St. Twynnell's Cottage at Lower Lamphey Park
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If you desire to explore the West Welsh coast with homely lodgings, or if you have a passion for gardens or distinctive flower varieties, you have an excellent chance of finding your bliss at Lower Lamphey Park this summer!
Having found their Air B&B advert last year, I enjoyed two restorative stays at Simon and Tina's charming, rustic home: reflective of their world travel and pastimes, family, nature, birds, the ocean, Tina's dance background and homemade everything - a real country kitchen is the hub of this home.
They also have very comfortable self-catering options at the rural site on the edge of the Pembrokeshire National Park: with historic towns of Tenby and Pembroke, sandy beaches, castles and other attractions conveniently nearby.
June 2016
During my first stay, I was able to spend a few days exploring the stunning coastline and two relaxing nights in my cosy, peaceful room. I awoke to a lovely healthful breakfast Tina had thoughtfully laid out for me, refreshed and ready to explore beautiful beaches and lily ponds.
The great thing about these hosts is they're genuinely interested in you, without being at all intrusive - as well as very interesting.
I gratefully sampled the amazing variety of leafy greens and herbs from their impressive garden. Eating green and breathing clear seaside air was so energising and purifying for me.
My first stop was Freshwater East: a sweeping sandy beach, perfectly soft underfoot, the deep blue ocean shimmering in the sun and a few families with children playing happily in the sand.
I also visited the gorgeous Stackpole Walled Gardens and took a stroll in the sun through Bosherston Lily Ponds, then down to Barafundle Bay (named one of the UK's best beaches). The whole of this area was dreamlike with what could be described as a celestial atmosphere.
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I cannot wait to smell them in full bloom the next time I visit, particularly the Salvia elegans scarlet pineapple – with foliage that smells of ripe pineapple.
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My second visit in February
Ever since that first stay, I had longed to return. And so, in February this year, I finally took my chance for another weekend escape.
Though obviously not swimming weather, the winter experience was just as beneficial. The wholesome charm of Lower Lamphey Park is to be all the more relished and appreciated after a long, gusty ramble through miles and miles of yellow gorse along the clifftops, to blow away the winter cobwebs.
Tina and I took a long walk starting from Stackpole, through Bosherston lily ponds where we spotted a variety of birds including swans, goosanders and the standing, spectral figures of cormorants on faraway branches, watching over us as we passed: to Broadhaven Beach with its craggy rock face, then to Barafundle Bay.
Finding our way back down towards Freshwater East at dusk, where a few local fishermen stood, the coconut fragrance of the gorse together with wood smoke from over hills filling our nostrils - we fell silent as the sun sank into the ocean. A velvet sky with fluffy blue clouds hugging the golden horizon at the edge of infinity. It was almost mythical, in the gibbous moonlight.
Smiles go on for miles . . . .
Perfecting the art of market trading, they even hand weave their own willow baskets for customers to put their produce in!
So to top off my experience, I had a go at willow weaving while we listened to the music of Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan over a cuppa and conversation. These were all entirely optional activities, of course! But it really did make me yearn to live a simple, down-to-earth life.
It's worth noting: staying at Lower Lamphey Park can be as involved or as autonomous as you'd like. But these people are worth getting to know.
It was a significant honour to prepare and share a meal with my dear new friends on my last night.
A perfectly decadent evening to end to a perfect weekend: with Moroccan pilav rice and squash followed by apricot and chocolate tart and lively conversation.
Seriously, two of the loveliest people you'll ever meet - meet them!
Back on the open road to Cardiff the next morning, I felt grateful to have shared this quality time with good people relishing the bounty of the earth - it was truly a soul nourishing and grounding experience to have joined in their daily rhythm.
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