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Our happy place... so glad to be back here. This time it's for our birthdays, especially Morticia's (as mentioned in my previous post). It's a mental unwind, a spiritual retreat and that's the reason we return year after year - not to mention some great friends.
On Monday we visited Afon Mel Honey Farm (we pop in every time we're in the area). I bought myself a bottle of wildflower honey mead with some of my birthday money. We've seen the farm's popularity explode in recent years - especially in the mead market.
Later we popped across to Aberaeron for a stroll and had a drink together in the Harbourmaster Hotel - somewhere we have (surprisingly) never been into before. It was a wonderful day topped off by a visit from wonderful friends in the afternoon.
Tuesday we visited Devil's Bridge (Pontarfynach) near Aberystwyth, it's been on our list of places to see for almost 20 years and it didn't disappoint.
The village is best known for the three bridges that span the Afon Mynach, a tributary of the Rheidol. The bridge is unique in that three separate bridges are coexistent, each one built upon the previous bridge.
The river has been bridged since at least the 12th century, with a wooden bridge built c.1075–1200. According to legend, it was built after an old woman lost her cow and saw it grazing on the other side of the river. The Devil appeared and agreed to build a bridge in return for the soul of the first living thing to cross it. When the bridge was finished, the old woman threw a crust of bread over the river, which her dog crossed the bridge to retrieve, thus becoming the first living thing to cross it. The devil was left with only the soul of the dog.
It has been a tourist attraction for centuries. Records indicate that tourists were coming to the area by the mid 1700s and that an inn or hotel has existed nearby since before 1796.
If you've seen the TV series - Hinterland (Y Gwyll in the original Welsh version) you might recognise the location, especially the Hafod Hotel (last picture) from series one.
The experience is the walk from the bridge(s) through the ancient woodland deep down into the Rheidol gorge where we enjoyed views of the spectacular Mynach waterfalls. As we progressed downward we encountered ‘Jacobs’ Ladder’, a flight of 100 steps all in one run. Once at the bottom we crossed over a small humped bridge at the base of the gorge. The climb up the other side was so stunning with views of the Mynach waterfalls all the way up. Thankfully there are stopping places where you can rest and enjoy the view.
Wednesday we ventured out once more as we went across the bay to Llanina Point. Magnus went for a paddle on the beach and I sneaked a peek at the new lifeboat - we checked out the rockpools and streams on the beach (and found a couple of hermit crabs and a dolphin skull). A stroll up through the woods past St Ina's church and discovered ruins of past dwellings (which in all the years I have never seen before). We rewarded ourselves with a pint at the The Seahorse Inn.
A happy surprise was learning the Penrhiwgaled Arms in Cross Inn has a new Landlord and lady, it was lovely speaking with them this week and look forward with seeing them enhancing and reviving a pub with loads of character.
Thursday was a lazy day in the bay, a couple of pints and a visit to the dog friendly beach. In the afternoon we popped in to see friends and the following morning we packed our bags.
It's always hard to leave this place but the good news is we've already booked for September.
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