Driving through Wales

I had really wanted to see the coast of Wales before I left and since I leave in two days, I decided today would be good!;)

Unfortunately, the weather did not really cooperate and it rained for a good bit of the nine hours I was in the car. But that did not take away from the beauty!  The country is incredibly green, thanks to all of the rain. There are large ferns, extensive fields at the bottom of tall hills, and small lakes in the passes.



The roads are very narrow and windy, many lined with stone walls, similar to those I drove on in the Lake District. The roads have signs for crossing sheep and falling rocks, and many didn't bother with a median line as, well, there wasn't really room for two full lanes.  They are the kind of roads where going 35 feels like you are living dangerously, but driving through these roads with overhanging boughs feels almost like entering another world and it is truly gorgeous.  The coastline varied greatly from great expansive sandy beaches several hundred yards wide to steep rocky coastlines.

The villages and towns that I drove through were equally as charming.  Most of them were composed of stone buildings directly on the road, many with hanging baskets full of vibrant flowers.  The seaside villages were brightly colored with buildings of every shade.



It was a beautiful drive though and a great way to at least get a glimpse of this country.

I'm now staying in "the prettiest village in England," Castle Combe, and it really is a lovely little place! I spent the evening at the pub enjoying cider and a delicious cottage pie while talking to locals about some of the behind the scenes events that happened in this village where Doctor Doolittle, Stardust and War Horse were all filmed.  The barmaid, who constantly called me "my lovely," was even an extra in War Horse!  I'm eager to get a better view of the village in the morning!

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