Things to Do - Part 3

25 May 202319 October 2023Days Out, Gardens

Cae Hir Gardens – a Feast for the Senses

Just a 20 minute drive from Coedmor Cottages is gorgeous Cae Hir Gardens. They have been an RHS Partner Garden for 18 years and are one of the original Magnificent 6 – the ‘Great Gardens of West Wales’.

Whether you’re a keen gardener, nature enthusiast, or looking for a serene escape, you can easily while away hours exploring. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in the wonders of nature, discover unusual plants, and find peace in the tranquility of a beautifully crafted garden.

The colours are really stunning in the sunshine. There are some rare and unusual specimens to discover.

As you explore the winding pathways, you’ll be treated to a variety of stunning features and plantings. From vibrant flower beds to manicured lawns, Cae Hir Gardens offers a feast for the senses at every turn.

Working with Nature

The gardens have been designed in a naturalistic style, blending harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. The Wild Garden is one of my favourite parts of the garden. Nature is allowed to flourish. Situated in a beautifully secluded spot at the very bottom of the garden, it runs adjacent to the ‘Bran’ – a delightful, winding stream.

Rounding off your Visit

If you are inspired by the garden’s plants, some of them are available to buy in the on-site nursery.
And the best way to round off your visit is to visit “Y Sied” tearoom. Treat yourself to a home-baked scone or cake with a pot of tea or the local Teifi Coffee . 😋 If the weather is warm, you can also try the locally produced Conti’s Ice Cream – made right here in Lampeter. Entry to the nursery and tearoom are free so you can pop in even if not touring the gardens.

Opening Times

The gardens open at 10am and close at 5pm daily through the season which runs from April 1st to October 31st. More information and current prices can be found on their website: Cae Hir Gardens

Check available dates for our cottages: Romantic Holiday Cottages for Couples

11 November 202223 January 2024Days Out

Our Visits to Cenarth Falls Through the Seasons

Cenarth Falls is a picturesque waterfall on the River Teifi located in the village of Cenarth. It is on the border of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. The Teifi is one of the longest rivers in Wales. It cascades over a series of rocky steps to create Cenarth Falls. The waterfall is particularly stunning during times of heavy rainfall when the water flow is at its peak.

The village is such a pretty place with a lovely riverside walk and plenty of cafes for a cream tea.

There are boardwalks along the riverside making the walk easy and accessible. There is a circular walk you can do along the river, then up through woodland and back through the village to the car park.

The area is also well-known for fishing, and the River Teifi is abundant with salmon and sea trout.

In addition to its natural beauty, Cenarth is also famous for its history, with a long-standing tradition of coracle fishing. Coracles are small, round boats made of wicker and coated with tar or bitumen. Fishermen have used these unique vessels for centuries to navigate the river and catch fish. The National Coracle Museum by the river is worth a visit.

There is a Car Park at the Falls. Parking is £3 per car for all day parking (9am – 6pm). Cenarth is easily reached in around 30 minutes from Red Kite & Woodpecker Cottages.

We’ve visited Cenarth three times this year and each time has been so different. First time in May there had been so little rain that the falls were small and you could see much of the underlying rock.
In September they were perfectly flowing. This week after so much rain they are a force of nature, so powerful! Whenever you visit, Cenarth is very pretty.

Here’s a Reel I made for our Instagram showing the different seasons.

14 June 202223 January 2024Walks

Great Summer Walks in Long Wood Community Woodland

Long Wood Community Woodland is just 10 minutes away from Coedmor Cottages in Llanfair Clydogau.

there are 325 acres of woodland which is being managed by the local community. The aim is to restore the non-native plantation areas of the woods to native broadleaved species whilst managing the woodlands as a community resource.

It is so peaceful and often we are the only ones there when we visit. The views of the Cambrian Mountains are just stunning on a clear day.

The main track through the woods goes all the way to Lampeter if you fancy a proper walk.

Find out more on the website: Long Wood Community Woodland

31 July 202019 October 2023Beaches, Days Out

Visiting Amazing Aberporth Right After Lockdown

Monday 6th July 2020 was the first time we were allowed to travel more than 5 miles from home in Wales since the week after we moved here in March. We were so excited to be visiting Aberporth to explore the lovely beaches. It was really quiet with just a few families and surfers. So lovely to feel the sea breeze on our faces! The drive is very picturesque too and it only took us 40 minutes from Red Kite & Woodpecker Cottages.

Aberporth lies at the southern end of Cardigan Bay about six miles north of Cardigan and ten miles south of New Quay. It overlooks two sandy beaches both with European Blue Flag status.

Dyffryn Beach is to the west of the headland and Dolwen Beach to the east. Aberporth Beach is often used to describe both of these beaches together.

The beaches both have soft golden sand and shelve gently into the sea. They were both pretty quiet when we were there which is unusual for July. Probably because tourists weren’t allowed to visit until the following week .

Visting Aberporth. — View of the pretty houses in Aberporth from Dyffryn beach.

We went in the afternoon when it was low tide, so there was more space to walk and we got to explore the rocks and rock pools. 🦀 🦐

We walked on Dyffryn Beach as we had Ziggy with us – dogs aren’t allowed on Dolwen in the Summer months.

Visiting Aberporth - Dyffryn Beach — Ziggy loves the beach!

Dyffryn Beach is dog friendly all summer.

We also had a wander up the hill into the town and then walked down through a small wooded area back to the beach. A very pleasant stroll with views over the beaches.

Visiting Aberporth, Cardigan Bay. — View from the top of the hill back down to the beaches

Sculpture on the walk back to the beach.

Dyffryn Beach from the walk back down from town.

We couldn’t go onto Dolwen beach as dogs aren’t allowed in Summer.

Visting Aberporth - Dolwen Beach. — The steps down to Dolwen Beach

Dolphin Sculpture overlooking the Beaches – Sightings are common in this area.

The shops and cafes were still closed when we visited this time, but we went back a couple of weeks later and it was much busier with tourists and everything was open. We enjoyed a lovely salted caramel ice cream 😋

Aberporth - Dolwen Beach. — So quiet for July

Yes!! The joy of being able to have a day at the beach after lockdown!

I’m pretty sure we will never again see Aberporth so quiet in July…but come the Autumn when the crowds of tourists get smaller, we think it will be a great place to walk and chill out for an afternoon.

16 April 202019 October 2023Cottage Life, Walks

Our Daily Walks in the Hills During Lockdown

During lockdown we have had plenty to keep us busy but we have also set aside time to explore the countryside around the cottages. In Wales, lockdown rules are especially strict and at the moment we are only allowed to go out once per day for exercise and it has to be very close to home – no driving to get to a beauty spot for walking.

Ziggy doesn’t appreciate the scenery but does enjoy snacking on sheep poop.

Just as well that we live in such a gorgeous place then! ? At this time of year when the meadows behind our cottages are empty or just have sheep, the farmer who owns them doesn’t mind us walking up the hill to get some exercise…and more stunning views. As you get higher even more of the landscape opens up.

The meadow we walk up to get to the top of the hill.

Right at the top is an old abandoned slate quarry and the panorama is so amazing from up there it is worth the effort to climb the hill.

On a clear day you can see for miles and miles.

The gorse bushes are now blooming and the colours are unreal. ? We have been blessed with some perfect weather and the bluest of skies. It is so calming spending time just taking it all in and stopping to look at the colours and smell the flowers. Did you know that gorse flowers smell like Pina Colada? ?Why did I never know this before? It is quite an intoxicating aroma – very coconutty!

These colours are straight out of the camera(phone) no adjustments!

Being surrounded by nature does make you slow down – it is so therapeutic. We have so many different birds around us. Red Kites and Buzzards circle overhead and the songs of the robin, coal tit, willow warbler and wren are so musical. We even have a resident hare that visits the farmland behind our picnic meadow – we see him most mornings if we are out early enough.

The view from the bottom of the hill on the way back to the cottages.

We have discovered a few different circular walks that you can do right from the cottages so if you want to stretch your legs and connect with nature when you come to stay we can give you directions…or you can just explore and find them for yourself!

Tag: Things to Do

Cae Hir Gardens – a Feast for the Senses

Our Visits to Cenarth Falls Through the Seasons

Great Summer Walks in Long Wood Community Woodland

Visiting Amazing Aberporth Right After Lockdown

Our Daily Walks in the Hills During Lockdown

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