Probably 3 days into the West Wales Wander by now, and a break in Newtown, which I’d call Nice Newtown but it’s naff. They had free parking for the Jubilee and let me park the campervan in the attractively named “The Gravel” next to McDonalds. Newtown isn’t a must see, a bit functional like Atherstone… Continue reading NO CHANGE IN NEWTOWN, THANKFULLY
Author: retiredmartin
Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.
WAITING FOR THE BEEHIVE TO POSSIBLY OPEN
A penultimate Mid Wales tick in one of those “unimproved” rural pubs the Welsh specialise in. “Old man’s pubs” says Mrs RM. The Beehive in Manafon has taunted me for years with its “challenging” opening hours and shy social media presence, and when we arrive there is no sign of a Friday night opening. After… Continue reading WAITING FOR THE BEEHIVE TO POSSIBLY OPEN
BWLCH-Y-CIBAU….EGGS, SOOTY & NBSS 3.5 DOOM BAR
I’m not suggesting the Welsh don’t know their place, but a month ago I was aware some pubs weren’t taking the Jubilee totally seriously… Is that a giant avocado under that crown ? Luckily for the Stumble, tucked away in the gorgeous hilly bit of Montgomeryshire, it’s redeemed by its Doom Bar. And a giant… Continue reading BWLCH-Y-CIBAU….EGGS, SOOTY & NBSS 3.5 DOOM BAR
DOVEY VALLEY PORK SCRATCHINGS DISASTER
Into Mid Wales, always a bundle of fun, both the pubs and the opening hour traumas. Despite the occasional pashmina mum at the Machynlleth Alternative Tech place (it’s mostly toilets), I really like this blob of hilly villages between the Brummy seaside and Offa’s Dyke. Sadly this post is a bit short on the tourist… Continue reading DOVEY VALLEY PORK SCRATCHINGS DISASTER
LLWYNGWRIL, HANDY FOR THE HILL
Well, not far from Snowdon, anyway. From a jubil(ee)antly ticked North-East Wales to an attack on the North-West, the land of Helly Hansen, Patrick’s Bar, and some of the most glorious scenery in the world. And a cycle hire scheme to rival those electric bikes you rent by the minute from Cambridge station. More knitting… Continue reading LLWYNGWRIL, HANDY FOR THE HILL
NORTH-EAST WALES HAS FALLEN
“Oh no, I was enjoying the endless Channel Islands posts“. Never mind, time for loads of Wales, then even more loads of eastern Scotland, and then Devon.. A month ago, the weekend of the Royal Jubilee, possibly the Jubilee of the year Elvis died given how far I’m now behind on the blog. I wanted… Continue reading NORTH-EAST WALES HAS FALLEN
JERSEY OR GUERNSEY ?
Milking the Channel Island for blog posts is like milking Jersey cows, given that you can’t milk potatoes. Mancunians will be delighted to know the problems at their airport knocked on to delay our return from Jersey by 80 minutes, 80 minutes spent following planes on flightradar24. Back home I coloured in the book, and… Continue reading JERSEY OR GUERNSEY ?
JERSEY ROYALS
Day 6 of the Channel Islands (“Chis”) chunter. Home day, the GBG chapter triumphantly completed. Mrs RM just wanted to sleep, so I made her take a bus trip to the furthest extremity before our mid-afternoon early evening flight to Manchester. The pink line takes you past the German war tunnels, the maze, and about… Continue reading JERSEY ROYALS
TOP 10 PUBS – THE LAMPLIGHTER, ST HELIER
Yes, that is a Top Ten (10), Dave. The Lamplighter is your BIG reason to visit Jersey, apart from the excellent Marks & Spencer lingerie department (oops, wrong blog) and the chance to take home a sack of potatoes as an acceptable present. The route to this Channel Islands classic, cunningly disguised as The Pet… Continue reading TOP 10 PUBS – THE LAMPLIGHTER, ST HELIER
GETTING SHOT OF THE GUERNSEY POUND NOTES IN ST HELIER
Day 5 (still) of the Channel Island Hop-athon, and on our return from Herm to Guernsey I had just enough time to wear Mrs RM out walking up and down the hilly bits of St. Peter Port before our fourth ferry of the trip back to Jersey. “Shall we walk up that hill to the… Continue reading GETTING SHOT OF THE GUERNSEY POUND NOTES IN ST HELIER
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