I must admit that after our long weekend in Pembrokeshire, I was slightly put off by Wales and wasn’t looking much forward to our next adventure in the Brecon Beacons.

Well, I worried unnecessarily. It was dark when we arrived to our charming accommodation, a typical Welsh cottage, so I couldn’t see anything and had no idea how the area looked like. But the view from the bedroom in the morning blew us away. That’s what you call a good start. We couldn’t wait to venture out and explore the Brecons and even the rainy and windy weather could not stop us.

For our first day I picked locations that could work in bad weather, so we started our Brecon Beacon experience by visiting Dinefwr, a National Trust place.

What is the Breacon Beacons?

But first let’s have a look at what the Brecon Beacons mean. It means the mountain range in South Wales and it also can mean the Brecon Beacons National Park with its 1370 km2. The name refers to times when beacons were lit on top of the mountains.

I have to say that already on our way to Dinefwr I was stunned by the beauty of the Brecons. It is absolutely beautiful and I’d say it should definitely be on your bucket list.And now back to the estate, Dinefwr.

Dinefwr

Dinefwr Park is unique: with ancient pastureland and trees over 400 years old that are hosts to rare lichens and fungi Dinefwr is a Grade 1 Historic Park and Garden, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a National Nature Reserve.

The original house was built in the Medieval period and the current house was built in the Jacobean style in 1660 and the deer park was created in 1775. However, most of what you see of the building today dates back to the 1850s when it was given a Gothic facelift.

I enjoyed the walk around the deer park and loved the board walk. From the view point the house looked more like a French chateau and had some fairy-tale vibes. Having said that, apparently the house is one of the most haunted house in Britain. Most of the paranormal activities happen(ed) in the servant’s basement where Walter the Butler who served there, haunts. Well, go and visit the Servant’s Quarters if you dare!

Reservoirs

We then visited a couple of reservoirs in the area. There are ten reservoirs in the Brecon Beacos and some of them (possibly the most popular ones) have decorative buildings or towers built in different architectural styles making them look like magical places. I wanted to photograph them in gorgeous light and with a perfect reflection but as it normally is, I was totally unlucky with the weather and ended up with rain and wind. Anyhow, it was still fun, a bit like a treasure hunt and we enjoyed it.

Cwmyoy with the most crooked church

On our second day the weather changed and most of the day was not only dry but sunny and cloudy. So we thought to drive to the eastern edge of the Breacons, to Cwmyoy, a tiny village in Monmouthshire to visit possibly the most crooked church in Britain.

Indeed, I don’t think I’ve seen anything that crooked ever. The reason why the St Martin’s Church is so crooked is because there was a landslide shortly after it was built. There were attempts to correct it but it never fully worked.

Llyn y Fach Fan

As the weather was gorgeous we decided to go for a hike in the afternoon. I picked a short walk saying it’s only 4.2km and 225 m high, that’ll do. Well… what shall I say? Although we are quite fit, we did have to stop many times during this cardiovascular exercise to the top and to be fair on the way down as well because of my ITBS which always hurts downhill.

You should not underestimate these slopes or how quickly the weather can change in the mountains. I didn’t understand those who in spite of clear instructions by tourist organisations started their hikes in flip flops or crocs.

When we got to the top it was so rewarding. The view was spectacular. I was surprised though that quite a lot of people were to spend the night on the top and not all of them were photographers. Some people enjoyed watching the sunset sitting in their camping chairs, some were in the process of putting up their tents. Well, that’s a step too far for me. Or is it…?

By the time we got to the top the sun started to go down and half of the lake was in shadow so no killer shots here. But I didn’t mind it at all because we had such a fun time and enjoyed the views and the sunshine.
On the way down I had to refer to Bill as the Englishman who went up a hill but came down a mountain. 🙂

Aberglasney Garden

On our last day we visited Aberglasney Garden which is said to be one of the finest gardens in Wales and it’s easy to see why.

There are 10 different garden styles to explore at Aberglasney from the historic and unique cloister garden to the woodland gardens and to the Yew Tunnel. Perhaps, one of the most famous garden is the Ninfarium, a sub-tropical indoor garden with a glass roof which sadly I couldn’t visit as it was renovated at the time. I was blown away by this hidden gem and as you walk from one garden to the other one you don’t really know what to look at: there’s beauty everywhere.

As I said, the Brecon Beacons was a big surprise and we loved it. It really is like being in a fairy-tale world with its reservoirs, beautiful hills and charming cottages like the one below. I cannot recommend visiting the Brecon Beacons enough. The only tricky thing is that it may not be as easy to find a good accommodation in a good location as in other parts of Wales or the UK.

North Devon was a pleasant surprise. Although there aren’t many country houses and stately homes, this region still offers a lot to explore. Needless to say that North Devon’s main attraction is the coast with its sandy beaches and dramatic rock formations. However, because of the milder climate Devon has amazing gardens to explore as well.

Big seaside towns with massive beaches like Westward Ho! or Ilfracombe with its controversial statue don’t do anything to me, so these are not included in this post.

I’m much more interested in the countryside, the different landscapes, nature and whatever we discover during our walks. Unlike travel bloggers, I don’t like running around quickly to visit as many places in a day as possible. Instead we explore areas in a relaxed pace to allow ourselves to take everything in and to enjoy our stay. So did we in North Devon.

In this post I’ll show you the places we explored during our four day mini holiday. This, of course doesn’t mean that there’s nothing else to explore in North Devon.

Hartland Quay

Lets’ start with Hartland Quay – famous for its breathtakingly beautiful and rugged coastline.The iconic triangular rock formations, the wild sea, the sea thrift and a hotel tucked away in a small bay have a special ambience.

There are several trails along the coast. We did three different ones and one of them led to the gorgeous Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall close to Hartland Quay.

Our next trail was to the famous Blackchurch Rock which is far bigger than I ever imagined. Its size is impressive and almost scary. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a shot I wanted to as the low tide was still very high and I couldn’t approach it in the angle I wanted to. Well, next time, I suppose.

The trail led through a woodland where we came across this cottage that looked rather spooky. Not sure if it’s lived in but it didn’t appear to be deserted either.

Our third walk was to the famous Peppercombe Beach. Yes, you guessed it right: on our way down to the beach we passed the Instagram famous pink thatched cottage as well as the old coast guards cottages. All of them are holiday lets. Although it was hot, we didn’t feel the heat even when walking uphill because the trail leads in a shaded woodland.

Hartland Point

Walking around Hartland Point Lighthouse is not only worth because the view is spectacular but also because in clear weather you can see Lundy Island.

Hartland Abbey

If the place looks familiar it’s not a coincidence: it has been used as a filming location to a number of films and series, perhaps the most famous one being Malory Towers.

Approaching the house on the Abbey Drive full of rhododendrons in bloom the house already makes a statement. Although the estate may seem to be on a smaller side at first glance, there’s actually quite a lot to explore.

We walked back to the kitchen garden and rose garden which are stunning and have a homely feel. I particularly loved the conservatory and the old greenhouses, not to mention the Home Lodge wearing the distinctive, red estate colour on its bargeboards and gates.

After the gardens we walked down to the beach through the deer park and woodland which hides a summer house as well as a gazebo. The charming Blackpool Mill Cottage close to the beach is a holiday let, so if you fancy staying there, you can.

Last but not least, I have to mention that the tea room serves amazing cakes and obviously the peacock knows that as he comes to beg for food!

As Hartland Abbey has been and still is the home of the Stucley family, sadly no interior photos. You just have to go and see the gorgeous Gothik Strawberry Hill House like interior for yourself. Trust me, it won’t disappoint.

Clovelly

I’ve seen Clovelly many times on social media, but I have to admit I had no idea ir was a heritage village and you have to pay a ticket and go through a massive visitor centre to visit it.

This, however, didn’t distract from the whole experience at all especially that we arrived towards the end of the day when people were leaving the village.

The village was inherited by John Rous in 1983, however it was in the family’s possession since the 18th century.
The charming fishing village is really unique and takes you back to days gone by. It’s worth having a bite to eat at the traditional tea room or having a drink in the bar of the hotel down by the harbour making your visit even more memorable.

I have to admit I was a bit worried about the climb back to the visitor centre but we took our time and it was totally fine. During the day there’s a Land Rover service for the visitors, so it’s not a problem getting down to the harbour and back up the hill if you have mobility issues.

The village is still lived in, so it’s a living heritage village effectively. Don’t miss it if you are in this area but make sure you arrive either early or towards the end of the day to avoid the crowds.

Watersmeet

Watersmeet isn’t only the name of the tea room owned by the Nation Trust but the Nature Reserve around it.

The tea room at Watersemeet has been serving tea since 1901. However, it was originally built as a hunting and fishing lodge in 1832 for Revd. Walter Stevenson Halliday, lover of romantic poetry. He couldn’t have picked a better spot: the house stands at the bottom of a deep gorge at the confluence of the East Lyn River and Hoar Oak Water surrounded by ancient oak woodlands.

The healing and calming sound of the forest river with birds singing in the background and the view of lush green forest and flowing water is absolutely beautiful.

Lynton and Lynmouth

If you visit Watersmeet it’s worth popping in to Lynton and Lynmouth. Although they are equally famous holiday towns they are nowhere near as big as Ilfracombe or Newquay and have an olde-worlde character.
The hydraulic powered funicular provides a fun ride and an amazing view from the top.

Gardens

Due to the pleasant climate in North Devon there are amazing gardens in the region. We visited two: to a smaller, privately owned charming garden and to RHS Rosemoor.

Docton Mill Gardens

As the name suggests, the garden is laid out around the local mill and the original garden was created in the 1930s. As many gardens at some point in their history, Docton Mill Gardens also fell in despair in the 1970s. Luckily the garden as well as the mill were restored in the 1980s. Today it’s an enchanting little garden with a lovely tea room where robins eat from your hands.

RHS Rosemoor

RHS Garden Rosemoor was a very pleasant surprise. It was like being on a treasure hunt: the different garden rooms were separated but you could walk from one to another. I was excited to see what the next garden room looks like and what treasure it would hide.

The garden had everything: from rose gardens to exotic and Mediterranean gardens, from Croquet Lawn to Woodland gardens, Cherry garden, Herb, pottager and cottage garden. I particularly liked the so called Cool Garden with its ponds and water features.

As we’ve only every been to one RHS garden (RHS Wisley) it was refreshing visiting another RHS garden in the countryside.

I can definitely recommend North Devon, it’s such a lovely part of the world with loads of beautiful sites. Trust me, it won’t disappoint.

The South West county of Wales is perhaps most famous for its rugged and dramatic coastline, rock formations and sandy beaches. I wanted to visit Pembrokeshire for a long time so I was excited to spend a long weekend here.

Although the coast is beautiful, I have to admit, I wasn’t impressed by the county. Of course, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing to explore here. On the contrary: it’s a great place for many sport activities and the beaches for a lovely summer holiday. It just didn’t really float my boat.

Unfortunately, we were unlucky with the weather as well: it was cold and very windy and the wind made photography very challenging and impossible at times. In spite of the weather we tried to make the most out of it.

The coastline

Our first stop exploring the Pembrokshire coastline had to be the Elegug Stacks and the Green Bridge of Wales which are just a few minutes walk from each other. I wondered why my photo of this iconic rock looked different and I was sad to see that a big chunk of the Green Bridge of Wales broke off.

The name Elegug Stacks refer to the guillemots that nest on these rocks (elegug is the Welsh for guillemot). Although the rocks got their names obviously from the nesting birds, they reminded me of a pair of boots.

St Govan’s Chapel

With a few minutes drive we got to St Govan’s Chapel which is built into the side of a limestone cliff. Although most part of the chapel is from the 13th century, some parts are dating from the 6th century.

During the 5th and 6th centuries it was common for missionaries to travel the coastline. So did St Govan who on one occasion was chased by the pirates. A cliff opened up for the monk to hide inside. He stayed there until the pirates left and then he stayed here to worship and teach until his death. The chapel was founded by St Govan’s followers in the 6th century.

The pirates returned to St Govan’s Chapel later and stole the silver bell. When their ship was sunk by a storm, the bell was retrieved by angels and entombed it in a rock close to the chapel. When tapped by St Govan the rock sounded thousand times stronger than the bell.

The healing well inside the chapel cured eye problems, skin diseases and rheumatism.

Tenby

Tenby is a typical seaside town famous for its pastel coloured Georgian houses and sandy beach. Although the town has a lovely ambience, the town could do with much needed TLC and it’s also quite expensive.

Colby Woodland Garden

To give the Pembrokeshire coastline a break, we visited a National Trust garden, Colby Woodland Garden. Whereas it wasn’t the most exciting garden we’ve ever seen, I quite enjoyed having a gentle stroll and observing nature.

Ty Canol woodland

We couldn’t miss a good hike whilst in Pembrokshire so I chose a trail that goes around this amazing woodland. The ancient woodland has loads of gnarly twisted trees and rocks covered in moss a lichen making it feel like as if you were in an enchanted forest in a fairy tail. I wish I had some fog, the experience would have been even more mysterious. Well, next time.

Pentre Ifan

Not far from this woodland is a neolithic burial chamber called Pentre Ifan. When you stand there you just ask yourself the question: how did they build it back in the day without machinery and tools…

Pembroke

We popped in to Pembroke to have a quick whizz around the town. The castle was closed by the time we got there but it looked rather impressive. I have to say, I wasn’t impressed with this historic town. Again, it would need much TLC to bring it back to its former glory.

Carew Castle

We drove past Carew Castle several times so decided to stop there one morning for a shot. Although I’m not really a castle (fortress) person, I quite liked it, not sure why. Interesting fact is that the River Carew is tidal so depending on the tide you may or may not find water in front of the castle.

St David’s

St David’s is the smallest town in the United Kingdom with its 1700 inhabitants. I must say, this town was my favourite during our visit to Pembrokeshire. It’s charming, it’s liveable, it’s atmospheric. However, the downside is that it’s full of tourists so may struggle to get a table in the restaurants and even the bakery sold out its products by 14:30.

St David’s Cathedral

Cathedrals always fascinate me, especially those ones which were built in a remote area. It’s interesting for such a small town to have a such a big cathedral.

The interior, especially the ceiling was spectacular. An interesting fact: According to Pope Calixtus II, two visits to St Davids Cathedral is the equivalent to one visit to Rome.

Strumble Head Lighthouse

This picturesque lighthouse was built in 1908 and is one of the last lighthouses built in the country. Although we were there in daylight, I rather liked the contrast of the blue skies with the clouds and green grass and white building.

St Non’s Chapel

I definitely wanted to visit St Non’s Chapel because I thought it’s a picturesque location. I was hoping for a beautiful sunset but unfortunately, it just didn’t happen. However, as the sun was approaching the horizon, the colours suddenly went berserk.

According to legend, a young woman called Non gave birth here during a thunder storm. During labour she gripped the rock so hard that she left finger marks behind. In sympathy, the rock split in two. Later, a spring welled up to baptize the baby, who was called David – patron saint of Wales.

Although the weather wasn’t great and we faced other difficulties like the traffic and opening hours etc looking back how many places we visited, it wasn’t a bad trip at all. Perhaps, I just envisaged a different picture of Pembrokeshire in my head. I bet though, it looks absolutely spectacular in the right weather and season. Either way, it’s definitely worth visiting Pembrokeshire at some point if you can.

The rugged mountains and coastline of North Wales attract many tourists and hikers, but this region has so much more to offer. I was positively surprised by North Wales where we spent four days earlier this year.

We visited below attractions during the four days and we didn’t rush. It may not seem to be possible to cover that much within 4 days, but honestly we did everything in a relaxed pace.

Our accommodation was close to Caernarfon from where we easily could visit Snowdonia National Park with a 30-40 minutes drive. So let’s get started.

Anglesey, Twr Mawr

This iconic little lighthouse had to be on my list and I was so excited to visit this tiny island. You can read more about the experience here.

The village with the longest name

On the way back from Twr Mawr we had to stop in the village with the longest name. You just simply cannot skip this, can you? As you walk up to the train station the long sign post puts a smile on your face.

Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch

The name of the village means “[The] church of [St.] Mary [of the] pool of the white hazels near to the fierce whirlpool [and] the church of [St.] Tysilio of the red cave”

The name was extended in the Victorian era in order to attract even more visitors.

Of course, there’s so much more to see on Anglesey, we just didn’t have the time, unfortunately.

The island was the last refuge of the druids who had to flea the mainland because of the Romans. The Welsh call Anglesey Mo mam Cymru which means the Mother of Wales referring to the country’s grain stores on the island.

The Menai Bridge was built in 1826 as part of telford’s plan to connect London with Dublin: you can get to Dublin from Holyhead by ferry.

Bodnant Garden

From Anglesey, we went straight to Bodnant Garden which is owned by the National Trust. This is a truly amazing garden and arboretum that took our breath away. You can read more and see more pictures about Bodnant here.

Llandudno

Being so close to the famous seaside resort we thought to pop in to Llandudno and have a quick look.

I have to say, it was a very pleasant surprise. I probably expected an old and shabby seaside town, but Llandudno was far from it! The town is beautifully restored, clean and has a lovely ambience.

There’s a wonderful view of the town from the Great Orme where the old furnicular built in 1902 still operates. The carriages are named after local Welsh saints. Number Five seen in the photo is named after St Silio.

Conwy

Opposite Llandudno lays the town of Conway with its magnificent castle. It’s one of the four fortresses/castles built by Edward I the other three being Caernarfon, Beaumarais and Harlech. The English king Edward I built these castles to keep the Welsh under control and to show power.

On the quayside by the River Conwy stands Britain’s smallest house.

Beddgelert

We started our second day in the Snowdonia National Park, in a small village called Beddgelert.

The village is probably named after a Christian missionary, Celert who settled here in the 8th century. However, the folk tale of the faithful hound Gelert is also associated with the village.

I must admit, I wasn’t familiar with the tale so I looked it up and it’s such a sad but beautiful story.

Allegedly, when Llywelyn the Great (a medieval Welsh ruler) returns from hunting finds his baby baby missing and the cradle overturned and Gelert, a wolfhound with a blood-smeared mouth. Llywelyn thinks the dog ate the child, so he kills Gelert. Suddenly he hears the cries of the baby and he finds it under the cradle unharmed. But there’s also a dead wolf which attacked the child and was killed by Gelert. Llwelyn buries the dog but can still hear its dying yelp.

I think, I will always think of this story when I see a photo of Beddgelert…

Porthmadog

On the way to the main attraction of our second day in North Wales, Portmeirion, we stopped in Porthmadoc.

The Ffestiniog Railway is the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

It was built to transport slate from the quarries around Blaenau Ffestiniog to the coastal town of Porthmadog where it was loaded onto ships.

Today it’s a great way to step back in time and enjoy the journey and the beautiful scenery.

Portmeirion

This quirky, Italian-style village in North Wales is by all means is one of if not the most famous and popular destination. Read and see more about Portmeirion here.

Caernarfon

Caernarfon Castle was the only one castle out of the four built by Edward I that the Welsh couldn’t take in. It’s such a magnificent and impressive castle that I wanted to photography in the blue hour. The town however looks a bit neglected and it didn’t really impress me.

Penrhyn Castle

I’ve been wanting to visit this castle for years mainly because of its historic kitchen and servant’s quarters. I have to say, the interior of the castle was also fascinating.

There was a manor standing on the estate already in the 15th century which was owned by the Pennant family from the 18th century onwards. The family’s wealth came from slave trade and slate mining.

The current building was built in the mid 1800 in Neo-Norman style. This is one of Britain’s biggest country houses where Elizabeth II had dinner during her Jubilee in 2002. The menu can be seen in the dining room.

The Gothick wooden panelling, the library and billiard rooms are simply breathtaking.

However, for me the historic kitchen and the servants’ rooms were the highlight of our visit.

Llanberis

There’s a place in Snowdonia National Park near Llanberis where there’s a Lone Tree. It inspires many photographers, so no wonder I went there for a sunrise shot. As it happens there was no sun, but I was happy with the reflection. The post code to the Lone Tree is: LL55 4EL.

Llanrwst

This charming 15th-century tea room in Llanwrust was a farmhouse originally and was used later as a courthouse. Situated on the banks of the River Conwy next to an Inigo Jones bridge it has become one of the most iconic sports in North Wales.
Although the Virginia creeper wasn’t quite red yet when I was there, I enjoyed every minute of my visit.
And now let me take you inside…

Betws-y-coed

Betws-y-coed is a charming village in Snowdonia National Park where three rivers: Lledr, Llugwy and Conwy joins. If you want to visit this amazing village make sure you get there as early as possible. It’s always crowded and parking spaces are limited.

Swallow Falls

Not far from Betws-y-coed is a beautiful waterfall called Swallow Falls. Its name refers to the fact that flow of the river is separated by a big rock into two streams of water that look like a swallow’s tail.

The entry is £2 and you can pay by card only.

Well, that’s it. Quite a lot but trust, me it’s doable in four days without a rush. North Wales is so beautiful and calm, I cannot recommend visiting it enough.

With love,

Bodnant Garden is an amazing garden and arboretum in North Wales that spans 80 acres of hillside and has many different parts to explore.

I knew of this garden, the iconic white pavilion in particular, but I wasn’t aware how big and gorgeous this place is. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, so I’m going to guide you and show you this beautiful garden.

Bodnant’s history

Bodnant was founded in 1874 by Henry Pochin, a victorian industrialist who made his fortune by inventing how to make soap white. He and his wife were great garden lovers, so they decided to establish a beautiful garden on their new estate in North Wales.

The garden was owned by five generations of the family and every generation looked after the garden and even put their stamp on it.

The formal gardens

As you enter the estate you find yourself in the formal gardens around the house,  the Range Borders, the East Garden, the Front Lawn including the glassho

use and borders. There’s an oval pond in which the family used to bathe, called The Bath and a fountain as well close to the Winter Garden.

The terraces at Bodnant Garden

From here we get to the front of the house and the terraces. Bodnant has five incredible Italianate terraces, built between 1904 and 1914.

The Top Rose Terrace has a breathtaking view of the Carneddau Mountains and its two rows
of beds are planted with amazing roses. From the top you can see the Croquet Terrace as
well with long balustrades.

One level down is the Lily Terrace with a beautiful lily pond. On one side of the Lily Terrace is a garden gate, which leads to the most amazing woodland. But we’ll get back to that a little later.

From here steps are leading to the Lower Rose Terrace. The semi- circular Arts and Crafts-style pergolas feel like a romantic labyrinth as you walk down to the Canal Terrace.

The grand finale is of the five terraces is the Canal Terrace with its long pond with the Pin Mill at the south end. The building was built in 1730 as a hunting lodge in Gloucestershire, and was used later as a pin mill and tannery.

Henry McLaren, the third generation of the owners of Bodnant bought the mill and rebuilt it on the estate brick by brick. Downstairs is a gallery and upstairs is a panelled room which was used as a summerhouse and music room by the family.

This part of the garden already blew me away as you can imagine, but the best is yet to come. Through woodland path you get to the woodland and arboretum.

The woodland and arboretum

Beyond the terraces the garden becomes magical. Literally magical. As you walk by the stream, past the Old Mill and the Waterfall Bridge between giant American conifers and hydrangeas, you forget everything and feel very peaceful. The whole garden is like heaven.

This area of the garden is shaped by water: everywhere you go you can hear the gentle, relaxing sound of the water.

Henry Pochin, the creator of Bodnant Garden often invited his friends to plant new trees in his garden. What a lovely thought, isn’t it?

Pochin had another beautiful thought: the tower in the Glades is called the Poem. At first, you would wonder why, but it actually means ‘place of eternal memory’ and is the final resting place of the family. Isn’t that beautiful?

Past the Waterfall Bridge you get to the so called Far End where there’s a pond and an Arts and Crafts-style boathouse. The family used to row on the lake here.

You simply cannot get enough of this garden. If you are in North Wales, I highly recommend visiting this garden. It’s a garden that everybody should see.

With love,

Portmeirion is a small village in North Wales on the edge of Snowdonia National Park. The village is one of the most popular and most visited sights in Wales, which became widely known by the 1960s series The Prisoner.

Characteristics of Portmeirion Village

One of the characteristics of Portmeirion Village is that it was built in Italian-style and indeed it feels like walking in an Italian village. Another fascinating thing about the village is that it was built by using parts of demolished buildings. For example. Sir Clough William-Ellis, the architect and owner of the village once bought the ceiling of an old country house at auction for £13. It was later on installed in the Town Hall pictured below.

Village history

The village is the creation of architect Sir Clough William-Ellis. Many accused him of copying the Italian village of Portofino, but Clough denied this. However, he did say, he fell for Portofino and it could not not impact him.

Even the name of the Welsh village sounds a bit Italian: Portmeirion. However, this comes from the word ’port’ and ’Meirion’ or ’Meirionnydd’ – the Welsh name of the county it lays in.

Clough bought the land in 1925 and built the village in 50 years. Portmeirion Village is run by a charitable trust today.

Buildings of Portmeirion

There are 96 buildings of all sorts: clock tower, gatehouse, town hall, cottage, watch tower, hotel. Most of the buildings are holiday lets so you can even stay in the village. The rest of the buildings function as cafes, restaurants, shops and offices.

Guests can also stay in the hotel by the beach where Noel Coward wrote one of his famous plays. Other celebrities stayed in Portofino as well: George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Welles, Gregory Peck, Ingrid Bergman, Paul McCartney, George Harrison spent his 50th birthday here.

Visiting Portmeirion

Portmeirion Village is open from 9:30am until 5:30pm. As it’s a very popular place, it’s worth arriving early to beat the crowds. Tickets can be bought online or at the gates.

The village is fabulous and has so many charming and quirky details. I loved all the details: statues, bells, shop signs, ornaments etc. Who could not not love St Peter with the black sheep or the Roman head on a fuel pump? Not to mention the different bells and lamps on buildings – all painted in turquoise.

There are many views to enjoy and it’s worth walking around the village several times as you may spot something from a different angle. I particularly enjoyed this view:

A walk around the village

I’d definitely recommend walking around the village following the Woodland Walk. The best view of the village is from the gazebo anyway, plus there are other quirky things to see.

On the walk around the village there are more to see: a Chinese Pond, Japanese Garden with a bridge and pavilion, pet cemetery, Dancing Tree.

Down by the sea there’s a gorgeous view of the beach and you can climb up to the quirky lighthouse.

Following the coastal path, passing the Observatory Tower and Lord Nelson’s statue you get back to the hotel and then to the village.

Shops and restaurants

The restaurants offer a good selection of food, however, nothing fancy (hotel menu may differ). But the ice cream in the ice cream shop is amazing.

Shops offer mainly souvenirs but also artisan products and pottery – Portmeirion is also famous for its pottery. The Round House is home to the souvenir shop of the TV series, The Prisoner. Lady’s Lodge was the village shop in the TV series.

It’s a pity there’s not much information about this series in the village. I would have been happy to learn more about the story. I would have welcome a 10 minutes film about it.

Including the Woodland Walk you can easily spend a half day in Portmeirion or even more. It’s tricky to take pictures because of the crowd, however, there are moments when you can get a clear scene you just have to be patient.

Depending on at what time of the day you arrive you may find the tide is in or out. The tidal times are written on your ticket, but if you prefer visiting the village when the tide is in, you have to check the tidal times before your visit.

Hope you’ll enjoy your visit as much as I did.

With love,

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Twur Mawr lighthouse (meaning Great Tower in Welsh) is an iconic landmark on the West coast of Anglesey in Wales. This rather small lighthouse on Llanddwynn Isalnd was built in 1845 in the distinctive style of Anglesey windmills. According to some suggestions the tower might have been a windmill originally, however Twr Mawr marks the West entrance of the Menai Strait.

This charming lighthouse is one of the most photographable spot for landscape photographers and it can’t be missed from the portfolio. Those who travel to Anglesey are most likely to take a picture of it and include it to their gallery.

When is it best to photograph Twr Mawr?

Like with almost everything in landscape photography it’s best to photograph Twr Mawr at sunrise. The soft lights catching the sides of the tower and the tranquility of the location make sunrise photos beautiful. Of course a sunset photo would work as well, however in this case the tower would be in shades. Try to avoid shooting in harsh sunlight as the phot would be very contrasty and it wouldn’t look aesthetically pleasing.

Another thing to consider if you’d like to photograph Twr Mawr is the tide. The Lladdwynn Island can only be accessed during low tide, so please always check tidal times before your visit to avoid disappointment and trouble.

Planning

I must admit I wasn’t sure whether I could do a sunrise shot and get up at 4am as I have always struggled with early mornings. But I was determined and wanted to put to effort into it so I pushed myself.

We left after work on a Thursday and travelled 5 hours to our base in North Wales and got into bed around midnight.

Looking at the weather forecast and the tidal times, the only chance for a sunrise photo was the following morning. So I had to put up with 4 hours sleep only.

No idea if I managed to sleep at all or if I only dozed from excitement, but managed to get up at 4am without a problem. I packed my gear the night before so got ready in half an hour.

How to get to Twr Mawr?

First you have to get to Anglesey over the Menai Bridge and then head to the Newborough Forest Nature Reserve. The post code for the car park is LL61 6SG (Maes Parcio Ynys Llanddwynn). It was exciting leaving in dark and I must admit I didn’t notice at all crossing the Menai Strait.

You enter the nature reserve by the barrier where your registration number is read. You have to pay for the parking by the barrier when you leave. The first two hours cost £2 and a full day fee is £7.

There are several car parks in the nature reserve but the closest one to Twr Mawr is the one by the beach. There are public toilets, so it’s worth using them before leaving for Twr Mwr as there are no loos on the Llanddwynn Island.

It was still dark when we arrived and many pairs of eyes were looking at us in the car park. They were rabbits, so please drive and park carefully.

From the car park you have to head to the beach which is sign posted. From there you can already see the lighthouse. I really enjoyed the 30 minutes walk on the beach as it was only us on the beach. It’s important to wear proper footwear as the beach is a mixture of sand and pebbles and can be difficult to walk on at times.

Composition

As an iconic landmark Twr Mawr had been photographed many times and in different compositions. In spite of that it’s worth including this charming and eye-catching lighthouse to your portfolio.

What you always have to consider though:

• The island is rocky and you can easily fall over whilst looking for the best composition, so please be careful.
• In strong wind the tripod may fall over, so use a sturdy one or don’t risk it if the weather conditions are not good.

Photographing Twr Mawr

It was so liberating photographing on the island. I felt free, it was just us, the nature, the sea and the lighthouse. And I did what I enjoy doing: taking pictures.

We deliberately arrived before sunrise to the lighthouse so that I could set up properly. All I had to do was to wait for the sun to rise. But it didn’t… I was disappointed but at least I had dramatic skies over the lighthouse, so that’s something. Of course, I could have created a gorgeous sunrise and beautiful hues in post production but I prefer showing reality. Even if it means that my photo won’t have that glorious pink morning sky…

Although the pink sea thrift was gone, there was still some daisies going on which I was pleased about. They just lifted the dramatic skies and gave more interest.

Once I finished shooting the tower we walked around the island to explore the few things that are there.

Twr Bach

In the small bay there’s an unlit 5m high tower which was built at the beginning of the 1800s. The tower was supposed to help the pilgrims to cross the sea, but allegedly it was too small and wasn’t visible, which is why Twr Mawr was built later.

Cottages

Captains (pilots) who helped ships to navigate between Caernarfon and Anglesey lived in the white cottages. There’s an exhibition about local wildlife in one of the cottages.

St Dwynwen Church

The name of the island Llanddwyn means “The church of St. Dwynwen”. Dwynwen is a saint who lived in the 5th century AD and was one of the 24 daughters of St. Brychan, a Welsh prince.  She became the Welsh patron saint of lovers –  the Welsh equivalent of St. Valentine. Her feast day is 25th January.

According to the legend she fell in love with a young man called Maelon, but rejected his advances. She prayed to be released from the unhappy love and was hoping to get a potion to do this. However, the potion turned Maelon to ice. She desired three wishes and prayed for them : 1) Maelon be revived, 2) all true lovers find happiness, and 3) she should never again wish to be married. She then settled and retired on Llanddwyn Island and lived like a hermit.

Pilgrims visited the island and the holy well. Allegedly, the faithfulness of a lover could be foretold through the movements of some eels that lived in the well. The woman first had to scatter breadcrumbs on the surface of the well, then laying her handkerchief on the surface. If the eel disturbed it then her lover would be faithful.

The church was so popular that it became the richest in the area. But when the Anglican church was established and financial support was withdrawn, the church fell into despair.

St Dwynwen Cross

St Dwynwen Cross was erected by the former owner of Llanddwynn Island, F. G. Wynn in 1897.

Once we walked around the island, we sat on the bench by the cross and had breakfast: chocolate croissants and orange juice. I will never forget this beautiful morning and experience. The wind was blowing, seagulls were screeching and it was us, the Irish Sea and Twr Mawr.

I was even looking at the paths which were covered with broken shells. I had no idea how they could collect that much shells and cover these paths. So that’s why the paths on the island are white.

When we left, I noticed a fellow photographer. He was the only person we met that morning between 7 and 8. However, I’m sure the island gets more visitors during the day (at low tide).

As we literally left the island the sun came out and threw gorgeous soft light on the side of the tower. I was upset and wanted to go back, but as I made up my mind the sun was gone.

I remembered what my landscape photographer mentor taught me: just wait for the right moment. But I was wondering how long should I have possibly waited in the chilly wind with no sun in sight…?

Anyway, lesson learnt.

I’m happy with the result even if my dream shot would be a gorgeous sunrise shot with soft sunlight. But you can’t always have it all, can you?

With love,

All rights reserved ©englandspuzzle and ©gizellapetz

The content cannot be used or reposted without prior permission. If you do so, you risk a copyright infringement procedure.

Most museums, heritage centres and exhibitions in England are brilliantly done and are interactive. I’ve been to many of them and loved them all.

However, on my recent visit to William Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage in the Lake District, I was blown away. In fact, I think I learnt more about Wordsworth and his poetry in two hours I spent at Wordsworth Grasmere than I did at school.

Even as an adult what I knew about Wordsworth was minimal. I knew he was from the Lake District, he was a romantic poet in the 19th century and I knew about his most famous poem The Daffodils. Not much, as you can see.

When we decided to visit Wordsworth Grasmere I didn’t have high expectations. How wrong I was.

The Wordsworth Grasmere experience

We started off in the modern main building with a 10 minutes long film about Wordsworth, his sister Dorothy and his wife, Mary.

The film was beautifully done and it really takes one back in time. It gave an instant insight into the era and the life of the Wordsworths as well as the Lake District.

I didn’t even know Wordsworth lived with his sister, Dorothy who led the famous Grasmere Journal, a piece of literary art that provides much insight into the 19th century life in the Lake District.

About William Wordsworth

Wordsworth was born in Cockermouth in 1770. His father was the legal representative of an earl which kept him away from home most of the time. Beside Dorothy, Wordsworth had another three siblings: John, Richard and Christopher.

After the death of their mother Wordsworth was sent to Hawkshead to grammar school and Dorothy went and lived with relatives in Yorkshire. They didn’t see each other for 9 years

William Wordsworth made his debut in 1787 when he published a sonnet. In the same year he started his studies at Cambridge University where he got his degree in BA in 1791.

The French Revolution played a big role in his life: he believed in a more democratic world. He travelled to France in 1791 and he fell in love with a French woman, Anette Vallon with whom he had a daughter with.

However, the film focuses on Wordsworths life between 1799 and 1808 when he, Dorothy and his wife, Mary Hutchinson lived at Dove Cottage.

Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage

After the film, our guide took us over to Dove Cottage where he showed us every room and explained life at the cottage. It was a pleasant surprise how well prepared and how knowledgable our twenty-something guide was.

I did ask a few questions and he could answer all of them. He said, they had a really good training and they were also expected to read many Wordsworth’s poems. I thought it was rather touching when he said, he had tears in his eyes when he read a particular poem about the social inequity.

Another question I asked was whether Wordsworth already earned enough money at this point in his life to afford the lifestyle they led.

Our guide explained that although Wordsworth did make some money from his work, the reason why he could afford the relaxed lifestyle they all lived was because the heir of the earl Wordsworth’s father worked for, owed him money which he paid back in 1802. This money enabled not only Wordsworth but his sister, Dorothy as well to have a relaxed life.

Knowing that for centuries the only chance for women to have a decent life was to marry as soon as possible, I was surprised that Dorothy wasn’t married.

Another young guide explained that she was quite a free spirit and never fancied a married life or motherhood. She did like children but never wanted children of her own.

Because she was unmarried she people often made comments about her during her walks.

Wordsworth and Dorothy went for a walk every day. Not only because they wanted to admire the landscape and nature but also because by this time, it was widely known that daily exercise had benefits. They knew the different plants, trees, hills and fells and met beggars, disabled and sheperds on their walks who Wordsworth mentioned in his poems becoming more democratic and socially sensitive in poetry.

Dove Cottage isn’t too big but having walked around it, it certainly made a decent home to the Wordsworths. Up to the couples three children when they decided to move to a bigger place, Rydal Mount nearby.

Wordsworth’s friends Coleridge and Southey often came around and you can see the three poets also known as the Lake Poets sitting by the desk discussing different matters by candlelight…

I was interested to know if Wordsworth had any contact with fellow female writers like Jane Austen or the Bronte Sisters, or if he had an opinion about them. Our guide knew the answer to this question as well: Wordsworth didn’t have any contact with them and he though that women should stay at home.

We left Dove Cottage via the back door and climbed a few steps to get to a bench on the hill. You can enjoy the beautiful views from there.

The main exhibition

The path leads back to the main museum building where you can visit the permanent exhibition about Wordsworth and the Lake District. The quotes on huge displays were brilliant and allowed more insight into the world and poetry of Wordsworth.

Perhaps one of the most interesting or unexpected item was Wordsworth’s mask made of plaster by painter Haydon. Allegedly Wordsworth sat with the plaster covering his face , breathing through straws up his nose.

On the ground floor there was a very interesting temporary exhibition about the Lake District and its tourism called ’To the Lakes!’.

I cannot recommend Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage at Grasmere enough. It’s certainly worth a visit if you are in the area.

The museum is open 7 days a week from 10am until 5pm.

She was a Phantom of delight
When first she gleamed upon my sight;
A lovely Apparition, sent
To be a moment’s ornament;
Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair;
Like Twilight’s, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful Dawn;
A dancing Shape, an Image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and way-lay.

– William Wordsworth

With love,

I’ve been wanting to visit the Lake District for years, but it just never happened. So finally, I just decided to go and organised a long weekend in the Lake District.

Like with any other places in the UK, you would need at least a week to explore things properly, but we managed to cover the main attractions within a long weekend i.e. 4 days. Hope this guide helps you to plan your trip to this beautiful part of the World.

Brief history of the Lake District

England’s second biggest nature park is the Lake District and it lays in the counties of Cumbria and Lancashire in the North of England. It’s the most visited area in England with 15 million visitors each year. But it wasn’t always the case.

The first guide book about the Lake District was published in 1778 and it soon became a popular tourist area. Early tourists could reach the Lakes in three days by coach from London. During the Industrial Revolution with the growing infrastructure more and more people visited the Lakes. With the railway connection to Windermere the travel time reduced from three days to ten and a half hours.

Needless to say that poems by William Wordsworth describing the beauty of the Lakes also inspired many to visit the area. It also became a popular among the wealthy who started to build villas by the lakes.

Having seen the rapid growth in tourism, William Wordsworth suggested using the word District to refer to the area as sort of a National Park in order to preserve it. He also suggested using local building materials and build houses in local styles to preserve the nature and look of the Lake District.

Tourists hired local tour guides to see the mountains and fells or enjoyed boat trips on the lakes and many even did watercolours.

Those who love country houses, stately homes, gardens and other cultural landmarks should be aware that there are far less National Trust, English Heritage or Historic Houses places in the Lake District. This region is mainly about nature and landscape.

Having said that, we started our long weekend in the Lake District with visiting two iconic country houses Sizergh and Levens Hall.

Sizergh

Sizergh has been the home of the Strickland family for 800 years. The earliest parts of the house date back to the 14th and 15th century and history oozes out of its walls.

My favourite part was the rock garden, which was built in 1920. I sat on the bench under the tree as the NT suggested and indeed it was the most gorgeous view and it was very relaxing.

Levens Hall

Levens Hall has been on my lists for years but I didn’t think I would make it during my trip to the Lake District. Luckily, I did have time to visit and I’m so pleased I did.

Levens Hall is famous for its gardens but perhaps the most famous part is the Stuart and topiary garden laid out in the of the 17th century.

There are more than 100 pieces in the topiary garden and many of them are over 300 years old. Some pieces do have a name: the chess pieces King and Queen, the Judges Wig, the Great Umbrella or Peacocks. Honestly, it’s so much fun.

I also treated myself to the Head Gardener’s honey. If you like honey, try this one, it’s gorgeous. Nothing like honey from the supermarket.

Levens Hall is still a privately owned house therefore no interior photos. However, I can assure you, it’s worth visiting the house. It has s much character, history and beauty, that it’s difficult take it all in.

Cartmel

Not far from Kendal there’s a little village called Cartmel. I must admit, I was surprised how posh it was. However, when I learnt that the village has its own horse race, I understood why there’s money around here.

Hill Top

One of the most famous person of the Lake District is the author of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter. Perhaps it’s a less known fact that she was the first to donate her farmhouse and estate to the National Trust.

Her farm house stands near Consiton Water and is called Hill Top. It’s such a cute little place. As you look at the house and the cottage garden, you can see where the inspiration for Peter Rabbit and friends came from.

Hawkeshead

William Wordsworth went to grammar school in the village and Beatrix Potter’s husband, William Heelis had his office in the middle of Hawkshead. Today, the building functions as the Beatrix Potter Gallery owned by the National Trust.

Coniston Water

The nearby Coniston Water is the third biggest lake in the Lake District. The famous Victorian writer, philosopher and critic John Ruskin lived here from 1872 until his death.

The lake is also famous for the water speed record attempts in 1939.

There are several picturesque cottages around the lake.

Little Landale

The area around Coniston Water is full of charming cottages inspiring many photographers. Little Langdale is a tiny settlement with cute cottages and farmhouses. It can be tricky to park here as the only sport where you can park is the pub.

I actually stopped by the pub and had lunch there. I must say, I had the best burger ever in this little pub. It was a venison burger and was so tasty and beautiful that I couldn’t believe it. I can only recommend the Three Shires Inn.

Windermere

Windermer is the biggest holiday spot in the Lake District and it’s also the biggest lake. I must confess, whereby the lake is stunning I wasn’t impressed by the town. There are many beautiful Victorian town houses but it’s heaving all day.

If you’d like to explore it, do it early in the morning as it gets very busy during the day and in the evening.

As you leave Windermere, close to Ecclerigg by the main road is one of the most iconic cottages of the Lake District. It can be tricky to stop there by car.

Ambleside

Leaving Windermere we get to the charming town of Ambleside. This town has much more character and I loved it.

Its most famous landmark is the Bridge House which is owned by the National Trust.

It was built in the 17th century by the Braithwaite family who lived on the nearby Ambleside estate. They built the bridge first to get access to their land on the other side of Stock Beck.

They added the house later to stock apples from their orchards. Although the house is incredibly small, there was a family of six and a family of eight living here during the centuries.

The house soon became a tourist attraction and many artists came here to draw or paint it, but it was let down and was in desperate need of a repair in the beginning of the 20th century. Beatrix Potter and her husband raised money, along with a local group, and saved it from demolition in 1926.

Grasmere

Grasmere is a small village north of Ambleside. Our accommodation was in this village an dI was so pleased we stayed here as opposed to Windermere. Getting in and out of Windermere can be really painful because of the traffic, but Grasmere was much better as we ventured our more towards the North.

Besides, it is such a tranquil and lovely place. As we walked down the streets I started to understand why Wordsworth loved this place.

The village has two main attraction: Dove Cottage where William Wordsworth lived and Grasmere Gingerbread. (You can also find Wordsworth’s grave in the churchyard.)

Grasmere Gingerbread

Grasmere Gingerbread is indeed unique. I haven’t eaten anything like this before. It’s between a biscuit and a cake and it also has a crunch to it.

A local woman Sarah Nelson started to make them in 1854 and sold them for locals and tourists. But it was so good that the gingerbread soon became famous and Sarah Nelson could open her shop in her cottage.

If you are in Grasmere, do pop in. Shop assistants are dressed in Victorian attire.

Dove Cottage

William Wordsworth lived in Dove Cottage with his young family and sister, Dorothy from 1799 to 1808.

Wordsworth wrote many of his greatest poems here and Dorothy kept her Grasmere journal. The latter gives fantastic insight into the life in the Lake District.

I visited Dove Cottage sort of last minute but it was a fantastic experience. I learnt s much about Wordsworth, Dorothy and the Lake District. The cottage as well as the exhibition including the ‘To the Lakes!’ exhibition is so beautifully presented that I cannot recommend Wordsworth Grasmere highly enough.

Rydal

Rydal is a small village close to Grasmere. The iconic and Instagram famous church and churchyard with the gas lamp really have a special ambience. Allegedly Wordsworth helped to choose where to build the church.

When visiting this atmospheric place, it’s worth walking around Rydal Hall (it’s a hotel today) and explore its beautiful garden including the waterfall with the small stone booth. It’s free but there’s a donation box by the gate.

It can be tricky to park here, but you can buy daily parking tickets at Rydal Hall.

Keswick

Keswick is a charming town, however it can get very crowded as well. It’s still worth stopping by the lake and have a wonder around. You can see the traditional wooden boats and steamers here and you can even go on a boat ride.

Hiking

The best of all programmes in the Lake District is hiking. There are many public footpaths wand walks where you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Lake District. It must be gorgeous in all seasons however, the most beautiful time of the year here is autumn.

I was very pleased to go on a walk during our long weekend. It’s something I always love to include into our programme. We ventured out to find the Instagram famous Warnscale Bothy.

We were told it’s difficult to find and indeed it was. Even following detailed descriptions we got lost. Luckily, there were many other people looking for it, so we did find it in the end. The view from there was gorgeous.

Disclaimer: As the weather can change very quickly in the Lake District, make sure you have the proper equipment (shoes, clothing), food and drink and maps. There’s no signal up there, so you can’t use your phone. Alternatively, join a guide who can show you the bothy.

I highly recommend visiting the Lake District and you can cover the main attractions in 3-4 days. But like with everything else in England and the UK, ideally you’d need a week or two to explore it properly.

As I said in my newsletter (if not yet signed up, you can do it here) I can’t get enough of the Lake District.

One thing is for sure: since our visit I keep checking the property market in the Lake District and I cannot wait to visit again. Hopefully I can visit in the autumn and take some gorgeous photos and can do more walks.

With love,

Although for me nothing beats visiting country houses, gardens and heritage museums, I do enjoy going on country walks. The reason is that you can almost always find a hidden gem during a walk, which you probably wouldn’t find if you were driving.

Because we exhausted the surrounding area during the pandemic, it’s quite refreshing to explore other areas.

I’ve been to Burford a few times, but I never explored the surrounding area. Therefore, it was lovely to walk in the countryside around this charming Cotswold town and I really enjoyed it. The walk is ca 8km and it goes through villages of the Windrush Valley.

So this week let me take you on this country walk and show you around.

Starting in Burford

Burford lays 18 miles from Oxford and is often called the Gateway to the Cotswolds. Nestled among the rolling hills and on the banks of the River Windrush, Burford is one of the most beautiful towns of the Cotswolds. Its special ambience captures everyone’s heart and its view from the top of the High Street is world famous.

Burford was a market town and played an important role in the Cotswolds wool trade. It was a wealthy town which is reflected in the various Tudor houses, Georgian buildings, shops and tearooms. Its special ambience has always attracted many and you can easily see why.

My walk started here in Burford. I arrived early because the car park fills up quickly. Although parking is free, toilets aren’t and they work with 20p coin only.

As the car park is situated sort of in the middle of the High Street and the walk starts at the lower end of it, it’s worth climbing the hill first. Enjoy the views from the top of the High Street.

Tip: You can get some snacks from the local butcher. The Burford sausage roll is very good.

To Fulbrook

Leaving Burford, I crossed the bridge over the River Windrush and made my way to a small village, Fulbrook. The path lead through fields from where I enjoyed beautiful views of Burford.

On the top of the hill there is a beautiful 16th century coaching inn and some honey stone cottages which I probably would have never seen had I driven around the area.

The Cotswolds countryside

Having walked through Fulbrook, I entered a vast wheat field which looked gorgeous with the dramatic sky above it.

After rolling hills, I arrived at the next point, an old farmhouse. As I walked downhill, I noticed a few more cottages which looked stunning in the curve of the road. Sheep were observing my steps.

Although it rained a bit and I had to hide under trees, I didn’t mind it. The countryside looked stunning in the contrasty summer weather.

Swinbrook

The route took me to another quaint village called Swinbrook. Another charming Cotswolds village full of cottages with roses climbing up the side.

It’s always worth visiting English churches, as you can often find something quirky or interesting. The St Mary’s Church in Swinbrook was no exception, with its effigies commemorating the Fettiplace family and wooden carvings on the seats.

Widford

Before reaching the last leg of the walk, I crossed a vast field near Widford where I noticed an old Saxon church, St Oswald’s Church.

Of course, I popped in to have a look and it was great to see that this old church is still used today. I was positively surprised by the fresh flowers in the church.

River Windrush

The last leg of the walk was by the River Windrush back to Burford. The river springs in the Cotswolds near Snowshill and reaches the Thames in Oxfordshire near Witney. The river is a popular spot for fly-fishing where fishermen can catch trout, perch, roach and other fish.

I can only recommend country when you visit England. It’s worth dedicating a day to explore the rural countryside on foot.

The Burford circular walk is a great choice as it’s close to London. It’s a relatively easy walk and it offers loads to see and to explore.

You can find a map and the walk description here.

Hope you enjoyed this walk in the Cotswolds.