Today we talk to Briallen Jones (who just so happens to be my sister in law.) She tells us about her hometown in Pembrokeshire, a popular area to visit in picture-perfect South West Wales! Bri has recently started a blog with my brother Andrew about keeping a new puppy called ourlifeofriley.co.uk. I can certainly attest to the fact that Riley is super cute! Read all about her here.
Where are you living?
I come from a small village in Pembrokeshire called Clunderwen. When I say small, I mean that the population is only around 500 people! There’s just a pub, a post office, a shop and a train station. We are the lucky few who actually have public transport; there’s a train every 2 hours and a few buses a day in the summer!
Tell us about yourself?
Before moving away for work, I lived in Pembrokeshire for 22 years. I’m a graphic designer and I get the luxury of working from anywhere when I have freelance projects to work on. I have a cute pup called Riley and she loves to visit my parents, who still live there, and explore the countryside and beaches of rural Pembrokeshire. Visit my brand new blog, Our Life of Riley, and read about her travels, adventures and mishaps.
What is your favourite thing about Pembrokeshire?
My personal favourite thing about Pembrokeshire is the lack of light pollution you get in the rural parts. It means you can see ALL the stars, more than you ever knew existed if you live in a city. I also love the scenery and the quiet; it’s the best place to go for relaxation!
What is your favourite thing to do in Pembrokeshire with a day off?
My favourite thing to do on a weekend in Pembrokeshire is either walk along the coastal path, which hugs the coastline for 186 miles and passes 58 beaches, or find a new beach to explore. Pembrokeshire beaches are some of the best in the world, and because there are so many of them, they’re not usually crowded. One of my favourite beaches is Broad Haven. There’s a lovely walk from Bosherston to Broad Haven, which is an easy walk around Bosherston’s beautiful lily ponds. Check out this link for a map
What in your opinion is the one thing you can’t miss when you travel to Pembrokeshire?
Apart from visiting the beaches of Pembrokeshire, one thing not to miss is the Preseli Mountains. I went to school up in the mountains and we always did a sponsored walk every year. There are many different places to start and finish from, and the views up there are stunning. If walking is not your thing, then Carew Castle or Pembroke Castle is great to visit. There’s also a lovely pub next to Carew castle, serving local ales and food.
Any top tips where to go/ what to do on a rainy day?
On a rainy day, the best place to go is probably Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo. They’re a family run business which started with a few farm animals back when I was a child, and have now grown to house lions and the only giraffes in Wales. www.folly-farm.co.uk
Where is your go-to restaurant?
There are a couple of really nice restaurants but mine and my family’s favourites are Kookaba in Saundersfoot, an Austrailian restaurant which serves kangaroo, ostrich and amazing steaks, and The Dragon Palace in Pentlepoir, a very nice Chinese restaurant.
And where do you suggest going for a drink in the evening?
As a local, I love going to the local pub in the village. It may not be the best for cocktails and exotic beers, but it has the basic drinks and, most importantly of all, a great atmosphere!
Is there one thing not many people know about Pembrokeshire?
Well, apart from being born in the same town as Gareth Bale, Barafundle Bay beach was included in a list of the Top 12 beaches in the world. It’s secluded and only a handful of people will walk a mile or so to get there. Trust me though, it’s worth the walk!
Anything else you think we should know before travelling to Pembrokeshire?
The one thing I haven’t mentioned is Narberth. It’s a little market town close to where I’m from with cute little shops, pubs and a music venue. Narberth plays host to probably the most famous food festival in Pembrokeshire, which takes place at the end of September. Narberth was picked by The Daily Telegraph as one of ’Britain’s 20 Friendliest Places to Live‘ and has one of my favourite shops called Fire and Ice (fireandicewales.com), selling niche alcoholic drinks, homemade gelato and home-brewed ciders.
If you’d like to read more from Bri and Andrew about their cute little puppy Riley, visit www.ourlifeofriley.co.uk.
