. As I approached the hedge, I gawped in amazement. The view of the Sea was beautiful. The cliffs were in viewing range and the waves looked calm, glistening in the sunshine.

Ringstead Souvenir named Stewart ha.
Purchased for £3.49
Photograph taken by me Caris. 

After removing everything from the Car and into the cottage, we set off to the Beach with the dogs to discover our surroundings. When we followed the road towards the beach, it lead us to a small building and car park. People were getting out of their car with all their beach things. One group of people appeared to be getting ready to go surfing. We set off towards the beach, walking past the building called Ringstead Bay Kiosk and I could see they served food and sold things to customers. A track road lead us to the beach entrance with a ramp leading towards the beach. When we got to the beach the sunshine was lovely. After playing with the dogs in the sea and basking in the sun, we set off back to the kiosk near the entrance. After having a meal at the kiosk of which I had cod, chips and peas (yummy) I decided to buy myself this Ringstead souvenir to remember my holiday.


Holidays are great especially when the sun is shining and everyone is in a good mood. I will put more about my next day and experience of my holiday soon but for now I will spare you from reading too much as I have ALOT to share :) Enjoy your day.

Yours truly,
xChatty Blondex

My trip to The Princess Towers | Day Out

My trip to The Princess Towers | Day Out 

 

The Princess Towers. Photograph taken by me
Caris -xChatty Blondex

Hello. Summer goes by so quickly, so I thought to myself, why not do something to really remember. Something I will enjoy. So I went on a long summer walk to one of my favourite places. I took my dogs and set off. I had decided to go to a place where I have many childhood memories; the Towers aka "Princess Towers" as I liked to call it when I was younger. Here's a run through of how enjoyable a summer walk can be, something I have enjoyed as part of my summer holiday.

 

Setting off with two young dogs can be a challenge. They pull, they leg it when they see another dog! But what I love about my two adult, yet funny dogs is that they enjoy long walks.

 

Quest and Skye are fairly young. Quest is just four and Skye is just one. They do training and all sorts of things with one of my parents, as they are their dogs. This training can make them very obedient, great for taking a picture of them :) Walking along a field with them on the lead can be, shall I say, a work out. Even working dogs will pull and you have to really hold your grip haha. Quest is a Border Collie and Skye is a Spaniel so for working breeds, you can imagine they can be very strong.

 

Golden Wheat Fields leading to the Stream.
Photography by me  Caris-xChatty Blondex

Once we had walked across the fields, where I had watched Skye leap over the golden wheat fields, holding a massive grin across her face, we had got to the track leading to the Towers. The view was stunning. All these years ago I came here with my old dogs who have sadly passed away now and who I hold in my heart still today. I had forgotten how amazing it was there. The trees were green and vibrant, as if they had been freshly painted. The Sky looked clear, as though it was a picture in a gallery, perfect. The sound of the Grass Hoppers was like a symphony, with nothing else interrupting their song, even when one decided to hop onto my leg. The air was fresh and clear and the wind blew in my face, sending my hair flying back behind me. All my memories from the past of this place came flooding back. Memories deep within my head started to emerge, causing a smile to spread across my face as I felt a moment of delight, comfort, happiness and amazement. "Wow this is beautiful" I muttered to myself as I gawped at the view. I knew for a fact that one thing was clear. I had missed this place.

 

Skye and Quest heading for the stream. Spaniel
and Collie showing their true
personalities: adventurous
and active.
Photograph by me Caris- xChatty Blondex

Turning the corner with me following, the dogs hurried off towards the hill. They knew that the stream was near. As they vanished around the corner, I walked down the sloping dirt path and turned my head in to the direction of a shining object within the distance. I could see a Farm over the hill in front of me. The metallic reflection of the iron roofing on a barn had caught my eye, as it shone in the sunshine looking brand new. By the time I had turned the corner which Skye and Quest had disappeared around, the image I saw made me smile. The two of them were over joyed. They were scurrying down the hill towards the stream and bridge at the bottom. To the best part of the walk and the final destination of this amazing route. Skye was bustling up and down the hill, turning around and heading towards me, tail wagging, ears flying and a grin present upon her face, before retreating back towards the stream. Quest by her side, his tail swaying left and right accompanied by a gentle walk. Typical laid back Quest. 

The Stream and the Bridge.
Photograph by me Caris- xChatty Blondex

Before I could stop her, Skye plunged herself into the stream. The stream had a clearing with rocks and was shallow, just enough for Quest the go into and fetch a stick before retrieving it back to me, a impatient playful look on his face. Approached by Skye soon after, I was clear that they wanted to play fetch. So we did and I could tell, they loved it here just like I do.

 

The Stream. I call this part
 the Lake.
Photograph by me
Caris- xChatty Blondex

 

I enjoyed this walk and I know that my dogs did too. I believe that summer walks are the best thing when its nice and hot and you're itching to get outside. Take a bike like I have, a friend or your dogs like I did, and enjoy the lovely summer breeze and heat.

 

Skye (left) and Quest (right) enjoying their walk
to The Towers.
Photograph by me Caris- xChatty Blondex

I told my friend, Lady Fascination, about this place and she wanted to come with me to see it. The images were stunning. So share a interesting walk with someone. Get out there and catch the sun on a summer walk to

remember. :) Go alone or with another, but enjoy the summer. Create memories and have a good time. Nature is beautiful and accompanied by the summer warmth, they make a perfect combination to enjoy.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

xChatty Blondex