Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

We love where we live! This is Ceibwr Bay where we blew the cobwebs away this afternoon enjoying the sound of the waves hurling themselves against the rocks. You can't beat a dramatic sea

Ceibwr Bay, Pembrokeshire

We love where we live! This is Ceibwr Bay where we blew the cobwebs away this afternoon enjoying the sound of the waves hurling themselves against the rocks. You can't beat a dramatic sea.

Ceibwr Bay

Ceibwr Bay is a beautiful and rugged coastal location in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. Here's a summary of key information about it:

  • Location:

    • It's located on the Pembrokeshire coast, opening into the Irish Sea.

    • It's near the village of Moylegrove, and not far from Cardigan.

    • It is within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

  • Features:

    • It's known for its dramatic cliffs with visible rock folds, a result of geological activity.

    • It has a stony beach, with some sandy areas appearing at low tide.

    • The "Witches' Cauldron" (Pwll-y-wrach) is a notable collapsed cave nearby.

    • It's a popular spot for wildlife watching, with opportunities to see seabirds, seals, and sometimes dolphins.

    • It is part of the Pembrokeshire coast path, and so is a great place to begin or end a coastal walk.

  • Activities:

    • Walking along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

    • Wildlife watching.

    • Kayaking and canoeing, especially to explore nearby caves.

    • Snorkelling and scuba diving (for experienced individuals).

  • Nature and Wildlife:

    • A habitat for various seabirds, including choughs, fulmars, and others.

    • A place where Atlantic grey seals can be seen, especially during pupping season.

    • Occasional sightings of dolphins and porpoises.

Ceibwr Bay is a place of great natural beauty, offering a sense of wildness and tranquility.

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Pengelli Forest - Pembrokeshire

Pengelli Forest is part of the largest block of ancient Oak woodland in west Wales! Status NNR. This reserve is notified as the Pengelli Forest and Pant-Teg Wood SSSI, which in turn is part of the North Pembrokeshire Woodlands SAC.

Pengelli Wood is an ancient woodland, one of the largest of its type remaining in Wales. Parts are thought to have been wooded since the end of the last Ice Age – 10,000 years ago.

Its importance as a habitat is reflected in the fact that it is one of Wales’ National Nature Reserves and is also a Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales reserve.

The wood is richly diverse. Oaks grow alongside birch, ash and alder and at a lower level hazel, hawthorn and holly thrive. Honeysuckle adds rich scent on summer’s evenings.

For many centuries Pengelli was a working woodland, cared for by local people as an important resource. In the 1500s it was owned by the historian George Owen.

At that time it was grazed by pigs, sheep and cattle while its trees were managed and harvested for timber and fuel.

Each of its different tree species had its own value. Tough alder wood was used for clog making; oak was made into charcoal and its bark was used to tan leather while hazel provided firewood.

Pengelli Wood is home to polecats and dormice. Much of the management work carried out is aimed at improving the habitat for dormice.

It is also home to many woodland birds, including tawny owls and pied flycatchers, a summer visitor that uses nestboxes around the reserve.

Look out for the wood’s many wild flowers. In spring delicate white wood anemones carpet the woodland flower.

Later in the year purple hairstreak and the white-letter hairstreak butterflies can be seen – look for them high in the tree canopy where their eggs are laid.

Text provided by the BBC

Pengelli Forest Walk

Website:

https://www.welshwildlife.org/nature-reserve/pengelli-forest/

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Cardigan shyre described with the due forme of the shire-town as it was surveyed by I.S. anno 1610 ; performed by John Speede; Jodocus Hondius caelavit

In 1611 John Speed (1551/2–1629), an English historian and renowned cartographer, published his ‘Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain’. This was the earliest English attempt at producing an atlas on a large scale. The 2nd of this work’s 4 volumes covered Wales and included a map of Wales along with individual maps of the 13 Welsh counties. Most of the maps in Speed’s work are dated 1610, though a few are earlier. Speed’s ‘Theatre’ was extremely successful and its maps became the basis for folio atlases produced up to the mid-18th century. (Speed’s county maps of Wales - National Library of Wales)

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

The Golden Road - Preseli Hills Pembrokeshire

The Golden Road in the Preseli Hills is an ancient trackway in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The Preseli Hills, or Preseli Mountains, are renowned for their historical significance and natural beauty. Here's an overview of the key aspects:

Historical Significance

  1. Ancient Trackway: The Golden Road is believed to be an ancient track, possibly dating back to the Neolithic period. It is thought to have been used by prehistoric peoples as a route across the Preseli Hills.

  2. Bluestones: The Preseli Hills are famous for being the source of the bluestones used in the inner circle of Stonehenge. These stones were transported over 140 miles to the famous monument in Wiltshire.

  3. Archaeological Sites: The area is rich with archaeological sites, including burial cairns, standing stones, and hill forts.

Natural Beauty

  1. Landscape: The Preseli Hills offer dramatic landscapes with rolling hills, rocky outcrops, and expansive views. The terrain includes heathland, grassland, and patches of woodland.

  2. Biodiversity: The hills support a diverse range of flora and fauna, including heather, gorse, and various bird species.

  3. Hiking and Recreation: The Golden Road is a popular route for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. It provides a scenic walk with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and coast.

Cultural Impact

  1. Myth and Legend: The Preseli Hills are steeped in myth and legend. They are often associated with ancient folklore and stories, adding a layer of mystique to the area.

  2. Local Communities: The hills and their history are integral to the identity of the local communities. The preservation of this heritage is important to the cultural landscape of Pembrokeshire.

Visiting the Golden Road

For those interested in visiting, the Golden Road can be accessed from various points in the Preseli Hills. It's advisable to check local guides and maps for the best routes and to be prepared for the weather conditions, which can be changeable.

In summary, the Golden Road in the Preseli Hills is a path of great historical, natural, and cultural significance, offering a unique experience for those interested in history, nature, and outdoor activities.

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Float to Live - Safety - RNLI

If you found yourself struggling in the water unexpectedly, your instinct would tell you to swim hard. But cold water shock could make you gasp uncontrollably. Then you could breathe in water and drown. Instead, you should Float to Live. 

The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands to help you stay afloat if you need to. Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – and it's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

This fine manuscript map was compiled by the late Idris Mathias of Cardigan.

This fine manuscript map was compiled by the late Idris Mathias of Cardigan. It was conceived in 1945 and took nearly seventeen years to complete. The detailed, colourful map portrays the natural resources of the lower Teifi valley between Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan Bay. The original was drawn on a single roll of cartridge paper, some sixty feet in length and a yard wide. It has been digitized for safekeeping by agreement between Idris and Beryl Mathias, the Welsh Place-Name Society, Ceredigion County Council, and the National Library of Wales.

This fine manuscript map was compiled by the late Idris Mathias of Cardigan. It was conceived in 1945 and took nearly seventeen years to complete. The detailed, colourful map portrays the natural resources of the lower Teifi valley between Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan Bay. The original was drawn on a single roll of cartridge paper, some sixty feet in length and a yard wide. It has been digitized for safekeeping by agreement between Idris and Beryl Mathias, the Welsh Place-Name Society, Ceredigion County Council, and the National Library of Wales.

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Cocker Spaniel Puppies For Sale Wales

We have a litter of four brown/liver working cocker spaniel puppies for sale. They are from pedigree KC registered parents and will be KC registered themselves. There are 3 girls and 1 boy, one is all brown, one has a tiny white star and the other two have white chests and toes and all of them are lovely, healthy, happy and mischievous little bundles of fur. They can be seen with their mother who is our family pet, and since birth they have lived in our home, handled loads on a daily basis, and have grown up with children, cats and another dog.

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Guest Book Comments

Guest book comments

Guest book comments

We love getting comments like this in the visitor books! Makes it all worthwhile knowing our guests are so pleased with our little homes 😁 #holidaycottageswales

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Cocker Spaniel Puppies Wales

Trixie's babies are now four weeks old and will be ready to move to their new forever homes from the 21 May. They are excited to meet their new families and if you think that could be you collecting your new adorable mini Trixie in four weeks, drop us a line! I think Trixie will thank you from the bottom of her heart as she'll be ready to wave goodbye to them by then!

There are four brown/liver working cocker spaniel puppies for sale. They are from pedigree KC registered parents and will be KC registered themselves. There are 3 girls and 1 boy, one is all brown, one has a tiny white star and the other two have white chests and toes and all of them are lovely, healthy, happy and mischievous little bundles of fur. They can be seen with their mother who is our family pet, and since birth they have lived in our home, handled loads on a daily basis, and have grown up with children, cats and another dog.

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Barley Saturday, Parade of Stallions, Cardigan, West Wales

Barley Saturday, Parade of Stallions, Cardigan, West Wales

Arrive at Cardigan at 2pm on the last Saturday in April and you will be greeted by a unique sight. Crowds will be lining the streets, everyone will know each other, there will be perfect specimens of all types of horses, and vintage vehicles and farm machinery will be chugging their way along the roads. So what is going on?

Barley Saturday, Parade of Stallions, Cardigan, West Wales

Barley Saturday, Parade of Stallions, Cardigan, West Wales

On the last Saturday in April in Cardigan, an event takes place that has been a focal point of the local calendar since the latter half of the 19th century.  Horses hooves pound the streets of the town, and the smell of diesel and vintage machinery fills the air, as people line both sides of the pavements in their hundreds.    While many traditional events have died out over the years, one has remained stoically as an important part of the culture and history of Cardigan and the surrounding area, never failing in its ability to pull in the masses from the communities around Cardigan. 

With its long history, the Barley Saturday Parade is a constant, and has only bowed out a handful of times for events beyond anyone’s control.  This iconic local event has been a permanent fixture for as long as any living person can remember except for a sporadic period between the second world war and the 1960s, when the use of horses on local farms was in decline, more recently stepping aside only during times of national crisis, like the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease, which prohibited the movement of livestock, and the coronavirus pandemic.

The event, which takes place on the 30th April this year, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, has its roots in a hiring fair which had been held in late April in Cardigan since the mid 19th century.  Local farmers from the surrounding area would come to Cardigan to hire workers and inspect stallions that are put out to stud, however by the end of the 19th century, the fair had gradually become a stallion fair, with horses becoming the main attraction.  Originally called the Parade of Stallions, the day is known as Barley Saturday now, and gets its name from the fact that it has always been held on the day in April by which time the seasons crop of barley should have been sown.

At 11.30am on the last Saturday of April, the judging of various horse competitions commences, and, once the presentations have been made, the crowds gather and line the streets of Cardigan town to watch the horses make their way through the town, followed by all sorts of vehicles from a by gone era.  Cars, milk floats, tractors, carriages, and buses from local companies that many a spectator on the side of the road can probably remember travelling on to school or town.

 The parade of the town begins at the school fields and makes its way along Feidr Fair, around the castle wall, and up the High Street.  Beginning at approximately 2pm, people throng both sides of the road, so you need to get there in good time to get the best view of these beautiful horses in their show-best, groomed and preened to the nines. 

For more information on Barley Saturday, see www.facebook.com/SadwrnBarlysBarleySaturday or call 01239 841524

 With thanks to

Glen Johnson  www.glen-johnson.co.uk

Dyfed Shire Horse Farm www.dyfed-shires.co.uk

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Tiny Paws at Troedyrhiw

A little late with the update, we have 16 teeny tiny paws here at Troedyrhiw. Trixie our cocker spaniel had four happy, healthy babies who are just starting to get moving and interested in the world around them. Life is about to get very busy!

A little late with the update, we have 16 teeny tiny paws here at Troedyrhiw! Trixie had four happy, healthy babies who are just starting to get moving and interested in the world around them. Life is about to get very busy! #cockerspaniel #cockerspaniel #cockerspanielsofinstagram #cockerspaniellove #cockerspaniels #cockerspanielpuppy

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Robert Silcox Robert Silcox

Poppit Sands Beach, Pembrokeshire

We love Poppit Sands, not far from here. Flat, clean sand, stretching for what feels like miles, with Cardigan Island on the horizon. Different in all weather, but always beautiful, Poppit is a hit for everyone, its lovely to walk on, there are dunes to explore, it's a safe place to paddle and swim, or splash about with a bodyboard, and the dogs love it too! #poppitsands #poppitsandsbeach #visitpembrokeshire #visitpembs #visitpembrokshire #walescoastpath #visitwales #visìtwales #visitwales

We love Poppit Sands, not far from here. Flat, clean sand, stretching for what feels like miles, with Cardigan Island on the horizon. Different in all weather, but always beautiful, Poppit is a hit for everyone, its lovely to walk on, there are dunes to explore, it's a safe place to paddle and swim, or splash about with a bodyboard, and the dogs love it too! #poppitsands #poppitsandsbeach #visitpembrokeshire #visitpembs #visitpembrokshire #walescoastpath #visitwales #visìtwales #visitwales

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