Cardiff, Wales

We left Bath on the Monday morning, having drunk enough Bathwater for a lifetime (joke). We were heading to Cardiff primarily to obtain information on self-catering accomodation in either Pembrokeshire or Cardiganshire - we weren't too fussed which. We had been to Wales only once in about 1973 when we decided to head over to North Wales from where we were living in Long Whatton, Leicestershire. On that occassion we journeyed via Shrewsbury towards Wrewxham, turning off to Llangollen and then through Betws y Coed to Bangor, returning along the North Coast via Conwy, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl and Chester. That time we had planned to overnight somewhere although we were pretty strapped for funds. In the end we just kept on driving and ended up back at home after a lightning one-day tour of North Wales. The memories of the trip still remain though and we wanted to see more of the Welsh countryside this time.

From Bath to Cardiff you are pretty much stuck with motorways unless you want to go a long way out of your way. We took the slightly more northerly M48 via Severn View although that rejoins the M4 fairly soon.

We had arranged to stay at the Novotel in Cardiff which is close to the city centre where we could visit the city information centre to obtain the details of self-catering holidays that we needed. When I rang up to book the hotel from Bath I tried to tell the Lithuanian booking receptionist that I wanted to use one of our hotel vouchers as you are supposed to let them know when you are making a booking. She didn't have a clue what I was talking about and neither did the Chinese girl she passed me on to so I told them not to bother, just make the booking and we could sort it out on check in. When we arrived at the hotel I went through the same rigmarole again without any luck so the receptionist called the manager to help sort it out. He pointed out to me that the vouchers stated that they were only valid for a certain period which had already passed. After eating humble pie and just paying with Visa I resolved to sort that matter out back in Australia as it was obviously an error. Anyway we checked in. This was one of the best hotels that we stayed in although not the most expensive.

After sorting out our stuff we headed for the city centre on foot and found the information centre. The guy was most helpful and gave us a heap of stuff to take away and study to work out what we would do. We lunched at a pub on Church Street just down from the castle. I had braised faggots and peas which was delicious and washed down with a half of Cider.

Back at the hotel we perused the brochures and eventually settled on trying to get a cottage just outside of Aberystwyth. On ringing up I was told that a cottage was available for the four nights we wanted to we made the booking at Blue Glass Cottages at Chancery near Aberystwyth in Cardiganshire.