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Split & Trogir 🇭🇷

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As always with a coach holiday, it was a super early get up ready for a long day ahead. Although the drive to Split was 2 hours, it was incredibly scenic. You just can’t beat a coastal drive!

We arrived in Split armed with our headphones and audio ready for the guided tour. Unfortunately, so did a very large cruise ship full of Americans, and they all quickly headed to the centre like flies to shite 💩 This however didn’t ruin the day as there is so much to see in Split. We were treated to a Cathedral, a Palace and a beautiful waterfront. We went up the bell tower for wonderful views of Split’s old town, and although the steps up to the top give you super twitchy arse, it is definitely worth it. I just wish people would learn the etiquette of waiting rather than barging past you on an already incredibly narrow and steep staircase.

As I watched Joe Lycett on Travel Man before I came, I made it my mission to find the ice cream that he enjoyed. Luckily we came across a Spar, and there waiting for me was a pot of Slag. An incredibly creamy vanilla ice cream! Unfortunately it didn’t come with a spoon, so we ate it like a Frube instead. There are also other Slaggy treats.. like squirty slag cream!

After Split we set off for another UNESCO treat – Trogir. Not a place I’d heard of before, but definitely a gem worth visiting. There are so many narrow streets full of character (and pants on the washing lines!) and a fabulous mix of Renaissance, baroque and Romanesque architecture, as well as cafes on every corner. We certainly could have spent a lot longer here, and we ended our trip with a traditional rafioli – fine thin dough which is filled with ground almonds.

Croatia 🇭🇷 – Arrival day

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We are finally here! This trip was originally planned for June 2020 which Rona cancelled and re-booked for July 2021. As that was also cancelled we decided to try for a different part of Croatia, however a month ago we found out that due to drop outs, that had also been cancelled! So.. we’re back to where we started and will be spending the next week exploring Dubrovnik, Split, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina and the Dalmation Coast.

Due to the recent dramas at Manchester airport we decided to give ourselves plenty of time.. and that meant a 0230 alarm 😭 however they were incredibly organised and we flew through security! This meant plenty of time to sniff out somewhere suitable for breakfast. However as we are creatures of habit, we went to Pret 👍 This was our first time flying Jet2, and we somehow ended up with a whole row to ourselves!

As you know by now, we love an escorted tour holiday. We met our guide Ivan and headed for the wanker bus which will be our ride for the next week. As this was a 3 hour journey, there won’t be much more to this blog for today. However we have already started sussing out our group and there is definitely a mature friends with benefits couple on here.

We are staying in a hotel in Drvenik for the next 3 nights and were able to have a little explore this evening. The water is crystal clear and the views are beautiful. We managed to find a viewpoint up rather steep and windy road, but it was worth the sweaty walk. As its not quite the start of the season, the majority of the cafes and bars are closed (obvs) however we spotted a cute looking bar by the waterfront so we will definitely be checking that out over the next few nights.

I know many of you are wondering… where is Santa? Fear not… he’s taking his sleigh (better known as the Eurostar) to Bruges for a lads lads lads sesh.

Anglesey Day 4 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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Today we lost the chicken and gained a cat and a dog.. but more on that later!

We started the day by heading to Llanddwyn beach – a gorgeous stretch surrounded by dunes and forest, and views of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula. At the end of the beach is Llanddwyn Island where there is so much to explore – you can spend hours here and it’s easy to see why it’s been voted one of Wales’ most beautiful places to visit. The island is named after St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers and the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine. The giant cross can be seen sitting proud towards the end of the island. There are also 2 lighthouses, both with Grade II status and the remains of St. Dwynwen’s Church – all of which are great to photograph. Llanddwyn Island is technically only an island at high tide as we found out, and this happens incredibly quickly 🤣 due to the very fast rising water, we had to whip the shoes and socks off and run. But my God the water was absolutely freezing – I dont know how people can happily swim in the sea in January! I’ve also recently found out that the beach is often frequented by nudists. Perhaps we should have stripped off and ran for it to save our trousers getting wet, although Santa would definitely have had a soggy sack!

Next stop was another hidden gem – the stepping stones across the tidal river, Afon Braint. Again we had another tide issue, and the middle 2 stones were under water 🤣 but it was so peaceful there. Due to them not being very well known and tucked away on the coastal path, we had it all to ourselves. On the way back to the car we acquired not one, not two, but three cats! And they followed us all the way back to Leon down the A4080. I was very tempted to keep them all to be a new friend for Misty.

All the tidal trauma from today made us gagging for a latte, so we headed to Jollys in Beaumaris for a drink and a Welsh cake. They were incredible! In the summer you can take boats from here to Puffin Island, but we had to settle for a walk around the outside of the castle as it was closing 🤣 this is definitely somewhere I would like to return when there is a bit more life about it and more things are open as it is full of cute shops and cafes.

Our final stop for today was Penmon Lighthouse, marking the passage between Black Point and Puffin Island. It was here we met Santa’s spirit animal. Out of nowhere came a dog carrying a John Smiths beer can and she followed us for the entire time we were there! I tried to throw a stick for her instead but all she wanted was the can. As the light was beginning to go we left our new 4 legged friend and headed back to base to get changed ready for our last supper at The Oyster Catcher. The food there was delicious so would definitely recommend here if you are in the area!

Anglesey day 3 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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Chilly weather and another nosey chicken greeted us this morning. After a hearty egg breakfast we packed up the car ready for our first walk of the day at South Stack lighthouse. Unfortunately the lighthouse itself is currently closed, but you still get great views of it from the RSPB carpark. From here we fired up the AllTrails and set out for the summit of Holyhead mountain. It starts with a gentle stroll overlooking the sea – there’s something so calming about a coastal walk. It’s just so peaceful! As we got closer to the top, the terrain became a little more uneven, but we were treated with great views over Holyhead and the Snowdon range in the distance. After bagging another trig it was time to head back down. Unfortunately the route we took meant Momma and Poppa had their first experience of scrambling. A lot of twitchy arse, a few choice words and ‘where shall I step’ later, we reached flatter land and went back to the RSPB centre where a latte and a massive slab of bara brith was waiting for us.

As with all good Airbnb’s, ours is full of leaflets and books with lots of inspo. Hidden Anglesey gave us the idea to go to Soldier Point House – because who doesn’t love a ‘reclaimed by nature’ photo! Constructed in 1849 and destroyed by fire in 2012, the eerie shell of the former hotel stands unloved and neglected, but ready and waiting for those with an interest in architecture and abandoned buildings.

Back to the Leon and off to another beach. Aberffraw Bay is a lovely sandy beach that definitely blew the cobwebs away. It also offers great views across the Snowdon range and is definitely somewhere I would be happy to sit with a chippy tea on a nice summers day. There is also an extensive range of sand dunes and is doggy friendly. This however means you are dodging poo 💩 as owners seem to think it’s ok to not clean it up…

Another recommendation was St Cwyfan’s Church – a Grade II listed medieval building known as ‘The little church in the sea’. Parking is basically non-existent and we spent a good 10 minutes driving up and down trying to find somewhere to leave Leon. Eventually we found a little pull in and left him there, with everything crossed an angry local didn’t attack him! We got to the church at low tide which meant we could walk along the causeway to it, and the remoteness of it meant we were the only people there to enjoy this special place. You can even get married here!

Our final stop was The Oyster Catcher for a gin and a beer. Santa enjoyed a Conwy beer – I would ask him for a review but he has spent most of the evening fast asleep! We are going back here for dinner tomorrow so very much looking forward to that!

Santa is now half awake 🎅🏻 but all he can manage is ‘very good’. I don’t think he would make a very good beer reviewer 🤣

Anglesey Day 2 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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This morning we had a delicious scrambled egg breakfast courtesy of the chickens who live on the farm where we are staying. One even decided to stand at the door and watch us, however she soon let us know how she felt about it by taking a turd on the doorstep. This act however could have been at the sight of Santa dressed head to toe in Lincoln City attire.

It wasn’t the speediest of starts this morning, as Huw and his massive lorry was blocking the exit to the road 🤦🏼‍♀️ but when we eventually got going we headed for our first abandoned destination; Parys Mountain. This is actually far from a mountain as it’s an ancient copper mine. Coming here makes you feel like you’re walking on another planet! Everywhere you go you’re surrounded by vibrant oranges, yellows, reds and purples. It’s amazing to think this landscape was shaped by miners using nothing more than picks, shovels and gunpowder. There is a viewpoint close to the carpark where you can get an idea of the size of the place, but we recommend you make time to take one of the many networks of paths around this weird and wonderful location.

Our next destination was another abandoned treat – Porth Wen Brickworks. It’s true what they say, the parking is terrible! But we managed to get a space on a layby on the A5025 and started the walk to find this ‘Gramable’ treat. It did involve a bit of mud and climbing over a gate, but it was definitely worth it when you get there. The ruins of the chimneys, factory buildings and kilns create an eerie backdrop to this pretty cove. It’s just such a shame that when people decide to camp here, they also decide to leave their tents as well.

Next stop was Camaes, the most Northerly village in Wales. By this point we were all desperate to use the facilities, however they all require you to fork out 20p! Who even carries coins these days 🤣 luckily the lady in the local newsagents helped us out with a bit of cashback in exchange for a KitKat chunky. I wouldn’t have minded.. but they didn’t even have toilet roll! I think the dull weather made this stop not particularly inviting, so we jumped in the Leon and headed for the Menai Bridge. This enormous bridge was built without scaffolding! So it is clear to see why it’s known as one of the great industrial wonders of the 19th century.

After a quick whip round Waitrose (posh for holiday!) we headed to out final destination for today… Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch. Momma got her camera out in the shop to take a photo of the sign, and the lady in the shop was less than impressed (although the fact it was 5 minutes until closing time probably didn’t help 🤣) luckily there was plenty of other signs outside to grab a photo of.

Tonight we’ve enjoyed bangers and mash made by my own fair hands and a glass of wine in front of the fire… cheers 🥂

The return to Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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Another bit of annual leave for me means another Welsh adventure! As much as I desperately miss my city breaks abroad, I’m loving seeing parts of the world a lot closer to home, and enjoying the beauty that is Britain.

We’re staying in Anglesey in a converted pig sty (obvs) and opted for a pit stop en route in Llangollen. Thanks to the AllTrails we were able to whip up the rather steep hill to Castell Dinas Brân. It was pretty windy up there, but the medieval ruins were a great place to explore and take in the surrounding views. Unfortunately the way back down was also on the steep (and muddy) side, but thanks to the trusty poles, we all made it down in one piece.

As we love to cram loads in to our days, and as the light was thinking of leaving us, we popped to the Co-Op for a quick sustenance stop before heading to another cheeky waterfall. Praise the Lord for the £3.50 meal deal 🤣

The last stop before the roadtrip to Angelsey was Horseshoe Falls. It has been awarded Canal World Heritage so I had high hopes! Unfortunately it’s a half circular weir, at the bottom of a grassy slope. It is however a very peaceful place and one where I would be very happy to have a picnic (should have thought about this before we gobbled the meal deal in the car in the car park)

Top tip for Airbnbers- arrive at your destination in daylight when the instructions are a bit confusing. We originally pulled into a questionable estate with equally questionable youths. But after lots of driving around incredibly lost and a few phone calls later, we found our home for the next 5 days.

Northumberland day 4 🌳

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A little bit late to the blog party for yesterday’s activities!

The morning was spent doing a walk which I found on Alltrails (if you don’t have this app, I highly recommend it!) and it was a lovely 3.5 mile loop to bag another trig point. We were treated to amazing views of The Cheviots, Lindisfarne and Bamburgh and this would be the perfect place for a sunrise or sunset. It also featured St Cuthberts Cave; an overhanging outcrop of Sandstone rock, supported by an isolated pillar of stone and surrounded in mystery due to its spiritual past. Unfortunately due to some idiots it has got quite a lot of fire damage so is recommended not to enter the cave, but it is still a very interesting site to walk around.

The last part of the walk was very overgrown so we had to go a different way back to the car. This meant we were later than planned getting back and ready to head to Cragside (thanks to Debbie for this recommendation) and wow the place was absolutely enormous! You definitely need a whole day here to explore and not just the few hours that we had. There is an option to do a 6 mile drive around the grounds but we opted for a walk to the house and formal gardens. It is definitely like stepping into another world, with its craggy and forested landscape giving off North American vibes. The queue for the cafe however was enormous, so bear this in mind and consider taking a picnic.

To finish off Momma’s birthday celebrations we had lunch in a treehouse! There are plenty of menu menu options here and we opted for the three course set menu 🐷 Santa enjoyed an Alnwick IPA and we toasted the occasion with a bellini. The restaurant was very quirky and decorated with hundreds of fairy lights and was the perfect setting for a celebration 🍾

We visited many beaches during our stay but the one at Bamburgh was out firm favourite, so we decided to return here for a few beers and a Schloer! It was the perfect way to end our adventure and another part of the UK ticked off.

Day 5 – This morning we started with a Full English at a farm shop which was definitely worth the wait. Momma and Poppa left us to head home whilst myself and Mark (who joined us yesterday post nights!) head to Newcastle to watch the Mighty Magpies (🤣🤣) take on Leeds tonight.

Northumberland day 3 🏰

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Mummy and Daddy decided to get up super early for a sunrise this morning. I chose not to see 5am as this only happens on night shifts or airport runs!

There was no need for the emergency jumper today as it was scorching! This morning we drove to Craster; a small little fishing village and the start of the beautiful coastal walk to Dunstanburgh Castle. Parking was a bit of a nightmare as it’s super busy, the car park machine only takes coins and there is absolutely no signal so you can’t pay on the app – so bear this in mind if you ever visit. We hadn’t planned on spending so long here, but being an English Heritage Site means free entry for members! It was worth the twitchy arse climb up the stone spiral staircase for views of the wave battered coastline. Again there is a vast variety of seabirds, particularly gulls. So don’t forget your binoculars! After the walk we went to the Shoreline cafe for a coffee and a cake. There aren’t many places to eat here so be prepared for a queue, however it was so worth it as the cakes were delicious.

Next on the list was Amble, another fishing town and a very fragrant one! If you like seafood then this is the place for you. Unfortunately we do not.. so quickly whipped around the pier to the lighthouse and back to the car. The High St was full of independent shops and it was so lovely to not have a Costa in sight!

As we were driving to Amble we drove through a gorgeous village called Warkworth, so we had to stop for an explore. The giant sign saying brew house also helped! We had a lovely walk to the church, medieval Bridge and another castle (did you know, Northumberland has 70 of them!) and of course stopped for a beverage. Santa enjoyed 2 local brews with views of the castle.

This evening we went for a drive following a recommendation from the Airbnb owner. The sunset over the Cheviots was stunning and it was great to have a different view other than coast and castles.

Dinner was finally something other than Co-op! We managed to get a chippy, and wow it was one of the best we have ever had.

Northumberland day 2 🏰

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Our poor little trotters! Today has been very packed and we have walked 14 miles. This morning we headed to Berwick to check out the Royal Border Bridge; a grade 1 listed railway viaduct. The river was well behaved and gave some fabulous reflection shots, which of course momma loved. We then headed to the lighthouse and it was a twitchers heaven! The area surrounding the lighthouse was rich in seabirds and is definitely somewhere you could sit with a picnic and pair of binoculars. I think we probably saw more varieties of seabirds than when we were on Skomer.

When in Northumberland you have to visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne – it’s the law! The constant signs to check the tide times gives you slightly twitchy arse, but as long as you know you will be treated to a lovely walk around the island. As the castle is a new trust and another stamp in the passport, we made sure we had our slot chosen. Luckily we managed to shimmy in before the ridiculously large tour group beat us to it. As well being steeped in history, it gives great views over the island. Its not a dramatic walk, but is perfect if you love the coastal air.

Back in the Juke, across the Lindisfarne Causeway and onto Seahouses – the gateway to the Northumberland Coast. Its full of pretty fishing boats and more seabirds, and the most important thing; a doughnut van! We stopped here for a beverage and Santa was most excited to find they had Directors on tap. The Olde Ship Inn was perfect for a rest and views of Farne Island.

The final stop for today was exploring Bamburgh and the beach surrounding the castle. As I still didn’t have a coat, I had to be an honorary Imp and wear Santas Lincoln City top! The sky and light tonight was very dramatic and the photos just don’t do it justice. You can’t beat a walk along the beach with the noise of crashing waves and a fabulous castle in the distance. There is a lovely walk to the lighthouse to see Stag Rock and back along to the castle and it was definitely worth doing this at sunset.

We had hoped for a pub meal tonight, however the first pub in the village stopped serving food at 7:30 (and did look a bit local shop for local people!) the second doesn’t serve food in the week and the third didn’t have a chef! Thank god for the local Co-Op!

En route to Northumberland 🧭

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Another week of annual leave means another week of exploring somewhere new! Luckily my Grandparents used to be B&B owners so we were sent on our way with a top notch breaky. Within 5 mins of the journey we realised that the Trust we had planned to break up the 5hr drive was closed 😭 so a quick re-think meant Fountains Abbey was our new stop point.

Over the past 18 months we have visited a fair few Abbey’s, but this was certainly one of the best! It is absolutely enormous. There is a lovely walk around the grounds and the river, and plenty of willies on statues to keep you occupied 🍆 with loads of water around there is so many chances for a reflection photo – perfect for the Gram 😉 this is definitely a must visit for anyone going to North Yorkshire.

Unfortunately I forgot how much colder it is Up North and how 18 degrees actually feels like -10. Luckily Ripon had a Mountain Warehouse so I was able to get an emergency fleece 🤣 and thankfully Momma also packed x2 coats. Whilst in the area it would also be rude to not have a look around the Cathedral, where there’s beautiful display of 10,000 origami angels – a dedication to key workers and loved ones.

Back to the Juke and we headed to our final destination – Belford. We have the most fabulous Airbnb and we are very much looking forward to calling this home for the week.