Find Your Epic - three adventures across the Irish Sea in Wales.

Feeling adventurous this summer?

Then I suggest you hop on the ferry and Find Your Epic in Wales.

I've three suggestions for activities that will push your boundaries to the max.

I started off with a trip To Blenau Ffestineog in beautiful Snowdonia National Park and took a ride on the world's longest Zip Zone.

Titan is made up of three parts, A which is the longest part of the course but most gentle with spectacular views. B is more dramatic and moves at break neck speed. By the time we reached Zip line C we were adrenalin junkies and on reaching the bottom wanted to do it all over again. I was with three of my pals and one of them had bungee and parachute jumped in the past and she thought this was just as good.

Titan costs £50 pp to find out more see. www.zipworld.co.uk

Ride Snowdonia’s rapids – the National White Water Centre, Bala

This one isn’t strictly ‘sea’, but it’s no less exciting. The UK’s National White Water Centre is located on the River Tryweryn, which races across the Snowdonia National Park www.canoewales.com . The grade 3-4*, fast-flowing Upper Tryweryn is the foremost rafting challenge, with waves crashing around near-constant boulders. Water levels are dam-controlled so the rapids provide plenty of action during the summer.

Prices start from £40 including equipment hire for a one hour triphttp://www.canoewales.com/rafting-taster-session but our most popular is a the Full Session http://www.canoewales.com/full-rafting-session which is a two hour trip that you can either book as a group trip or if there aren’t enough in your party for a group trip you can join others in a shared raft.  The minimum age for these two is 12 years old but we have another trip http://www.canoewales.com/tryweryn-raft-safari which is suitable for 10 year olds and over.

About Anglesey Adventures

Anglesey Adventures is an adventure activity company that provides adventure days and breaks on Anglesey and throughout North Wales. If you are looking for an outdoor experience with a difference then our adventure breaks will not disappoint you. adventure coasteering £120 per day

The Isle of Anglesey is an absolute playground for the adventure enthusiast with a huge range of activities to choose from. Our location on Holy Island provides a stunning coastline, towering sea cliffs and numerous award winning beaches. Amongst this we provide world-class outdoor experiences for individuals, family groups, schools and colleges, youth groups, stag and hen parties and corporate teams looking for bespoke development courses.

Some of the activities that we offer from our base include coasteering, rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, mountain walking, sea level traversing, gorge scrambling, canoeing, canyoning, tyrolean traverse, orienteering, raft building, mountain biking, bush craft, initiative games .

We also offer a range of tailor made skill based courses for complete beginners all the way through to seasoned adrenaline junkies, covering half day trips to multiple day courses in rock climbing, mountaineering, sea kayaking and canoeing.

Let us organise that perfect stag or hen weekend, company away day or general family fun activities for you on your holiday in Anglesey. Come join us for one the best adventures in North Wales!!!

Cliff camping with Gaia Adventures is wild camping at its wildest. Campers sleep high above the sea, suspended in mid-air on a vertical cliff face near Beaumaris, Anglesey. The experience starts with guests journeying down the cliff in time to catch the sunset and enjoying a hearty, locally sourced meal. As the evening proceeds it will be time for hot chocolate – or something stronger! In the morning, campers wake to the sunrise, fresh coffee, bacon baps and croissants. Depending upon the location, Gaia Adventures offers the opportunity to either rock climb out, or simply climb the rope using ascenders. From £190. www.gaiaadventures.co.uk

For more information see www.visitwales.co.uk

Howth: My Hometown in Dublin Ireland

I've been travel writing for over two years and I realise that I have been neglecting to write about my own country, especially the place that I am most passionate about in the world - my home town of Howth. It is not far from Ireland's capital city, Dublin.

Howth Harbour photo @Eamonn Blaney

This peninsula is more than a picturesque fishing village. It is home to several varieties of seabirds and a large family of friendly seals that frequent the harbour and sound between Ireland's Eye and piers. Howth has an historic and cultural heritage. It is one of the most important destinations that Leopold Bloom visited during his walk on June 16th 1904 in Joyce's famous novel Ulysses. in the nineteenth century the great artists Orpen and Osbourne were known to come here to paint and seek inspiration. One of Orpen's loveliest portraits in the National Gallery features a woman standing on Howth Head.

Gorgeous Dublin Bay from Howth Head photo @Ann Dunne

A short walk from howth harbour along the serpentine start of the cliff walk is a house where the poet WB Yeats lived for three years. 

It has a spectacular view of the harbour and the neighbouring islands and must have inspired him.

Howth is easily accessed by bus and the DART which is the Dublin Area Rapid Transit and as it is only thirty minutes from Tara Street in the centre of the city it is easy to visit in an afternoon. The basement of the station is a popular pub called 'The Bloody Stream' where turf fires burn all year round and good seafood is served. The history of the bloody stream goes back to the days of viking settlement one thousand years ago and it is said that the river ran red with the blood of locals as it travelled down the hill before coming to the sea. If you are searching for legends and folklore Howth has more than it's fair share. The legendary pirate Queen Grace O'Malley paid a visit to Howth Castle and home to the St Lawrence family and famously took their son hostage when she wasn't given hospitality. Legend has it that the child was returned under the promise that a place would always be laid at the table for any weary visitor that should call. As the descendants have opened a culinary school now in the castle it may well be worth knocking on the door and seeing if the promise still holds. 

April and May are especially nice times to visit the castle environs as the Rhododendrons are in full bloom.

Howth Lighthouse and Ireland's Eye photo @Eamonn Blaney

The length of the West Pier is home to wonderful restaurants including The Oar House, The Brass Monkey and the one with the best view in Dublin, Aqua.

The view from the bar is spectacular for a pre dinner drink and chance to look over the fishing boats and eclectic mix of houses in the village. The view from the dining area is perfect to watch the evening sun disappear below the horizon. The menu is divine and I challenge anyone to try it - especially perfect for a birthday or special occasion.

 The yacht club and marina is one of the best in Ireland and as there is usually a breeze expect the gentle sound of halliards tipping against each other as you stroll down the east pier.

During the summer you can watch boats racing from Monday to Thursday. The yachts race around Ireland's Eye which is also accessible by hourly boat trips that run from spring until the late autumn.
Ireland's Eye is a glorious oasis and it is difficult to believe that it is so close to the city centre. It's a perfect place to bring children for a picnic on a sunny summer day.

My daughter Nicole and her friend at the Martello Tower on Ireland's Eye with picnic

Howth has many ancient buildings and one of the oldest is also one of the most famous bars in Dublin. The Abbey Tavern is also a great place to eat and entertainment is on offer year round. Next to is is one of the first buildings that is as old as the ruins of the old abbey itself. The pub has a great history hosting musical acts like the Dubliners, Imelda May and Mary Coughlan over the years and the link to the site is here http://www.abbeytavern.ie/

There is nowhere nicer on a cold winters night than to sit in from of the turf fire with a hot port or pint of Guinness. The pub also hosts comedy clubs which are always a great night out.
The centre of Howth Village is crowned by The Church of the Assumption which is a Neo-Gothic building. Wander around the country market or go for a coffee upstairs or down the road in the popular restaurant House which often has an excellent art exhibition decorating the walls.

Great takeaway coffees and yummy delicatessen on offer if you are on the hoof!

I can't write a piece about my home town without mentioning The Kind Sitric restaurant at the start of Howth's East Pier as it is where I had my small and intimate wedding reception. It has since been developed with the addition of East Bar and Cafe downstairs which is a welcome addition to the host of other eateries.

The King Sitric and East Cafe

House Restaurant

The seafront has a playground which is ideal for those with kids and do pop across the road to Eileen's Cafe where you can get yummy Pooh Bear Icecream - your kids will love you for it. If you want to be healthy then Grass Roots offers smoothies and healthy drinks but if you just want coffee then pop into Il Panorama! Casually dining is catered for with the best fresh fish and chips from Cafe Ciara or Beshoffs take aways. The Howth Market will put in an hour at weekends and you can purchase hot crepes and fresh olives among lots of other things from the artisan bakery and crafty stalls.

I think I may have to write another post as my hometown has so much to offer I am running out of time so watch this space for another instalment and if you are in Dublin then come and visit us in Howth, we would love to see you!

See HowthisMagic.com for more...

Home on the Range

Like many of a certain age, my father is a massive fan of the Wild West. I can remember as a child having to watch The Magnificent Seven and A Fistful of dollars over and over on TV, and Jim Reeves tunes were constantly played on the cassette in his car. So my father was the perfect candidate to accompany me on my first adventure to Oklahoma – the state that was, and still is the gateway to the West.

We flew with American Airlines into Chicago O’Hare and had a short stop over before our two-hour commuter flight to Oklahoma. Fly-drive is the best option when travelling through the United States and I thought driving on the right-handside of the road would be off-putting for Dad but the level of excitement in the car was on a par with the first time I took my children to Disneyland. The drive from Will Rogers Airport to Island Guest Ranch in Ames took two hours. With open plains, country towns and mini oil drills to see on route 81 the journey flew by. We arrived at our destination before sunset to be greeted warmly by Jordy White and her father Carl. Island Guest Ranch is a working ranch and the White family have been settled here since the Oklahoma Land-run of the late 1800s. Set on several-thousand-acres, the Cimarron River runs through the ranch, where they keep a large herd of long-horn cattle and are guardians to several wild species.

Staying at Island Guest Ranch means that you are instantly made to feel like part of the family. Jordy’s brother, Rylin, shows guests how to ride and herd cattle and all the guests dine with the family for the three hearty meals of good home-cooking that are served throughout the day. Guest accommodation is in en-suite chalets, close to the swimming pool and a few steps from the lodge-house where we ate.

We woke early on our first morning to freshly made pancakes and bacon with blueberries and strawberries. Rylin was keen to get going and had brought down some horses to the corral for our first adventure. This was my first time to be on a horse since I was ten-years-old and my father hadn’t been on one since the days he spent at home on the farm in his youth. We were made feel confident and comfortable and teamed up with suitably natured horses. I was amazed at how relaxed I felt and we started a trek through the farmland and terrain. “That’s the yellow rose of Texas there,” Rylin informed us, as he pointed to a flowering cactus plant. I realised how these farmers live close to nature and in harmony with it too. Bow-legged, but invigorated after our ride, I retired to the pool for the afternoon and sat in the sunshine reading my book. Our evening’s entertainment involved a trolley ride out to the farm to check up on the cattle and supplement their diet with some feed. I never thought I would enjoy such an experience and I can honestly say that my father was truly in his element.

The Whites offer a wide range of activities from the ranch and will take their guests to Pow Wows, Rodeos, Museums and Country and Western dances. Clay-shooting and paddle-boating are available or you can learn how to lasso your own steer. Jordy suggested we pay a visit to Simpsons Old Time museum in Enid which had my father enthralled. They have the best range of memorabilia from vintage films and music probably on the planet, with film sets that include a saloon, bordello and Jail.

One of the highlights from our stay at the ranch was sitting on the swing chairs at night and looking up at the millions of stars overhead – shooting stars give a private performance night after night to the sound of the wild coyotes howling. There really was no better show in town.

We were sad to leave Ames but there is a lot of the west to see in Oklahoma, so we set off for the town of Duncan on Route 81 which follows the original route the cowmen took on the original Chisolm Trail. Our first port of call was at the Chisolm Trail heritage centre and we got a taste of what it was like for the cowboys and young men that drove the cattle from Texas to Abiline in Kansas on a one-hundred day trek that cost many their lives.

At this time in the late 1800s the plains were flooded with cows and there was a shortage of beef in the east coast. Driving the cattle to meet the train in Kansas was the only way to transport them to market where they would get prices of $30 instead of $3 by staying in the mid-west. The cowboys got 100$ payment or their 100 days work and life was difficult and dangerous. The interactive film is well produced in the museum complete with sound effects and smells.

We packed up a picnic and decided to visit the lookout point used by the cowboys on this trail which is marked with a monument some 20 miles from the museum. Here we sat and absorbed the distance with a trail as far as the eye could see across the prairies. 

This part of the country is rural in every sense of the world and we stopped off at small antique shop in the town of Comanche to find old memorabilia and nicnacs from the old west. It was wonderful to feel that you could find local friendly people gushing with their life-stories and welcoming to strangers.

When we made our way to Oklahoma City and our hotel in mid-town we didn’t expect this warmth to continue but it did. The city has been through a renaissance since the mid-nineties but it has maintained its country feel. We woke to a fun-filled day taking in all the action in Stockyard city. It is difficult to imagine that such a place exists only a short ten-minute drive from the centre of hte city but Stockyard city is where farmers and ranchers gather to sell cattle on a daily basis.

Some of the steers will be taken off to be fattened up in the pastures and others are going for breeding. It was like being on a film set watching the auctioneer rant at pace I couldn’t understand but it was wonderful to watch. The stench was overwhelming but the process brought my father right back to the days when he attended the cattle market as a lad. We dined at the Cattleman's Cafe which has been around since 1910 and was filled with locals going to market. Around the corner was a street with the best range of cowboy clothing and boots so we had to get a Stetson before leaving.

As if he hadn’t had enough nostalgia we finished our time in Oklahoma City with a visit to the museum of the Cowboy where my father was able to name off every single character and their history much to our guide's amusement. Oklahoma may be off the beaten track but it was the perfect destination for my Dad and I to make special memories.

Published in the Herald newspaper October 2014

for details of package holidays to Oklahoma see:

www.platinumtravel.ie

www.travelksok.co.uk

www.islandguestranch.com

American Airlines at www.aa.com

Seychelles - A family trip to the Garden of Eden

The mere mention of the Seychelles conjures up images of sundrenched beaches with powder-soft-sand and turquoise blue water. It isn’t surprising that Irish brides Jennifer McGuire and Rosanna Davidson choose to enjoy their post nuptials on this delightful archipelago in the Indian Ocean. However, my husband and I are under no pretence that we are embarking on a second honeymoon, as we set off with our ten-year-old daughter, Nicole and teenage son, Mark to see what the Seychelles has to offer families. The kid’s first question – where is the Seychelles? One-thousand miles from Africa’s east coast and a couple of degrees south of the equator. Our mission as a family is to Island hop around four islands and get to meet some giant tortoises. The excitement mounts as I inform the kids that one of the islands we will be visiting is where the Thunderbirds movie was filmed.

We spend our first three nights on popular Beau Vallon Beach which is a good base to explore the Seychelles largest and most populated Island, Mahe. The five-star Savoy hotel boasts the largest swimming pool in the Seychelles, which ticks the boxes for the kids and the adjoining rooms mean privacy for parents! The kids get to fish and try their hands at kayaking but for the more adventurous diving and paragliding is also on offer.

The capital, Victoria, is only a few kilometres away and our first excursion en famille. Named after the British Queen who ruled over the islands in the nineteenth century it’s a thriving town, with high activity around the replica, silver Big Ben clock in the middle of the main street. “It’s a present from the British,” our guide Chris informs us. He’s kitted out in a Liverpool shirt and bonds instantly with my son who has found a kindred spirit. “You should see this place at carnival man...the whole town goes crazy.” Victoria plays host to a colourful carnival every year that rivals Rio. Twenty five countries took part in the festivities last year and it is ever growing. Next year it runs from 24^th – 26^th April and three days of fun filled action for all the family is guaranteed. Chris describes the beautiful girls from around the world wearing little more than feathers and my son already has plans to return someday. “...and we drive on the left side of the road too like the British.” The plug sockets are standard three pin as in the UK and Ireland so there’s no need for a continental adaptor.

First stop is Victoria Market – a bustling centre for all culinary delights. The kids watch aghast as a shark is portioned up at a fish stall. A variety of exotic fruits and foods are on offer and the trip is proving to be an education, even for the adults. The Seychelles is a matriarchal society, with women making up fifty percent of the government and children are adored and well catered for. The locals speak good English, but my son and I can make out a few words of the local Creole, which is a mixture of French and English.

A colourful Hindu temple catches Nicole’s eye as we leave the market. With her camera in hand, she excitedly captures the ceremony being performed by the holy men inside. Most of the Seychellois were converted to Catholicism after the erection of a mission, established by the British in the mid-nineteenth century. The lodge, on one of the islands highest points, is no longer standing but the remaining site is one of the best viewpoints on the island and Chris insists on taking us there – which doesn’t disappoint. A short drive down the hill brings us to Seychelles tea factory on Morne Blanc. Here the kids get to see the entire tea process from picking to blending and bagging in the factory.

After three days we embark on our first island hop. The journey to Praslin, the Seychelles second largest island, takes one hour on the high speed Cat Cocos catamaran. Home to the UNESCO heritage site of Vallée de Mai, the suggestion by some that Praslin is the location of the Biblical Garden of Eden comes as no surprise. This is the only place on the planet where the legendary Coco-de-Mer tree grows in abundance. The kids are quick to point out that the unusual shaped fruit bears a striking resemblance to certain private parts of the human anatomy. Praslin is paradise. Coconuts hang lushly from spindly palms and tiny orange birds, the red-headed forest fody, jump from perch to perch.  On arrival at our hotel, La Domaine de La Reserve, one of these little birds lands on our porch and sings a welcoming tune. It is this kind of interaction with nature that makes us feel instantly chilled. Nicole squeals with delight as a tiny bright-green-lizard, scurries up the wall of our porch.

La Reserve hotel has four special family rooms which are stylishly kitted out with prime views of the private coral beach. Three small steps outside our veranda and we are walking on the coral sand and picking up colourful shells from the turquoise water – a shoal of silver fish brush by our ankles. This hotel is set among unique conditions that are perfect for snorkelling in safety and privacy. Wifi is on offer around the hotel but with a huge swimming pool open all day and night the kids don’t have time for social networking. Night time is spent watching out for shooting stars outside our veranda. With a half board option of varied cuisine the kids love the food. Entertainment follows dinner each evening and our favourite is the Creole evening where the entire family go native and get involved in coconut shelling and traditional dancing. The hotel offers free bike hire and we set off for some wave jumping on Anse Lazio, on what is considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in the world. The south east monsoons make May to October the windiest months but it is also the least humid time of year and perfect for the kids.

After two nights on this paradise we set off early with Creole travel on an excursion to Curieuse Island. We are met by ranger Paul – a man who loves his job, and who can blame him. He is guardian of the 200 giant tortoises who roam this once leper colony. Since 1969 it has belonged to the animals and he takes us on a trail of the mangroves and hills from one side of the Island to the doctor’s house on the other side. On route we feast on husks of coconut and berry, while hermit crabs and giant millipedes cross our path. “I made a good crab curry with a fellow like this last night,” Paul beams. We can tell that it was delicious by his description. The already digested bodammier fruit however does not appeal. The giant tortoises feast on this small purple fruit when it falls from the trees but the centre nut is left intact and apparently delicious. However, even the kids are satisfied just to take Paul’s word for it and not tempted to taste when he rips it from the tortoise pooh!

The catamaran anchors for a delicious Creole BBQ and some snorkelling before leaving us off on La Digue. At the end of an exhilarating day we have arrived on our fourth island. The rock formations on La Digue are famous. Pale pink and ochre granite forms, they rest along the crystal shoreline and look like Dali himself sculpted them for our personal pleasure.

Breadfruit hangs on every road verge, ripe for the taking – a versatile fruit that can be compared to our own potato. The breadfruit proves a big hit with Nicole. It can be chipped, boiled, fried, eaten as salad or dessert and lies scattered on the ground. Legend has it that if you eat the breadfruit you will return to the Seychelles – needless to say we schoffed bags of the crunchy fruit that are bought for 60cents each and taste like an exotic crisp. We stay in a small but exquisite family run guest house on this island that is only 5 km long and easily walked around in less than a day. The Cabanas des Anges guest house has a small swimming pool but our crew love the fact that it is right outside our veranda.

The fairy terns dive and swoon in pairs around the clear blue skies – as much a symbol of love as nature can provide. We lose ourselves in this primitive paradise where the locals commute on foot or by bicycle. The alternate mode of taxi is ox and cart and possibly the slowest but most fun way to get around the island. 

We explore the famous Anse Source d’Argent beach and wonder how so many beautiful beaches can be on such a small island. Anse Source d’Argent is also the setting for those dreamy adverts for the Bounty Bar that pop up on our TV on cold winter nights. It’s easy to find a spot to ourselves and suddenly we are the Swiss Family Robinson.  While Nicole and her brother play x’s and o’s on the sand with a piece of driftwood, hubby and I kick back on the sand and pretend we are on a second honeymoon.
The Seychelles is an incredible destination and worth paying that bit extra to experience something truly special for the whole family. With idyllic weather that doesn’t drop below 26* or rise above 33* every month is a perfect time of year to visit. We travelled through the night and with a convenient one stop commute to Dublin airport there were no complaints from the kids. On the cold winter nights the memories of our special time on the Seychelles will keep us warm and the Bounty Bar advert will undoubtedly bring a smile to our faces when it pops up on TV. 

Fact box

  

Seychelles Tourist Office for UK and Ireland

Tel: + 44 (0) 207 730 0700

www.seychelles.travel

Fly to the Seychelles with www.emirates.com

Economy Class return fares, inclusive of all taxes and prices start from:
1. Adult - Euro 704
2. Adult and child aged between 2 - 11 Euro 1271 
These prices are currently available for autumn 2014 and April 2015. 

Creole Travel Services Seychelles

Creole Travel Services can facilitate all aspects of a holiday to Seychelles, from hotel reservations to flights and excursions bookings.

It ensures that clients experiences the true essence of Seychelles through its excursions which operate from Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. You can choose from a selected range of excursions, whether it is romance, adventure or family fun. Or you can even tailor your experience to your own desire.