Saturday 8th May 2010 - Tenby

We slept very well last night. Having woken and gone back to sleep a few times, I decided to check the time. Rather than 06:55 when the alarm radio normally comes on, it was nearly 9 o'clock! The radio had fallen over a couple of times yesterday and the alarm button must have been pressed. We weren't in a hurry so we had a very relaxed breakfast and prepared to leave Antshill.
We were only travelling a few miles to Tenby but had identified a National Trust property to visit on the way. The weather was not good this morning with heavy, overcast skies and occasional rain. We decided to drive to Colby Woodland Gardens and review the visit when we got there.
When we arrived it was still overcast but didn't look as threatening as earlier so we decided to go for it. As the name suggests, the property is a large garden and although there is a house, it is not open to the public. There is a meadow area around the stream and a large area of wooded hillside and the whole site is criss-crossed with clearly marked paths. It is even possible to walk down the valley to the coast at Amroth but we decided to investigate the gardens. The valley was once mined mined for minerals and must have have been a wasteland at that time but it was this that provided the wealth for the establishment of a very large estate that eventually came under National Trust ownership. There is a huge variety of trees and plants and the walks are lovely. Bluebells and other wild flowers were scattered in the woodland and there were camellias and rhododendrons. In fact there are 700 varieties of rhododendrons in the gardens – I didn't know that there were that many varieties in existence! It was a little early for the rhododendrons – a few were in full bloom, some were about to be so but most were only just beginning to bud.
An interesting exhibition in an outbuilding told us all about the history and wildlife on the site and a gallery had good quality but expensive arts and crafts. We also visited the pretty walled garden although this would be a lot more impressive in the Summer.
We drove on to Tenby to a campsite mentioned in the Rough Guide – Meadow Farm. The site is quite basic – a field with a few electric hook-ups and basic but clean shower block. However what makes the site is the view and it is one of the best that we have ever had. High above Tenby, it has a wonderful view over the pretty town, the monastic Caldey island and even Worms Head far over Carmarthen Bay on the tip of the Gower Peninsular.
Note for Motorhomers: Meadow Farm campsite costs £17 per night including electric hook-up. Highly recommended for the view and access to Tenby. Booking would be required in high season. The owners have been trying to persuade the National Park authorities to let them improve the shower block. They are still working on it so, given a few years, they may succeed!
Photos: Colby Woodland Gardens – looking over the meadow to the house; The summer house in the walled garden.