and win a mystery prize

After a busy bank holiday weekend Sarah and I took ourselves out to have a go a geocaching. It’s something we have wanted to try for a while and have had a few guests stay who have said how much they enjoy it.

Fortunately for us you can try Geocaching at Coed y Brennin, for £5 you can hire the GPS unit and go and search for five caches that are hidden within the woodland. It’s a bit like going on a treasure hunt where the GPS unit guides you to the correct location, once you have got within a meter or so you really have to start searching for the cache which can be hidden under a rock or tucked away in a hole covered by moss.

Within the box you will find a log book where you can record your name, leave some notes etc. You can also swap little items that are left in the box, so a good idea to bring with you a few oddities.

We really enjoyed ourselves and made us discover new parts of the forest which we hadn’t visited before, there are caches hidden all over the place so for us the next stage will be to buy a GPS unit and start planning a few more days out.

If you are staying with us over the next few weeks you can take advantage of all the wild garlic that has covered our furthest field. Last night Sarah and I dinned on wild garlic pesto, really easy and no complaints of garlic breath today.

100g wild garlic

grated parmasan

pine nuts

salt pepper

olive oil

Add everything except the oil to a food prcessor and blitz, gradualy add oil until you have a good looking pesto, you will be amazed at how green and fresh it is.

Most mornings before any guest’s are awake Grace , Jasper and I take ourselves off for a run along the estuary. This morning with the sun just breaking over the ridge, a line of fluffy cloud sitting just above the water and the tide reaching its highest point I couldnt think of anywhere else I would rather be. Makes up for all those winter mornings when I am sure the dogs would of rather stayed in bed.

I promised myself that in 2010 I would take to the water; I like the idea of being able to explore the coast and estuary that we live on. I don’t like the idea of being swept out to sea and ending up somewhere in the Irish channel.

With this in mind I have joined the Barmouth rowing club, have been out a few times over the last month and can honestly say there is something really special about getting out on the water. The craft used are Celtic long boats, four rowers and one Cox.

The experienced rowers make it look really easy; I on the other hand have a lot to learn. To row efficiently you seem to have to remember about ten different things, keep in time with the rest of the rowers and keep going until the Cox says stop.  There is a lot to learn but I am really enjoying it. After rowing on Saturday and Sunday I have blistered hands and aching shoulders, looking forward to the next favourable tide so we can get out again

Well basically the same space but given a bit of a revamp. We have tried to stock a few things that might make your stay a bit more special. A wider selection of Welsh ales, solar fairy lights to decorate your tent or sun jars which will glow all night. Just got in some bags of local charcoal, years ago I went on a course to spend a weekend learning how to make it. Had the idea of maybe running a course here in the autumn, watch this space.

Hope to add a few more things to the shop in the next few weeks, some bushcraft bits and bobs and Sarahs has seen some nice games and puzzles. If we can find some fancy dress gear you could even end up haveing a Mr Ben adventure over your stay.

…try telling that to wildlife. I was just waiting outside the Tree Bog on our lower camping fields. Me, the dog and four bats. The bats’ idea of queuing is pretty random: an awful lot of ducking and diving, invasion of my personal space etc. Entertaining though. Then some stoaty weasel thing shoots right in front of all us. No excuses, no “sorry, but I’ve got a train to catch” etc etc, nothing. Just straight in there. Don’t you just hate queue jumpers?

Out pops the culprit who’s been causing the hold up: a blue tit. Probably been doing it’s make up.

Had an early start today as wanted to tackle the Marin trail at Gwydyr. Took an hour to get there and arrived before 9 am and had the place to myself. There isn’t any cafes, toilets of high ropes courses here but there is some seriously good mountain biking.

From the trail head you are straight onto some single track leading to a long ascent up forest road; funnily enough I really enjoyed the climbs on this trail. From there on it’s a serious of technical rocky sections, amazing views and some great flowing trails.

Always good to ride new trails as I have been riding Coed y Brenin a lot in the last few years, you never know whats round the next corner and that certainly keeps you focused.The last section back to the car park was fantastic, berms, jumps and I am sure that I spotted someone livening in a tipi in the woods.

Managed to get round the 25 km in 2 hours 20 minutes, was aiming for 2 hours but gives me a good reason to come back.

If you wanted to make a full day of it you could also ride the Penmachno which is in the same area or stop of at Coed y Brenin.

After a busy Easter weekend, with our Yurts being let for the first time this season, a fire making workshop from Firefox bushcraft and the camp site full sign going out for the first time this year, Sarah and I decided we needed a day out.

Not exactly rock and roll but you cant beat a good day out at a National Trust property, we visited Bodnat Gardens. A nice stroll round the grounds which where magnificent with daffodils, and then to the tea room. Fantastic food made by a team of dedicated  ladies, Pro WI.

Slightly more rock and roll, just before the weekend we went to see the Joy Formidable play a gig in Wrexham. Probably the smallest venue of their tour but they didnt seem to turn down the volume.

It seems that spring is in the air with buds and bats appearing, we also know that the temperature is rising when friends and family start arriving. One visitor we have been pleased to welcome back is Alun, our volunteer from last summer.

He stopped of on route from Cardiff on route 8 the Lon Las cymru . Most people who do this route have spent time training, hours thinking and then buying the right bike for the job. Be it hybred, mtb or road bike it is usually a machine to eat up those miles. Alun on the other hand seemed to finish work on Friday and get on his old, heavy and very faithfull stead. He arrived yesterday , we gave him food, beer and a bed (plus a little bit too much rum).

So does this tale of not buying the latest bike gadget or lusting after the 2010 model change my mind about what lies at the heart of enjoying cycling. I dont think so , well done Alun.

You rode from Cardiff on that!