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Postcards from West Wales . We had an impromptu visit to see family this week to West Wales. We visit around once or twice a month now and we are always discovering more to explore. . As always we focus on free & budget friendly options and we wanted to tick some castles off the list so we started with Wiston Castle, which is an impressive Motte and Bailey ruin, completely free to explore and a short drive from Haverfordwest. . We also spent an evening an Wiseman’s bridge beach and a walk along Milford Haven waterfront and beach, where the kids could do a spot of crabbing. . Despite the rain we enjoyed a day exploring Laugharne, in fact it felt rather poetic wandering around with the most across the estuary. Of course we made the obligatory visit to Dylan Thomas writing shed and boathouse before heading to the castle. . We decided Laugharne castle was too good to miss and paid the admission and it was well worth it. The grounds are so beautiful with lots for kids to do & space for a picnic, plus it’s dog friendly and the ruins are impressive especially the view from the tower. . Every time we leave West Wales with an even longer list of places we still want to see and can’t wait to visit again soon. . . . . #westwales #wistoncastle #welshwalks #welshcastles #laugharne #laugharnecastle #milfordhaven #welshcoastalpath #dylanthomasboathouse

AD | Put Llandegfedd Lake in Torfaen on your summer South Wales bucket list, you won’t regret it! . I still cannot believe we didn’t know about this place until a few weeks ago, what a fantastic spot to get outdoors, try something new and reconnect with nature. . They offer a range of watersports from SUP to sailing. We did the Kayak start award which is suitable for kids 5yrs+ (with an adult). They also offer land activities such as Archery, axe throwing and laser clay shooting. . But if you rather sit back and relax the onsite cafe is fantastic as it’s raised up with amazing views across the lake and they also have plenty of free hiking trails, many of which are suitable for young children. . Torfaen is also home to UNESCO world heritage site that is Blaenavon and the Big Pit National Coal museum as well as Pontypool Park, Folly Tower and Henllys Nature Reserve among many other places and is well worth a visit. . . . . #torfaen #llandegfeddreservoir #visittorfaen #visitwales #welshwalks #getoutdoorsmore #explorewales #welshvalleys #kayakinglife #southwalesvalleys #cardiffmums

Exploring Torfaen | AD . Torfaen is a borough of South Wales we are exploring more and more as it’s packed full of hidden gems, culture, heritage, hikes, trails and outdoor adventures to be had. . We recently spent the day at Llandegfedd Lake, which is a fantastic facilities and offers something for all ages, from watersports and land based activities to family friendly hikes, I can’t believe we haven’t been here before! . The boys and I took part an instructor led Canoe Start Award which is a great way to get out on the water in a fun, safe and educational way. The taster course is just under 2hrs long & the min age is 5yrs (with an adult in the same kayak). . They also offer tasters in sailing, SUP & kitesurfing or a combo of your choice. . After kayaking we had a blast doing Archery where the teacher shared some great tips with us and we all improved our skill level. . The cafe on site is well worth a visit as the views across the lake are stunning and it’s a great spot to refuel. . There are also fantastic trails and walks on site that are free and range from 1mile to 6miles. We walked the family friendly Pike Walking trail which takes you through meadows and forest with lovely views across the borough. . You could easily spend all day here and the offer a range of summer activities. This just scraped the surface of what Torfaen has to offer and can’t wait to share more of our adventures with you. . . . #visittorfaen #torfaen #llandegfeddreservoir #llandegfedd #outdoormums #welshwalks #southwalesvalleys #welshvalleys #visitwales #getoutdoors

Being South African, born to a Welsh Mother, driving across the Severn as a child after a long flight & then drive from Heathrow, seeing my Mothers eyes light up, knowing she was home and then spotting Castell Coch and know it was less than 20mins away from her reuniting with her mum, my grandmother, is a core childhood memory my brother and I experienced on multiple occasions. . Turning 40 this year sees me spending almost as much time in the UK/Europe as I did in South Africa, my home country that I left when I was 21. I didn’t immediately settle in Wales, in fact I spent time living in Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Nice and Cornwall but the last 15yrs I’ve called Wales home. . So while South Africa is always my birth place & where my heart is, Wales is a place I feel at home in, it’s the place I given birth to my kids, explored, embraced and a place that has always been deeply part of my life since birth. . Oh driving across the Severn in the golden hour really is something special . . . #severnbridge #welshadventure #welshlife #lifeinwales #cominghome #southwales

The Big Love Festival ❤️ . Last weekend was spent camping in the Monmouthshire countryside, dancing to music, eating delicious food and soaking in the atmosphere. . This was the first time we have been to @biglovefestival & it’s also the first year they have accommodated kids & families & they did a fantastic job doing that with tons of workshops & activities put on for them. . I love the small friendly feel of this festival, with lots of hidden stages, performers and creativity pouring out for every corner. . We went with friends this year and definitely plan to go back next year. . . . #biglovefestival #monmouthshire #southwales #welshcountryside #summerfestivals

📍 Cowbridge Physic Garden, Wales . In the rush of summer, when the pressure to pack as many things in as possible hits, I feel more compelled to find moments to just be, to just enjoy the space I am in, to relish the seasons and the ordinary beautiful moments. Somewhere like Cowbridge Physic Gardens in perfect for. . We visited it twice in the same week, on day it rained and was over cast, the other the sun was shining and all the blooms were out - each day was perfect in its own way. . Calm moments like this are also memories we will look back on, as are the more planned adventures we have. Summer is about balance, don’t feel pressure to make every day incredible, take a moment to just read on a bench while the kids run free. . . . . #cowbridge #cowbridgephysicgarden #valeofglamorgan #captureeverything #cardiffmums #welshlife #southwales

This is more like it! The warm sunshine is such a welcome sight and we don’t plan on wasting it for a second. . Wandering through the countryside to check out a “new to us” swim spot which we are planning to visit more over the summer. . Along with a morning at the beach just enjoying the water, sand and running into the waves, bliss. . I would recommend for anyone heading to the coast this summer to use the Safer Seas & Rivers Service app which gives your a rough indication of water quality and if any sewage dumping at the location has happened recently (you will be surprised how often it happens). . . . . #welshsummer #valeofglamorgan #surfersagainstsewage #welshwalks #wildswimmingwales #barryislandbeach #outdoormumsuk #wildswimminguk

A weekend of dodging rain (seems like the running theme for this summer) and making the most of every dry moment. . We started the weekend with celebrating everything 1940’s & 50’s at the Vintage for Victory annual festival in Whitchurch Cardiff, it’s the 2nd year I’ve taken the kids an it’s a fantastic throwback to that era, so many amazing land girl costumes(unlike my poor attempt), vintage cars, a life size spitfire and incredible dancing. We will be back again next year for sure. . I also finally had a moment to really get stuck into the garden, weeding, mowing and looking after the veggies. It’s been hard to get the garden to its normal state with the constant rain but we are making do. . Also enjoyed a lovely walk up and around Pontypridd common, which offers a fantastic vantage point for sunset watching. Still longing for the mountains but it’s been tricky with my son’s broken leg, however he’s been given the green light for hiking & cycling so can’t wait to get back on it. . . . . #welshlife #rhonndacynontaff #pontypriddcommon #vintageforvictory #lifeinwales #cardiffmums

A recent visit to @valepickyourown just outside of Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan. . As kids grow and family dynamics change it can sometimes be hard to find outdoor activities that everyone genuinely enjoys. Which is why I love going to a “Pick your own” farm - literally all ages will love it (including teens). . Vale Pick your own currently offers Raspberry and Strawberry picking and also has undercover fields for rainy days, along with a cute cafe onsite. . My small punnet of raspberries was only £2.70 which was very reasonable & they were very tasty, far superior to what you find in shops. The boys did manage to fill a huge punnet between them for £17.50 which kept us going for 3 days - strawberries and cream anyone? . . . . #valeofglamorgan #valepickyourown #southwales #cardiffmums #lifeinwales #welshadventure #welshsummer #cardifflife

Pen-Y-Crug ⛰️ A fantastic trig point walk for all ages, just outside the town of Brecon. It’s one we keep going back too when we want a good dose of fresh air but don’t have time to take on a bigger summit. . We start at Maen-du Well where you can find free on-street parking. The public right of way is well marked although does go through open farmland so take care if there are grazing livestock. . At 331m it’s a smaller summit walk but Pen-Y-Crug has an impressive Iron Age hill fort and the ramparts on the summit are impressive as are the fantastic views across the Beacons. . I would put aside 1-2hrs for this walk or take a picnic up with you and make more of a day of it. . #welshwalks #breconbeacons #penycrug #hillfort #southwales #trigpointinguk #cardiffmums #womenwhohike #escapetowales #visitbreconbeacons

This past week has been a busy one, my eldest was a stage manager for a theatre project in the city and with 4 sellout nights and the accumulation of months of hard work, it felt like none of our feet touched the ground. It’s a privilege to see what young people can achieve when given the time, trust and tools to create. . But this also meant getting to hang out in Bute Park and Insole Court, both lovely green spaces and soaking up any sunny moments that came our way. . We were also invited to @monsterjam at Principality Stadium in Cardiff | AD Which was something different, while my eldest had been in the past, it was a new experience for my youngest and I. The pit party before the live event, getting to stand next to those who monster trucks, was very cool. I would highly recommend ear defenders if you’re thinking of going as it’s high action at high volume. . Here’s to a quieter week ahead and also hoping for good news at my teens next hospital appointment that he can come off the crutches for good, just in time for summer adventures. . . . #lifeinwales #welshlife #southwales #cardifflife #cardiffmums #principalitystadium #monsterjam

A new Goverment, it’s what we all desperately needed and wanted yet many, myself included, feel unsure. . Many have felt a lack of any reassurance, with Labour leaning more to the right than feels comfortable and the growing numbers for Reform causing many to be alarmed. . Is it really that hard to just want everyone to feel safe, to have access to affordable food, reliable health care, human rights protected, actual affordable housing and to be able to be themselves without feeling vulnerable? . But without being naive, I’m deciding to see this change as a beacon of hope for better. To be hopeful is a powerful thing. . Also just remember that those elected speak on your behalf, keep letting them know how you feel & keep them accountable to the promises they have made. . . . #anewday #lifeinwales #behopeful #generalelection #welshlife #southwales #anewbeginning

June . Felt lovely to finally feel the sun on our faces here in Wales and we certainly tried to make the most of it. . With my son’s knee injury it meant we were still limited in terms of going on any long hikes or less accessible adventures but made the most of what’s on our doorstep. . The month started with a trip to see family in West Wales & spent a lot of time soaking in the beautiful coastline. . A lot of time was spent in the garden, local woodlands, bay wetlands and walks along the river Taff, as well as enjoying both Cardiff and Cowbridge in all its colour for Pride as well as enjoying local music @rhonddaartsfestival. . A few things didn’t go to plan this month & I’ve also had a few bouts of anxiety which I’m working through & looking forward to what July brings and after 8 weeks on crutches hopefully the teen will be a bit more mobile soon. . . . . #lifeinwales #southwales #welshwalks #slowyourselfdown #freshairchild #pembrokeshire

Family Friendly Days out this Summer | AD Did you know that the National Art Pass @artfund gives you free or half price entry to hundreds of museums, galleries, castles and historic sites across the UK as well as discounts in cafes and gift shops with the aim to make art accessible for everyone. . Not only are there plenty of local places that the National Art Pass covers, such as Cardiff Castle, Tredegar House and Cyfarthfa Castle but also iconic places like Kensington Palace and Cutty Sark in London.  . Art is a fantastic way to tap into creativity, be inspired and boost your mental well-being as a family, it’s also fun and educational which is always a good thing.  . Personally I can’t wait to use my National Art Pass and already have plenty of days out planned for summer. . National Art Pass currently has a 3-month trial offer for £15 until 30 June and you can combine the Plus Kids add-on for just £5. That’s all summer sorted with lots of free and 50% off entry for hundreds of places. . Check out artfund.org/national-art-pass to see get the offer before it runs out . . . #artfund #nationalartpass #cardifflife #chapterartscentre #cardiffmums #daysoutuk #welshlife