8 Things to do in Pontypridd, South Wales

Pontypridd Park Pontypridd, a historical market town around 10 miles from Cardiff, with a direct train from the city, is seeing a resurgence in independent stores, food spots, music and arts, with the recent opening of the YMA and investment in the park, lido and local community ventures is making this town a great spot for a day out.  So what is there to see and do in Pontypridd? 1. Ynysangharad War Memorial Park Otherwise known as Ponty Park, this is definitely the central point of the town and has gorgeous green space with a fantastic adventure park, walks, wild gardens, dog park, bandstand, cafe and the perfect spot for a picnic. It is also home to the National Lido of Wales. Ponty Lido 2. Lido Ponty This historic lido is well worth a visit and is currently Wale's premier outdoor pool housed in a grade 11 listed building, having been restored to it's former glory. There are 3 heated pools, offering space for children, families, social swimmers and dedicated swimmers. Booki......

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Exploring Neath Port Talbot the Dramatic Heart of Wales

* This post is written in collaboration with Dramatic Heart of Wales who kindly invited us to spend time exploring the area / AD Neath Port Talbot otherwise known as the Dramatic Heart of Wales , is an area I recently spent a weekend exploring and delving into deeper and finding what makes this part of South Wales so special, from its fascinating history and heritage to its beautiful coastline, woodland walks and thrill-seeking adventures.  Located in the centre of South Wales with easy access to the coast, mountains, countryside and the Welsh capital, makes it the perfect base for exploring the region. With a strong industrial and coal mining history there are lots of ruins and reminders of times gone by including a network of canals, ironworks and an impressive Abbey. Neath Port Talbot also lies within what is known as "Waterfall Country" which has the highest concentration of waterfalls, caves and gorges and spans Neath Port Talbot, Powys and Rhondda Cynon Taff.  We ma......

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My top 10 travel posts of 2019

Well, 2019 was pretty action-packed with lots of adventures near and far. We always try and make the most of what is on our doorstep and hope to inspire other families to do the same, no matter what your budget (we are always on a tight budget). So I thought I would share 10 of my most popular travel posts of 2019 and hope that you one grabs your eye and inspires you to get out and explore. 1. A Winter weekend guide to Tenby Every year we do an annual overnight trip to Tenby in West Wales which is one of our favourite spots, especially during off-peak as it's lovely and quiet. The pastel-coloured houses that face the coastline, victorian houses and quaint coffee shops make this is a popular destination so if your ever thinking of heading down that way do check out my guide. 2.  Hotel Indigo Manchester, Review Last year I had a brilliant partnership with the fantastic Hotel Indigo and spent two days at their fantastic Manchester hotel taking in all that North......

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Pen Pych Waterfall Hike

One of our favourite hikes of the late summer was a walk up to Pen Pych Waterfall in the Welsh Valleys near the small village of Blaencwm. I know thousands of people flock to the Brecon Beacons to take in the beautiful Waterfall hikes and trails but if your looking for a far quieter and child-friendly hike then this is a great option. We went on a Sunday around lunchtime and only came across other people on our way back down, it was so nice and quiet and it meant we could take our time and walk at our own pace. When you arrive into Blaencwm there are signs for the mountain carpark which has plenty of space and is free to park. At the far right end of the car park is the start of the Pen Pych Mountain trail which initially veers away from the waterfall through a meadow and then back around into a forest area where a gentle incline starts. As we did this near the end of the summer everything was green and slightly overgrown with huge ferns and we also spotted some mushro......

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An Action Packed weekend in The South Wales Valleys

This was a press trip with The Valleys I was recently invited to spend a weekend exploring some of the fantastic things on offer in the South Wales Valleys which I was really excited about especially as I live very close to the Valleys and having the chance to dig a little deeper into what makes this fascinating part of Wales tick was a great opportunity. Over the years the Valleys have faced some scrutiny in the media, after the decline of the coal mining industry which had an effect on the socio-economic stability of the area but the locals are passionate with a deep running cultural heritage they are proud of and times have changed with more funding being invested in the area, which is naturally a playground for those who enjoy outdoor pursuits. I have written many times about a variety of adventures we have had in the area such as glamping in Cwmcarn Forest, running down sand dunes in Merthyr Mawr , our many visits to Caerphilly Castle and Castle Coch or looking for fa......

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