aberdovey

We left Bedford at 11.30am. on a Wednesday and travelled via the M1, M6 and M54 motorways to Shrewsbury. Here we stopped for refreshments at a Dobbies garden centre , where we spent a pleasant hour. Travelling on from Shrewsbury all was well until, on the road from Welshpool to Machynlleth, we came upon a road closure that caused us a half an hour wait. It was a very pleasant day so we did not mind the break, we eventually arrived at Aberdovey at 5pm. Our hosts were out but they left a note saying “Welcome Home” you are in room 4 make yourself a cup of tea we will be in at 6pm. So as you can see we are already very well looked after. This is not surprising as the landlady originates from Bedfordshire and the landlord is from Ireland. Anyone interested in visiting Aberdovey we can only recommend “Cartref” guest house. It enjoys an excellent location and you will find your stay very comfortable.

Thursday we awoke to a rainy day and the outlook not very promising. Our hosts we ride out to the Osprey centre that was 10 miles from Aberdovey on the road to Aberystwyth. This is the only Osprey centre in Wales; they are trying to encourage the Ospreys back to Wales where we were told they were last seen in 1926. There are about 200 pairs breeding in Scotland and 1pair in England, but that is all. After viewing the one Osprey we went further on to the RSPB centre where we walked for about 1mile and came across a hide. Here we stopped and had a picnic lunch whilst watching some wild geese flying, wild ducks swimming and numerous small birds gathering twigs and straw presumably to build nests, while all the time the clouds were drifting across the hills in the distance.

It was about 3.00pm, so we decided to head back to Aberdovey where our host's daughters gave us a history lesson on this very tranquil village.

Friday we awoke to a lovely fine day so we decided that we would go walking on what is called the Broad water at Tywyn. To reach this area we went through what was an estate of the lord of the manor but now is a caravan site. A wood surrounds the whole site that was full of bluebells and 100-year-old trees. Once through the woods we were confronted with a river where the walk took us on a mound which was man made to stop the river flooding over the lower area. We understand the early Victorians built this mound with a base of slate topped with earth (slate was mined around this area). Our walk was about 5 miles where we saw various species of birds. The afternoon was spent, after a leisurely lunch, lounging on the veranda of “Cartref” guest house. The evening was spent in the company of our host and their two daughters aged 10 & 7yrs along with their grandmother. They entertained us with their games and stories some of which were in welsh and had to be translated which the girls are excellent at.