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Wednesday 15 June 2011

Wales......

Harbour Beach, Abersoch, Wales


I'm interrupting my Dixieland travelogue to tell you about our holiday in Abersoch, Wales, with the family last week.

You may remember a post I did about childhood holiday memories having a lasting effect, which I believe prompted our eldest son to drive for 3 hours one summer day to show his three children where we used to spend our summer holidays when he was a child.      His trip then prompted MWM and I to go back there two years ago, 30 years after our last visit, to spend a few days rekindling our love of the place.   You can read about that break here, here and here.   

Abersoch Harbour

Last December we decided we'd like all our grandchildren to experience the magic of Abersoch and hopefully they would in turn have magical holiday memories. which they might then pass on to their children in years to come. I looked online and found a fabulous house for rent, right in the village, which was big enough for us, our two sons and their families.    I checked with the boys that the dates were OK with them then went ahead and booked the house for a week.   You can see photos of the interior of the house here, it was fabulous and had everything we needed and more.

Argraig

We set off on Friday 3rd June for the 3 hour drive to Wales, followed by youngest son and his two boys.  Eldest son had set off an hour before taking a different route, saying he'd see us at the house.  The weather was just beautiful, sunny and hot and we were hoping it would stay that way for the seven days we were there.

We arrived at the house and unpacked the food we'd taken before popping down to the pub for a welcome drink.   The children were happy playing on the climbing frame at the pub for a short time before we took them down to the harbour to look at the boats and let them have a run around on the beach



before getting fish and chips to take back to the house for tea, which we ate sitting around the huge table on the decking in the evening sunshine.



Saturday was gloriously hot and sunny, so we took the buckets and spades, other beach games and a picnic down to the beautiful beach, where we all had a wonderful time.




After a great day on the beach we went back to the house to shower off the sand and had a lovely meal, eaten alfresco again, then popped down to the pub for a drink before bedtime whilst the children played together on the climbing frame there.


Here's Ali and Gracie having a cuddle before bedtime. 


On Sunday we drove the fifteen miles from Abersoch to Criccieth, taking a packed lunch with us which we ate overlooking the beach, and climbed the hill to the 13th century castle.     




Dan's partner, Fi, had been unable to come with us as she had to work and take care of their three dogs, and unfortunately Ali had to go home on Sunday evening because she had to go back to work on Monday too, Nick drove her home and returned to Abersoch later that evening.  

Monday dawned sunny again, so we took the children to Abersoch's main beach to explore and enjoy an icecream.




On Tuesday we drove to Caernarfon, which is 24 miles from Abersoch, to visit the magnificent Caernarfon Castle, which was built by Edward I in 1283 and is still in excellent repair.  Caernarfon Castle is where the investiture of the Prince of Wales took place in 1969.    Most of the turrets are still accessible and proved to be a great source of excitement for the children.




On Wednesday the children collected shells on the beach to make collages and explored the rock pools with their fishing nets.    Here's a few photographs showing their handiwork with the shells.



On Thursday we drove over to Pwllheli, which is the capital of the Llyn Peninsula and just seven miles from Abersoch, so that the children could get souvenirs for themselves and gifts for their mothers.       Later in the afternoon they went for one last scout on the beach before coming back for a bath.   Most evenings we spent playing snap and various games in the lounge with the children before they went to bed tired out and happy.


All too soon it was Friday morning and time for us to leave lovely Abersoch for the drive home.  The weather was very kind to us. Some mornings were overcast but by the time we were all ready to go out the clouds had cleared and the sun was out, though sometimes there was a chilly wind it didn't deter us or the children from enjoying our time in Abersoch.

Each morning, whilst the children were having breakfast and getting dressed,  MWM walked down to the little shop to get the daily paper and sit a while on the harbour,


looking out to sea, enjoying the peace and tranquility.


Each day a little Robin hopped around us looking for a few crumbs, so on the last morning we took him some and he almost ate them out of my hand.






MWM and I hope that all the grandchildren will remember their week in Abersoch and maybe in years to come take their children there.  Apart from the names of the shops Abersoch hasn't changed at all in 30 years and I hope it will be just the same if they eventually all go back.   Ah, sweet memories.

If you want to read our Dan's account of the holiday go to his blog

33 comments:

Unknown said...

I love Wales, my Mum was Welsh so we spent a lot of time there as kids and laterly for me the last 2 years. I always think the beaches are so lovely and clean. Abercoch looks gorgeous, I may just go and take a look as I am spending 3 weeks in Wales again this year

A Daft Scots Lass said...

Gosh I've never been to Wales. It looks gorgeous.

Commander Zaius said...

Great pictures and post!

I really enjoyed this, got the feeling I was actually there.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i love that you had such a wonderful family vacation, that's why we go on a family cruise each year. we all can relax and just enjoy each other. i love it!!!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoox

Akelamalu said...

Oh yes, do go visit Abersoch Carol, I just know you will L.O.V.E. it! You're so right about the beaches - they are beautiful and clean.

It is gorgeous Scots Lass, I hope you get to visit some time. :)

You're so right Bee, relaxing and enjoying a family holiday is very special. x

Unknown said...

I've just had a look and Google maps and Abersoch is under three hours from us so that may well end up being a holiday destination soon. The beach looks absolutely gorgeous - just the place for Paul to get his bucket and spade out :)

Akelamalu said...

So pleased you enjoyed this post Beach :)

I'm sure you and Paul would adore Abersoch Sharon!

Anonymous said...

OMG I've never and probably never will get there but this is beautiful. I love every single photo. It looks so flat there. I enjoyed this tour. Great post my friend. Ummm I wonder how Nick likes his butt being front and center ROFLMAO!!! Mahalo for sharing.

Valerie said...

Ah sweet memories. Thank you for giving me a few minutes thinking back.

secret agent woman said...

Looks like a really lovely family vacation.

Maude Lynn said...

What a gorgeous place! I would love to visit Wales.

Charlene Amsden said...

I have always wanted to visit Wales. Thank you for sharing. Now I want to go even more!

Crazy Working Mom said...

Oh what fun! I love the cuddle picture. :) I know you all mush have had an unforgettable time!!!

Daryl said...

Oh what fun ... I do hope the grands take their kidlettes there and continue the tradition ...

Akelamalu said...

Abersoch is quite flat Thom but Wales is quite mountainous really. So pleased you enjoyed the photos. Nick doesn't know his butt is out there on the internet yet. (wink)

Ah I guess you've been to Abersoch Valerie! Beautiful isn't it? :)

I was SAW :)

I'm sure you would love it Mama Zen and I hope you get there some day.

My pleasure Quilly, I do hope you manage to visit Wales and see it all for yourself some time.

The cuddle picture is sweet Tisha isn't it?


Glad you enjoyed it Griya

So do I Daryl!

Dan's Fi-ver said...

Thanks for taking us, Mum. Nate has been aying in the bath with a toy tractor tonight pretending to pull boats in and out of the sea "like they do in Abersoch"!

Looks like it had an impact on him :-)

Akelamalu said...

Aw that's great that he remembers little things like that. It was our pleasure believe me. xx

Suburbia said...

Wales is fab, looks like you had great weather too.

Linda said...

I. Want. To. Go!

Honestly, if I ever make it across to England, I'm going to need a full month to be able to see everything that I want to see and even then I'm sure I'm not going to have enough time! Good thing that I've got you to take me to some of the places that I'll probably never get to.

Cloudia said...

What a glorious time! What a privilege to share some of it. Smell that sea!

Your grandchildren WILL remember it-


always.



Aloha from Waikiki :)

Comfort Spiral

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Akelamalu said...

You're right Suburbia, Wales if fab and so was the weather! :)

Oh Linda you'll need more than a month honey, cos you gotta come visit me and ride the train you know!

Oh the smell of the sea is what I dream of all the time Cloudia. I'm hoping the grandchildren will remember it all. x

snowelf said...

Awww! Now that is the stuff that family memories are made of...what a wonderful holiday! I felt like a part of the family just reading that!! :)

--snow

Akelamalu said...

Aw I'm pleased you enjoyed our holiday Snow x

MorningAJ said...

We're off to Penrhyndeudraeth in September and really looking forward to it. Looks like we've made a good choice!

Ron said...

Oh WOW....what a WONDERFUL week you had in Wales!!!!

I could actually FEEL your love and affection for the place from the energy in your words!

Faaaaaaaabulous photos!

I especially enjoyed the ones of the castle!

Thanks so much for sharing, m'dear. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

X

Akelamalu said...

Can't wait to read all about it AJ!

We do indeed L.O.V.E. Abersoch Ron. So glad you enjoyed the photos. x

Travis Cody said...

Sounds wonderful!

mrsnesbitt said...

Wonderful holiday Pearl - enjoyed every minute!

Akelamalu said...

It was Trav :)

Julia Phillips Smith said...

You're right - I ate ALL of these photos up like a starving researching writer! Thanks again - such a gorgeous place. Can't wait till I can walk around there myself in 3D.

Though, if you saw where I am now, you'd wonder. It's not really that different. No mountainous backgrounds in the distance here, though. Definitely no ancient castles.

Akelamalu said...

So pleased you enjoyed this post Julia. I hope you get to see it for yourself some day. x

Haddock said...

some lovely pictures here.

Akelamalu said...

Thanks Haddock, pleased you enjoyed them.