Moments of Joy from 2020

I know 2020 was one of the most difficult years globally we have had to face in a very long time. No one could foresee it and very few were fully prepared, especially in the UK. We have learnt how to adapt and change our lives to hopefully keep others safe until the pandemic is fully resolved and while there were plenty of lows in 2020 there were also some amazing highs as well as a new appreciation for what we have on our doorstep. While 2020 was also hard for many not only health-wise but also financially, mentally, socially and affecting everyone in some way I also don't want to forget the moments of joy we had despite all of this because there really were some great times and I think it's easy to overlook these when we think back to 2020. So here are a few of our personal moments of happiness within the chaos of what was 2020 and I hope you had similar moments too.  Before Covid Hit There was a short period at the start of 2020 when we still (unknowingly) had it really good......

Read more »

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......

Read more »

A night in Tylau Yurt, Hay-on-Wye

Near the end of summer I decided on a whim to book a night in a Yurt as we have done all sorts of glamping from Bell Tents, Pods , converted horse van and a converted WW1 wagon but we had yet to stayed overnight in a Yurt. So I did a quick search on Airbnb and discovered a family-friendly Yurt within walking distance of Hay-on-Wye, the market town famed for it's many bookstores and literacy festival. It's also well located to the Brecon Beacons and offers tons of outdoor pursuits, we had been hoping to kayak down the river why but due to heavy rainfall a few days prior to our mini-break meant the river levels were too high, but on the flip side we decided to do a waterfall walk which was fantastic. Back to the Yurt, even though I had booked it on Airbnb I discovered it was part of Outdoors@Hay which offers outdoor adventures and accommodation. The Yurt looked perfect for a quick break away from reality and has some modern facilities without taking away too......

Read more »

A night at St Briavels Castle YHA, Wye Valley

I think staying in a castle has been a dream for many but usually comes with a high price tag so when I heard about St Briavels, a castle in the Wye Valley that is now run by YHA (Youth Hostel Association) I had to know more. We tried to stay at St Briavels during the summer last year but it was fully booked early on so waited until a quieter time of the year for a quick little getaway as luckily the Wye Valley is only around an hour from Cardiff.  St Briavels Castle is over 800 years old and a Grade 1 listed ancient monument set in the beautiful Wye Valley with plenty to see and do on it's doorstep and is run as a Youth Hostel all year round. There are plenty of accommodation options from Private rooms which is what we opted for to larger dorm rooms for groups. It is also very family orientated with the Castle chapel being used as a family lounge with a dressing up box, toys, books and board games. Despite being in an ancient building there is also Wifi available in the......

Read more »

Paddleboarding on the River Wye with Inspire2Adventure

Having had my first taste of Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP) earlier this year in Swansea and then again on the River Avon in Bath and enjoying both thoroughly I was super excited to come down and spend the day on the River Wye with Inspire2Adventure who plan an array of activities in the area from kayaking to mountain biking and everything in between. Over the past few years there has been a big rise in popularity of learning to SUP mainly do to how accessible it is, you don't need any real skills, it's suitable from children to grandparents and it's much easier than you think. Having grown up surfing I have always felt fairly comfortable in the water and on a board but even if your not I can assure you they are very buoyant and easy to balance on. What was especially exciting about our day on the river was having the chance to go on the mega sup with 3 other bloggers (and two children) which was so much fun! We met at a large field only a few minutes awa......

Read more »

Exploring The Old Station, Tintern, Wye Valley

We love the Wye Valley and feel very lucky to live close enough to enjoy day trips to this beautiful part of Wales with quaint towns and plenty of countryside to explore. During the summer we wanted to keep our family days out as simple as possible and get outdoors at every opportunity. As my youngest is obsessed with trains we came across The Old Station in Tintern and after a little research we thought it fit the bill for fun train inspired day out. The drive there through the winding roads from Chepstow is really spectacular especially as you pass the impressive Tintern Abbey (highly recommend you visit this Cadw site) along the river Wye which eventually leads you to the Old Victorian Station. We didn't really know what to expect and if there would be enough to do to full up a whole day, we had checked in advance that the narrow gauge train was running which we knew would be a hit with both of the boys. This train is run by volunteers and you can find out ......

Read more »