Pembrokeshire Whale Watching and The Milky Way Galaxy Photographs taken at FreshWater West.

Sunset over Manorbier Headland from Manorbier Bed and Breakfast.

Hi everyone,

Pembrokeshire has had some spectacular sunsets recently and clear skies at night to view the stars. I thought you might like to read this little news item with beautiful pictures of the Milky Way Galaxy at Freshwater West at from the Seaweed.  It is hot off the Daily Mail presses!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1350338/.  His camera is far more expensive than my small Fujifilm but I still enjoyed his magnificent photographs and taking my sunset photograph the other night.

On the wildlife topic there has been some more whales spotted in the Irish Sea just off the Pembrokeshire Coast which I thought might be of interest to any of you who enjoy wildlife.
 http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/01/25/whale-watchers-thrilled-by-the-mighty-fin-91466-28047175/.

The Sea Trust are running a number of different trips whale and dolphin watching around the Islands of Ramsey, Skokholm, Grassholm and Skomer during the summer months leaving from Neyland Marina.  No trip is the same and they can only take a group of twelve people.  The first one is on April 26th for further details, prices, dates and information with regard to booking a trip please click on the following link http://www.seatrust.org.uk/.  I am definitely planning on going on some of their trips!

Manorbier Book Club Evening and a trip to the Apollo Cinema, Camarthen.

Hi Everyone,
For those people who are interested in books we had a meeting of our book club a couple of nights ago at my house.  Manorbier has two book clubs!!!  The original one was started over thirteen years ago and because it was quite a large group various other people thought we should form another one about five years ago.  Each group does not tend to read the same book for the month.  In our book club we take it in turns to choose the book and then when we meet up the following month not only to discuss it but then each of us has to give a score for  the book depending on whether you enjoyed it or not.  Unfortunately my book choice this month will definitely win the prize for the worst choice this year but that is okay with me.  I was due to choose either The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, or Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga.  Goodness knows what came over me before Christmas because I suddenly decided to choose a Collection of Short Stories by V.S.Pritchett having read The Saturday Independents 50 Best Books.  I supposed I was swayed suddenly to change my book choice on the basis that I had never read a collection of short stories and neither had we read any as a book club group.  They were all quite dark and tragic in some ways. My favourite was " The Girl Who Came Home".  I can assure you that my choice was extremely unpopular!!!  Anyhow we are now reading Rohinton Mistry Family Matters.  His book A Fine Balance was very popular with our group a few years ago and certainly I have found the first few pages really enjoyable although I am the slowest reader in the entire universe so I hope I finish it by the 22nd February!
A friend and I went to the marvellous Apollo Cinema in Camarthen  to see" The Black Swan" last night. Goodness gracious we were both exhausted watching this very dark and intense film but I can assure you that Natalie Portman thoroughly deserved the Golden Globe for her performance.  Not a feel good movie that is for sure!
I was going to take you on a photographic walk round Lydstep Headland tonight from the comfort of your armchairs but it is so cold and grey I am not going to go out.  Instead you can enjoy the view from where Stackpole House was built originally before it was demolished with panoramic views across the lake. Apparently the Forestry Commission is working with the National Trust over the next five years to manage the woodland and the silted up areas of the lakes by invasive species of shrubs.

View over the lake at Stackpole Estate, Pembrokeshire, Wales. 

Pembrokeshire and Welsh Castles News

Manorbier Castle,Pembrokeshire,Wales.

Well everyone,
Do not say I do not keep you all informed!!!  I notice that Visit Pembrokeshire has just announced Cyclosportive, Tour of Pembrokeshire so I am ahead of the game!!  For any further information the excellent Pembrokeshire Bike Shop in Fishguard will be able to help with any queries connected to bikes, cycling and events.www.pembrokeshirebikes.co.uk.  There will be a cycling event on the 1st May at the National Trust Stackpole Estate.
I was due to go to the St.Brides Hotel which has magnificent views over Saundersfoot yesterday to meet some friends for coffee and Petit Fours but had to fore go the experience sadly.  St. Brides Hotel won an award in 2010 in Coast Magazine for the best Coastal Hotel.  Readers also voted the Pembrokeshire Coast Path their favourite long distance path in the UK.
My news snippet of the day is that Visit Britain did a survey of more than 10,000 foreign tourists in 2010, giving them a list of eighteen things that could only be done in Britain and guess what came top of the list going on a tour of Welsh Castles at 34%, followed by Buckingham Palace 32%, and thirdly spending a night in a Scottish Castle 29.1%.  Apparently touring Welsh Castles was extremely popular with Polish, Russian, Italian and German Tourists.  So that is good news for me at Manorbier Bed and Breakfast because from their bedroom they will have panoramic views of Manorbier's Medieval Castle.  Apparently the South Koreans want to visit anywhere connected to locations for Harry Potter Films watch out Freshwater West Beach!!   So this year I will be brushing up my foreign language skills ready for an invasion of foreign tourists!www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12175173
If anyone fancies relaxing and enjoying different Pembrokeshire Walks from the comfort of your armchair go to paulmanorbier on You Tube.  He showcases Pembrokeshire at its best, plus the picnics he has look delicious!

Manorbier Castle Winter 2010

Pembrokeshire Sportive Bike Tour 2011

Hi everyone,

Pembrokeshire CycloSportive Event will take place on the 12th June this year with Sabbath Light weight titanium bikes being the main sponsors of the event. Last year saw an entry of 600 participants and more people are expected to take part this year. There are three race routes starting from Saundersfoot, a 62, 83 or 117 mile circular route which will provide cyclists with some challenging hill climbs in the Presceli Mountains but also taking in some wonderful Coastal Scenery. Those of us who will not be taking part can go along and view and test a range of Sabbath and Bianchi Bicycles at the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot on the 11th June.http://www.tourofpembrokeshire.co.uk/

Manorbier, Pembrokeshire

Manorbier Castle,Pembrokeshire,Wales.

Hi and welcome to Poppy's Pembrokeshire Blog.  Hopefully I will be keeping you all  informed  about  things that interest me in Pembrokeshire that might interest you.  For example an Orca was seen in the channel between St.Anne's Head and Skokholm over the New Year. .http://pembrokeshirewildlife.blogspot.com/ 

 Did you know that Pembrokeshire has been featured in an article in Canada's Globe and Mail in January on the Best Spots for Adventure Travel in 2011.  So welcome to all our Canadian visitors, although they did suggest any visitors  should base themselves in Cardiff allowing them to have easy access to all of South Wales!