Google Maps

You can find us on Google Maps now:

Just put in "Ty Cariad Pont-rhyd-y-groes"

View from the window

First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is....

The famous saying of Ch'ing-yüan Wei-hsin (Seigen Ishin):

老僧三十年前未參禪時、見山是山、見水是水、及至後夾親見知識、有箇入處、見山不是山、見水不是水、而今得箇體歇處、依然見山秪是山、見水秪是水 

Before I had studied Zen for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, and waters as waters. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and waters are not waters. But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest. For it's just that I see mountains once again as mountains, and waters once again as waters. 

Star Gazing with the BBC

It is worth noting that on clear nights, especially at the New Moon, the skies over the cottage may startle city dwellers. There is very little light pollution - and if even that tiny amount (from the village) bothered you, you don't have to go very far to find somewhere astoundingly dark...

BBC Stargazing website

and the Dark Sky Discovery website can tell you more.

In particular, Dark Sky Wales.

So far, the only official Dark Sky Discovery Site in Wales is in the Brecon Beacons, here. Sadly that is about 60 miles away...but perhaps other zones may be officially added at some point.

All Wales Coast Path due to open 5 May 2012

This was an exciting read on the Council intranet:

"Lonely Planet have confirmed it, Wales is the best on Earth to visit! Well, the 870-mile (1400km) trail around Wales, which is due to be completed next year. But that covers the most of Wales anyway!

We are very excited to announce that our very own coastline has been named the "best region on Earth" to visit next year by the prestigious travel guide.

From May 2012 Wales will become the first country in the world to offer tourists a formal trail right around its coast.

The Lonely Planet guide (edition 7), highlights 10 countries, 10 regions and 10 cities handpicked by the publisher's travel experts as the best places to visit. They say of the Welsh coast line: "What a wonderful thing: to walk the entire length of a country's coastline. How better to truly appreciate the shape - and soul - of a nation?"

The All Wales Coast Path (AWCP) will cover spectacular ground from Chepstow in the south to near Queensferry in the north - whilst on the path you will experience dramatic serrations, sandy bays and breathtaking castles and countryside.

Lonely Planet's Tom Hall explained: "As well as the novel ability to walk its entire coastline, the region comes out top because of its wildlife, great surf, castles and fantastic spots such as Barafundle Bay and St Davids.

The path is due to officially open on 5 May 2012."

Another season, another reason...

We have been delighted with the new entries in the guest book.

People seem to find lots of things to do around the cottage, even when the weather reminds you that you are in the Welsh mountains!

Read the Guest Book here.

New television and some more art

Julie has just visited the cottage to upgrade the television set - all ready for wet autumnal days!

I [Toby] haven't had a go with this one yet, so can't give you the details, but it sounds as though (on top of the Sky package) you may also be able to access streaming films, etc, through the WiFi.

I will update this post when I have more details about what it is capable of...

She has also added some of her art to the walls -examples of which you can find on her website.

Images from Google Maps - the side turning

As the last approach to the cottage can prove a little tricky (the Post Code covers the whole village, so a SatNav won't get you right to the door) I have been using Google Maps to grab a few useful images, to supplement the maps.

If you have come through the village on the B3443 then you will take a left hand turn to reveal The Counting House, an unmistakable landmark, and should take the next left turn up the hill.

Below you can see it, approaching from the other direction, with The Counting House on the left of the picture, and a clear view of the little lane up the hill that you need to take.

This is also what you would see if approaching on the B3443 from the Ysbyty Ystwyth direction, just after you pass the Pont-Rhyd-Y-Groes village sign.

This summer at Ty Cariad

You will find some history of The Hafod Estate on Julie's blog, here [Hafod and The Orchid Thief 11 June 2011]









Also find some pictures from her recent visit
[A Week at Ty Cariad 29 May 2011]

Here comes summer...

Dandy particularly likes the summer for long walks.

All seasons

Although summer is wonderful, the landscape changes throughout the year, and some of the crisp autumnal days can also seem magical.

We have quite a few pictures posted on the Facebook Page, in these folders:

Views and Vistas

Paths, Tracks & Trails

Maps and History

Other views Other seasons

Guest Book for the cottage

We have such nice comments in the guest book that we have added them to the website.

We have kept people anonymous, as they perhaps didn't expect to appear on the web, although we have let the dogs' names through.

You will find the book available, both to read and to contribute to, when you stay.

See the Guest Book comments here (and yes, we leave the small criticisms in, too!)

We do try to respond to suggestions for improvements, but feel pleased that the overwhelming response has been one of delight and contentment.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to leave comments...

Julie & Toby (and Dandy the dog)

Golden Eagle in the village

This month there is (unbelievably - they haven't lived in Wales for 200 years) a Golden Eagle being spotted not just in the neighbourhood - Ceredigion - but specifically in Pont-Rhyd-Y-Groes! Wonderful images from 'Irie'.

We don't have the full story yet, but it may be an escaped bird.

Here's the BBC story.

Keep an eye on reports at Ceredigion Birds.

Wow - I wish I was at the cottage to catch a glimpse of that!

I just found this website with an image to give you the sense of scale - this is a Red Kite with the juvenile Golden Eagle!

For more detail about identifying Eagles, sighting reported, etc - try the Bird Guides here.

Birds of Prey

My own favourite sight in and around the cottage are the big birds of prey soaring over the valley. Buzzards are fairly common in the UK (they have the fan-shaped tail, if you catch them in silhouette, the Red Kites have the forked tail).

We have a significant population of Red Kites around the cottage (when they neared extinction, this area was the last pocket of resistance). Fortunately they were saved, and have spread back around the UK.

I lifted these images without permission (my apologies) from the RSPB site, click on the images to find the source material, or just visit the main RSPB site here.

You can find the Welsh section of the RSPB site here.

Last Minute Cottages

We have just added the cottage to Last Minute Cottages, and you can find us on their website.

We will add the availability calendar to the website, but this is

JUST A TEST

so please check with us directly, before assuming the calendar below is current and up-to-date.

Thanks!

BBC Winter Breaks

You can see us listed on the BBC Winter Breaks page...

This is the Homes and Antiques magazine...

Testing the banner

This is what banner2 looks like (using Centred, Medium sized in Blogger upload).

I have also made the image itself a clickable link.

Julie is on the map!

Julie is still developing her wool craft activities, and you can find her listed now on the Heritage Crafts Network map - zoom in to Cardiff to find her...

And this is what the entry says:

I am a serious amateur in tradition wool crafts such as knitting, felt-making, and weaving. Recently I've also been sampling various related disciplines such as basket weaving, embroidery and mixed media textiles for wall hangings. I have a degree in fine art, but my first love has always been wool crafted textiles. I spend all my spare time advancing my skills and knowledge, and attending courses in related subjects. I hope one day to become a professional artisan and to earn my living from textile production (whereupon I will update you with a business address).

Ty Cariad awarded Four Stars by Visit Wales

We were very pleased to hear that Ty Cariad has been awarded Four Stars as a Self Catering holiday cottage, by Visit Wales (formerly The Welsh Tourist Board).

timetable for Vale of Rheidol railway

I have added a link to the website for the 2010 timetable for the Vale of Rheidol railway, which runs from Devil's Bridge to Aberystwyth.

You'll find it here.

Tan-y-graig

Julie has started enquiring about the cottage through the archives.

The first discovery is that it used to be called Tan-y-graig (beneath the rock) which makes sense if you visit. It isn't clear yet if that is the name for the two joined cottages, or for our half.

The researcher has also looked back as far as 1841 to find stone masons and lead miners living there, so we still don't quite know when it got built.