An afternoon walk around the Hafod Estate

Hafod Estate walks way marker | H is for Home

We’ve visited Wales three times in the last 6 months. In fact, we can narrow it down further – we’ve been to Ceredigion three times in the last 6 months. One of the aspects that we particularly love is the countryside. On our last visit, we spent a day walking on the Hafod Estate (pronounced ‘Havod’). The area has a fascinating history and stunning scenery. It’s fully open to the public to wander around and enjoy.

Eglwys Newydd (Hafod Church) at Hafod | H is for Home

We parked up near picturesque Eglwys Newydd (Hafod Church).

Information board for Eglwys Newydd (Hafod Church) | H is for Home

There are a number of trails to choose from of varying distances and difficulties. You can also mix different trails to get the perfect walk for you. We combined the full red trail with half the blue, which took about 3 hours or so.

Information boards in car park at Hafod | H is for Home Information boards in car park at Hafod | H is for Home

You can click on the map below to go to a large, downloadable PDF version – you don’t want to get lost!

Hafod Estate walks route map

The trails are well signposted, but still feel natural and wild. There are woods, pastures, rivers and streams criss-crossed by numerous bridges. Rocky outcrops and waterfalls are dotted throughout the landscape.

Justin standing in pine woods | H is for Home Looking down to Afon Ystwyth | H is for Home Rustic bridge crossing a stream | H is for Home

There are certainly lots of perfect spots to stop for a cup of tea or sandwich.

Adelle crossing a wooden bridge | H is for Home Justin crossing a wooden bridge | H is for Home

…unfortunately, we forgot to bring one!

Justin in a field | H is for Home Adelle beside a stream | H is for Home

The red trail, or Gentleman’s Walk (‘Rhodfa’r Bonheddwr’, in Welsh), culminates at Cavern Cascade.

Adelle in the cave looking across at Cavern Cascade | H is for Home Adelle in the cave at Cavern Cascade | H is for Home

Mere still photos don’t do the falls justice. You can hear the force of the water in our film clip below.

The Gentleman’s Walk rejoined the Lady’s near the quaint Pwll Pendre (Hawthorn Cottage).

Pwll Pendre (Hawthorn Cottage) available as a holiday let | H is for Home

If we’ve got you excited about visiting the Estate, this cottage is available as a holiday let. It’s a beautiful cottage in a spectacular location, overlooking a pretty little pond. Now, that really would be a perfect place for that cup of tea and sandwich!

Pwll Pendre white picket gate | H is for Home

We really enjoyed our day at the Hafod Estate – and can thoroughly recommend it if you’re ever in the area. We’ll certainly be visiting again!

Etsy List: Winter Walks

'Etsy List' blog post banner

'Winter Walks' Etsy List curated by H is for Home

Yesterday saw the end of the Ramblers’ Festival of Winter Walks for another year. And what a glorious winter’s day it was too! Bright sunshine, blue sky and crisp & frosty underfoot. We’ve had a leisurely stroll through Etsy to look at the various representations of this simple pleasure – snow, woodland and dogs feature prominently – our idea of the perfect winter walk!

Winter Walks
Curated by H is for Home

Handmade & vintage Etsy banner

Out & about… Autumn

It’s been a long time since our last Out & about post – we even missed the whole of summer!

Flower-filled fields feel a distant memory…

…the flowers gave way to autumn leaves…

…mushrooms…

…and berries.


For the first couple of weeks of autumn we had the best of both worlds – sunshine as well as amazing seasonal colour.

We were seeing butterflies until quite late in the year…

…but there was no doubting that summer was over, as the winter-visiting geese were beginning to arrive.

Even the autumn sunshine is now a thing of the past – it seems to have been raining non-stop for almost a month. But now we’re into December, this rain will hopefully turn to snow which will mean a magical white Christmas!

Out & about… December

We’ve got some lovely winter scenes to share with you this month.

December saw the first of the winter frost…

…followed closely by the first winter snowfall.

Fudge loves it when it snows!

He’s not the only one – we find going for walks in scenery like this quite magical!

On clear days the low winter sun gives a beautiful light…

…amazing skies…

…and some memorable sunsets…

We took these next photos at the annual Christmas Market in Manchester city centre.

So many tempting things on offer…

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas… best wishes for 2009!