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Original poster

What to do in Wales (new quay?) next week by myself with the children?!

22 replies

millypip · 28/04/2010 12:53

I am going to New Quay in Wales next week with my 2 children ages 2 and 3. Mu husband has to work so I'm going to be by myself with the children. We will be renting a cottage with my father and his wife so will have support but I think I will need to find some things to do to give them a few breaks from the children.

I don't know the area at all so would appreciate any hints or tips on places to go and things to see that will be easy to cope with for a mummy trying to watch 2 adventurous children at once. Am happy to drive a bit.

Any help would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
SoMuchToBits · 28/04/2010 13:00

Do they like trains? There are several steam railways in the area - the Vale of Rheidol railway runs from Aberystwyth, and the Corris railway is near to Machynlleth. Corris is a small railway but quite "hands-on". Vale of Rheidol is about an hour's journey each way, lovely scenery but not very "hands-on".

New Quay has quite a nice beach, and boat trips (but yours may be a bit young for those) and a lifeboat station.

Aberystwyth also has a cliff railway (funicular) with a camera obscura at the top, and cafe etc. Aberystwyth beach is shingly, but a nice long promenade to walk along, and a harbour (my sister lives in the apartments overlooking the harbour). There's a little paddling pool thing along the promenade, and a place where you can play crazy golf etc, and a play park near there.

Hope this gives you a start. Oh yes, and the animalarium at Borth - has a variety of animals to see, quite good for young children.

seeker · 28/04/2010 13:01

Oh - I used to go to New Quay on holiday when i was a child!!!

Not much help because it was nearly 40 years ago, but I'm feeling all nostalgic!

Original poster
millypip · 28/04/2010 13:18

Thank you SoMuchToBits. That's a great help.

It looks like a lovely place. Seeker - my father used to go there when he was a child too (although he's much older than you!!). He rented a cottage and invited us down as he wanted to show all the places to his grandchildren. It's just a shame that my husband can't make it.

I think I will have to take the children away for a day by myself though as my father and his wife will probably want a bit of peace at least in the middle of the week.

OP posts:
SoMuchToBits · 28/04/2010 13:23

I will try to think of some more "wet weather" type activities you could do though, as West Wales isn't known for being the driest part of the country....

seeker · 28/04/2010 13:29

In our day the life boat was still launched by hauling on ropes - I remember my dad and brothers rushing to help and being furios tha I wasn't allowed. We used to picnic in the rain under the lifeboat ramp on the beach.

We also used to go out on the fishing boats and come home with mackerel - which we then had to eat. I've hated them ever since, but I loved the fishing.

We used to walk around the bay to Aberavon (sp) to see the seals.

And go and see films in a building which i think must have been the village hall.

SoMuchToBits · 28/04/2010 13:31

The lifeboat is now launched by tractor. Ds (aged 9) is a real lifeboat enthusiast, so we know quite a lot about it!

seeker · 28/04/2010 13:35

I suppose there's no longer a wooden ramp you can shelter under is there?

I remember hearing the maroon go up - and seeing the men running down the hill to man to boat.

helyg · 28/04/2010 13:42

You may not need the wet weather activities TBH as we've barely had any rain for about 2 weeks.

AS PP have said the Vale of Rheidol Railway is good, as is the Cliff Railway.

Fantasy Farm in Llanrhystyd is nice for little ones, and has an indoor play barn if it is wet.

Aberaeron is pretty, and the honey ice cream from the Hive on the Quay is delicious.

There is a nice NT property at Llanerchaeron.

At Bwlch Nant yr Arian there is a forestry centre, with red kite feeding at 3pm every day, plus nice forest walks, playgrounds and a cafe.

Felinwynt Rainforest Centre at Cardigan has free flying tropical butterflies and is good fun for little ones.

Depending on the age of your DC there is an Iron Age Fort with a visitor centre near Crymych (Castell Henllys) and the national woolen museum at Drefach Felindre.

HTH!

Original poster
millypip · 28/04/2010 14:14

Wow, this is all amazing help. Thank you all very much! I'm really looking forward to it.

My father showed us a dvd he made of the lifeboat being put on the tractor when he was there last year. My daughter is determined that she's going to have a go. Let's hope she doesn't need it :-)!

OP posts:
SoMuchToBits · 28/04/2010 16:29

I think you can still shelter under the lifeboat ramp....

When we were there ds spent a lot of time following the coxswain round talking to him

SoMuchToBits · 28/04/2010 16:30

We've been to the fantasy farm as well, IIRC it has boats you can take on a lake too. And there is another butterfly place near Aberystwyth, can't remember its name.

SoMuchToBits · 28/04/2010 16:35

And I've just thought about Felin Ganol water mill at Llanrhystyd. You have to book in advance for a guided tour, but it's quite interesting and you can buy their flour. The people who own it are friends of my sister.

Their phone no is 01974 262272, and they have a website if you want to look at it.

helyg · 28/04/2010 18:19

The other butterfly place is called The Magic of Life Butterfly house, it is in Cwm Rheidol.

SoMuchToBits · 29/04/2010 01:04

Thanks helyg, couldn't remember its name, although I know you can see it from the train from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge on Vale of Rheidol railway!

Original poster
millypip · 30/04/2010 20:53

Thank you all so much for your help. Have just printed this all off ready for tomorrow. Back to packing now - what fun!

OP posts:
helyg · 30/04/2010 20:54

Be warned, it is now raining.

Have to spend the day in Aberaeron tomorrow watching the boys playing football. Was looking forward to a stroll along the harbour and a honey ice cream... will now be huddled under my umbrella wearing wellies!

tulip27 · 30/04/2010 21:03

We went there in half term with our two who are 4 and 5 and had a wonderful time without really spending a penny. By the way there is the most amazing ice cream place on the water front you may spend some pennies there.
Really loved all the above mentioned places but had a particularly great time at a place called devils bridge which is a nearby waterfall, it was so beautiful.
I promise you, you will not be stuck for things to do. We are even booked to go back again next year.

Ps saw 2 seals and a dolphin on our 1 hour very child friendly boat trip too.

lostinwales · 30/04/2010 21:08

There is a (small) soft play area in Cardigan (about 20 mins away) called Teifi Manina which is quite nice. There is also the Wildlife Parc in Cilgeran (just outside Cardigan) which has a visitor centre and with lovely cafe and some nice unchallenging walks for small ones. Poppit Sands is a lovely beach with rockpools and dunes and lots of sand to run about on (and on Monday there is a sandcastle competition with three categories, wave if you see a dreanged woman with three ginger boys on the beach) Also in this area is St Dogmaels which has a ruined abbey they can run about in, with a lovely cafe/visitor centre and a duck pond and working water mill all within toddling distance of each other.

If you don't mind a longer drive there's Folly Farm on the way to Tenby, has lots of different animals and various indoor/outdoor play areas. And just further on from there Manor Farm Zoo parc type place, where you can actually walk in with Wallabys and feed them, or go in the Lemur enclosure, it's a lovely place to go with small ones.

If it pours give a shout out on here and you can come for a cup of tea!

helyg do you work for our local tourist information?

lostinwales · 30/04/2010 22:10

helyg just seen your last post, see you in aberaeron tomorrow !

SoMuchToBits · 01/05/2010 00:24

Devil's Bridge is at the other end of the steam railway from Aberystwyth on the Vale of Rheidol line.

helyg · 01/05/2010 16:22

lol lostinwales I've just lived here all my life and with 3 kids I've done most of the tourist attractions umpteen times over!

How did yours do at the football? We won two, lost two and drew one. I say we, I was actually busy shopping in Ji-binc and Jac-Do instead of watching

lostinwales · 01/05/2010 19:24

helyg you do learn what to do and where to go with three don't you! I'm only married to a local so I don't have your lifetimes knowledge. Although have you been to Manor Farm Park, apparently it's heaps better than when DH was forced to go there as a child, I love it there now.

Can't get much sense out of middle DS he won one and drew one but he must have played more matches than that. I couldn't go as I was too busy running to the loo all day with a tummybug kindly donated to me by DS1. Shame I was going to wear my 'Is that you UCM' badge and carry a pack of penguin biscuits. If you are ever out and about and spot a harrased woman with three ginger boys you'll have to give me a covert nod

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