travelogue: wales, part 1 of 3, cardigan and fforest

just as we arrived in wales, we had our first welsh cakes at brigands inn. the gentleman serving us was super friendly and happy to share how best to eat the cakes... with lots of butter!  during our stay in wales, i think i ate my weight in welsh cakes, too good.

it was the perfect rest stop as we continued our way towards cardigan in pembrokeshire, taking in the views, passing by stone cottages, and sheep.

cardigan sits on the river teifi at the base of cardigan bay.  it's a cute little town with a castle overlooking the river, quaint streets, and an ideal base for outdoor adventure with its rugged landscape, sandy beaches, and unspoiled coastline. 

eating at shampan, an indian restaurant housed on a boat that is moored to a quay in the centre of cardigan, was an experience - i'm positive the boat kept swaying; the interior needed an upgrade but the food was fantastic.  cardigan brasserie was also good, right on high street.  other places along high street we hoped to try but didn't get to were 1176 for afternoon tea and food for thought for welsh burgers.

although we breakfasted at the loft, we did venture out a couple of times to bara menyn, a bakery with great bread (the name translates to bread and butter), tea/coffee and food.

we didn't always have the best luck on finding cell reception - which is to be expected but we embraced it, it's beautiful here.

coming back to this place after meandering the outdoors allowed us to relax, enjoying the slow pace of local life.  it's the type of place that families, dogs, and muddy boots are welcome :)

the shampan, an indian restaurant

our home for the week was at fforest in cardigan.  they have three accommodation options: at the farmyard, in manorafon, or at the granary lofts and the spaces could be cabins, tents, domes, and shacks!  i hoped to stay at the farmyard; communal spaces with activities for the kiddos but our dates didn't work so we ended up at the granary lofts.  

the granary lofts, once maritime warehouses, sit on the river across from cardigan castle and opposite their pizza tipi (great pizza, see below).  the space is super cozy with attention to detail, and comes with a ukulele :)  their fforest general shop is on-site too; lovely souvenirs, especially textiles, to bring back home.  or just for a chat, the staff are super friendly and happy to provide guidance... the cutest dog hangs out there too. 

if celebrating all things outdoors is for you then this is your place.  visit the fforest website to find out more about this incredible empire.  we are thankful for the family who envisioned the concept of fforest - we loved our stay.

fforest's pizza tipi, where we ate a couple of our dinners, is an open air, wood-burning oven restaurant.  the pizza, all of it actually, is local and sustainable made by people who love what they do - and utterly delicious.  the atmosphere helped too... candlelit tepee in a riverside courtyard, music, and craft beer.  what more could you ask?  

travelogue: wales, part 2 of 3, whitesands and porthgain.