After a fabulous full English (Welsh) breakfast at Lamphey Hall, we take a walk down the lane to visit Lamphey Bishops Palace, peaceful, deserted in fact, just enough interpretation to paint the picture of the mix of rural function and a luxurious hideaway for the Bishops of Wales.
Its a brief visit and we are soon on our way to Pembroke Castle, which is all of about 10 minutes away in the car, for a guided tour of this remarkably well preserved, very solid looking fortress where Henry 7th was born in 1457. The castle has many passages and spiral staircases to explore, the unusual round keep to climb, a dungeon and a cave.
After all that its a hearty lunch in a local pub with lots of local produce and seafood on offer, reminding us of the fare available at a medieval banquet in either the castle or the Bishops Place!
The afternoon is spent travelling the Pembrokeshire
coast National Park, with a visit to Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber and Castell Henllys where there are reconstructed Iron age round houses. (Picture)
Our journey continues to Cardigan, where driving through the town we pass Cardigan Castle, seat of the Welsh Prince, Lord Rhys in the 1170's, where the first ever Eisteddfod was held.
Its a fabulous drive up the coast of Ceredigion with views across the bay towards Snowdonia. A brief stop at New Quay, (picture) Dolphins are spotted just off the end of the Quay and a Dolphin spotting boat trip is added to the rapidly lengthening list of things to do on the next visit to Wales! Aberaeron is the final stop where we are just in time to sample the honey ice cream on the quayside.
Exhausted we arrive in Aberystwyth where our hotel is on the Victorian promenade with bedrooms looking out to sea.
To be fair - the ground we have covered today should be at least 2 dasy visiting and exploration - if not a week.