#SEWES2016 ~ Sept 15 – Pencoed to Middleton Cheney

#SEWES2016

Sept 15 – Pencoed to Middleton Cheney

with Castles and Abbeys, too

After yet another hearty breakfast, we set out for our first stop of the day – Caerphilly Castle – a CADW property in Wales, who also honour Historic Scotland memberships.

Quite the wee bomb parked next to us in the castle car park. Monty looks like a tank compared to this sleek little number. Look at his arse end hanging out over the end of the spot! I could have pulled in further but what dangers lurked behind the greenery? This girl didn’t want to find out.

Sept 15
Lotus
Sept 15
Lotus

Paid and displayed, we walked through the park to the castle. Geese, ducks and seagulls all vied for the bread a little girl and her father fed them.

Sept 15
Caerphilly Castle

The south-east tower leans due to subsidence but people reckon it to Cromwell knocking it about.

Sept 15
‘temporary’ statue of Jesus preventing the tower from falling over
Sept 15
Don ‘holding’ the tower up
Sept 15
Me doing the same but needing both hands

Should you desire, you can rent out the Great Hall here at Caerphilly Castle  for weddings and other celebrations.

Sept 15
Inside the Great Hall
Sept 15
Fireplace inside the Great Hall
Sept 15
Inside the Great Hall

Time to leave for our next stop along the way to our final destination for the night. But first, I wanted to take some pictures in the park. I’d glimpsed the ‘stone circle’ and the tree-trunk dragon en route to the castle.

Sept 15
Carved dragon
Sept 15
Stone circle

Our next stop – Tintern Abbey – another CADW property.

Sept 15
Tintern Abbey
Sept 15
Tintern Abbey
Sept 15
Tintern Abbey
Sept 15
Tintern Abbey
Sept 15
Tintern Abbey

I marvel at the architecture of the ancient ruins in the UK every time I visit. Nothing compares to them back home. The fact they’re preserved amazes and pleases me. On this side of the pond, we’d tear it down rather than restore it.

By now, we’d spent enough time at these two CADW sites. We needed to get on the road to Middleton Cheney.

Driving through Banbury, we experienced a diversion for a street fair. The rides and other amusements were set up on the driving surface and the vehicles funneled onto the pedestrianized section of the street.

Manor Cottage, on Main Street, in Middleton Cheney proved difficult to find. I ended up phoning and getting directions as I drove.

Given a room on the top floor, only the necessities would come into the house.

Our hosts were going out for the evening so left us a key to the back door so we could get in when we returned from a meal.

I’d creeped Middleton Cheney on google maps and discovered a pub just up the road. They displayed their menus on the website and the food sounded good and was reasonably priced.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of ordering our pints before asking for menus only to find out the kitchen was closed.

Our host had mentioned a chippy up the road, which also had some seating. We finished our pints and walked on. Never finding the chippy, we did find the Dolphin Inn. Another pub. Walked in and asked for menus. They didn’t do meals but a Chinese Takeaway did and we could bring the food into the pub to eat.

Sept 15
The New Inn
The Dolphin Inn
The Dolphin Inn
Sept 15
Manor Cottage
Sept 15
Our bedroom window at Manor Cottage

We brought our electronic devices downstairs so we could catch up online and use the wonderful lounge. The aroma of wood fires smelled delightful.

Sept 15
The fireplace in the lounge at Manor Cottage

Another travel day tomorrow so we made it an early(ier) night.

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