First There Was Haverfordwest …

The river running through Haverfordwest

I just had to get this in - it was outside the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff

When I originally made my plans for Wales I thought I would stay in Haverfordwest, which was close to the Coast Path.  I didn’t know anything about Wales and from a brief perusal of the map and a little reading, it seemed like a good place to stay.

The colourful homes in Haverfordwest - Mike tells me it is an Irish influence

Then I was talking to my cousin Ray and his wife’s family have this farm near Fishguard right in the Coast National Park.  So Ray put me in touch with his wife’s brother, Mike, who stays there a lot of the time, and through a brief conversation Mike was so great as to let me come stay at the farm.  However, not really understanding the rail system here in Wales, and not knowing any better, I figured I would just carry on to Fishguard from Haverfordwest since on the map it looks to be on the way.

The church from I think about the 14th century in Haverfordwest

Due to the train tickets I already bought, I figured I would just buy a ticket to Fishguard from Haverfordwest.  Based on the schedule this gave me a 5 hour layover in Haverfordwest, which was fine since I wanted to see a bit of the town anyway.

The hilly and colourful old town

The details of monkeys - which I saw a lot in Wales

Well when I arrived in Haverfordwest, I checked the schedule and I saw that the station right before Haverfordwest – Clamberston Road – was the station I would go back to to then change and catch a train for Fishguard.  I verified this with the conductor.  So I realized that my stop at Haverfordwest was just this little blip and an extra leg each time.  My return tickets, had I not checked, were to do the same thing, which made no sense at all.  So I had purchased all these tickets when all I needed was one ticket going from Fishguard to Cardiff.  Well duh!

The old Castle on the hill - built first in 1120, demolished and built again in the 13tyh century

Mike told me that he wondered why I was getting to and from Fishguard in such a funny way but he figured I had chosen to do this for a reason.  Anyway, this morning I will be going straight from Fishguard to Cardiff and not worry about this extra ticket I have for Haverfordwest.

Stairs to nowhere

Follow the stairs to the castle beyond

But I am glad I stopped there in anycase.  It was a lovely little town with a river running through it.  And I was able to take some photos and then head on to Fishguard where Mike picked me up and out we went to the farm.  The farm is great.  I stayed in this renovated old farmhouse that the family uses.  It is huge and oh so funky.  With 2 foot thick rock walls and wood floor it reeks of history – in a good way.

The farmhouse where I stayed - Liz the dog in the foreground

There are 5 bedrooms, a bathroom, a large living room with a woodstove, a large dining table area and a kitchen.  And I had this big king size bed all to myself.  It was heaven.  Mike made me dinner the first night, which was so nice of him.  Last night after my long day of walking, Mike and his girlfriend made me dinner again.  I was starting to feel guilty.  But now I return to London and my time here has come to an end.

My comfy luxury room

So thanks again to Mike, and my cousin Ray.  What a treat it was.

Living room and dining room beyond - the big thick walls