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THINK OUTSIDE THE SANDWICH!

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picnic

We all have nostalgic memories of family picnics with runny jelly, jam sandwiches and over excited wasps!

And while we love the practical simplicity of sandwiches, it’s also great to try something different for your picnic!

Here are some suggestions which are easy to source, pack and carry.

  • Pasta or salad in a screw top jar
  • Scotch Eggs
  • Mini quiches/tartlets
  • Hard boiled eggs in their shell
  • Mini pork pies
  • Carrot, cucumber, celery and red pepper sticks
  • Cream cheese – to go with the sticks as a dip
  • Cooked cocktail sausages
  • Sausage or cheese and onion pastry rolls
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Grapes
  • Mixed nuts and dried fruit
  • Antipasto skewers with tomatoes, mozzarella, onion, olives, cooked meat

Send us your picnic food ideas or a picture of your feast to holiays@tynrhyd.com and we’ll feature it in our social media!

HOLIDAY PICNIC TIPS!

Holidays in Wales, , , , , , , ,

Family 3 - 900x600

Whether it’s a traditional family picnic in the countryside or a trip to the beach on a sunny afternoon, what better way to spend quality time together?

At Tynrhyd you can take a picnic into the 13 acres of grounds and relax in peace! There’s no need to pack the family, dog, all the things you think you’ll need into the car and drive anywhere!

Here’s a list of some handy picnic extra’s to take with you!

  • Picnic blanket and napkins.
  • Sun tan lotion and sun glasses.
  • Outside games such as boules and rounders, or just a football will do!
  • Books and magazines for reading.
  • Rubbish bags for clearing up at the end of the day.
  • Wet wipes for sticky fingers.
  • Mosquito repellent.
  • Keep it light; who wants to lug heavy plates, cutlery, glasses and bowls! Paper plates and cups are better to avoid breakages, are light and easier to carry.
  • Camera – to capture your wonderful lazy days of summer!

Send us a picture of your idyllic picnic to holiays@tynrhyd.com and we’ll feature it in our social media!

CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?

Health & Fitness Retreat, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’ve just been reading today about the benefits of walking and how research shows its benefits of reducing the risk of disease, improved sleep, less stress and increased energy to name a few. Walkers live longer and maintain mental health and spiritual benefits. So why don’t we just get off the sofa and start walking?

Very often we miss what is right on our own doorstep. Many of us have ventured on trips and sporting tours abroad but have never attempted to reach the local massif.

In West and Mid Wales we are surrounded by a secret gem of a rugged and picturesque mountain range known as the shhhhhhhhh! I’m not really sure if I want to let the world know. Please don’t take it personally but life is just so peaceful, life is just so calm, life is just so relaxing in this little pocket of gold dust which I want to keep all to myself! It is truly a hidden gem and as you can see I am very reluctant to let it out! They are series of mountain ranges covering the Mid Wales uplands. In Welsh its original name was Elenydd which literally means wilderness and it reaches from Pumlumon to Mynydd Mallaen (to the northwest of Cilycwm, Carmarthenshire.) The Elenydd is the watershed of Wales. The highest point of the range is Plynlimon, at 2,467 feet. It is a sparsely populated area, so tranquility and peace is seriously plentiful! On a clear day from the Bronze Aged cairns on its peak, all of Wales is revealed. It is truly unlike anywhere else in the world! It isn’t a national park which means it’s even more precious and magical. Ahhhh, and breathe, I’m at the summit, standing on the backbone of the land of my fathers. But Beware! The giant dragon will awake at the mere sound of its name. Are you ready…? Are you sure…? Come near….and I’ll whisper it quietly in your ear…the Cambrian Mountains, it is the heart of Wales.

hinterland

Richard Harrington, as DCI Tom Mathias in the TV series Y Gwyll/Hinterland

It’s so beautiful, so natural and so diverse. A fantastic playground for all ages but also a Nordic noir TV filming plateau, currently seen on the BBC Cymru Wales’ Y Gwyll / Hinterland drama series. This gripping detective drama, set in Aberystwyth against the backdrop of the Cambrian Mountains, starring Richard Harrington as DCI Tom Mathias, has been immensely popular with TV audiences. In fact, it has been so popular that an innovative local walking guide, Dafydd Wyn Morgan aka Twm’s Treks, produced a series of bilingual guided walks based on this compelling TV series. With a choice of 8 walks, taking you from the stunning coastline of Ceredigion up to the rural Cambrian Mountains visiting various filming locations, you will certainly be wowed as well as entertained along the way!
Richard Harrington, as DCI Tom Mathias in the TV series Y Gwyll/Hinterland

Richard Harrington, an award winning actor and the main character of the scandi-style drama says… “The Hinterland series’ main star is the Ceredigion countryside. The success of the series is the landscape. For us in Wales, landscape is a big part of our existence and Ceredigion is the perfect location for what we do. Aberystwyth is more than just a seaside town with a pretty promenade. The Hinterland of Aberystwyth is fantastic, you never get bored with it.”

”..the key to hinterland is the landscape: beautiful, forbidding and secretive, it becomes a character in its own right.” The Guardian

Promise to keep our secret? Or have you changed your mind….?
Why not stay in our cosy, luxury home while you explore these amazing walks and discover the undiscovered before everybody else does!
Stay with us at Tynrhyd Retreat Luxury Accommmodation
Devil’s Bridge, Aberystwyth SY23 4QX (01267) 667 604
Book your well deserved dream holiday and bring your family and friends with you…www.tynrhyd.com
Email: holidays@tynrhyd.com

Why on earth would you go for a holiday in Hell?

Health & Fitness Retreat, , , , , , , , ,

Why on earth would you go for a holiday in Hell?

Hell is a tourist village on Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean.  Apparently years ago a Dignitary from another country visited the Island and noticed the strange-looking lava rock formations and said they looked like Hell and so the name stuck!
Place names are always an interesting topic! Many places around the world take on similar names for towns and cities such as  Bangor in North Wales, Ireland and France.  From the weird to the wonderful you do wonder sometimes how on earth they been named! From Puddle in Cornwall, UK to Prickly Bottom in Tasmania, Australia- Devil’s Bridge seems much more exciting and interesting!

Devil’s Bridge is a term applied to dozens of ancient bridges, found primarily in Europe. Most of these bridges are stone or masonry arch bridges.  They represent massive technological achievement and each of the Devil’s Bridges has a corresponding Devil-related myth or folktale.
The Ceredigion Devil’s Bridge,  Pontarfynach, in Welsh,  literally means  “The bridge on the Mynach” which refers to the river Mynach.  On the edge of the village you’ll see the unusual road bridge from which the village gets its English name.  The original bridge was constructed by the monks of Strata Florida, at what time is unknown, but legend says it was built by the devil.  The bridge has been thrown across a chasm 114 feet above the first fall and 324 feet above the bottom of the cataract.  So the what about the myth?
Well, it goes like this….
Old Megan Llandunach, of Pont-ar-Fynach
Had lost her only cow;
Across the ravine the cow was seen,
But to get it she could not tell how.

In this dilemma the Evil One appeared to her disguised as a monk.  He offered to cast a bridge across the chasm if she would promise to give him the first living being that should pass over it when complete. To this she gladly consented. The bridge was thrown across the ravine and the Evil One stood beyond bowing and beckoning to the old woman to come over and try it but she was too clever for him.  She noticed, instead of a foot, he had a hoof.

In her pocket she fumbled, a crust out tumbled,
She called her little black cur;
The crust over she threw, the dog after it flew,
Says she, “The dog’s yours, crafty sir!”

All myths inspire imagination but if you are looking for a break with a difference this is the place for you!
Are YOU counting down the weeks until October half term?
Are you running from those constant dates in your diary?
Come and stay at Tynrhyd Retreat, luxury accommodation and forget about all your stress and myths! Book it now and line up a beautiful holiday with your besties for a real escape and give yourself and the beauties in your life a relaxing break from it all.  A peaceful retreat where you can snuggle up in front of a real fire, go for a lovely Autumn walk, check out the local luxury chocolate factory or dip into the Swim Spa XStream Hot Tub for a while.  Whatever you chose to do, this will be well spent quality and fun time at your home-away-from-home!

Email: holidays@tynrhyd.com to book now!
Get in there fast for October half term!
Check out your next dream holiday at www.tynrhyd.com
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I wonder..do you know of any other devilish myths or interesting names of places you’d like to share?