Exploring the world, one place at a time
When lockdown was in full swing earlier this year, I didn't think my annual spring/summer visit to Dyffryn Gardens would be possible and fully expected 2020 to be a gap in my annual chronicles. So I was pleasantly surprised when my mother told me Dyffryn Gardens had reopened in early July, following the easing of... Continue Reading →
This morning I paid my annual spring/summer visit to Dyffryn Gardens. Situated in the Vale of Glamorgan, just outside Cardiff, Dyffryn Gardens is run by the National Trust and is home to a grand Edwardian manor, surrounded by some 55 acres of botanical gardens – and it's one of my favourite places for a weekend... Continue Reading →
I was in London in the spring catching up with friends, when one of my friends suggested we spend the day at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. I love Kew Gardens and hadn't been there for years, so I was more than happy to revisit one of my favourite London haunts. Home to more... Continue Reading →
Welcome to part two of my Wells adventure, which after Wells Cathedral and Vicars' Close focuses on the remaining part of the city's triumvirate of medieval masterpieces – the Bishop's Palace and gardens. The partially-ruined Bishop's Palace has been the home of the Bishop of Bath and Wells for more than 800 years and is... Continue Reading →
A couple of months ago, I paid my annual visit to Dyffryn Gardens, a large Edwardian manor house, surrounded by 55 acres of botanical gardens, just south of Cardiff. I won't write about the house as it hasn't changed much since I wrote about it last year. But there was a wonderful art exhibition in the... Continue Reading →
Standing at 1,670m tall, it's impossible to miss Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica's largest active volcano. The enormous volcano dominates the surrounding area, which includes Costa Rica's largest lake, Lake Arenal, and the town of La Fortuna, which was my base for the next two days. The slumbering giant's been quiet these past few years, having... Continue Reading →
For the last three or four years, I've made a beeline to the RHS Flower Show when it's come to Cardiff and this year was no exception. The three-day event takes place annually in April in the city's Bute Park and I usually pop along as soon as it opens (10am) on the Saturday, as... Continue Reading →
In July, I made my annual trip to Dyffryn Gardens, a grand Victorian manor house in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales. The house is surrounded by extensive gardens and is a really pleasant place to go for an afternoon stroll. I like going back at least once a year to see how the... Continue Reading →
My annual visit to Dyffryn Gardens took place a couple of weeks ago and it's looking as pretty as ever. All the flowers were in bloom, and the wild flowers (above) and the restored Italian gardens were especially lovely this year. Red, blue and purple seemed to be the dominant flower colours this year, and... Continue Reading →
There's no better place to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon in springtime than the grounds of a country house with beautiful gardens. So I headed to Dyffryn Gardens, a gorgeous National Trust property in the Vale of Glamorgan with extensive grounds and lovely Edwardian gardens. The main house (below), which was built by the fabulously... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 