No Particular Place To Go

It’s late Monday afternoon when we finally leave West Malling and it’s a strange feeling to think it will be a while before we return to Kent. We are heading down to see Chay, our son for a few days he lives in Cardiff Bay but decide to stay in Dorking overnight at The Surrey Oaks ( in their car park) as it’s getting late.

Surrey Oaks, Dorking

John found ’Search for sites’ it gives you details of places where you can park your Motorhome for either a small charge, the purchase of a drink or even free. And the Surrey Oaks is one of these sights, we only stay here for one night and move on early next morning.

So has we head towards Wales we make a quick stop off at Newport to see Tom, Leanne and Max (family members ) who are returning to Kent after a weekend away.

Welcome To Cardiff

Tonight we stay at The Plymouth Arms in St Fagans, Cardiff it’s a quiet, pretty village which lies on the River Ely. The village is home to St Fagans National History Museum (formerly called the Welsh Folk Museum and the Museum of Welsh Life) which includes St Fagans Castle and garden.

 
Plymouth Arms, St Fagans

The following morning we go and find Chay who is looking really well. He has a flat overlooking the River Taff (Welsh: Afon Taf) in Cardiff Bay.

 
View From Chay’s Flat

We take a walk into the bay which takes about 15mins. It’s a gloriously sunny day that has attracted lots of people so the bay is busy. There’s an abundance of restaurants and bars, good for lunch or dinner.
After lunch, Chay has to go off to work so we go towards Penarth just a short distance from the bay where we find the village of Sully.

Sully Island

Apparently, Sully is featured in the third series of the BBC One sitcom Gavin & Stacey, when the character of Ness, played by Ruth Jones, moves into a caravan in the village with fiance Dave Coaches!

If you follow the narrow windy road down to the beach you find The Captain’s wife pub
which overlooks the Bristol channel. We decide to stay here for a couple of days so we can spend time with Chay.

Sully Island

Sully Island is a small tidal island and Site of Special Scientific Interest not far of the coast. Access to it is at low tide from the car park where we are staying, so I take a walk to see what’s there.
It’s flat and pebbly to foot as you approach the island which then turns to grass with a steep cliff the other side. It’s quite an eerie place on your own.

So the story goes during the 13th century, a pirate known locally as Alfredo ’The Night Hawk’ lived there and smuggling took place.

Apart from the pub, the nearest shop is just over a mile away so John cycles and I walk.
It is known as the ’Post office’ but inside you’ll find a general store, small post office desk and a pharmacist sitting behind a tiny counter, very quaint. It really is a one-stop shop, you can get everything that you want.

One stop shop, Post Office, Sully

We say our Goodbyes to Chay. It has been lovely spending time with him and getting to know the area more. It’s somewhere we will definitely return to.

As we head back into England we realise we won’t see either of our boys now for a while but thankfully with mobile phones, social media and good old WhatsApp we are always in touch x

Coordinates for Aires used in Wales

The Captains Wife

Sully

N 51° 24′ 1

W 3° 11′ 50

Plymouth Arms

St Fagans

N51.48650

W3.26732

The Surrey Oaks

Dorking

N51.27624

W0.35603