8 Welsh festivals to put on your summer bucket list

Summer is nearly upon us and for many that can only mean one thing, festivals! As they say music is the source and combined with camping, good food, meeting new people and stepping away from the normal day-to-day reality, festivals are always a highlight on our summer bucket list, plus children of all ages love festivals and I say this from years of experience.  While Wales doesn't have Glastonbury, it is often referred to as the "land of song" and for a good reason, with its rich musical heritage and is now home to some incredible medium and small festivals that are well worth checking out. Here are my top picks for the best Welsh music festivals of 2023 In It Together Festival , Margam, Port Talbot, May 26th-28th Set to be one of the most diverse lineups of the year, In it Together Festival, despite being fairly new to the scene is shaking things up. You can expect to see Natalie Imbruglia, The Kooks, Anne-Marie, Kelis and The Vamps to name a few along with a fairground......

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The Green Gathering Festival, Chepstow

The Green Gathering festival has been on my bucket list for a long time although with the pandemic cancelling most festivals for 2yrs we haven't been able to attend until now. I had considered staying for the whole weekend as we love to camp and love a long festival weekend, although as we are planning a big trip to Europe soon, I decided as the festival is in Chepstow which is less than an hour away from our house, that the most budget-friendly option was to get a day pass, especially as under 11's go free, which meant I only had to pay for myself and for £40 for a whole day at a festival that felt like a really good deal.  We made sure to get there early so we could enjoy the whole day and really get a feel for what the festival is all about. Unlike other festivals, the Green Gathering is the original off-grid low impact festival, powered by sun, wind and people and is non-profit without any mainstream commercial sponsorships. This however doesn't impact the amazing perf......

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Feel good Summer Giveaway

We all need a little pick me up after the year we have had an I am hopeful this summer will bring an element of normality, even if that doesnt mean overseas travel or big concerts, meeting friends for a bbq and some staycations are just as good right now. So I have put together a little feel good hamper for one lucky reader to win and there should be something for everyone. If you looking to relax and slow down then Mindfulness & the Art of Drawing  is a great book to help inspire you to reconnect with your creativity in a calm and peaceful way. If music is more your jam then the super stylish House of Marley, Smile Jamaica , in-ear headphones which have been crafted from mindfully sourced materials and FSC certified wood. For those planning on going camping this summer then the Pits & Bits Filthy Festival wash kit will come in handy esepically as no water is required and has everything you need to keep you clean. The kit includes a Shampoo, Body wash and expanding wash wi......

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Ideas For Family Days Out In The UK

Blink and it’s half-term. At least that’s how it most of the time, as soon as we get back into a good routine we have another week or two off. I'm not complaining, my boys and I love any excuse to have an adventure however of course our budget won't extended to a holiday further afield every half term that comes around. Luckily there is plenty to do right here in the UK even with it's ever temperamental weather. So if your at a loose end or just need a little bit of inspiration then check out these couple of ideas. Kidzania – Westfield, London Have you ever told your children that money doesn’t grow on trees? Tired of feeling like a bank? Here’s your chance to not only give your kids a fantastic and fun day out, but maybe teach them a little lesson about work and earning their own money! A unique concept in children’s entertainment, Kidzania is an indoor city run by kids. Blending learning, fun and reality into a four-hour play session, your little darlings get to ch......

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Beyond the Border Festival, St Donats

Beyond the Border is a Storytelling festival that happens every two years at St Donats Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan and is a fantastic festival for families and those wanting something a little bit more slower paced than some of the more action-packed ones during the summer, this isn't to say there's not plenty going on because there is but equally its easy to just sit back and take it slow. This was actually the second year we have attended BTB Festival having worked with them in 2014. This time I wasn't there to review, in fact we bought our tickets the evening before as a last minute thing as we knew the weather was going to be good and we had so much fun last time it felt like a great way to spend a weekend, especially as it's only 45mins from where we live.  Beyond the Border has taken many shapes over the years, I'm not sure if this is down to funding or organisation but this year was technically the "25th Birthday Barnstormer" and wa......

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Experiencing the Volvo Ocean Race, Cardiff

I love nothing more when people take on incredible challenges, when they put themselves to the test both physically and mentally and this is reflected in the documentaries I watch (currently obsessed with ones about Mount Everest) and the books I read which are usually autobiographies about those who decided to walk a different path, adventurers, sportsmen, trailblazing women. So when we heard that the around the world sailing race that is the Volvo Ocean Race was coming to Cardiff I was really excited. The Volvo Ocean Race only happens every three years and only the best of the best compete against each other in what is one of the most grueling around the world sails. The route changes every race to accommodate new ports of call and this year they were arriving in Cardiff (as well as my hometown of Cape Town). Its' really fantastic seeing and being apart of world-class events that come to the Welsh Capital and actually seeing the Bay Barrage being used properly as it'......

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Gratitude List and Being Mindful

Every month or so I like to go back through my Instagram which works as a bit of a memory capsule of what we have done over the last couple of weeks and reflect on these moments. In the run up to Christmas I have felt like many very rushed, stressed and short on time, we made big plans for everything we want to do and sometimes just due to not having enough hours in the day those plans don't quite turn out how you would like. However in context to others who are facing real hardship at this time of the year, despite my own personal ups and downs it's really important to remind yourself of the small moments that have made up the month and be grateful for those times. Here is my little list of things I am currently really grateful as well as trying to seek some mindfulness in the festive rush 1.  Despite the sudden drop in temperature we have been making the most of each weekend and heaving out to some of our favourite places. This was taken at Dyffryn Gardens , a beauti......

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Street Food Cardiff - What we thought

Summer is now truly over as we embrace all that Autumn has to offer which we also means we wave goodbye to the 5 week long  Street Food Cardiff Festival or SFC for short at Sophia Gardens, like most we love seeing events like this being organised in Cardiff as it gives a platform to the food truck movement happening here like many other cities and allows for smaller independent food business to share their creations with hungry visitors in the Welsh Capital. This is not the first time we have been as it's somewhat of an annual event and my eldest loves going. We decided to head into town one Sunday and made an beeline for SFC as it had that laid-back atmosphere and social feel we wanted on a weekend, with good music and of course an array of food options. This year they also year had a small kids area with a few hay bales, badminton rackets, colourful bunting and of course the popular tuk tuk vehicles to sit on and eat your food. Also this is pretty much an all-weather ......

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The Just So Festival With Low Cost Vans

We had some really amazing adventures over the summer and one of the highlights was our action packed weekend at the Just So Festival , it's the second time we have made our way up north to this wonderful family friendly festival and its certainly reconfirmed to us that this is one of our favourites and combines everything we love about camping, outdoor forest fun, music and good food.  As the drive from South Wales up to Rode Hall near Stoke-on-Trent takes around 4hrs and our car has been a little unreliable of late the fantastic people at Low Cost Vans in Cardiff offered for us to try out one of their smaller family type vans that feels and drives like a car but offers all the space and comfort of a van, meaning zero sacrifice on space which is just what you need when packing for a glamping weekend with kids. Despite having to take a tent it's surprising how much space four sleeping bags, airbeds, clothes and food for a weekend take up! We left aroun......

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