the best pubs, restaurants, hotels and places to visit
We had a quick run down to Llantwit Major beach last night. It was probably one of the best evenings that we have had for quite a while, and the evening light was amazing.
The beach was quite quiet which was surprising considering that it was the start of the holiday weekend. There were a 3 or 4 camper vans parked up in the valley leading to the beach, and just a few cars and that was it.
Just found a really good photo site – Mari Sterling takes really excellent photos of South Wales. I just love the photos! The photo to the left is called Nash Pool.
You can buy prints online from her site – http://www.maristerlingphotography.com/
Something for my photography to aspire to!
I was looking for somewhere local for my special girl’s birthday last Sunday. A friend suggested “Illtud’s 216” in Llantwit Major. Of course I knew it, but had never been. For me it was famous as where Pugsley went after leaving the well known Plough and Harrow in nearby Marcross. I quickly discovered that Pugsley had sold up and the place was now owned and run by Georg and Einar Fuchs. Georg had previously been executive chef in the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay.
I booked a table of 12 in advance for Sunday lunch. A couple of days before I had to drop the numbers down to 10 and then 9, but they were nothing but accommodating every time I spoke to them.
Local girl Nicole Cooke has done us proud winning a Gold Medal in the Beijing Olympic games. Nicole is from Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan. Nicole snatched victory in the Women’s Cycling Road Race against strong competition.
Best of luck in Wednesday’s time-trial.
Update 14th August 2008: Unfortunately Nicole came in 15th in the time-trial. Never mind!
When we were up in Usk a few weeks back we visited the natural burial ground at Usk Castle Chase. My mother is buried there. By coincidence they were having an “Open Day” which I must admit I found a bit bizarre but I suppose even burial grounds and funeral directors need to do a bit of marketing!
Yesterday we visited Ogmore Castle. The castle dates from about 1116. It’s pretty unusual as it is low-lying and right next to the river Ogmore. There is a moat that apparently used to fill at high tide (the River Ogmore is tidal here). Not much remains of the castle now but it’s still worth a visit.