Mutterings for the Minority

With my 5 mile Monday run out of the way by 11am this morning, we thought we’d make the most of the remainder of the Bank Holiday weekend and head off to a local country park.

It had been many years since I had been to Llyn Llech Owain Country Park and I was keen to show it off to the rest of the family whom had never had the pleasure of seeing it previously.

Llyn Llech Owain is situated in the village of Gorlas, near to Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire and is easily accessible from the nearby A48. Here’s a link to the park on Google maps.

The park is essentially a peat bog, lake and woodland reserve of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has a wide range of interesting wildlife in its different habitats.

A modest £2 all day parking fee applies and there is a visitor centre, café, childrens play area – one for toddlers and one for the older kids.

There are numerous picnic spots dotted around for you to enjoy the different scenery on offer – whether it be the lake, nearby woodland, foresty or even the distant views of Pembrokshire’s Preseli mountains.

The choice of several different walks around the lake and surrounding woodland making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and especially families with children.

Access to the walks is pretty good with the lake being circled by a boardwalk and the other paths suitable to pushchairs – with a wee bit of effort.

A well positioned bird watching hut – with views over the lake – will be a favourite with both ornithologists and part time birdwatchers. It also provides a tranquil spot in which to fully enjoy nature’s beauty.

There is also a man-made bog pool in the park, which was created in order to provide a rich habitant for the various insects and amphibians which live in and around the lake.

The kids were drawn to the visitor centre (shame it was closed) or the mini tower as DDWT Junior refered to it!

They also liked the Welsh water pumphouse which meant they could get an even better view of the lilly pads on the lake – we didn’t see any frogs though unfortunately.

Several of the boardwalks have sections which border the lake’s edge thus allowing you to scrutinise the water for sign of wildlife.

At one of these sections, we were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of dozens of tadpoles merrily swimming around just inches away.

We probably spent the best part of 2 hours wandering around the park and I’ve no doubt that we’d have been there longer if it wasn’t for tiny feet and tummys starting to ache and rumble.

I’m sure that visiting the park on a Summer’s evening with the sun setting – or even sunrise perhaps – would provide an even greater insight into the full range of birds, insects and other wildlife in their natural habitat.

So if you’re stumped for something relaxing to do one weekend afternoon or even weekday evening – then head off the Llyn Llech Owain Country Park, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

An early start today as I went for my 2nd run of the holiday, as we’d planned on spending the best part of the day on Newgale Sands.

We’d had the idea of spending the day down on the beach after admiring it’s beauty – albeit from afar – on our trip to St. David’s a couple of days ago.

Newgale is approximately 6 miles north of Broad Haven and has pretty much everything you’d expect of a Blue Flag beach with a long golden beach, surfing waves and stunning scenery all around it’s edge – as you can see from this video I did.

There is a free car park adjacent to the beach as well as toilet facilities and a small ice cream stall – which was closed when we were there (darn it!).

The beach was stunning and ideal for anything from sunbathing to flying a kite, or even in our case using the pebbles from the natural sea defences as a source for a sand dinosaur!!

I’ve got to say that the credit for this bit of creativity must go to my 6 year old son – not moi!

Although the day was – or at least felt – the warmest day of the year thus far, the sea breeze/wind made it feel cooler than it probably was. Having said that, it made perfect conditions for kite flying and we duly took the opportunity to give it a bash.

Thinking back, whilst it was my son’s first attempt at flying a kite, it must have been the first time in donkey’s years (i.e. over 25) that I’d had a go and it was great fun! In fact I’d forgotten how much fun flying a kite was/is

Despite a sumptous alfresco lunch, it was apparent that by late afternoon that the sun had taken it’s toll on us all and with enrgy levels flagging it was time to head home to recharge the batteries.

Given the clear blue skies, we made a brief stop on the way back to Broad Haven at Maidenhall – an ideal picnic spot a couple of I hasten to add a couple of miles south of Newgale – to admire the stunning coastal views from a higher vantage point.

By now my face felt like a pair of brand spanking new leather shoes… and it was a surprise that I didn’t stop any traffic on the way back – such was the red ‘ish amber glow to my complexion!

Thankfully Mrs DDWT’s moisturiser came to the rescue and I’m hopeful of a reduced and non-blistered facial glow tomorrow morning!

Thought I’d share a few snaps that I took whilst getting the papers from the garage in Trebanos earlier today.

Just a shame the snow hadn’t come a week or so earlier *sigh*

With the cold but sunny weather continuing during the opening few days of 2009 we decided to make the most of it with a visit to Coed Gwilym Park, Clydach in the Swansea valley.

With plenty of wide open spaces, two playgrounds, a small wood and the nearby canal there was plenty to keep DDWT Junior amused.  The tennis courts also gave him ample opportunity to have a ‘dabble’ with his Christmas presents (from this and yesteryear!) – remote control cars!

Here’s a brief picture guide – but you won’t beat making a visit there yourself.

With the end of my week’s annual leave fast approaching and DDWT Junior almost climbing the walls with boredom at home, it was definitely time to wrap up warm and head off out for a long walk!

If there’s one good thing about living in the Swansea valley – there are loads actually but that’s for another time – then it’s the beautiful natural scenery that sprawls all the way from Ystalyfera right down to Swansea, which makes going for a walk a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

We headed up along the Swansea valley canal towards Pontardawe, facing the full force of the usual wind funnel down the valley and feeding the ducks/geese along the way.

Our destination was the playground at Pontardawe leisure centre – how else could you get a 4 year old to walk several miles!!

Our walk and usual stoppages took us out of the house for around two and a half hours and despite feeling frozen by the time we got back it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.