In the past few years we’ve been lucky enough to host and befriend a big bunch of lovely travel bloggers. I know what you’re thinking, the popular perception of a travel blogger is someone that hops from country to country, on a permanent holiday – pausing in their neverending wanderlust only to upload some piccies and tap some words into their flashy laptop…
The reality, it appears, is somewhat different – it’s not all beaches and pina coladas for this lovely lot! Writing a spot-on blog, growing a following and coming up with the goods time and time again is no mean feat. To this end, here is Preseli Venture’s list
of our top 10 favourite travel bloggers:
Catherine Mack
Catherine is a freelance travel writer specialising in responsible travel. She graduated with a Masters degree in Responsible Tourism Management in 2007, and since then has combined travel writing and blogging with full time parenting. She has also recently written the Green Travel Ireland app – check it out!
Blogs: Catherine has her own website, Ethical Traveller, where you can read her travel articles, and she blogs over on the Green Traveller website.
Our favourite post: Ok, trumpet blowing alert – but it was when Catherine reviewed the PV eco lodge on Green Traveller. She doesn’t mince words, she tells it like it is, and we love her for that.
Like countless others before you, your first encounter with surfing is likely to be either with a group of experienced surfer friends on a day trip. There they are, suited and ready to go, with all the equipment, confidently discussing the terminology. There you are – borrowed ill-fitting wet suit compared to their sleek second skins, giant garish yellow ironing board dwarfing their short, purpose-built trendy fibreglass stallions, wondering whether a pipeline is something to do with the sewage pipes or the shape of the waves.
Alternatively, your first encounter might be as part of a stag or hen do, taking a surfing lesson after a night of partying, feeling like death warmed up. Whichever it is, to get the most out of the experience, there are a few very simple but important rules-of-thumb you’re never told that could really help…
Hydration – you’re likely to be in the water for around two hours if you’re with experienced surfers or on a beginners’ lesson. During those two hours, you’ll be exercising unfamiliar muscles and fighting the considerable might of the sea almost continuously. Drink plenty of water (not seawater, although you will end up swallowing plenty of that); and don’t be macho and do it on an empty stomach.
Suncream – A giant red head and sunstroke is not a good look, but is sported all too often on campsites in Woolacombe. You, however, know you’ll be going surfing, so try and get hold of a surfer-specific type of suncream, or at the very least, a commercial brand that reassures you it’s waterproof. One major advantage is that the surfer-specific waterproof gel-style suncream won’t drip down from your forehead and sting your eyes – surfing is hard enough to learn already, without being unable to actually see the sea.
Board – you’ll be advised which board to use as a beginner. Either an 8-foot fun board or a bigger Malibu board catch waves more easily, but they’re harder to manoeuvre. Make sure it’s waxed so your ill-fitting suit sticks to it. Youtube has countless 'learn to surf' videos - no, I know we're not in Australia, but we can always fantasize that on some days in the UK it's warm enough to surf in boardies :) and if you adopt a Ozzie accent people might think you know what you're doing!
Leash – It’s an unwieldy, restrictive feeling at first, being tethered to a massive board. But the first few times you spill in the waves and it goes flying out behind you, you’ll be glad of that leash round your ankle.
Rash vest – While you’re at it, hire one of these, or wear a T-shirt. Unless you’re used to rubber and grit, your skin will thank you for it.
Boots – Hire or borrow some boots the first time you surf. They’ll save you the hassle of worrying where you’re treading and what you’re treading on (including the dreaded Weaver fish and they don’t actually make learning to stand much more difficult.
The waves – When you’re first confronted with the waves, never have your board in between them and you. Remember, never point the board fins-first, and be careful not to rest your weight on the fins in the shallows.
Surfing etiquette – A holiday in North Devon is ridiculously popular in the Summer, and that means crowded seas. Keep at least the length of you, your leash and your board away from others in the sea. And remember, the first surfer standing close to where the wave is breaking has right-of-way. Follow the lead of other experienced surfers and be respectful to those who are more experienced than you.
Rip tides and lifeguards – Listen to everything you’re told about these, find out what the flags on the beach mean, and listen carefully to the distorted megaphone warnings the lifeguards shout out. Stick close to your mates to begin with, too – and if you’re feeling tired, there’s no shame in sitting out and getting your breath back.
Finally, for extra points, memorise the following phrase for when you’re out of the water: “The surf was all chop, but I was stoked. It was epic!”
When it comes to having talented, social media savvy, and quite frankly LOVELY guests Preseli Venture appears to have struck lucky – even if I do say so myself
When Monday morning came around this corker of a post found its way into my inbox:
With a headline like that – who wouldn’t click ‘read more’? I put on my super sleuth hat and tracked down Kate Miller, who is a self confessed city living afficionado who found herself in need of some fresh air and green grass, outside the confines of concrete and Costa signs (I love that bit).
To cut a long story short I asked her if she’d be happy to put together a guest blog post for Preseli Venture. She was lovely enough to say yes, so without further ado, here it is…
So, as you’ll have guessed from the title, this blog is something of a departure from normal Preseli Venture articles, in geographic terms at the very least. The truth is that I really liked Claire’s blog on the best spots to go camping in Pembrokeshire and, as I’m something of a camping enthusiast, I thought that I’d jot down a few notes about why I like camping in North Devon, a region that has a good deal in common with southwest Wales.
North Devon is really only just across the Bristol Channel from Pembrokeshire and there are notable similarities between the two regions. These include spectacular coastal scenery, vast expanses of sweeping sandy beaches (like Broad Haven and Saunton Sands), and rugged moorland in the form of the Preseli Mountains and Exmoor. Add to this great mix of natural beauty the potential to pursue any number of adventurous (and not so adventurous) activities – from coasteering to kayaking, horse riding to hiking, and surfing to sunbathing – and it’s no wonder that holidays in North Devon and Pembrokeshire are so popular.
Of course, the two areas aren’t the same in every respect. I think it’s fair to say that if you’re after quiet seclusion, Pembrokeshire has the edge. However, if you’re going on a family camping trip and are more in need of a greater range of entertainment and family-friendly facilities then North Devon is definitely worth a look.
One of my favourite spots is Woolacombe, which is perfectly suited to family holidays, due in a very large part to its fantastic beach - widely regarded as one of the best in Britain. As it sits pretty much halfway along the North Devon stretch of the famous South West Coastal Path, the resort is also a good base from which to explore the rest of the region. While it’s a great place for family holidays, the range of campsites in Woolacombe means that you’ll easily find one to suit you.
The Golden Coast Holiday Village is very much a family-focused park, with a massive range of activities on offer, including indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, 10-pin bowling, coarse fishing, and a cinema.By contrast, Easewell Farm, just up the hill in nearby Mortehoe, offers a more tranquil and relaxed atmosphere with open camping fields and stunning views across the sea to Wales. I’ve stayed at both (at Golden Coast with family, Easwell with friends) and the both fitted the bill perfectly.
So, much as it’s difficult to drag yourself away from holidaying in the ever-glorious Pembrokeshire, if you are looking for a bit of a change, then I couldn’t recommend camping in North Devon more heartily.
Read more about Woolacome Bay Holiday Parks in our aboutus page
There are some awesome campsites in Pembrokeshire…
Of course we love it when people come and stay with us in the eco lodge, but there is just something about a night spent out under the stars, with just the thin shell of the tent separating you from the elements.
Combine that with the rustle of the trees, or the boom of the crashing surf, and our little corner of West Wales definitely has the pick of inspirational spots for setting up your canvas home.
So, whether you’re after some glamping, tipi or yurt holidays, or some campfires, here are some of our favourite places to camp in Pembrokeshire...
Sorry for the radio silence on the ole' blog, but we've been beavering away on our new website,which should be up and launched by the end of today, gulp!
We're saying 'so long blogger, it was fun while it lasted'. Our new blog is powered by wordpress (all the best things are - if I could have a wordpress powered husband I would - so malleable, so sexy - gah!).
So - we hope you'll come and see us soon on the new Preseli Venture Ramblings... We should be there by tomorrow at the latest, and here's a sneaky peak of the new site...
Pembrokeshire Fish Week has always been one of the highlights of our gastronomic year - and for 2010 it seems that they're gone all out to put together a programme brim full of demonstrations, foodie celebs, and the best in local Pembrokeshire cuisine. And for 2010 ‘adventure’ has been added to this delicious menu!
Our friend Cathryn Nicholas has been working super hard getting the programme of events together, and we've asked her to write some words on the festival so we can see what's new and exciting for 2010.
Preseli Venture are excited to be involved in Pembrokeshire Fish week 2010, we'll be offering a day of adventure on Wednesday 30th June - join us for a full day or half day of coastal foraging, and fishy adventures!
In the morning we’re offering a half day sea kayaking adventure on the North Pembrokeshire coastline, we’ll take in sandy beaches, rock arches, echoing sea caves and tiny traditional fishing harbours. In the afternoon we’ll be going coasteering with a foraging twist ;) All the regular coasteering hijinx will be included (climbing, swimming, travsering and cliff jumping), but this time your coasteering guide will also introduce you to many of the ‘edibles’ that exist along our special stretch of coastline, yum!
So, without further ado – Cathryn’s details of all of the things that we have to look forward to at the festival …
“The countdown for Pembrokeshire Fish Week 2010 is on with only 9 weeks to go till our seriously fishy festival begins. Kicking off on Saturday 26th June at Milford Haven Docks, this really is a date for your diary that is a must for all!
There will be filleting demonstrations & competitions, children’s activities, live music walkabout entertainment, various stalls, a heritage trawler and lots, lots more as well as our new bistro style restaurant marquee where celebrity chefs Mitch Tonks and Matt Tebbutt will be cooking up a feast of fish with several local chefs from the county including Mel & Debs from the Blue Ball, Tenby and Andrew Swales from The Swan Inn, Little Haven.
If celeb chefs are your thing then why not join Valentine Warner of ‘What to Eat now’ on Wednesday 30th June at the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven where he will entertain and encourage you with seasonal fish & shellfish dishes from the Welsh Coast
.
You can tantalise your tastebuds throughout the week with many opportunities for food lovers to enjoy seafood extravaganzas, locally-caught fish barbecues, freshly dressed crab salads and seafood chowders.
Sea Anglers and Coarse Fishermen will be in their element with two major competitions. The Stena Line Sea Angling Competition on Sunday 4th July and the Coarse Fishing Championships at Llyn Carfan from Monday 28th June – Friday 2nd July. There are big bucks to be won from both so if this is your sport then get hooked and get involved!! There are plenty more fishing events on throughout the week including learn to fish days and improve your skills events.
On Monday 28th June there'll be a screening of the controversial film ‘The End of the Line’ where host Simon Wright and a selected panel will be debating about the future sustainability of our fisheries! Grab your tickets now from the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.
Don’t miss crabbing with the kids at Lowertown and Porthclais harbour, as well as craft opportunities in Fishguard, Tenby and Haverfordwest! Also, visit Goodwick beach when the Sea Trust South & West Wales shoot their seine net out and see how fishy Fishguard harbour is on Saturday 3rd July. This is a great way of discovering what marine life is in the tide.
Finally, how about getting your teeth into the Pembrokeshire Fish Week Photography Competition? This years theme is Coast and if your 15 years and over then why not give it a try. Entries need to have a title and can be emailed to: Cathryn.nicholas@pembrokeshire.gov.uk The deadline for entries is Wednesday June 9th. By entering you will be in with an opportunity to win £100.00 and a day in the studio with Ian Richards of Pembrokeshire Photography.
With over 250 events taking place there really is something for everyone as well as opportunities to try something you have never done before. "
For more details of the fishy fun you can connect with Pembrokeshire fish week on twitter and via their facebook page.
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