Wales 5

[DdraigGoch]

The old one filled up before we could link a new one but here we are.

I've been looking forward to Margam Park for a while as we had a great day there one summer. I see it's been crazy busy the last few weeks though so will leave it until the shops and restaurants distract everyone again! I'm also really missing Cardiff Bay but definitely won't be going there anytime soon.

@ArosGartref Lots of fab places here in South Wales, depending what you like.

In West Wales, Folly Farm is excellent, and my DD loved Neverland at Oakwood.

In South Wales, The National Museum in Cardiff is really good, and so is St Fagans. Margam Park also seems popular.

My DC love Dan Yr Ogof - although we don't spend much time in the actual caves lol - the dinosaurs are awesome, and theres a Shire Horse Centre, a Farm and a big playground.

Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons has stunning views if you fancy climbing a mountain.

And if you're a Gavin and Stacey fan, Barry Island is a worth a visit.

I have Devon booked for this year, but seriously considering changing to Wales.

We love West Wales, and would feel safer staying in Wales this year, but everything seems to be fully booked! Struggling to find anything suitable for us.

I have doubts about going to Devon, as its always so busy normally, but I don't want to cancel in case I can't find anything else suitable!
Having been in local lockdown since beginning of September, I'm desperate for a change of scenery, but we want somewhere quiet where we can just do walks on the beach and lots of ice cream and fish and chips.

I've started looking for caravans in the Newquay area, since my DC would love to do another dolphin spotting boat trip, but not having much luck so far!

I think the tourist spots this year are going to be insanely busy - am actually wondering whether somewhere like the Beacons or Mid Wales would be safer/quieter.

@ArosGartref we love Oakwood. I say we, DSD9 does. Great for smaller ones too.

I can't wait to go walking in Brecon again, particularly around the falls near Ystradfellte.

Oh also love Big Pit in Blaenavon. Pretty sure it was free to get in (although it's been years since we've been there).

Big Pit is still free but has no reopening date yet. Garn Lakes is nearby for a nice walk though, as is the Blorenge, Pwll Du and the Keeper's.

@ImAllOut

I've been looking forward to Margam Park for a while as we had a great day there one summer. I see it's been crazy busy the last few weeks though so will leave it until the shops and restaurants distract everyone again! I'm also really missing Cardiff Bay but definitely won't be going there anytime soon.

During the holidays you have to book a parking space online. I am not sure if they will carry on with it during weekends. It was due to sheer numbers turning up plus the Orangery is a vaccination centre.

@ArosGartref
My list for you....
Llanstephan, has everything .. castle , beach , play park ( small ) free parking , chips and icecream kiosks and a cute cafe that looks like it’s in someone’s front room
National Botanic Garden . You could spend the best part of the day there and in previous years the ticket let you go in for a week not just the one day
Stepaside to Saundersfoot , walk along the tramway , really easy walk and lots of industrial history to look at
Bosherston lily ponds
Best beaches ( IMHO ) Amroth , Newgale ( rent wetsuits and body boards )
Also
Solva , so pretty and you must try Mamgus Welsh cakes
St David’s . That cathedral !
I’ll think of more ( if you’re not bored of me already ) as we have a BnB and are used to recommending places !

My DB was married in Llanstephan church we stayed in chalets nearby, it really is so beautiful.

Great list. I've never been to big pit. They are opening that new zipline thing at tower colliery soon. I'm too much of a wimp to do the zipline but might manage the roller coaster.

[quote DdraigGoch]@CassandraKnew you can stay locked up indefinitely if you like. No one is stopping you.[/quote]
I don't agree with lockdown, I'm an adult and happy to assess risks for myself and my children. If you had looked at my earlier posts I suggest the lockdown measures are way over the top for the number of cases. I think if the death rate went back up, people would see more risk and reduce their activity accordingly. Obviously older people would shield more. If I went out and caught covid that would be my fault not anyone else's, we are each capable of managing our own risk.

This doesn't mean that I cannot say it's not been properly proven that vaccines will reduce transmission risk to zero. That means people are assessing their risk on false info.

Big Pit was great when I went (on a family holiday with my parents, so about 15 years ago!)

@CassandraKnew at what point did I say that the risk was "zero"?

"Tiny" and "substantially reduce", yes but I never claimed zero.

[quote DdraigGoch]@CassandraKnew at what point did I say that the risk was "zero"?

"Tiny" and "substantially reduce", yes but I never claimed zero.[/quote]
I never said you did say it was zero. I'd only got drawn into the thread recently because someone else had said that about vaccinated people.

Sorry for any confusion.

Drakeford has just bought some of the dates forward
Gyms / pools open 3rd May and household mixing the same day
www.bbc.co.uk/news/wales

Is it cynical to point out that brings it below the election, whereas the 10th would have been after? Still, it should get me into a nice warm swimming pool (and out of the freezing cold sea!) sooner rather than later, so that's good.

I thought that too! @110APiccadilly!

[quote Doilooklikeatourist]Drakeford has just bought some of the dates forward
Gyms / pools open 3rd May and household mixing the same day
www.bbc.co.uk/news/wales[/quote]
If I’ve read this right..... when I’m on holiday in the Forest of Dean in the middle of May, I can pop down to Cardiff to see my Mum. But we have to stay out of doors, unless we say we’re an extended household, is that right? If we’re an extended household, we can go inside the house.

She hasn’t been seeing anyone else, so I suppose it’s legit...

When we went in July, we had lunch in the garden and only went inside to use the loo.

@PuzzledObserver it says 2 households can bubble up to meet inside
So , bubble up ✅

So he's moved a few things forward but pubs will stay shut until the 26th. Don't worry, when the English pubs are allowed to open on the 12th, the border-crossing restrictions will also be lifted. How convenient.

Chester station is going to be carnage on Monday evening then. Joy.

I wonder if he will ban alcohol when indoor places open up again as happened last time.

This SAGE report about the 3rd wave must put to bed the suggestion that vaccinated people are unlikely to catch or pass the virus on:

UK's top modelling body gives detailed projection of third coronavirus spike as restrictions are lifted

The paper suggests that the resurgence in both hospitalisations and deaths will dominated by those who have received two doses of the vaccine, comprising around 60% and 70% of the wave respectively.

Worryingly this is working on the assumption that the vaccine protection will not wane or a variant emerging that escapes vaccines.

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/vaccine-third-wave-coronavirus-modelling-20328025

It's strange that the CDC's advice is that you can see unvaccinated people indoors with no masks two weeks after having.a second dose. I wonder why scientific advice varies so much between countries.

@CassandraKnew this is more of the nudge theory so we continue to be careful, now so many are vaccinated they have to scare the vaccinated.

Who do you mean by "they" @justasking111?