Father's Day in Wales

The weekend and most of this week saw the U.K. in the grip of a heat wave.....with temperatures soaring to record heights for June, we made the most of it by spending less time in the car and lots more time walking through this fabulous countryside and coastal area.
We started with a return visit to Marloes Sands, which we'd seen briefly last week.
The walk took us down a narrow road - where we continued to practice our skill of "melting" into the greenery in order to avoid cars coming in either direction. After a mile or so we turned onto a very steep winding path down to the beach - which is about 1/2 mile long, but no cars allowed!
We reached the beach just after high tide - when the beach can disappear altogether - but as it was on its way out, there was plenty for us to explore. With huge rocks to clamber over, and towering cliff formations to admire, the beach gets divided up into numerous little "bays" exposing perfect little sandy beaches that give separation and lots of privacy.....but beware......if you’re planning to visit, check out the tide times so that you don’t get cut off by the incoming tide!
With no shortage of space, everyone was enjoying the sunny, warm day - with families having picnics, dogs frolicking in the waves and the always hardy Brits, braving the cold ocean to either paddle or even swim.....bbrrrr!
We thoroughly enjoyed our time there - no surprise that "Hollywood" used this huge beautiful setting for scenes in a movie - "Snow White and the Huntsman."
Later that evening, due to my curiosity, I went through the village, following a hand made sign to "Pooky's" fish & chip truck. Down a country lane, and strategically parked outside a B & B with a camp site, "Pooky" was doing a brisk business.
Along with locals and other visitors, we placed our order - all of us chatting together happily - anticipating our dinner - which did not disappoint! A local tradition on Friday & Saturday nights means a repeat visit for us on our final night in this area.....yum!
Trevor made the decision that our "outing" for Father's Day would be to the National Botanical Gardens of Wales - and it was a good one, although he did have to drive 1 1/2 hours each way along some of those "death-defying" country roads!
These gardens, set in the beautiful Carmarthenshire countryside, are a fascinating blend of the modern and the historic. Even though our biggest disappointment was that we didn't allow enough time to see it all, there was a little surprise bonus - free entrance was given to all Fathers!
We headed first to the Garden's centrepiece - the Great Glasshouse - an amazing tilted glass dome that houses a showcase for Mediterranean landscapes on multiple levels - with rock terraces, streams, waterfalls and a deep ravine.
With only panes of glass separating it from the surrounding Welsh countryside, the inside of this dome is warm and humid with a panoramic sweep of Mediterranean scenery which includes plant species from South Africa, Western Australia, the Canary Islands, Chile, California and some parts of the Mediterranean. Plants are grouped together with others from the same region - all with signs to educate & inform.
With a wish for more time at these Botanical Gardens, we did wander around some of the lakeside paths and gardens, including the one dedicated to Alfred Russell Wallace (1823-1913). Wallace was a geographer, biologist and naturalist whose own work prompted Darwin to publish his famous work on "Origins of Species by Natural Selection."
With curving paths shaped like a DNA double helix, this garden has a diverse number of plants - from cultivated to wild species - with information on how plants first evolved on Earth - all set in an historic, walled garden.
Events of all kinds - from stage to special courses - are run throughout the year at these Botanical Gardens.......we listened to a live modern band while touring the Glasshouse, saw a couple of falcons on one of the lawns and had the opportunity to see some classic British sports cars as they drove (slowly) along.
Our final view, as we left at the end of the day, was of the restored lake - home to a variety of birds and mammals. Across the lake is the "aqualab" at the Welsh Water Discovery Centre, where along with educational programs there is ongoing academic research.
This week we also continued our walks along different parts of the coastal path, high above the ocean, with views across to Skomer Island. With fields full of wildflowers and sheep to one side of us, and waves crashing on the rocks far below us on the other side, this scenery is constantly changing and never boring!