Tenby Aug 2009

Sun 23rd Aug

Having loaded the van the day before we set off at 08.20, an uneventful journey with a couple of showers and we arrived on site at 11.50. As we came to unhitch the Smart we realised that we had left the keys for it at home!! We rang Emma to ask could they fetch them for us and then realised what a cheek that was so instead Emma suggested she post them to us, still quite an effort but really appreciated. It was very wet, Rich watched the Grande Prix I crocheted and listened to music. After tea we watched a bit of TV then bed.

Distance Travelled 131 miles

Mon 24th

Quite a bright morning so we went for a walk to Amroth, a small, very pretty seaside town, the tide was in but we were told that there were miles of lovely sand.

Back to the van and it was nice enough to sit out in the sun for a while. I’d left a meal in the slow cooker which turned out alright, it was very showery again in the evening and there was a super rainbow for ages.


I was very tired so we had an early night.

Tue 25th

We both managed a shower in the van and then just waited around for the post. The keys arrived at about 2pm, we unhitched the car and started to put the awning up, this took ages as people kept stopping to talk and then the zip broke so we had to stitch it up. By the time we were finished it was tea time, after tea watched a bit of TV before bed.

Wed 26th

Woke up to a very grey, very wet morning. After breakfast we went to Tesco in Pembroke Dock for a few things and to try and get a new phone. Argos was next door to Tesco and I got one there. Marg & Bri were coming over for a couple of days so waited in for them whilst learning my new phone. M & B arrived about 1pm, we had a bit of lunch then went to find them a B&B, found a nice one in Amroth and they booked in. We then went for a bit of a drive round, the weather having improved a bit, went to Wiseman’s Bridge, Saundersfoot and Tenby, we didn’t stop anywhere. M & B went to their digs and us back to van. We went for tea and Welsh cakes at Steward’s tent which was nice. We met M & B at 6.30 at the Amroth Arms and had a nice meal, it turned out to be a nice evening.

Thurs 27th

Rain first thing but brightened up a bit later. M & B called for us and we went to Pembroke Dock looking for a museum to Sunderland Flying Boats, took us a few trips round the docks but finally found it, it was very interesting, they are raising, bit by bit, a Sunderland that sunk in the docks and restoring it. We then went to a museum in a Martello Tower, also very interesting, the weather was not too good and there was a very cool wind. We had lunch in a pub opposite the tower then went on to Pembroke Castle. Had a good look around the many remaining parts of the very large castle got a cup of tea then back to van where I cooked a quick meal. We had been invited to a badger watch at M & B’s digs but the weather had turned awful, all enveloping clouds and rain so we thought it would be off. However about 8.30 it brightened up again and they texted to say it was on. We went down and had a superb view of 4 or 5 badgers eating outside the kitchen window. Back to van and bed.

Fri 28th

Heavy rain again first thing so got up very slowly. Rich’s back was giving him pain so we didn’t go out for a while but when he felt better we went to St David’s, we got a bit lost around Haverfordwest but got there eventually. We went to Porthclais harbour first, a small inlet where people were canoeing. We then went into the town, parked and walked round for a while; we priced a boat trip then had fish and chips – lovely! We went to St Justinian’s where the boat trip would leave from and looked round the lifeboat station; there was a very strong, cool wind all day. We went back to the van via Asda where we got a couple of things, including a deep fat fryer. As we got back to the van the sky went very black and there was a thunder storm.

Sat 29th

Another grey morning, Rich watched Grande Prix and by the time it had finished it had brightened up. We went to Wisemans Bridge and parked then walked along the coast to Saundersfoot, there is a good path on the site of an old railway which goes through 3 tunnels in the rocks. Saundersfoot was very busy, lots of people on the beach and in the sea, in the sun it was very warm but there was a very cool breeze.

We walked back to the car, Wisemans Bridge was also very busy, and went back to van. We went for a coffee at the steward’s tent but only 2 other people there, our very garrulous neighbours! Rain again in the evening.

Sun 30th

Another grey, wet morning, low clouds hiding the view, stayed in, Rich watched Grand Prix, it didn’t stop raining all day so we stayed in the van.



Mon 31st

Grey, overcast and damp this morning but cleared up to blue, cloudy sky with quite strong wind. We went to Tenby and got on the park and ride to the harbour. We walked round the harbour and headland area which was very windy then went to the Tudor Merchant’s House a National Trust property, this was interesting showing how a merchant would have lived in the 14th/15th century. We then wandered round the town, very pretty with small interconnecting streets surrounded by town walls; also very busy being a Bank Holiday Monday.

We stopped for lunch at what must have been the scruffiest pub in Tenby and had a toasted sandwich, when we left we saw a notice saying Prince William had been drinking there!! We went on to Pembroke Dock to Asda and Poundland then back to van, watched an old film on TV, Rich did chips in new deep fat fryer.

Tue 1st Sept

A bit brighter but cooler and still strong wind. After breakfast we packed awning up as it was just about dry then we went to Scolton Manor near Haverfordwest, there was a lot to see, woodland walks, farm implements, blacksmith, a restored train and the manor house. We stopped for lunch and it couldn’t have been more different to yesterday, clean, bright& efficient, a couple of £s dearer but worth it. Managed to stay dry until we were leaving when there was a heavy shower. Called at Summerhill farm shop on way back, I bought a book as well as sausages and bacon etc. the girl told me that the books were being sold for charity “CRY”, Cardiac Risk in the Young, she told me that her husband had died suddenly 2 yrs ago aged 28 just 3 weeks after they had opened the shop. Back to van and into Amroth for meal. Watch TV for a while then bed.



Wed 2nd Sept

It was quite bright when we woke but showers imminent; we had breakfast and finished packing up. When we came to leave we got stuck so the steward called for the farmer with his tractor, they couldn’t start the tractor so Bob pulled us with his 4WD, it didn’t take much but everything got very muddy, hitched the Smart up and away by 11am., drove through a lot of rain, went via Rhayader and home by 2.45.

Distance travelled 147 miles




We had enjoyed ourselves despite the weather, the stewards were very friendly and helpful and the site is in a lovely position. We managed well showering in the van.