Heading off to Wales

Slightly change of plans; we are now heading to Wales.

We’ve had a couple of rainy and blustery days after Lulwoth Cove which didn’t allow us to do much outdoors – although I particularly welcomed a couple of lazy days after kayaking and walking on Sunday.

Having relatively inactive two days has also given us the chance to spend some time updating the blog, drawing the route map and catching up with general admin. We have driven along the South Coast of Devon and Dorset, occasionally stopping by at viewpoints to take some photos and enjoy a cup of tea at the back of Dora (see Our Route page to follow the places we’ve been).

We are gradually becoming more confident with driving the van. We have been brave enough to take the vehicle through narrow country lanes which, although a bit trickier when having to let big vehicles pass, we get to see more beautiful landscapes than we would have otherwise by driving down the boring and busy motorways.

We have also wild camped wherever we have been able to find a quiet lay bay to pull in, and in which we were allowed to park overnight. Although we will continue to stay in campsites, mainly to fill the van with water, we prefer free camping in remote places, away from the crowd, and close to a nice viewpoint where we can wake up to the next morning. The disadvantage of staying in remote places is, of course, that there isn’t normally very internet connection.

Rather than go to Lundy Island via the West Country, we have decided to go to Wales instead and coming back via Cornwall. In Wales, we will visit Wye Valley, Brecon Beacons and Gower Peninsula.

On Tuesday night, we slept at a campsite in Weston–super–Mare, a great seaside resort with all the traditional seaside attractions, including their famous donkeys.  The charming old couple who run the place welcomed us warmly and gave us their best pitch, as the campsite was pretty much empty. “The business has been steady this summer, despite the nice weather”, they said with sadness. “British people still prefer to spend their holidays abroad rather than in the UK, notwithstanding the recession”. They took us around the premises where they made their own cider and Gary ended up buying a litre of their driest. “You have to drink cider when you are in Somerset”, they said.

Luckily, it had stopped raining so we could fit it our routine afternoon walk around Sandbay.

Gary and the famous donkeys:

Next stop: The Wye Valley, Wales