We wanted to be in Wales in 2 days time and settle in for a couple of nights.

Leaving Wabstow we headed north into Somerset and the Exmoor National Park.

The clouds had rolled in by the time we pulled over on Porlock Hill to wander through the open hillside soaking up natures’ offerings.

The purple heather, the rolling paddocks down to the cliffs and the vista out to sea blurring the horizon line as the clouds and the sea become one.

A grocery stop in Minehead and farm camping in Blue Anchor. A perfectly peaceful spot, such a lovely way to end the day.

Wales day today. Lots of driving to get us around to the very small village of Martletwy on the south coast skirting Bristol on our way.

Setup for our 2 day stop, we drove to the nearby but bigger village Lawrenny, with a small shop and a church, to explore.

Calling into the Lawrenny Arms for an afternoon drink and watching the small boat traffic on the nearby Carew River.

A new decade has begun today. Celebrating my 60th birthday in Wales, such a treat.

And it was.

Having mentioned my birthday the night before to a young mum camping a few sites down, I was sung Happy Birthday to on my way to the toilet the next morning by her children. Very touching.

Breakfast was in Lawrenny at The Little Retreat’s cafe with a delightful handmade card from Jo and Vic.

Then a drive to Pembroke with its colourful high street and morning tea at the St Mary’s local church fundraiser.

Famous for its place in history with the Pembroke Castle, standing proud on the edge of the Pembroke River with expansive views of the village and beyond.

Having a penchant for historical English royal court novels and having watched the Tudor series on television quite a few years ago, I was very familiar with the rise of Henry VII to power though did not remember that Pembroke Castle was where Henry was born in 1457, after his widowed mother Anne Beaufort was taken in by her brother in law, the current Earl of Pembroke, Jasper Tudor.

It is incredible to visit the castle and imagine the lives lived within these walls drawing on my own hazy knowledge of this era.

Pembroke Dock was next for a cuppa at the cosy Cwtch Cafe. It was such a delight to listen to locals sharing their lives with each other.

With time before we headed back to Cresswell Quay for dinner, we drove onto Broad Haven Beach to dip our toes into St Brides Bay.

The expansive flat beach dazzled in the afternoon sun as families were packing up after their day out.

It’s been a very special day and it was lovely to end it with a stop for a drink at the Cresselly Arms, last year’s winner of the Pembrokeshire’s Pub of the Year, and dinner from the fire and BBQ restaurant next door, Feast.

Our delicious meal, sharing a table and chatting with some locals was a perfect end to the start of my new decade.

On advice from the locals at dinner last night we headed up the coast to St Davids, the resting place of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales.

The ruins of the Bishops Palace sit to the side of the city’s striking cathedral.

Most of the remaining palace buildings standing today were built by 2 bishops – Bishop Thomas Bek (1280 to 1293) and Bishop Henry de Gower (1328 to 1347).

The 16th century reformation, when the authority of the Catholic Church was under threat by Western Christianity, brought the decline of the palace as orders for demolition were sought in the 17th century.

Grateful that these orders were not fully executed and the ruins remaining are able to tell a story of lives gone before.

After a wander through town we came back to the 12th century Romanesque and English Gothic style Cathedral.

A notable burial is of Edmund Tudor, father of Henry VII, who is entombed in front of the high altar.

Wales has been a special gift. We have utterly enjoyed our snippet of its offerings as the sun sets on our Mwnt campsite.

Tomorrow starts our National Trust wanderings.