A Weekend in Newport, Pembrokeshire; A Guide

It's been a while since I wrote any type of guide. It maybe more accurate to say it has been a whole since I wrote anything though with my lack of blog posts this year.

With so many incredible hotels and restaurants embracing sustainability though, I thought I'd pick up my guides around the UK. Afterall, I've done Cornwall, Applecross in Scotland, Llandudno is North Wales, Keswick in the Lake District and so here we have a guide to Newport village in Pembrokeshire, Wales. A beautiful place by the sea, moments from the hills and somewhere I will most certainly be visiting again.

Where to Stay in Newport?

For such a small town, Netport is filled with quaint little B&Bs and Inns. We stayed at Llys Meddyg Hotel and Restaurant which was incredible. With bulk toiletries in the bathrooms to reduce waste and beds which you never want to get out of, it was splendid. Finally, beautiful little lounges are available for use and are perfect for a board game or private conversation after you've visited the basement bar.

If you're wanting other options try  The Castle Inn which has a great menu of locally sourced food or Cnapan Guest House, a beautiful B&B

Where to Eat and Drink in Newport?

Our experience at  Llys Meddyg was second to none. Beautiful food sourced locally and an incredible bar where the herbs are foraged from the garden.

If you fancy pub grub, The Golden Lion or The Castle Inn both have delicious menus. Or if pizza is more your thing, The Canteen offers eat in or take away.

Finally, Tides Kitchen & Wine Bar a small restaurant right in the centre of town which runs selected menus which change daily depending on what they can get in. Perfect for a romantic get away.

What to do?

Why not rent a board and head out surfing at one of the beaches or instead go to the Witches Cauldron where you can even swim through the caves at low tide. Some would call Barafundle Bay the most beautiful beach in the country so it is also definitely worth a visit. Alternatively you could visit one of the RSPB sanctuaries at Ramsey Island and Skomer Islands.

With so many walks in the local area you have many options to choose from, whether that's a Circular walk around Dinas Island from Cym yr Eglws, or the Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy and head along the coastal path through Porthgain. Alternatively, why not walk to the top of Carn Ingli over looking Newport Bay. Finally, you could opt to walk around St Davids Head, a firm favourite and renown for its beauty.

If you happen to be their over New Years as well, then be sure to join in the Mayors Swim, a very cold but exhilarating dip in the ocean with the rest of the community.

There is so many things to do in one of the countries most beautiful areas and it's clear to see why the Pembrokeshire coast is a firm favourite for outdoor fans and ocean lovers alike. I for one, will definitely be heading back soon, who knows I may even head to a foraging course at the Llys Meddyg that they offer!

I hope this inspires you to head Pembrokeshire way, I can guarantee you wont regret it!

Love
Erin

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24 Hours in Applecross; A Guide

Going to one of the most isolated villages in the UK may not be something high up on many peoples to do list, but I think it's something everyone should consider.

Applecross isn't your average little village, situated on the coast line with a wide sweeping bay, incredible views and fantastic food, its a place like no other that will leave you feeling you really have escaped from the rest of the world.

We only managed to spend 24 hours in the area, and I'm already dying to go back. so if you're heading over to Sskye or fancy doing the NC500 route (read more about that here), here's a quick comprehensive guide on how to spend your time in the beautiful place at what feels like the edge of the world...

Where to stay in Applecross?

It's safe to say there isn't much choice of where to stay in Applecross, it's tiny after all.

We stayed at the Hartfield House Hostel, which was pretty darn basic but had everything we needed and for £50 for the two of us, it was pretty reasonable price as well. Although there is no phone signal at the site, there is Wifi to connect to should you wish.

If hosteling isn't your thing, you can grab a room at Applecross Inn, the country put in the centre of the village starting from £70.

If you want somewhere a little fancier, I'd encourage you to book Applecross B&B.

Of course, there's also a camp site and a few other B&Bs dotted around should none of these places tickle your fancy. Due to the low number of rooms though, I'd encourage you to book, especially in the Summer.

Where to eat and drink in Applecross?

For me, there is only one place to eat in Applecross, the Walled Garden. The place is a converted greenhouse, it's tucked away from the main road and provides a little oasis (should you need one). The cafe come restuarant has a menu of locally sourced products and everything we ate was cooked perfectly. In fact, the chef could quite easily fit into a London Pub and you would still be impressed. My only issue was the fact I couldn't go again because we were leaving the area.

Now of course there are a few other options which all looked great, including the Applecross Inn where the seafood is the freshest you may ever experience, or The Junction, a relatively new bar where you can grab pizza till late and stare across to the sea with a whisky in hand.

What to do near Applecross?

If finding the best views around is something that interests you than the Bealach na ba route is perfect. Reaching a peak of 600m, it's one of the highest roads in the UK with plenty of hairpin bends. Whether your in a car, on a bike or walking, there are plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the sites. It's really not to be missed

With so much natural beauty around, you could head into Rassal Wood; a 6000 year old ash woodland where wild flowers can be spotted. More of a beach buddy? Then head to Sand beach for views over the Isle of Skye.

If like me, lochs and waterfalls are your favourite thing to go and visit. I'd highly recommend a walk to the Falls of Bagly. In autumn you can sometimes catch a sighting of Salmon (sadly I didn't have any luck), but continue up the path and through the gate and you'll reach a loch completely deserted. Should you fancy a bit more of a walk then you can head back to the road and across the other side to climb a hill called Aird Mhor.

If my small amount of time spent in Applecross taught me one thing, its that the views at every turn really can take your breath away, and the isolation, although a little daunting at first, can leave you with a feeling of complete calm by the end of your trip.

Have you ever been to Applecross? Would you go?

Love
Erin

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24 Hours in Keswick; Walking With Alpacas at Alpacaly Ever After

For Mothers day earlier this year, I was determined to come up with a present not like any other I had given her. I wanted it to be outdoors, relaxed but most of all, fun. That let me to purchasing a Walking With Alpacas Experience at Alpacaly Ever After, located about 10 minutes from the centre of Keswick.

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A Quick Guide To Parga, Greece

There are some holidays which you need and this year, going to Parga in Greece was exactly what I needed.

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A weekend in Eindhoven; A Sustainable City Guide

Not planning or looking at a destination before going away is not something I would normally even consider, yet appearently its becoming a thing. First with Llandudno and then again with my recent trip to Eindhoven.

I went away with Ellie and Lily, two girls I was lucky enough to meet at a travel blogger event two years ago and have stayed friends with ever since. We had discussed going away for some time and when ryanair released their flight sale on January 1st it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Through a flow of whatsapp messaged and my crappy signal our only criteria were for the flights to be cheap, at reasonable times and for them not to be to long. Next thing I know I'd agreed to a trip to Eindhoven and it's safe to say I had not googled the destination apart from to check the weather before we landed at Eindhoven airport.

What I soon came to realise though, was that there was more than meets the eye with this city. Turns out it's moving towards being a leader in sustainability as well. Now what were the chances of that?

So here's my slightly sustainable guide on how to spend a weekend in the city, if you, unlike us, are researching the destination before arriving.

Where to stay?

Due to there being 3 of us, naturally rooms can be a little harder to find but we found a quadruple room at Sandton Eindhoven Centre. The room was a really good size and the beds, super comfy. The only downside was the lack of a full length mirror which is never ideal with 3 girls in a small space but for under £80 for two nights and a mere 5 minute walk over the canal to the main town centre, the location really was perfect.

What to do?

Eindhoven is in a phase of complete regeneration. The town has created a bike highway on every main road in the city, meaning you feel like you're more likely to be hit by a bike than a car. They have also started a major regeneration project, following public consultation and are on a mission to reuse as much of the original Philips warehouses (Philips was started in Eindhoven and the name is EVERYWHERE). This area is called Strijp-S District and is by far the coolest place I have ever visited within a city.

Strijp-S

Strijp-S is unlike anywhere you are likely to have visited before. As you walk out of the city you'll walk past the football stadium, past some beautiful new apartment blocks and then you'll reach what feels like a disused area with cafe's and warehouses. The area however is far from disused, in fact there's more than you can ever imagine going on. Restaurants, skateparks, and incredible re-purposed and vintage furniture shops are located within the district.

Following the paths and street art you'll come to even more gigantic warehouse style buildings. Inside are more independent shops and cafes from bike stores to your fancy clothing. The entire regeneration has considered the environmental impact and thus, reusing as much as possible.

It's an area of open space and creative ideas all coming to life. We even walked past a graphitti class taking place with all generations involved making you feel like you'd just walked into an incredible community.

Street Art

I am a big sucker for street art and so, upon seeing a few cool pieces on instragram we went on a hunt for more. Strijp-S is definitely the heart of most of these pieces. As you walk towards the discrict you'll pass a huge football mural. Further along the road at the start of the flat buildings you'll find a beautiful tropical piece.

Enter into the main warehouse area and the most incredible shop you've ever seen (and where I want to buy all my furniture from when I eventually have a home), and you'll find street art on every outside wall of the skate park.

Back in the centre of the city you can find two incredible murials located up a side street right in between Vue Cinema and Happiness cafe near Sissy Boy. There were so many more that we didn't have time to find which are located on the edge of the city as well. Every single one is unique and beautiful!

Shopping

To not include shopping in this list would seem wrong. Sadly due to the lack of space in my bag I didn't end up purchasing anything but I would highly recommend a wander through Sissy Boy for beautiful homeware. For more sustainable fashion why not have a check out G-Star Raw. Yes, they used to have a uncool rep but did you know they have produced the most sustainable jeans ever!

Eindhoven also has a few other gems such as the reshape store which is a second hand store for the salvation army and second floor, which is also meant to be pretty great for your sustainable fashion needs (vintage galore). Finally, go and visit Gusy Projects, I challenge you not to want to turn the shop into your home. I have never felt more comfortable in a space in my life, shame I don't have an endless budget, shipping container or house to fill with all their beautiful items.

Museums

Eindhoven is most famous for the brand Philips. You soon notice this with the Philips name plastered on lots of buildings. This heritage that the people from the city are so proud of also means you can visit the Philips museum should it tickle your fancy. If not, why not head to the Van Abbemuseum (which was conveniently located right by out hotel).

Where to eat?

La Gitana

We somehow ended up eating at really sustainable restaurants whilst we were away (I blame the city being sustainable in general).

First up was an incredible all you can eat tapas restaurant named La Gitana that I still keep raving about. The food was amazing and really reasonably priced and the sangria was delicious as well. The best part, you have your table until the restaurant closes and you can order 6 dishes at a time every 15 minutes. We racked up 33 dishes between us which is more than I ever thought possible! 

Happiness Cafe

Healthy food, tick. Vegan menu, tick. Super tasty pancakes, tick. Beautiful aesthetic, tick. Yep its the perfect insta spot from beautifully present food, to a pretty interior but the restaurant is more than just pretty.

The food was also fantastic whether you fancy breakfast, brunch or lunch. Think London's farm girl but should I say, better!

Food Market

The food market is located just of the square by the church. Trying to figure out how on earth it works is a little daunting but the mood and drinks options are amazing. You need to arrive early (or late) to get a table and trust me it makes everything easier. Once you've got a table, feel free to download the app and you can order drinks and food from the app which is pretty cool. You can then also wander round the food stalls and some will allow table service. The atmosphere at the market is amazing, and the food looks incredible. We spent our Saturday night drinking wine and soaking in the buzz around us, it was truly fantastic.

Happy Italy

Food that is locally sourced, using  natural ingredients and for really reasonable prices. What more could you want? We ate at this restaurant on our second night in the city. The portions are huge and exceptionally delicious. A quick word of warning, they only take card which was a little shock to us.

So there's my whistle stop tour of things all Eindhoven. I have definitely added the destination as a place I would love to revisit, it really is a gem!

Have you ever been to Eindhoven? Would you like to visit? Where are your sustainable destinations?

Love
Erin

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24 hours in Llandudno; A Guide

Not actually planning a trip but going away is something I had never done until recently. Louis and I agreed to pack our bags for a trip to somewhere in the UK but we decided to pick a place when we were together instead of over the phone. So on Saturday morning, upon Louis arrival we sat down, I chose we needed to be within 2 hours of Cheshire and he picked that he wanted the sea side. Next thing we knew we were on the road heading to Llandudno with 24 hours of unorganised exploring to go!

So here are my top tips for a short break to the seaside town...

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Winter Trip to Prague

There is something about travelling during the winter season and having the opportunity to experience different Christmas cultures around the world that I find facinating. Winter, especially January can often feel a little gloomy with everyone having to go back to work/uni/ real life and so I felt like doing a throw back to 2015, when I went to Prague and somehow failed to put any info about my trip on my blog! With Christmas around the corner, there is nothing like some holiday inspiration to put me in the festive mood

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Why Edinburgh is the perfect Winter Staycation

I love to travel however recently the opportunity to jump off our little island onto main land Europe has been limited. This got me thinking back to my trip to Edinburgh at the beginning of this year and how blown away I was by the city.

Edinburgh is one of those places in the UK that feels completely different to anywhere in England. The whole place is a buzz with music, laughter and happiness which is intoxicating. The city has everything you could want and more for a break away and although it can be a little costly compared to other places in the UK here are my top reasons to visit.

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Sustainable Travel; A Talking Point

When I was younger, I always dreamed about flying first class, getting to soar above the ocean whilst reclined on a comfy bed, sipping on that fizzy stuff in a fancy glass. I can't deny that this would be nice sometimes but recently I've found myself thinking about just how sustainable our hopping on and off a plane lifestyle really is? (Blame the Sustainability Masters).

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When in Roma; The Vatican, Pantheon and Side Street wandering

New day, new itinerary. We were up at 8 to pack our bags and to munch on breakfast. After checking out we called an Uber to take us to the Vatican.

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When in Roma; Ancient Rome

What a crazy whirlwind trip. two nights, two and a quarter days in Rome really did fly by. Somehow though we managed to cram in pretty much everything we could dream to!

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A Weekend in Edinburgh

A few weeks ago I visited Edinburgh as a belated Valentines Trip with my boyfriend. Ever since visiting the city briefly a few years ago I had always wanted to come back and so when we were deciding on possible staycation locations Edinburgh was the top of the list.

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Twenty Four Hours in Marrakesh, Morocco

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The Huge Christmas List; The Globe Trotter

I don't think I have ever met someone who doesn't want to travel, or at least have a country they would love to visit. For me, travelling is an annoying little itch which never truly goes away just subsides for a month or two. If, like me, you know plenty of people who would rather jump on a plane than head to work tomorrow then here are some perfect gifts to at least keep them occupied or get them excited for their next adventure. I hope you enjoy.

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The Huge Christmas List; The Busy Bee

Some people are always on the go, I should know, I feel like I'm constantly dashing for one thing to the next without a minute to breath in between. If you know someone like this then this list is perfect for you. Sometimes the greatest gift you can ever give someone is something that allows them to have a few extra minutes because they know they have everything they could possibly need for their day ahead, so enjoy...

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Visiting Lake Bled, Slovenia

Wow where did September go?! There I was being all organised before I went away on holiday creating content for my blog then my life went and upturned and became so crazy busy that I only managed to edit my holiday photos this weekend over a month after I returned from my trip.

So way back (at the end of August), I went to visit Slovenia, a country who's location on a world map I could only guess at being in Europe and a place where the population is so small you can fit them all into London.

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Exploring Santorini; A walk from Fira to Oia

Setting of early we caught the bus from our hotel into the main town, Fira. The walk would take us around 2 hours with beautiful scenery along the way but as I had read on so many websites it's the thing to do, I felt the need to see what all the fuss was about.

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How To Travel With Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend

Since returning from my holiday I've had so many people ask me if my boyfriend and I argued or fell out whilst we were away. It's funny because it's the last think I really think about when going away or at least once I'm actually on holiday.

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Santorini- Do's and Don'ts

Everyone always has such magical things to say about the island of Santorini and I certainly felt like I was going with very high expectations because of this as well. In my mind everything needed to be perfect but there were numerous reasons it didn't quite live up to the dream I had in my head. I thought I would create a list of do's and don'ts so that you don't have to experience the island being a little disappointing.

I'm not saying I would never go back to the island, but I learnt that it isn't really the place for a student to go, and it isn't the place to go if you want to use public transport, anyway here are my do's and don'ts.

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Santorini; The Boat Trip

Santorini, the Island of romance and sunsets had been on my wishlist for a long time. The idea of being immersed in beauty and the wonder of nature gives me a sheer thrill. Although we were only on the island for 3 days due to the awkward ferry times arriving and our midday flight back to the UK we certainly packed plenty in.

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