Savour The Whales (From Oxford Mail)

Savour The Whales

2:48pm Thursday 18th February 2010 in

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Inspired by childhood memories of blissful British breaks, Trevor Marshall took his young family to the Principality.

‘Oh yes, after all, it’s your holiday too...” That’s a stock phrase people roll out to new parents when they say they’ve found the ‘perfect family retreat’.

Well, having just come aback from a trip with our gorgeous 16-month-old toddler...that’s a load of rubbish.

It’s all about them and quite rightly so. As new parents, we challenged ourselves to find a location that we could go back to time and time again; the kind of place that most of us, from our childhood, affectionately hold in our heart.

For me it was the Isle of Wight and my wife recalls a little shed on the west coast of Wales in Barmouth.

Thankfully, early on in our little girl’s life we have found a new place that we hope she will look back on with happy holiday memories.

Clydey Country Cottages in Wales, near Cardigan (well, actually in the middle of nowhere – even the satnav struggled) offers new hope that there is a holiday out there that ‘everyone will get something out of’...

Of course the days were planned around our daughter Emily’s routine but at Clydey you truly have a safe, rural and very easy-on-the-eye environment, that allows you to kick back and relax.

There are beautiful views across a Welsh valley and I didn’t hear a car all week. Plus, if the shopping and cooking plan goes out of the window, there is a freezer full of ready-made healthy meals available (for a charge).

The eleven cottages, from one to four bedrooms, are full of character (you know, beams and other neatly-placed old stuff).

And very importantly, there’s a dishwasher (phew), and stairgates, high chairs and everything you need to feel at home.

Incidentally, just to prove that you can have time for yourself while holidaying with your toddler, every lunchtime, while Emily had a nap, we sneaked to the hot tub to just lie there and gaze at the rolling hills before us (we didn’t put the bubbles on, it spoiled the peace and quiet).

Kids love the daily ritual of feeding sheep, pigs and collecting the eggs that we took straight to our cottage for breakfast – not so much food miles as food metres.

You may have heard it rains in Wales, so a soft indoor play area and child-friendly pool conveniently await.

When the sun makes an appearance, wings, a sandpit and a walk down to a river in the valley below are all there for you. Tip: pack wellies.

Out and about in Pembrokeshire, check out Whitesands beach in St David’s (45 minutes’ drive), walk out to the headland for fantastic views along the rugged coastline and, as a terrific bonus, the path is one that allows you to stroll out there carrying a toddler, too.

There is an abundance of picturesque spots within an hour’s drive (perfect for a midday baby doze), such as Poppit Sands (25 minutes’ drive) and the very family-friendly Tenby beach and town.

So you see, there are family holidays with something for everyone and Clydey gives you the perfect base from which to explore a very beautiful corner of Britain.

This was the perfect start for giving our daughter a lifetime of those summer memories I treasure.

Trevor Marshall stayed at Clydey Country Cottages – for details visit www.clydeycottages.co.uk or call 01239 698619. Prices range from £400 to £1300, depending on bedrooms and season.