Pembrokeshire May 2014: The heat is on

Monty the Motorhome has been thankful that he is at the coast, as it has been the hottest day of the year so far. Temperatures have been higher than Italy or Greece.

Our Swedish friends departed today. They had gone for a brief walk when we had to leave to catch a bus, so we missed being able to personally say ha det bra to them. Later in the day, when we returned, there was a little ‘post-it’ note on the wing mirror commenting on how we had ‘given the country a face’. Lets hope it was a smiley face. They have the link to this blog - so ‘Hej, Gunvor och Bertil. Lycka till for the rest of your UK trip’.

The bus we were scurrying to catch was the charmingly named Puffin Shuttle, which follows a route right around St Brides bay from St Davids to Martins Haven. Earlier in the week we had used the Coastal Cruiser service, which has the same raison d’etre, and Pembrokeshire County Council need to be applauded for putting on such services as they certainly help with walking the coastal path. 

We travelled to the small village of St Brides. Well I say village, but in reality there is a church and a couple of houses. Oh yes, and a stunningly beautiful little cove, with the clearest water imaginable. No wonder there were people learning to scuba dive there.

St Brides Bay

Our route was to walk back to the site, along the northerly section of Marloes peninsula. It is all high cliff top walking, and we were lucky to see plenty of birdlife. Highlights were Stonechats living up to their name with calls reminiscent of two stones being knocked together, a pair of Chough just a few feet from the path and seemingly oblivious of us as they foraged for worms in the soil, and a young Peregrine Falcon chick that had just fledged and was perched on a cliff edge mewing for food. 

Typical scenery on the coastal path

There is one break in the cliffs on the journey - Musselwick Sands. Yet another sandy beach that can only be reached by walking; but this one has additional defenses to repeal trespassers - it can only be reached as the tide goes down.

We were too early to get access, so looked down onto pristine sands. 

Musselwick Sands

Back at the site it was feet up time, which was a blessing for Ruth who is developing blisters on both little toes. Maybe just as well we are homeward bound tomorrow.

Our pitch is right next to the path that leads to the showers, toilets and washing up areas. So people walk right past us. Throughout our stay at West Hook Farm we have seen folk glancing at Monty - he is the only panel van conversion and probably the newest motorhome on site. Today we have had a couple of different people stop and ask about him. It takes very little for me to spring out of my seat and offer a guided tour.

So Monty has ended the day glancing around at other motorhomes, who are muttering about having unfaithful owners, while we snuggled down to yet another beautiful sunset.