Around Wales
June 27th, 2011 at 7:20 pm by David Farrar
Drove west over to Swansea and the Gower Peninsula. Very amused to find these cows sleeping in the middle of a roundabout. This was not unique – unlike NZ, many Welsh farms are not fenced in. Cows, sheep and even horses roam next to and across some of the roads.
All along Gower, there are cliffs and the ocean. Magnificent views.
Many of the roads are what I call tree tunnels. They are barely wide enough for one car, but believe it or not are two-way roads. Beautiful roads to drive along, but you drive very slowly and should be prepared to reverse often.
These are the remains of Oxwich Castle. It is also home to a display about the history of Wales which was very interesting.
This is the view from the Worm’s Head Tavern at Rhossili. Had a nice lunch here and the views are to die for. Which would happen if you fell over the edge.
This sheep is enjoying the good life.
If you walk for a km or so you get to the western most point, where you can descend down and at low tide cross over to the “Worm’s Head”. it does indeed look like a worm with a head. You need to time it carefully as if you stay over there for too long, you will be trapped for 12 hours.
Another view of the beach at Rhossili
These horses are at Cefn Bryn.
This is Arthur’s Stone. The legend is he threw a stone from Llanelli which landed here. In reality is is a burial site from the neolithic period, so is up to 10,000 years old.
The ruins of Swansea Castle in Swansea.
The interior of Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.
Outside the cathedral they’ve got hectares of old cemeteries to rumage through.
This is Caerphlliy Castle, north of Cardiff. It is the second largest in the UK, and well worth a look around.
On the way out of Wales, popped into Caerleon. It was home to a Roman legion and fort, and one can see the remains of Roman baths plus this amphitheatre. There is also a free museum with artefacts from the era.
Caerleon is also where Camelot was located according to Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Leaving Wales via the second Severn Bridge – 5 kms long.
I was not planning to visit Wales as traditionally the reputation of Cardiff especially has been rather dour. But really glad we did. Cardiff is a lovely city, and South Wales is beautiful – the Gower Peninsula especially was just great to drive around.
June 27th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Caerphlliy Castle is also one of the sets for a couple of Dr Who episodes from the latest season.
Vote:June 27th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
We stayed at Caerphilly in Sept 09 and the weather was so lousy we did not even see a castle there.
Vote:June 27th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
>South Wales is beautiful
Anyone who says this has never been to Newport.
Vote:June 27th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
This scenery is stunning. Why on earth come to NZ for scenery when you can have this. But we have a big trump card – our weather is better. I think NZ overall has the best climate in the world – especially the upper north island.
Vote:June 27th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
All my family live in newport
I spent most of my life in Newport…. Am now happy living in NZ…
Vote:June 27th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
The finest view of Wales is the one in the rear view mirror. If the UK ever restarts nuclear bomb testing it should start at Merthyr Tydfil and take in most of the towns in a 200 mile radius. The Osmond clan originated there, need I say more. Now please go back and shut the gate behind you or more phlegm gargling choirs will leak out.
IMHO if the Americans restart bomb tests, LAX would be a damm fine place to start.
Vote:June 27th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Tookinator>I spent most of my life in Newport
Did you hang out with the other shirtless young thugs at the grim bus station? Did you have a view of the ugly 1960s office block that towers over the old center?
Vote:June 28th, 2011 at 8:50 am
I spent many an hour at the lovely scenic bus station (though I did have a shirt) I went back to Newport last year for the first time in 15 years – seems to have improved a little…
Vote:June 28th, 2011 at 8:53 am
AndyC, you still can’t deny that Wales has the best national anthem in the world. Just look at the YouTube clips of the crowd at The Arms singing. It is spine tingling stuff.
Vote:June 28th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Interesting your comment about the ‘two way roads’
Vote:New Zealanders do indeed need two full lanes on any road.
It’s too do with their lack of co-operation skills, and good will to others.
As a collegue once said to me. (He was an industrial psychologist)
“Why is it you think, that New Zealanders need to live in individual house? Separated from others. With a large fence to make a boundary.”
June 28th, 2011 at 10:46 am
No pictures of a coal mine and heaps of coal, and what about a leek, they are supposed to know how to grow them over there.
Vote:June 28th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Nice pics. I’ve heard that welsh cows moo with lilt.
Vote:June 28th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Our earthquakes would soon have those castles down!
Vote:June 28th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
The record for the hottest day ever in Britain was broken on Sunday as temperatures soared to 38.1C (100.6F) in Gravesend, Kent.
Vote:AGW? Naaaaaah!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3138865.stm
June 30th, 2011 at 11:35 am
I’m enjoying the pics!
Farms are fenced in, it’s just that there’s a lot of common land. Most hilltops in Wales (and in England and in Scotland) are common land. So if your farm borders this area, you have the right to graze however many sheep on it.
Common land has the wonderful benefit of allowing anyone and everyone free access to the land to walk over, something which is sorely missing in New Zealand. And then there are the cross-country footpaths, and I’m not talking about paved paths here, which are everywhere. So the UK is the same area (more or less) as NZ, but with about 14 times the number of people. Yet going for a walk in the country is infinitely easier there than it is in New Zealand. Anywhere. Across farms (around field edges), over hills, etc etc. New Zealand has such a lot to learn from this, but sadly it’s not even in the school. All we get are arguments such as “it’s our land bla bla bla”. Nothing is done for the common good.
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