Saturday 13 January 2024

Croeso i Gymru: Y Reoliad Gorau am Wyliau Haf

Croeso i Gymru, y wlad hudol sy'n cynnig profiadau unigryw o'i harddwch naturiol, ei hanes difyr, a'i diwylliant gyfoethog. Mae Cymru yn gyrchfan delfrydol ar gyfer gwyliau haf, gan gynnig amrywiaeth eang o atyniadau sy'n apelio at bob math o ymwelwyr. 

O ddiroedd godidog y Moelwynion i draethau prydferth Ceredigion, mae yna rywbeth i bawb yng Nghymru.

Natur a Lleoliad:

Yn nhermau tirweddau naturiol, mae Cymru yn enwog am ei harddwch amrywiol. O'r mynyddoedd uchel a'r dyffrynnoedd gwyrddion, mae'r wlad yn cynnig amrywiaeth o deithiau cerdded, beicio mynydd, ac antur natur i bawb. Un o fwrlwm naturiol mwyaf trawiadol Cymru yw Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, lle mae'r mynyddoedd yn ymestyn i'r gorwel a'r golygfeydd yn ysblennydd.

Ardalau Morol Prydferth:

Gyda'i arfordir hir a'i draethau godidog, mae Cymru'n wlad morol sy'n addawol i deithwyr. Mae Traeth Rhossili ym Mro Gŵyr yn un o draethau prydferthaf Cymru, gyda'i graigod mynyddig, tywod aml-liw, a rhaeadrau tonnau enfawr. Yn ogystal, mae Traeth Porth Neigwl ym Mhen Llŷn yn lle delfrydol i fyfyrwyr sy'n chwilio am beichiau tonnau uchel.

Diwylliant a Hanes:

Mae Cymru'n cyfoeth o hanes a diwylliant, gyda'i chasgliad o hen gestyll, eglwysi hynafol, a chartrefi hanesyddol. Yn Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch, mae'r gestyn hiraf yn y byd, ac mae'n lleoliad hynod ddiddorol i archwilio. Yn ogystal, mae Castell Caerdydd yn tyst i dreftadaeth amddiffynnol Cymru, gyda'i drysau mawrion a'i ffiniau cerrig yn annog ymwelwyr i adlewyrchu ar brydferthedd y gorffennol.

Crefftau a Chrefft:

Efallai mai'r hollt farchnad yw'r gorau i ddod o hyd i eitemau crefftus, a chynnyrch lleol traddodiadol yng Nghymru. O fiyronau traddodiadol a gweithfeydd arian i gynnyrch lân Cymreig, bydd yna rhywbeth i ddod â hi at bob tadau meddylgar.

Bwyta'n Lleol:

Nid yw teithio i Gymru yn gyflawn heb flasu rhai o'i bwydleni bwerus. Mae Cymru yn famwlad i gwrw da, caws godidog, a phrofiadau bwyta unigryw. Mae'r siopau bwyd lleol yn cynnig amrywiaeth o gynnyrch ffres sy'n cael eu cynhyrchu yn lleol.

Sylwadau Olaf:

Ar gyfer unrhyw un sy'n chwilio am wyliau haf sy'n amrywio, mae Cymru yn cynnig ystod eang o brofiadau sy'n addas i bobl o bob oedran a diddordeb. Gyda'i hanes cyfoethog, natur gyfoethog, a diwylliant amrywiol, mae Cymru yn fan ddelfrydol i fynd ar daith haf fydd yn aros yn eich cof am byth. Gwelwn ni chi yma cyn bo hir!

(llun trwy garedigrwydd Dean Moriartyrhag Pixabay)

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Get Wild in St Davids!

Britain's smallest city goes wet as well as wild in July, when its annual celebration of the great outdoors stages its own water-themed games to mark the Olympics, making a great addition to any family holiday.
Now in its eighth year, The Really Wild Food and Countryside Festival in St Davids has become renowned for its friendly atmosphere, food and drink, wacky entertainment and hands-on madness for every member of this family.

And as the opening day of the two-day event, on July 27th, coincides with the opening ceremony of the Olympics, the festival will be splashing out with the Really Wild Eaulimpic Games. Teams will be challenged to take part in a crazy contest to collect as much water as possible to win the coveted Geauld medal.

If you'd like to stay dry but still have fun, why not try your hand at Bowling with Veg and wellie-wanging, or cheer on the racing pigs and ferrets?

It's all about the festival's theme of championing rural life, said festival founder Julia Horton-Powdrill. "It's all about what goes into the countryside, what comes out of it, and how we can benefit from what nature offers us," she said.

Over 80 exhibitors and producers will be showcasing what Pembrokeshire and Wales does best, whether it's serving up delicious tastes or offering a chance to try traditional rural crafts.

An Eye for Wales!


The Big Wheel at BeaumarisBeaumaris is gearing itself up to offer Anglesonians and visitors to the Island on a UK holiday a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the world from a different perspective with the “Beaumaris Eye” which comes to town from Saturday 26 May to Saturday 9 June.
The Giant Wheel, which at 35 metres high and with 24 gondolas each taking six passengers, will open up everyone’s eyes with views across the Island, down the Menai Strait, over to Caernarfon and Llandudno as well as the Snowdonia Mountain Range and National Park.

The Wheel, which received permission from Beaumaris Town Council to be sited on The Green at the Council’s recent meeting, is being made possible by eight business people having the foresight to join together to underwrite the hiring cost knowing that the “Eye” will draw in visitors from near and far and firmly put the town on the map.

Robert Macaulay, chair of Beaumaris Chamber of Trade and Tourism said; “The Beaumaris Eye is a such a coup for the town and one that we are all very excited about as the view from the top will be truly spectacular. This really is a one off opportunity and it will be operational on the day of the Olympic Torch being in town, during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations as well as over the school half-term so yes we’re confident it will be a massive hit.”

The Wheel will be open for Rides from 10am most mornings to 7.00pm at night and will cost £5 per person.

RSPCA Cymru rescues a near-dozen ducklings!


The RSPCA Cymru has recently rescued 11 three-week-old mallard ducklings from a lake at Stryt Las Country Park in Johnstown, Wrexham (21.05.12).

RSPCA involvement came following a call to the helpline by a member of the public who had been monitoring the duck and ducklings' progress for the last 3 weeks.

The caller had become concerned, however, when the mother seemed to have disappeared on Sunday (20.05.12) leaving the ducklings alone to fend for themselves.

It is uncertain at present as to what has happened to the mother but it is likely she would have returned to her ducklings if she could.

The caller was able to stay and monitor the ducklings until the RSPCA arrived and with the help of park ranger Lindsy Bryan from Wrexham Council and her work experience student Andrew, Inspector Thomas was able to catch all 11 ducklings.

The ducklings are now in RSPCA care at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

Says RSPCA inspector Kia Thomas: "Ducklings are not fed by their mothers but do need protection from predators and so we did have to step in here.

"We will also be keeping an eye out for the duck and if anyone has any information relevant to this incident, please ring us on 0300 1234 999."

Thursday 19 April 2012

A celebration of wild food and woodland is on the menu in the Welsh Black Mountains

Wild Garlic Festival
Wild Garlic Festival
Two captivating forests in the Black Mountains near Abergavenny, Wales, are to host a celebration of woodland and wild food in April as part of Britain’s ONLY Wild Garlic Festival. What a great idea for a family day out!
This unique gathering is set to take place in Llwyn Franc and Arcadia Wood on the weekend of Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, thanks to funding from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, this spring’s Wild Garlic Festival promises to be even better with foraging, wild forest cooking, expert speakers and a relaxing atmosphere all on the menu.

Day one, at Llwyn Franc on the slopes of the Skirrid Mountain, will see guides taking foragers up to the woodland to pick their own wild garlic, before heading back to the farm for wild garlic and nettle soup. After lunch, Emily Stokes will talk about the work of the Woodland Trust, while Brigit Strawbridge will tell festival goers about wild bees.

The following day’s activities will kick off with experts providing guided tours of Arcadia Wood in the nearby hamlet of Pantycelli, followed by a series of cooking demonstrations by Franco Taruschio – the man who made Abergavenny’s Walnut Tree Inn famous for fine dining. Day two will also see talks by TV wild food expert and forager Raoul Van der Bourke, aquaculture specialist Lawrence Hutchinson and herbalist, writer and lecturer Christopher Robbins.

With space at the two venues limited for this year’s Wild Garlic Festival tickets, priced at £5, are selling fast so advanced booking is advised. To reserve your place or for more information visit www.communityforestfarm.co.uk.

Stay in Style on the New Wales Coastal Path

Graig Wen
Walkers exploring the new Wales coastal path can choose from eco-cabins, yurts and boutique B & B on the beautiful Mawddach Estuary near Barmouth’s iconic bridge to stay as part of their UK short break.

New for 2012, Graig Wen, in Snowdonia National Park, is adding an inventive portable eco-shelter: the Caban in the Glade. Dreamt up and home-grown in North Wales, this prototype Caban is inspired by yurt design and a desire to "tread lightly" on the land.

The attractive shelter for two is crafted from sustainably sourced birch/spruce plywood and Douglas Fir, and makes a great place to stay. Snug and fully insulated, visitors can cosy up with the wood-burning stove or open the glazed window panels to gaze at the stunning Snowdonia mountain scenery surrounding Graig Wen.

Sited in a private silver birch glade, The Caban is furnished with a wood-burning stove, warm Welsh blankets, bed linen for the futon and simple cooking facilities. For breakfast visitors can order freshly baked croissant or a hamper of local produce. Washing facilities are provided a short walk away on the campsite, which has newly refurbished showers for this season.

The Caban joins Graig Wen’s two yurts and touring campsite as featured in Cool Camping and winner of a Green Snowdonia Award. Stylish four star B & B is also available on site at The Slate Shed for those walking the coastal path and just looking for one night’s stay. The Caban, yurts and also holiday cottages are available for short breaks.

The Caban at Graig Wen near Dolgellau is a prototype designed and built by small Snowdonia based company, Vistacraft. “We are proud to be hosting one of the first ever Cabans at Graig Wen and supporting Vistacraft as they go into production.” says Graig Wen co-owner Sarah Heyworth.

To book call 01341 250482 or visit www.graigwen.co.uk. Prices for the Caban in The Glade range from £250 - £320 for short breaks with B & B from £80 a night, yurts from £210 and camping from £7 a night.

UK exclusives and Wales débuts at Gregynog Festival 2012

Gregynog Festival 2012
Gregynog, the oldest extant classical music festival in Wales and an excellent UK day out, is curated annually on a theme drawn from its unique heritage. The 2012 season takes Venezia as its inspiration to mark 100 years since Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, the last private owners of Gregynog Hall and the founders of the Festival, began purchasing their paintings of Venice by Monet, Sickert and Whistler.

These iconic images used to hang in the historic Music Room at Gregynog, the Festival’s principal performance space, and now form part of the core collection at National Museum Wales in Cardiff.

In a landmark year, Gregynog Festival has entered into a new three-year funding agreement with the Arts Council of Wales as well as securing enhanced support from other major sponsors. Artistic Director Dr Rhian Davies has seized the moment by inviting some of the world’s leading exponents of Venetian repertoire to interpret seven centuries of music associated with the city. “After three years’ planning,” Rhian said, “we have been fortunate to assemble an outstanding roster of international artists whom we believe would grace any festival worldwide. As ever, Gregynog Festival audiences will also enjoy the real privilege of hearing these star musicians perform in some of the most intimate and beautiful venues in rural Mid Wales.“

Gregynog Festival 2012: Venezia includes six Wales débuts and six UK season exclusive appearances. International ensembles include Jordi Savall, the doyen of the early music movement, with his group Hespèrion XXI who trace Ottoman and Sephardic influences on the medieval music of Venice (29 June, 7.30pm); La Venexiana, the specialist madrigal group renowned as the finest in the world, which performs the music of Claudio Monteverdi (17 June, 2.30pm); and Accademia Bizantina, the superb Ravenna-based and Grammy-nominated ensemble, which presents rare Venetian masterworks of the 17th and 18th centuries, directed from the keyboard by harpsichord virtuoso Ottavio Dantone (23 June, 7.30pm). Dantone gives a solo harpsichord recital the same afternoon, inspired by the legendary occasion when the young Handel gave a recital in Venice in maschera and was successfully unmasked because of the sheer quality of his playing by Domenico Scarlatti (23 June, 2.30pm).

Other major international soloists include Giuliano Carmignola, ‘a prince among Baroque violinists’ (Gramophone), who plays with the leading Venetian chamber ensemble, Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca (24 June, 2.30pm); Xuefei Yang, the remarkable Chinese guitarist who takes us on a musical journey in the footsteps of Marco Polo from Venice to her native land (22 June, 7.30pm); Alessandro Taverna, the Venetian pianist who was bronze medallist at the 2009 Leeds International Pianoforte Competition and who presents a recital evoking his City of Water (16 June, 7.30pm); and Marta Rodrigo and Andreas Martin, the Catalan mezzo-soprano and German lutenist who perform works by the pioneering 17th-century Venetian woman composer, Barbara Strozzi (16 June, 2.30pm).