Swansea Revisited: A Day Exploring Swansea Bay and Mumbles

Waking up on day two of our trip we were met with torrential rain. The sort of rain that when you are away you just want to hunker down inside with a good book, some snacks and a hot cup of tea and not venture out. Our plans, therefore, to explore the other waterfalls went on hold.

I already had a plan for day three of our trip because it was my husband’s birthday. When I asked him several months ago what he wanted to do on his birthday and, not being one to celebrate his birthday until he met me, he said “I’d like to eat fish and chips on the seafront somewhere”. So I waved my magic wand and we set off for Swansea.

The A465:
It’s worth mentioning that the majority of our 45 minute drive was down the A465, known as the Heads of the Valleys Road. Once an existing historic trunk road, its entire 28-mile South Wales stretch was fully modernised and reopened as a brand-new dual carriageway in May 2025 following a massive 23-year upgrade project.
Starting in 2002, the project involved an investment of around £2 billion, with more than 40 bridges and 12 new junctions added to improve safety and connectivity between West Wales and the Midlands.
The road passes through the steep and visually dramatic Clydach Gorge, surrounded by national park land, as well as forested hillsides, green valleys and dramatic elevated sections that are particularly beautiful at dawn and again at sunset

Swansea -The City:
As previously explained in my Introduction to Wales, Swansea is the second-largest city in Wales and has a reputation for combining city life with some of the country’s most beautiful coastline.
With a population of around a quarter of a million, it sits on the beautiful sweep of Swansea Bay, with a long history stretching back to the medieval period.

The city’s fortunes really grew during the Industrial Revolution, when coal, copper and other industries transformed Swansea into a major centre of industry and earned it the nickname “Copperopolis.” Much of that industrial heritage has now disappeared, but reminders of the city’s past can still be found alongside a rather more modern and relaxed waterfront.
Today, Swansea is a lively university city with a mix of history, culture, beaches and plenty of places to eat and explore.

Swansea Marina and Maritime Quarter:
We began by parking near The Pump Waterfront Bar which allowed us access onto the marina itself. It’s a really lovely place to walk around.
It’s hard to imagine today, but Swansea Marina and the surrounding Maritime Quarter were once a working industrial dockland. The old South Dock closed in 1969 and the area subsequently fell into decline. During the early 1980s, however, an ambitious regeneration project began, transforming the derelict dock into a marina surrounded by apartments, restaurants and leisure facilities. The marina opened in 1982 and, more than 40 years later, the area has become one of Swansea’s most attractive waterfront neighbourhoods.

National Waterfront Museum:
Whilst we didn’t have time to fit this into our schedule The National Waterfront Museum is a great place to discover how Wales was shaped by industry, innovation and its close relationship with the sea. It is housed in a striking modern building, cleverly combining the old with the new, with the original Grade II-listed warehouse forming part of the building.

Inside, you’ll find everything from steam engines and historic boats to displays exploring Wales’s industrial heritage, including coal mining, iron and steel, copper and transport. The museum helps to explain Swansea’s transformation from a busy industrial port into the modern waterfront it is today.

And best of all, it’s free to enter!

Missy’s Bakehouse:
Just along the waterfront from the museum is this lovely cafe, well known for its cakes and pancakes. We popped in for a coffee, happily taking in the view across the water whilst envying the other patrons with their stacked pancakes. They did look delicious, ranging from strawberry and hazelnut to pistachio and white chocolate. I managed to get a quick photo of the raspberry and white chocolate pancakes!

We’ve definitely added this cafe to our list of places to return to in the future.

Swansea Market:
From the harbour we took a little detour, just a ten minute walk from the waterfront is the market. I think you can gauge a lot about a place from its market. In Swansea it’s the sort of place where you can have a browse, grab something to eat if you are feeling peckish and get a feel for everyday life in the city.
Open Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm, and then 8 until 5pm on Saturdays, this market has been a central part of Swansea life for centuries, although today’s market is housed in a much more modern building following the destruction of the previous market during the Second World War.

Inside, there was a wonderfully eclectic mix of stalls selling everything from fresh Welsh produce, meat and seafood to cheese, gifts and other local specialities such as the famous Welsh cakes. I was tempted and bought some cakes and fresh produce to take back to the car so we could eat them later when we returned to the cottage.
For me, the market offered another side to the city, not quite as polished as the waterfront, but nonetheless interesting.

The Wales Coast Path:
We headed back to the car to drop off our purchases before walking out onto the coast path.
The Wales Coast Path is an 870-mile continuous walking route that follows the entire coastline of Wales, stretching from near Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south.
Here in Swansea it is possible to walk from Swansea Marina all the way around Swansea Bay to the Mumbles, a distance of about 5 miles, with the majority of the route following a broad, flat promenade beside the beach.


Swansea Beach:
With the sound of the sea, the fresh breeze and the wide-open views, this was a welcome opportunity to stop for a while and take in our surroundings. Sometimes, when you’re travelling, it’s these quieter moments that are just as enjoyable as ticking another attraction off the list.
There is something rather lovely about simply sitting on a beach and watching the world go by. It feels a little bit luxurious, allowing life to just stand still for a moment.
Stretching out along the sweeping curve of Swansea Bay, the beach gives you a wonderful view across the water, with the Mumbles headland providing a natural backdrop in the distance.
For me, it was a chance to reminisce. I had worked here during my career way back in 1982 and lived in a flat in The Mumbles. The city had certainly changed since then, but I thought for the better. It felt more alive, more modern and cleaner.

Alas time was ticking by, my stomach was nudging me that lunch was required and there was one last place to visit this afternoon.

Mumbles:
Returning to the car we drove the 15 minutes to a car park right on the seafront in the
Mumbles.
This quaint village has a charm all of its own. It was once a small fishing and pilot village. The pilots were highly skilled sailors who knew the waters around Swansea Bay. They would go out in small boats to meet incoming ships and guide them safely through the bay and into Swansea docks, navigating around sandbanks, rocks and changing tides.

During the Victorian era, the village gradually became a popular seaside resort. Its popularity was helped by the Swansea and Mumbles Railway, which began carrying passengers in 1807 and is widely recognised as the world’s first passenger railway service. It wasn’t a railway in the modern sense. It was originally a horse-drawn railway, with horse-drawn coaches running on rails between Swansea and Mumbles. Steam locomotives didn’t appear on the line until much later.
Today, known affectionately as “Mumbles” (and sometimes referred to as the “Mumbles Mile”), much of the village character remains, with its independent shops, cafés and restaurants clustered around the seafront. It’s a lovely place to simply wander without a particular agenda. The promenade, colourful seafront and old buildings give it a wonderfully relaxed, slightly quirky character.

Prior to settling down on the seafront for lunch I did try to locate my “old flat” but alas 40+ years later my memory didn’t deliver.
We did, however, manage to find Johnnies on Chapel Street, a traditional fish and chip shop established in 1939, which provided me with many a Friday night meal back in the day!
Serving the area for many years it was still as unpretentious as I remembered. We bought two generous portions of freshly cooked fish and chips, each presented in a cardboard box rather than good old fashioned newspaper, times are changing!

Sitting on the seafront, on a comfortable bench, looking out at the waves once again with the elusive smell of fish, chips and vinegar wafting up our noses I’d managed to deliver my husband’s birthday lunch as requested 😊

Final Thoughts:
Our morning in Swansea turned out to be the perfect birthday treat, combining a little sightseeing with some old memories, beautiful coastline and, of course, fish and chips on the seafront! It was lovely to return to a city that had been part of my life more than 40 years ago and discover how much it had changed, whilst still retaining some of the charm that I remembered.

But our day wasn’t over yet! After lunch, we headed off to explore a beautiful park nearby, which I’ll be sharing with you in next week’s post.

Have you visited Swansea or Mumbles? Perhaps you have your own memories of the area, or somewhere else in Wales that you think we should explore. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below. And if you’ve enjoyed this post, don’t forget to give it a like!

Brecon Beacons: Waterfalls, Woodland and a Rural Retreat

We left Hay-on-Wye behind us and set off for our final destination of the day Ystradfellte within the Brecon Beacons National Park which was to be our home from home for the next 5 nights.
I had chosen accommodation that I had visited previously with my friends and although a little awkward to get to I knew that “Conan” my trusty Barbarian truck would be fine.

The 3 bedroom cottage, set in the ‘Waterfalls Country’ of the Brecon Beacons National Park. sits in 27 acres of its own pasture, woodland and river frontage. It is very secluded and with the famous waterfalls on the doorstep, no near neighbours, tranquil surroundings and a cozy wood burner, the cottage offered us a rural retreat and was ideal for travellers like us seeking peaceful seclusion.
(I am happy to pass on the details if anyone requires the information)

Having already eaten a substantial lunch we spent the first evening settling in before waking up the next day ready to explore.

Brecon Beacons:
The Brecon Beacons, officially known as Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, are one of the most spectacular landscapes in Wales. Stretching across the heart of the country, the area is a beautiful mix of rolling green hills, rugged mountains, ancient woodlands, dramatic waterfalls, winding rivers, and open moorland.

Unlike some mountain regions that feel harsh and forbidding, the Brecon Beacons have a softer, almost timeless beauty. Stone walls divide patchwork fields, sheep graze on the hillsides, and quiet country lanes lead to hidden valleys and charming villages. The scenery changes constantly—from sweeping panoramic views across the peaks to shaded woodland paths where waterfalls tumble into crystal-clear pools.

The national park is best known for Pen y Fan, the highest peak in Southern Britain, but it is equally famous for Waterfall Country, where rivers have carved deep gorges through the landscape and created a series of spectacular cascades. On a clear day the views seem to stretch forever, while mist and low cloud can give the mountains a mysterious, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

The Four Waterfalls Walk:
The Four Waterfalls Walk is one of the most popular circular walks in the Brecon Beacons. It takes you through the beautiful Waterfall Country near Ystradfellte, with one of the car parks sited at the end of the track that leads to our temporary home. Walkers share the path, which isn’t very wide, with vehicles driving to our cottage but turn off right a few hundred yards beforehand thus no one walks past the door, so to speak, unless of course they get lost.

The walk covers 5 -6 miles and takes between 2.5 and 4 hours to complete depending upon your fitness levels and how much you get distracted by the beautiful scenery around you.
The walk is well signposted, but it involves a lot of steps and some steep descents, so good walking shoes or boots are strongly recommended.

Sgwd Clun Gwyn:
Sited just 200 yards from our front door was as far as we ventured on our first full day!
It was enough of an excursion to realise that visitors, which can number over 250,000 in any given year, were ill prepared for what lay ahead.
Research on line clearly shows that whilst the walk is well signposted, it involves a lot of steps and some steep descents, so good walking shoes or boots are strongly recommended.
We saw a lot of visitors in flip flops and sandals who were so focused on following the various way markings they were actually walking past this first waterfall 🤷‍♀️

Sgwd Clun-Gwyn is a broad, stepped waterfall that tumbles over a series of rocky ledges rather than plunging in a single dramatic drop. The water spreads across the width of the Afon Mellte river, creating several cascades that seem to merge into one another. It has a quiet beauty and so I was quite happy to sit and simply watch the water make its way over the dark stones.

There were points where other visitors disturbed the silence which is only to be expected although there were times where I personally felt some people were taking a risk in order to obtain their personal Instagram photo. The beautiful appearance of the waterfalls masks the very real danger of the fast-flowing river, slippery rocks and the 30 foot drop across its striking tiered rock ledges.

Evening:
We finished our first full day sitting around the outdoor burner with me trying to cook sausages and onions in a frying pan to make hot dogs for tea. It’s a long time since I’ve cooked on an open fire and I can’t say that memories flooded back 😊. My hair and clothes stank of smoke afterwards and I guess I realised that outdoor camping isn’t for me.

Final Thoughts:
Our first full day in the Brecon Beacons was perhaps more about discovering our surroundings than ticking places off a list. With a beautiful cottage, the sound of the river nearby and Sgwd Clun-Gwyn just a short walk from our front door, we certainly couldn’t complain.

Have you visited the Brecon Beacons or walked the Four Waterfalls Walk? I’d love to hear about your experiences, so please leave a comment below — and if you’ve enjoyed reading about today’s Welsh adventure, don’t forget to give the post a like.

Hay-on-Wye: Exploring the Town of Books

Last week I wrote a quick introduction to Wales as a foreword to some of the adventures we have been having as we explore this fascinating country to the west of England. Our first destination was Hay-on-Wye.

Leaving home mid morning we headed north via Gloucester and Ross-on-Wye and in just under 2 hours we had driven across the invisible border and into the county of Powys and arrived in the small but vibrant, famous market town of Hay-on-Wye.

Known globally as the “Town of Books,” it features over 20 second-hand and specialised bookshops. Both my husband and I spend a fair chunk of our time reading and so this was a place that had sat on my wish list to visit for some time.

Parking on Oxford Street we exited the car park and started our exploration at the castle less than a 5 minute walk away.

Hay Castle & Tearooms:
Walking in through the gateway we are immediately met with a large homemade book stall for visitors to browse. There are no staff, no till, just an honesty box. Visitors are invited to browse the shelves and then place their money in the box. It has been one of Hay-on-Wye’s best-known quirks since the 1960s and is part of the town’s “Town of Books” heritage. Although the Hay Castle Trust is exploring “tap and pay” options to bring this 1960s curio into the 21st century. But what an introduction to this bookish town!

Located in the heart of the town the castle is a beautifully restored medieval fortress dating back to the late 12th century. Once a Norman stronghold and later a Jacobean mansion, it reopened to the public in 2022 as a cultural centre celebrating the town’s literary heritage.

Having purposely arrived at lunchtime and read about the on site tearooms in advance we wander up the magnificent stairway and make our way inside.

As directed we wait to be seated and were offered a selection of tables to choose from and decide to sit by the large windows that overlook the lawn and flood the café with natural light. Having perused the menu, I chose a sun blushed tomato, hummus and avocado toastie whilst my husband opted for the chorizo, mozzarella, oregano and sun blushed tomato version and we shared some fries.
The food arrived well presented and hot. It was so tasty that we both chose a dessert afterwards. There was a unique ambiance to the place as if we were sitting amidst real history, it felt lovely and somehow special to be eating there. I can’t really explain but we both remarked upon it.

Exiting the cafe feeling thoroughly sated and somewhat spoilt we took ourselves off into town to explore. Everywhere you look there are bookshops, some specialise in specific genres whilst others carry general stock. Many of the larger bookshops are open throughout most of the year and, during the summer, some stay open into the evening.

We managed to take a rather circuitous route, allowing us to walk past the majority of them.

Hay-on-Wye Booksellers:

This first shop we came upon specialises in second-hand, out-of-print, and collectible books, with shelves packed across multiple rooms and subjects ranging from literature and history to travel, art, and local Welsh interest. The atmosphere is delightfully old-fashioned—less curated than some of the newer shops, and all the better for it if you enjoy the thrill of discovering an unexpected treasure.

The Clock Tower and Poetry Bookshop:

Built in 1881 for £600, the clock tower stands at the intersection of Broad Street and Lion Street and is a key feature of the “Town of Books. In the foreground is the Poetry Bookshop. Hidden just off Lion Street, The Poetry Bookshop is a Hay-on-Wye institution dedicated exclusively to this genre since 1979. Renowned for its remarkable collection of new, second-hand, and antiquarian poetry books, it offers a peaceful, atmospheric space that perfectly captures the town’s literary soul.

Richard Booth’s Bookshop:


Richard Booth’s Bookshop is the iconic bookshop that helped make Hay-on-Wye famous as the world’s first “Book Town.” 
Founded in 1962 by the visionary bookseller Richard Booth, the landmark shop originally served as a commercial centre for agricultural supplies before being transformed into a bookshop. Remnants of its past are reflected in the storefront which features distinctive decorative tiles depicting livestock.
It occupies a large three-storey building on Lion Street and is famous for being the largest secondhand bookshop in town. Packed with new, second-hand, and rare antiquarian books across almost every imaginable subject it is more than just a bookshop, it is a cultural institution that captures the eccentric, literary spirit of Hay-on-Wye and remains one of the town’s must-visit attractions.

Gay on Wye:

A welcoming independent bookshop on Lion Street dedicated to LGBTQ+ literature, queer history and contemporary writing. Its thoughtfully curated shelves make it an interesting addition to Hay-on-Wye’s already remarkable collection of specialist bookshops.

The Book Passage:

The Book Passage is a narrow, atmospheric alleyway that runs beside Addyman Books on Lion Street which leads to the shop’s famous £1 book room. It is one of the most photographed spots in the town, with books lining the walls and creating the feeling of walking through a literary tunnel.
As the last stop on our walking tour of the town, it perfectly captures the quirky, treasure-hunting spirit of Hay-on-Wye, where every corner seems to hide another shelf of literary discoveries. 

And after wandering around all those bookshops, did we come away with armfuls of books? Surprisingly, no! Perhaps the real joy was simply discovering how much there was to browse

Worth Noting:
Although we came to Hay-on-Wye for the books but the town is equally rewarding for riverside
walks, exploring the historic castle, independent galleries, markets, and outdoor adventures on the River Wye.

Final Thoughts:
Hay-on-Wye turned out to be far more than just a collection of bookshops. Yes, the literary heritage is everywhere you look, but what really stayed with me was the atmosphere—the honesty book stall at the castle, the beautiful tearooms, the independent businesses, and the sense that the whole town celebrates curiosity and creativity. It’s the sort of place that encourages you to slow down, wander without a plan, and enjoy the simple pleasure of discovering something unexpected.

If you’ve ever visited Hay-on-Wye, I’d love to know which bookshop was your favourite or what hidden gem we should look out for next time. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and leave a comment below—it really helps support the blog and I always enjoy reading about your own adventures.

Discovering Wales: A Small Country With A Big Story

I’m conscious before I begin writing about some recent adventures in Wales that my blog attracts people from all around the world, for which I am extremely grateful, so I do think an introduction is necessary.

The Gower Peninsula, Mount Snowdon and the Llynnau Mymbyr lakes located in the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales.

The UK is divided into four different countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In terms of land area England is the largest at just over 50,000 sq miles, fairly similar to New York State for those living across the pond. With about 58 million people living in England this represents 84% of the overall population of the UK, equivalent to the total populations of Texas, Nevada and Florida. If these three states had England’s population density, they would contain over 500 million people!

In comparison Wales is only 8100 sq miles, just a little smaller than the state of New Jersey with a population of only 3.2 million, equivalent to the state of Iowa.

A Brief History of Wales

Wales may be one of the smaller countries in the UK, but it has a history that punches well above its weight. Long before England existed, Wales was home to Celtic tribes, hillforts and early kingdoms and the Welsh language that is still spoken today has roots stretching back over 1,500 years.

The Romans arrived in the first century AD and left their mark with roads, forts and settlements, but when they departed, a number of Welsh kingdoms emerged.
Wales remained independent for much of the early medieval period, although there were constant battles between Welsh rulers and the growing power of the English kings across the border.

Wales was eventually conquered in 1282, by King Edward I who built the impressive castles that still dominate places such as Caernarfon, Caerphilly, Conwy and Harlech today.

Main picture -Caerphilly Castle and Above from left to right: Harlech Castle, Caernarfon Castle and Conwy Castle

Wales was formally incorporated into the Kingdom of England in the 16th century under the Laws in Wales Acts, but it never lost its distinct identity. The Industrial Revolution transformed the country into a powerhouse of coal mining and steel production, and Welsh culture, music and language remained remarkably resilient.

Today, Wales is a modern nation with its own parliament, the Senedd Cymru, a strong sense of national pride and a landscape that ranges from dramatic mountains to beautiful coastlines. It is also a country where its heritage remains very much alive, with the Welsh language continuing to be spoken by communities across the country and playing an important role in everyday life and culture. Wales has a fascinating past, but one that still feels very much alive in the present.

Wonderful Landscapes:
One of the things that surprised me most about Wales is just how much the landscape changes as you travel around.
In the south and west, you’ll find some truly beautiful coastline, with long sandy beaches, hidden coves and dramatic cliffs that seem to go on forever. The Pembrokeshire coast, in particular, feels like the sort of place where you could happily lose an entire afternoon just wandering.

Rhossili Bay

Head north and the scenery becomes completely different. The mountains begin to dominate, with the rugged peaks of Eryri (Snowdonia) creating some of the most spectacular landscapes in the UK.

Snowdon in all its splendour and the Mountain Railway reaching the top

Between the coast and the mountains are rolling green hills, waterfalls, forests and countless little valleys, so Wales never really feels the same from one region to the next. It’s a relatively small country, but it packs an incredible amount of scenery into a surprisingly compact space

The valleys of Wales are also renowned for their coal mining heritage, close-knit communities and the important role they played during the Industrial Revolution. Even today, many of the valleys retain a strong sense of identity, with rugby, music and local traditions woven deeply into everyday life.

Visting Wales:

For many people travelling from England into South Wales, the Severn Bridge feels like the moment the trip really begins. Opened in 1966, the original bridge was built to provide a direct road link across the Severn Estuary, replacing the old ferry crossings that had connected the two countries for centuries.
It was considered quite an engineering achievement at the time and quickly became one of the most recognisable bridges in Britain. Today, most traffic uses the newer Second Severn Crossing (officially the Prince of Wales Bridge), but the original Severn Bridge is still very much part of the Welsh journey and remains an iconic gateway between the two countries.
Living where I do in the West Cotswolds region of Gloucestershire it is only a short drive down the M5 to connect with the M4 West and across the new bridge into Wales.

The New Severn Bridge

Main Cities:
Cardiff –
This is the capital and largest city of Wales with a population of around 370,000. It perfectly captures the country’s blend of history and modern life.
From the impressive Cardiff Castle in the heart of the city to the redeveloped waterfront at Cardiff Bay, it’s a place where centuries of Welsh heritage sit comfortably alongside contemporary cafés, shops and cultural attractions. It’s often considered the natural gateway to Wales and a great starting point for exploring everything the country has to offer.

Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay and the Principality Stadium

Swansea –
is the second-largest city in Wales and has a reputation for combining city life with some of the country’s most beautiful coastline.
With a population of a quarter of a million it sits on the edge of Swansea Bay and is often associated with the stunning Gower Peninsula, famous for its beaches, cliffs and coastal walks. The city also has a strong maritime and industrial heritage, so it offers a different flavour of Wales from the capital.

Aberystwyth –
is often described as the cultural heart of mid-Wales and has a charm that seems to be quite different from the larger cities further south.
Sitting on the west coast overlooking Cardigan Bay, it’s known for its Victorian seafront, historic castle ruins and relaxed atmosphere.
The town is also home to Aberystwyth University, one of the oldest universities in Wales, which gives it a lively and youthful feel despite its relatively small size.
Aberystwyth has a population of around 15,000 people, although the town becomes noticeably busier during term time thanks to the thousands of students.

Further north, towns such as Llandudno provide a very different flavour of Wales, with its Victorian seaside charm, sweeping views across the coast and the dramatic presence of the Great Orme rising above the town.
Meanwhile, historic places such as Bangor offer another perspective on Welsh life, with its university bringing a youthful energy to the city and its location providing a gateway to the spectacular landscapes of Snowdonia (Eryri) and the island of Anglesey.

The Menai Strait leading to Bangor

Lifestyle:

One of the things that makes Wales so special is the way the landscape naturally shapes the lifestyle of the people who live there. With its dramatic mountains, beautiful coastline and endless countryside, it is a country that seems made for enjoying the outdoors.
Walking is a huge part of Welsh life, whether it is a gentle stroll along a coastal path, exploring the valleys, or taking on the challenge of one of the many mountain routes in Snowdonia (Eryri).

The coastline also plays a big part in everyday life, with surfing, sailing, kayaking and beach walks all popular ways to enjoy the sea. For those who prefer a slower pace, Wales offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy its villages, independent cafés, local markets and traditional pubs, where conversation and community remain an important part of life.

Sport is another key part of Welsh culture. Rugby is often seen as the national passion, bringing communities together on match days, while football has grown in popularity in recent years. Cycling, mountain biking, fishing and golf are also popular pursuits, taking advantage of the country’s varied landscapes.

Perhaps more than anything, Wales offers a lifestyle that feels connected to nature, community and tradition. Whether it is a weekend exploring the countryside, a day beside the coast or simply enjoying the slower pace of village life, there is a strong sense that Wales encourages people to make the most of the surroundings on their doorstep.

Visiting from Overseas:

For visitors coming from overseas, Wales offers something that is increasingly rare: the chance to experience dramatic landscapes, ancient history and living traditions within a country that remains wonderfully accessible.

No visit to Wales would be complete without experiencing Eryri (Snowdonia) in the north. Home to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest mountain in Wales and England, the area offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK, with lakes, valleys and mountain villages creating a landscape that feels truly special.

Wales is also famous for its castles, and Conwy Castle and Caernarfon Castle are two of the finest examples. These impressive medieval fortresses provide a fascinating glimpse into Wales’s turbulent history and are reminders of the country’s strong identity and heritage.

The coastline is another highlight, with places such as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park offering breathtaking cliffs, sandy beaches and some of the best coastal walking in Britain. The Gower Peninsula, near Swansea, was the first area in the UK to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and remains a favourite for its beaches, scenery and relaxed atmosphere.

For a taste of Welsh culture and city life, Cardiff, the capital, is well worth exploring, with its castle, waterfront, museums and lively food scene. Meanwhile, smaller places such as Llandudno, Aberystwyth and Portmeirion offer a different perspective on Wales, combining seaside charm, history and beautiful surroundings.

Beyond the major attractions, many visitors find that some of Wales’s greatest pleasures come from simply exploring the countryside, discovering small villages, enjoying local food and experiencing the warmth of Welsh hospitality. It is a country where the journey between places can be just as memorable as the destinations themselves.

Sunset across the Welsh Mountains

Final Thoughts
Before writing about my recent adventures in Wales, I felt it was important to set the scene and give some background to this fascinating country. Although Wales is relatively small in size, it has a remarkable ability to leave a lasting impression, with its dramatic mountains, beautiful coastlines, ancient castles and proud cultural identity.

I hope this introduction has given a little insight into the country before I share more about our own experiences exploring it. I’d love to hear from you — have you visited Wales, or is it somewhere you would like to discover? What places or experiences would you recommend?

If you have enjoyed this post, please feel free to leave a comment, share your own thoughts, and don’t forget to give it a like. Your feedback and stories are always appreciated and help make this blog a place for shared experiences and conversations.


Retirement Stress: What Living in Antigua Taught Us About Simplifying Life

It’s a few weeks now since we returned from Antigua.

That has given me time not only to settle back into normal life but also to reflect upon our month of experimenting with a different way of living.
The predominant lesson I learnt was that, in the Western world, we live incredibly stressful lives — and a lot of that stress is actually self-induced.

As I said in my last post about Antigua, a slower and happier life isn’t entirely dependent on where you live. It’s about choosing what matters, letting go of what doesn’t and making time for the people, places and moments that bring genuine contentment.

Since our return, life has been busy. Some of that busyness has been pleasurable, involving time well spent with friends and family. But other parts have highlighted just how quickly we return to our old ways.

Life in Antigua in one simple photo!

Driving:

Driving in Antigua wasn’t easy. The roads were full of potholes, with what sometimes seemed like very little tarmac in between them! Despite that, driving was mainly pleasurable.

Back here in England, it is stressful.

Our first journey was 178 miles north from Gloucestershire to Lancashire to celebrate my friend’s 40th birthday.
We set off at midday on a Friday. We had accounted for traffic and, when we entered our destination into the sat nav, it estimated that the journey would take just under three hours.

At roughly 60 miles an hour on predominantly motorway roads — the M5 and M6, with a UK speed limit of 70 mph — that seemed reasonable.

The journey actually took six hours.
There were no accidents. No major incidents. Just the sheer weight of traffic. That meant we averaged around 32 mph.

It’s just crazy.

Returning home on the Sunday, we left at 11.30 am. The journey took just over four hours. Again, there were no accidents, and we averaged approximately 44 mph.

Our second journey was to London for a family reunion and barbecue.
We left on Saturday morning at 9 am, with Google Maps telling us we should arrive at our hotel, 140 miles away, by 11.30 am.

The M25 congestion

Within 30 minutes, we were being directed away from our route because of a road closure which Google hadn’t picked up on. A road closure on a busy A road on what was predicted to be the busiest weekend of the year — the children had broken up from school the day before.

Why?
Why would you plan roadworks at that time? I could already feel the stress building.

And then, the next minute, we broke down. The car lost all power and we had to call the AA for roadside assistance.

The car was towed to our local garage. My husband went with it, while I was dropped off en route so that I could get home and pick up our second car. I then made my way to the garage, picked up my husband and we set off again.

By this point, it was 12.30 pm.

The barbecue was scheduled to start at 1 pm, so I had already telephoned ahead to let everyone know we would be late. Reprogramming the sat nav, our estimated arrival time at the hotel was now 3 pm.

Allowing ourselves 20 minutes to change and then another 30-minute journey to the barbecue — just 7.5 miles through London, which meant travelling at an average speed of around 15 mph — we expected to arrive shortly before 4 pm.

An accident on the infamous M25, which circles London, meant that the sat nav sent us on another detour. We eventually arrived at the hotel at 3.25 pm and finally reached the barbecue at 4.15 pm.

We managed to get home on Sunday in just over three hours, averaging roughly 45 mph.
We were delayed once again on the M25. This time, there had been an accident on the opposite carriageway and, as people slowed down to rubberneck, our carriageway also ground to a halt for a couple of miles.

I am so done with driving in this country!

Can you make driving less stressful?

We discussed this on our way home because the whole experience was just so exhausting.
Driving constantly surrounded by traffic, having to remain alert for potential problems and never knowing what delay might be waiting around the next corner is stressful.

We reflected upon Antigua and its simplicity. Then it dawned on us.
We were still planning journeys around motorways and deadlines that we had set for ourselves.
What are we doing? We are retired. We can leave when we want. We can arrive when we want. We can take whichever route we want.

Back in 2023, we spent three months road-tripping around America, visiting 18 states while avoiding interstates and freeways wherever possible. So why are we using the motorways here in the UK?

We could arrive early and explore the area. We could stop for a nice lunch. We could take a picnic and find somewhere pleasant to stop along the way.
We don’t have to get there as quickly as possible.

Our type of healthy picnic

We are doing exactly what we realised in Antigua: bringing unnecessary stress into our lives.

The Mundane:

In Antigua, we woke up every morning to that beautiful view, with the sun shining and, most of the time, nowhere we had to be. The day was ours to do with as we wished.

The view that greeted us every morning in Antigua

We weren’t there on holiday. We were living a normal life there for a month. So why is it that, when you return home, life suddenly seems to take over?

In Antigua, I washed the dishes in a sink and did our laundry in a bucket. Here, I have a dishwasher, a washing machine, a tumble dryer and a clothes line in the garden.
Life should be easier.

But in Antigua, we cleaned our duplex apartment between us in about an hour. Suddenly, here at home, we are faced with a three-bedroom house, one-and-a-half bathrooms, two reception rooms, a kitchen and a utility room to clean.
It feels like it takes forever. And, to be honest, it’s boring, mundane and I hate it!

The simple solution is to get a cleaner. We probably only need someone once a fortnight for a couple of hours. Several people I know have cleaners, so why are we putting ourselves through this during our retirement?

Hobbies:

We both have hobbies.

My husband’s are mainly confined to the weekend, when he goes out early in the morning for a couple of hours scouring local boot fairs for bargains.
There is also the occasional day during the week when he meets up with his photography friends. Once the summer holiday period is over, this will also extend to Thursday evenings.

His weekdays are largely his own. He loves to bake bread and cakes and if he has chores or DIY to do, he tends to do them in the mornings, freeing up his afternoons to do what he wants.

Pictures of my husband’s baking -those are rhubarb and custard muffins 😋

My hobbies and commitments are much more routine.

Monday morning: Aqua Aerobics

Wednesday morning: Slimming World, normally followed by a council meeting

Thursday morning: Aqua Aerobics

Friday morning: Pilates, followed by Aqua Aerobics early in the evening

In addition to this, I try to fit in future travel research and planning, home administration, gardening — both flowers and vegetables during the summer months — keeping up with social media, clearing emails, and both reading and writing for my blog.

I’m growing yellow cucumbers this year, pictured alongside my home made jam, my favourite coffee table books and my son’s present of a printed version of Year 1 of my blog

My position as a Parish Councillor also includes Wednesday evening meetings and other ad hoc meetings with members of the community during the week.

None of this is necessarily relaxing.

Before long, I start to feel as though I have no time to do what I want, when I want, again.
And then the guilt begins.
If I dare to take time for myself to read a book or magazine, or watch television, I feel guilty because I am not tackling one of the many other things on my list.

Why do I feel guilty about relaxing?

Reflecting Upon Antigua:

People in Antigua seemed to have lower expectations, both in terms of the lives they lived and what they expected from life. They appeared to be happier with what they had.

Our home in Antigua

There also seemed to be far less intrusion and obligation.
Comparing our life there with our life here has already highlighted my overcommitment and the imbalance in my daily routine.
My mornings are basically swallowed up with keeping fit and healthy.
My afternoons are then taken up with all the other tasks I have listed above.

But being retired should mean doing what I want, when I want. That’s what I worked all my life for!

I don’t want to spend my retirement rushing from one commitment to another, worrying about whether I am keeping up with everything I think I should be doing. I don’t want to recreate the busy, stressful life I had when I was working.

Perhaps retirement isn’t just about having more free time.
Perhaps it is about learning how to use that time differently.
I currently don’t have a magic solution. Other than running away back to Antigua, of course.

But I do know that something needs to change.

We returned from Antigua with the realisation that a simpler life isn’t necessarily about living somewhere beautiful, driving on quieter roads or waking up to a stunning view.
It’s also about the choices we make.

Perhaps we need to stop asking ourselves, “How much can we fit into our lives?”
And start asking: “How much do we actually want in them?”

I think that’s something I need to work out.

Final Thoughts:

Our month in Antigua has made us look at our life back home in a slightly different way.
We have realised that we often create unnecessary stress for ourselves by trying to do too much, rushing when we don’t need to rush and feeling guilty when we take time to simply relax.

Perhaps the answer isn’t to move permanently to Antigua — although I’m not ruling it out!
Perhaps it’s about taking some of the lessons we learnt there and applying them to our life here.

Taking the slower route. Saying no occasionally. Getting help with the jobs we dislike. Leaving more time to simply do nothing. We are retired. We have worked hard for the freedom to choose how we spend our time.
So perhaps it’s time we started making better use of that freedom.

Have you ever returned from a holiday, trip or extended stay somewhere else and realised that your own life had become more complicated or stressful than it needed to be?
Or have you made any changes to your lifestyle after realising that you were trying to fit too much into your life?

I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.




A Month in Antigua: Could We Really Call It Home?

It is the Saturday at the end of our third week and I have woken up feeling sad. Our time here in Antigua is slipping away. We have only a week left and I’m not looking forward to going home to England.
Living here for a month has just been a “taster”, it’s really not long enough to make a proper assessment and maybe that analysis cannot be fully completed until we return to the UK and see how we feel then.

Can you actually replicate your life in the UK somewhere else?
There is no doubt that we have succeeded in actually living our life here which answers one of the questions which I wrote in my initial post. We haven’t treated it like a holiday or even a travelling adventure. We have woken up every morning and lived a fairly normal life.

Can I live like a local and not like a tourist or traveller?
We have found our bodies adapting to the regular sunrise and sunset. Due to it’s location Antigua does not experience the same seasonal changes we do in the UK when in the Winter, for example, sunset can be as early as 4.00 p.m. and in the Summer as late as 9.30-10 p.m. Here there is only about a 1 hour difference between the two seasons.

As a consequence we have found ourselves going to sleep by 10.30 pm each night and waking up around 5.30-6.30 a.m. The consistency is nice but I miss the light nights back home.

We have managed to cook every day except on the days that we have gone for a day out at the beach.
Groceries are more expensive, I wrote about this back in February , but proteins such as chicken, pork, beef, fish, shellfish and eggs aren’t vastly different in price to the UK.
Interestingly the chicken we roasted in the oven here reminded me of my childhood when it came straight from my Dad’s farm. It tasted so different.
I’m not sure whether it was because it was locally sourced or the way it was raised but it reminded me that the food we buy in the supermarkets back home isn’t always naturally grown.

Fruit also tastes different, everything is larger and sweeter, maybe because it’s had more sunshine! Who knew there are four varieties of mango or that you could get tiny finger bananas. We ate these as snacks, they are firmer and sweeter than a normal banana. We won’t forget the black pineapples here in Antigua either!
I will definitely miss the more natural flavours when I get home.

Washing the dishes here is in the sink, there is no dishwasher but I could, honestly, adapt to this change.

Washing clothes has been more difficult in that we don’t have a washing machine.
I’ve set up my own mini process where I soak about a dozen items in a large bucket of hot water with some washing up liquid and then wash everything by hand using a bar of Jamaican Blue Laundry Cake Soap. My ex mother-in-law introduced me to this product and I’ve used it many times on our travels.

The clothes are then wrung out and dunked and rinsed in another bucket of cold water before being put on a clothes dryer on the upstairs balcony. It’s a bit of a tedious procedure but everything has come out clean and fresh.

The Weather:
It is the shoulder season so we arrived as the seasons were beginning to change, and we’ve already had a couple of those dramatic Caribbean downpours. The sort of rain where the sky opens and suddenly you can barely see the beach except for the palm trees swaying with the winds.
Surprisingly, I didn’t mind this, being tucked inside our little duplex, cooking, reading and just carrying on with normal life made me realise that rain feels very different when you aren’t rushing through it.
We have missed one of the hottest periods in the UK on historical record but I’m not sure that I care.

The day the house started shaking
I have to admit that researching earthquakes in advance of our stay wasn’t on my agenda.

However on Saturday, at approximately 10:50 a.m. local time, as I was chatting on FaceTime to my daughter back in the UK the room started to shake. I immediately ended my call and shouted to my husband who was upstairs in the shower.
I had no idea what was happening. It didn’t last long but it was like an express train had torn past the duplex wall at 200 mph shaking everything in its wake.

Research on the internet showed that roughly 60 miles northeast of St John’s, the capital of Antigua, at a depth of about 20 miles an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale had occurred.

Whilst we were perfectly fine and no structural damage occurred, the strong shaking caused inventory to fall from supermarket shelves across the island.
Unbeknownst to us Antigua experiences regular seismic activity. The twin-island nation is located in one of the most seismically active zones in the Atlantic region, situated near the boundary of the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates.

Hurricanes:
The island is, also, in the hurricane belt but the last major hurricane to hit Antigua was Hurricane Luis in 1995. Both Irma and Maria in 2017 brought tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain but avoided a direct major landfall.

I posed the question before arriving here “maybe if I live somewhere that’s warm all year around, life will feel better?
The short answer to this is YES it does feel better. Despite earthquakes and hurricanes I seriously don’t think if we lived here full time that I would miss the wind, rain and occasional snow we experience in the UK.
There is a sort of comfort that knowing it is going to be mainly sunny brings.


Hobbies:
When we were exploring the idea of moving from the West of England to West Wales back in 2019/2020 one of the key reasons we remained where we were was our hobbies.
I like to visit the local leisure centre to do pilates and aqua aerobics classes. I’m a member of a local Slimming World Group, also a member of my local Parish Council and have friends who live in the area who I see regularly. It would be very hard to leave all this behind although Antigua would deliver a slower pace of life and I have more than filled my time here and have never been bored.

The animals who seem to own the island
Antigua has a menagerie of animals and I do think it’s worth mentioning this.
During our stay in February and again this month we have seen herds of goats wandering at will in the more country areas of the island. We even spotted this mother donkey with her baby fairly close to the road we were driving on.

The mongoose is very prevalent here. There wasn’t a day that went by when one or more of these invasive species didn’t wander across our patio.
Mongooses were deliberately introduced to Antigua in the late 19th century by European colonists in a failed biocontrol attempt to eradicate invasive ship rats that were destroying the lucrative sugarcane crops. The introduction went terribly wrong, creating an ecological imbalance that allowed the mongoose to thrive uncontrollably.
Once introduced, the mongoose faced zero natural predators on the island, allowing them to breed rapidly and dominate the landscape. 

Chickens are far less noticeable here than on other Caribbean islands we have visited. This is also unfortunately due to the levels of mongoose who happily eat the chicken’s eggs, hatchlings and even adult birds.
Whilst we did see some hen coops in the countryside we didn’t see any in the main towns or in St Johns. This is mainly down to the fact that chickens are a food source and, therefore, catching a chicken that doesn’t belong to you and eating it isn’t unusual.

Whilst we saw very few cats on the island, dogs are very prevalent. They pretty much wander freely, primarily due to a severe pet overpopulation crisis driven by a historical lack of widespread spay and neuter programs.
Additionally, many dogs belong to owners who allow them to roam during the day, or are “community dogs” cared for by neighbourhoods and local congregations rather than kept indoors. Whilst we did not experience any issues with the street dogs not all of them look particularly healthy or well fed so this is definitely a consideration if you are visiting the island or thinking about making the island your permanent home.

Culture:
Antigua is a culturally conservative society.
All 365 beaches in Antigua are public, but they are not clothing-optional. Wearing standard swimwear is the legal and cultural norm across the island. It is expected that all individuals, including children should wear appropriate swimwear when visiting the island’s shores.

It is also important to note that wearing beachwear in public streets, shops, or restaurants is illegal; cover-ups should always be worn when away from the sand.
You must also refrain from overly overt displays of public affection.

Finally it is also strictly illegal for any person to wear camouflage print clothing or accessories in Antigua. This law is strictly enforced, so you have to ensure that no clothing or swimwear includes these patterns

Is there an alternative to living in the UK? I worked hard for my retirement and now I just want a Simple Life
The quick and easy answer to this is YES!
Antigua offers a very simple way of life. The locals may not have the material possessions so sought after in the UK but they seem happy with their lot.
You don’t see children, for example, walking down the road with their nose stuck in a mobile phone. You see children playing football and cricket, playing on the sand or in the sea or just creating their own fun.

Antiguan people appear not to be interested in worldwide politics and, therefore, no one talks about it but people are still sociable. I can, also, hide from the news here because to be frank I’m not really bothered about what is going on beyond these shores and the Caribbean Sea!
The adults don’t seem to look at their phones either and, therefore the news isn’t so omnipresent. Materialism isn’t front and centre and life is not so commercially driven. 
Very little affects their lives. It’s a simple life because aspiration isn’t so high.

I think the main question we are left with is could we come back for the full 90 days currently allowed as a visitor? Or could we spread our lives flitting between two different countries?
Also within this is the additional question “Is the positive where we are staying and if we had to live inland would we be so happy?

The quick and easy answer to this is staying for 3 months would be a gift.
Staying inland, however, would not be for us. Ideally we would love to return to the same apartment complex but alternatively we have sought out other rental properties whilst on the island that are also near the sea or directly on a beach.

This was our home in Antigua with beautiful flowers outside the front door shown in two of my previous photos on this post

Final Thoughts
A month isn’t long enough to decide whether Antigua could ever become home, but it has been long enough to change the way I think about home. We’ve discovered that it’s possible to swap routines without losing ourselves, to live more simply without feeling as though we’re missing out, and to appreciate experiences far more than possessions.

Perhaps the biggest lesson isn’t whether we’ll return to Antigua for three months—or even one day live somewhere warmer—but that a slower, happier life isn’t entirely dependent on where you are. It’s about choosing what matters, letting go of what doesn’t, and making time for the people, places and moments that bring genuine contentment.

Whether this month turns out to be the beginning of a new chapter or simply a wonderful chapter on its own, it’s one I’ll look back on with enormous gratitude

If you’ve enjoyed following our Antigua adventure, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever considered taking an extended stay somewhere new, or has a place you’ve visited changed your perspective on home?
Leave a comment below and join the conversation. And if you’d like to follow along with our future travels and adventures, don’t forget to like this post and subscribe so you never miss the next chapter.

Can Andy Burnham End Britain’s Revolving Door of Prime Ministers? His Policies, Challenges and What Comes Next

As England exit the World Cup, and the final is contested between Spain and Argentina on Sunday I wonder how any people watching it around the world realise that the very next day here in the UK we could well be welcoming yet another Prime Minister!
That is five Prime Ministers since the last World Cup just 4 years ago!

Boris Johnson (July 2019 – September 2022)
Liz Truss (September 2022 – October 2022)
Rishi Sunak (October 2022 – July 2024)
Keir Starmer (July 2024 -July 2026)
Andy Burnham (July 2026 – ? )

I find it incredible that politics in the Western World are in such turmoil.
Whether the people of the USA like it or not the world watches Trump’s every move while wondering how on earth anyone voted for someone many critics describe as authoritarian within a democratic country?
An increasingly negative review of him grows worldwide which unfortunately also then reflects on the USA as a whole! This is just one study that summarises this.
This in turn is having a massive effect on incoming tourism to the USA. People who would normally happily spend money visiting Las Vegas and Florida’s Disney Extravaganza for example are choosing to go elsewhere. There are many reports out there that attach research to this phenomenon, this is just one of them.
No doubt the tourism results for 2026 will be given a positive spin because they will include all the football fans who came to watch the World Cup, without which the downturn would be 6.5% year on year. This 6.5% downturn in U.S. international tourism is projected to inflict a $21 billion deficit on the U.S. economy in 2026, heavily straining local businesses, the job market, and international trade balances. Because overseas travellers spend an average of $4,000 per trip—eight times more than domestic tourists—their absence triggers a massive compounding slowdown.


I wonder if the world is looking at us, here in the UK in a similar way, perhaps asking the question “How many more PMs will they have before they actually get it right?”

Let me start by saying I am not politically aligned to any party. I vote in an election for the person I believe is the right person for that particular job and not because they belong to any specific party. This rhetoric, therefore, is written impartially.

So as the world watches on, Who exactly is Andy Burnham?

Andrew Burnham was born in Liverpool in 1970 to a working class family – his father, a British Telecom engineer, and his mother, a GP receptionist. This is not a man who was educated at a private school such as Eton, like so many Prime Ministers and leading politicians before him.
Educated at the local comprehensive school where he became known by “Andy” he did, however, aim high at a very early age achieving acceptance at none other than Cambridge University where he studied English.

His focus on politics began in his early 20’s from which he had a variety of posts before resigning as an MP in 2017 in order to contest the election for the first ever Mayor of Greater Manchester.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester is the directly elected leader of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). The role was created as part of English devolution, which means certain powers were transferred from national government to Greater Manchester so more decisions could be made locally.

 This is where his star began its real ascendancy.

Burnham won the contest with more than 60% of the vote and was re-elected by an even bigger margin in 2021 and again in 2024.

So what made him so successful?
Under his guidance the Greater Manchester Combined Authority founded the Bee Network. The centrepiece of this integrated transport scheme was the renationalisation of bus routes across Greater Manchester, as well as support to cap fares at £2 at a time when nationally they were rising.

Of course, transport wasn’t the only area where Burnham built his reputation, he also focused a lot on building “Brand Manchester”.
Greater Manchester (GM) was the UK’s fastest growing sub-regional economy in the period 2015-2023, growing at double the rate of the UK (GM: 3.1% per year; UK: 1.5%).
GM’s economy grew more quickly than the UK economy in 7 of the 9 years to 2023. This would indicate that he had his finger on the economic pulse so to speak.

He has earned a reputation as a politician who cares deeply about his roots, and has consistently and publicly reinforced it. He famously stood up to the Conservative Government, over what he felt was a weak and confusing support package during the COVID pandemic. This was what delivered him his title as “King of the North”.

However, even though Andy Burnham became one of England’s most high-profile metro mayors, governing Greater Manchester is very different from governing the UK.

As Mayor he was responsible for around three million people and a limited range of devolved powers.

A Prime Minister, by contrast, makes decisions affecting nearly 70 million people across taxation, defence, foreign policy, immigration and public finances.

What can we expect from Monday?
“Andy” will be thrust into making decisions immediately. he is giving the ascent of the King
On Monday he will:

Need to form a government
This means appointing the senior ministers, beginning with the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Treasury Secretary), Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, and Defence Secretary.

Receive national security and intelligence briefings
Be briefed by senior civil servants, the Cabinet Secretary, the heads of the intelligence agencies (MI5, MI6 and GCHQ), and military officials.

He will receive updates on any ongoing national security threats, military operations, international crises, and classified intelligence.

Begin setting the government’s legislative and policy agenda
He will have to formulate his Cabinet of two dozen ministers, whilst also immediately overseeing more than 100 ministers across Government. He will then need to meet with at least the Cabinet to agree immediate priorities.

He will also need to start preparations for when Parliament returns from its summer recess on September 1st.

It seems like a very big step up to me so what can we expect?

Whilst no solid policies are, of course, yet forthcoming, Burnham has made several speeches both during his bi-election to return to being an MP and also since. He has talked about:

Devolution of Power:
Burnham has promised the biggest-ever “rebalancing of power” away from Whitehall in London, with English regions handed more control in areas including housing and transport by a new Parliamentary Unit based in Manchester.
The unit would be tasked with promoting “equivalent living conditions” across Britain, borrowing from an idea in the German constitution.

He also says he wants all parts of the UK to take “greater public control” of the water and energy sectors so this in turn could perhaps come under devolved control?

Housing:
Andy wants to see the biggest council house building programme “since the post-War period” – implying a large rise in rates of construction compared to recent years. His plan is to see higher density residential development in towns in order to protect more green spaces from residential building land.
This is a huge change to the current free-for-all building we see currently which is dominated by six major housebuilders, who control more than half of all private sector construction in England.

This project will be financed by using the whole £39 billion budget, already set for housing development in the next 10 years, being spent purely on social housing.
He has, quite rightly in my opinion, argued against using parts of the fund to subsidise “affordable” home ownership or market-rate housing. Instead, his approach prioritises direct public investment to create the largest generation of council houses, treating homes as a public good rather than a commodity.
I am definitely with him on this. A home is not a nice to have it’s a necessity for everyone!

This is a policy close to my heart given the current housing crisis we are experiencing where the six major house builders are making extortionate profits from building on our wonderful English countryside in order to meet social demand.
Currently each local district council dictates what percentage of homes built have to be social housing.
In District A, for example where this is one third it means:
For every 300 house built only 100 houses are social housing and thanks to the previous Conservative Government only 50% of these are actual council houses, the other 50% are sold as “shared ownership” where the tenant pays part mortgage and part rent. This type of housing is very rarely open to anyone on minimum wage because they don’t earn enough to get a shared ownership mortgage on their own.

So for every 300 houses currently built in District A , in this example, only 50 are council houses
This means for every 1000 people on a council house waiting list you need to build 6000 houses!
It is quite honestly ridiculous and needs to stop!

Social Care:
The UK’s adult social care system is widely considered to be in a state of chronic crisis. Local councils struggle with massive funding gaps, hundreds of thousands of people are stuck on waiting lists for assessments, and the system relies heavily on unpaid carers to function.
Andy Burnham has long supported the idea that social care should become a more universal system.
In a speech in 2023, he suggested this could be funded by replacing inheritance tax with a new “national care levy”. He has suggested everyone would pay this new tax, whilst “obviously the wealthiest would pay the most”.

Personal Taxes
Personally I think this is one of the more politically difficult balancing acts. People want better public services, but almost nobody wants higher taxes.

During his campaign to be re-elected as an MP, Burnham said he wanted to “have a proper look” at potentially raising the £12,570 starting threshold for income tax thus delivering more money into “the working person’s pocket” and lessening the tax implication on OAP pensions.
He has, also, previously argued the UK overtaxes work and undertaxes wealth, prompting speculation he could raise capital gains tax – paid on profits made when selling assets such as shares and property aside from a main home.

He has previously suggested that both council tax and stamp duty, a tax paid by homebuyers, could be replaced with a new tax on the value of land – an idea he has been advocating since as far back as 2010.

Welfare and Unemployment
His view is that we need to see a “fair and lasting” reduction to the UK’s welfare bill, amid rising spending on health and disability benefits in recent years.

Without planning to change the level of benefits payments, or how people qualify to receive them, he argues that the way forward is to reduce the amount of people claiming benefits.
He believes improving employment support and “in-work” mental health support will achieve this alongside ensuring that all 16 to 18-year-olds leave school with guaranteed work placements.

As of early 2026, there were over 1 million young people aged 16-24 in the UK who were not in education, employment, or training (NEET) of which 58% have never held a job!.
Of the 1 million, roughly 400,000 are actively classified as unemployed, while 613,000 are economically inactive (not working and not seeking work). 

I’m not surprised that studies show that up to 60% of 18-to-25-year-olds in the UK feel that politicians do not care about them. Furthermore, polling indicates that over 50% of young adults are dissatisfied with the current state of UK democracy, believing that political parties fail to speak directly to them or address their concerns.

Research by the UK Parliament, itself, indicates that the majority of young adults feel alienated from the political establishment. Many feel their priorities—such as housing affordability, the cost of living, and climate change—are consistently overlooked. 

It feels like the young people in the UK today have lost hope!
Can Andy Burnham restore that hope?

Immigration:

This is very much a “hot topic” here in the UK, frequently used by parties such as Reform UK to mobilise public opinion. Critics argue that this rhetoric can sometimes blur the line between legitimate debate over immigration policy and language that risks inflaming racial tensions and returning us to the “racial riots of the 1980’s”.
Like the Sunak government, Labour has reduced levels of immigration by tightening visa requirements. During his Makerfield campaign, Burnham said net migration “needs to fall further”, although he has not set a specific target.

Foreign Policy:
Andy Burnham has said he would like the UK to rejoin the EU within his lifetime, but he has insisted he does not want to “re-run the [2016] referendum now”.
Instead he has pledged to seek a “closer relationship” with European countries, and “consolidate the progress made” on existing negotiations with the EU.

He will have to hit the ground running in this sphere of politics as he will inherit a series of live negotiations on youth visas, food regulations and plans to relink the UK to the EU’s carbon pricing regime.

I’m not sure what Donald Trump will make of Andy Burnham because they honestly seem as if they come from “two completely different planets in terms of wealth and education” and that’s without delving into their political outlook.
All Burnham has said thus far is that he will be seeking a “good relationship” with the US, however he will also be willing to say “if we can’t agree with them”!

Final Thoughts:
Whatever happens over the coming months, Burnham will quickly discover that leading Greater Manchester and leading the United Kingdom are two very different challenges. Whether he becomes the Prime Minister who finally steadies British politics or simply another name on an increasingly long list remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the world will be watching.

What are your views on World politics? Are we in turmoil as I have said?
Do you read the news and involve yourself in the political situation in your country or do you find it easier to just remain in your own “bubble”?
Do you feel there is hope out there?

 

World Cup 2026: Highlights and Controversies Explored

The last 16 matches of the World Cup 2026 are drawing to a close and the quarter finals will thus be finalised to take place this weekend. This tournament has already brought moments of individual national elation and controversial decisions that have reverberated around the world particularly amongst those who support and follow the game.

Football Supporters:
I was not brought up to watch football or support a specific football team. However, my husband was introduced to the game at the tender age of 4 years old when his Dad took him to watch West Ham play against Leicester City on Boxing Day. His Dad was born in the EastEnd of London and so supporting West Ham “was in the blood”.
Like so many others born into the game my husband can tell you the history of every player of any significance on the pitch in all of these World Cup games.

Football is by far the most popular spectator sport in the UK, both in terms of the number of supporters and attendance.

  • Support: Around half of UK adults say they support a football club, far more than any other sport.
  • Attendance: English professional football attracts more than 40 million spectators each season across the Premier League and the English Football League.
  • Television: Football consistently dominates sports viewing figures, with major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship attracting audiences of over 20 million in the UK.
    Women’s football is also gradually gaining more and more viewers with England’s historic back-to-back Women’s Euro final being the most watched television moment of 2025 across all TV broadcasters.
  • Most of the football supporters in the UK inherit their allegiance through family and local identity, so many support the club associated with the area where they grew up. However, the country’s biggest clubs have nationwide and global fan bases, meaning millions of supporters live far from the club they follow.

The World Cup is, therefore, a really “big deal” here in the UK.

The World Cup:
The FIFA World Cup is one of the most important sporting events in England. Every four years it captures the nation’s attention, bringing together millions of people—including many who don’t usually follow football—to support the England team.

Its importance can be seen in several ways:

  • Huge television audiences. England matches routinely attract audiences of 15–25 million viewers, and when England reaches the latter stages, the audience can exceed 20 million.
  • National attention. During the tournament, newspapers, television, radio and social media are dominated by World Cup coverage. Many workplaces, schools and pubs organise events around England matches.
  • Occasional fans get involved. Millions of people who don’t regularly watch club football will still follow England (or Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland when they qualify). The World Cup becomes a shared national event.
  • Cultural significance. England’s victory in the 1966 FIFA World Cup remains one of the defining moments in British sporting history, and each tournament revives hopes of another triumph.

This World Cup has definitely been a shared event in our household. We have been following each game from the onset, predicting the outcome of each match on line either win, lose or draw and predicting who will reach the semi finals and ultimate final from the point it began!
My prediction is that France will win and my outside chance to win is Morocco
My husband is predicting Spain will win and his outside chance is Norway.
By the time this post goes to print the semi finals will be about to begin so let’s see if any of these four teams get this far.

Interestingly France plays Morocco in the quarter finals this weekend so at least one of my teams will be gone. Whilst Spain take on Belgium and Norway play England, which will be interesting for my husband!

You may think that we are not patriotic but neither of us, to be honest think the England squad are good enough to win. Maybe, just maybe we will be proved wrong!

Then, of course, there is the question of the famous “Golden Boot” awarded to the player who scores the most goals throughout the duration of the tournament. My money is definitely on Mbappe but my husband is backing Dembele, also of France.
Currently the competition is between Messi (Argentina)- the senior, Mbappe (France) -the ascendant and Haaland (Norway) -the young pretender!

The World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico:

Holding this year’s World Cup in the above three countries has been somewhat eye opening given that the sport of football, until now, has not been particularly popular in the USA or Canada.

If we were to compare the popularity in the USA and Canada versus England:

CountryFootball’s popularity
EnglandThe dominant national sport and by far the most popular spectator sport.
CanadaPopular and growing, but behind ice hockey in cultural significance.
United StatesPopular and growing rapidly, but still behind American football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey as a spectator sport.

In contrast football is the most popular sport in Mexico and the country has qualified for every FIFA World Cup since 1994 and has hosted the tournament twice before, in 1970 and again in 1986. In 2026, Mexico has become the first country to host matches at three men’s World Cups.

There is no doubt from what we see and read here in the UK that the USA has dominated this World Cup organisation headed by FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino and none other than President Trump himself.

Hydration Breaks:

The introduction of hydration breaks at this tournament has not been a popular decision this side of the pond and throughout Europe.

FIFA’s December announcement was notable, making it mandatory for a hydration break to take place in each half during all World Cup matches — including those played under closed roofs and in colder climates such as Seattle.

While the need to prioritise the health of players in high temperatures is not contested, it is somewhat obvious, in advance, that not all stadiums will experience high temperatures.

Some, therefore, argue that football matches are being divided from a contest split across two halves into a four-quarter format more readily associated with American sports and, therefore, to suit American advertising companies.

These misgivings were followed three months later by the confirmation that FIFA had given commercial broadcasters the green light to show adverts during the hydration breaks at the World Cup.

The development left many onlookers concluding that as well as player welfare concerns, there were commercial motivations behind FIFA’s decision to unilaterally impose drinks breaks at their showpiece event.

FIFA has argued that its decision to apply drinks breaks across all 104 matches regardless of the local temperature at the time of each match was designed to ensure uniformity and consistency across the tournament.

So even before the tournament started there was a view from abroad that President Trump alongside Infantino were straying away from the traditional rules of the game.

Football originates from Great Britain and the 90-minute structure dates back to the mid-1860s, with the length of each half and the interval regulated under The FA Laws of the Game. 

Needless to say the United States (Fox Sports) is leading the commercial push and is estimated to make between $250 million and $600 million from hydration break commercials alone. This massive windfall is enough to cover more than half of the $485 million fee Fox paid FIFA for the tournament’s broadcasting rights.

The Grand Final Halftime Show:
Normally, the International Football Association Board Laws of the Game state that:
“Players are entitled to a halftime interval not exceeding 15 minutes, and it may be altered only with the referee’s permission.”

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium, FIFA has decided to stage the tournament’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show. The musical performance and the time needed to set up and remove the stage are expected to extend halftime to around 25–30 minutes.

This has been controversial because:

Many players, coaches and supporters believe a 30-minute break disrupts players’ rhythm and warm-up routines.

Broadcasters initially complained because FIFA had not confirmed the exact duration, making scheduling difficult. 

Some fans feel it is again importing an American sports tradition into football

And the controversy doesn’t end there……………

The Red Card Rule:

Trumps latest intervention to allow the USA’s key player- Folarin Balogun to take part in the final 16 game against Belgium has exploded across the internet.
Balogun received a red card and was sent off in the last 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The rules state that
Players receiving a red card in the 2026 World Cup will receive a one-match suspension.

This applies to both straight red cards and red cards that are the result of the same player being cautioned twice.

Fifa does hold the right to impose “further sanctions” if it deems it necessary.

So after a telephone call from Trump to Infantino this rule is set aside and Balogun is allowed to play.
Does the President’s interference have no end?

Unfortunately for the USA team there were resounding cheers throughout the stadium that reverberated across the whole of the UK and Europe when Belgium beat the
home side 4 – 1.
My sympathy actually goes to the USA team who had been playing well but came into this game shrouded in controversy brought about by the ultimate person in charge of the USA.

Individual National Elation:

Amongst all this “noise” the players have left their countries behind, trained hard and wearing their national football kit have run out onto every pitch in the hope of securing victory for their watching families, friends and fans both here and back home.

I wanted to pick out my Top Five matches played to date that I have sat and watched in my living room alongside thousands of other fans worldwide that would feature as must-watch replays:

Argentina 3–2 Egypt (Round of 16) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This has to be one of the games of the tournament so far including two legendary footballing Captains both possibly playing in their last ever World Cup tournament -Mo Salah and Lionel Messi.
Egypt led 2-0 until the 79th minute of the game.
With 11 minutes of full time to go Argentina pulled off two goals in 4 minutes (including one by Messi- the Golden Boot senior) before a final third goal was sent into the net at 2 minutes into stoppage time.
This was end-to-end football, superb individual performances, and with a dramatic finish making this an instant classic. 

Mexico 2–3 England (Round of 16)
Held at the world famous Estadio Azteca, home of Mexican football and the first stadium to hold two FIFA World Cup finals, England entered the city after a lengthy deliberation regarding the starting time of the match due to pending storms and having to adapt very quickly to the elevation and 20% less oxygen than normal..
The start time was eventually kept at 6 p.m. local time but then delayed due to storms for 1 hour leaving both teams sitting in their changing rooms.
With over 87,000 seats the roar of the Mexican fans was loud throughout as they cheered their team to hopeful victory in what was set to be one of the biggest heavyweight clashes of the tournament so far.
The England team led by Harry Kane came to win and defy the critics of their last three games. England survived after playing much of the second half with 10 men.
This was high quality, mixed with controversy and palpable tension to the end!

Brazil 1–2 Norway (Round of 16)

This has to be perhaps the tournament’s biggest upset particularly to those who don’t know the name “Erling Haaland” and the now famous “Norwegian Viking Victory Row” at the end of every winning match.
Check it out on the internet, it has been a highlight of this tournament much to the amusement of the American public.

In this game Norway stunned five-time champions Brazil with a heroic defensive display and decisive late goal. The “Cinderella moment of this year’s World Cup”

Argentina 3–2 Cape Verde (Round of 32)

The island nation of Cape Verde with a population of approx 500,000 situated off the West coast of Africa has won everyone’s hearts at this World Cup.
With a 0 – 0 draw against Spain and a 2 -2 draw against Uruguay in the initial table round Cape Verde came into the last 32 with a positive mindset.
Continuing their remarkable fairy-tale run they pushed Argentina all the way. With five goals, relentless attacking football, and a tense finish with the final Argentinian goal coming in the 111th minute of extra time they have earned widespread praise from fans.

Not many football fans would fail to mention their 40 year old goalkeeper Vozinha who has played in the national team for 14 years. When interviewed after their first match against Spain Vozinha with tears in his eyes said “His Mum was unable to come and watch him play in their first match against Spain because she couldn’t afford the visa”.

Cape Verde was among 50 countries whose citizens faced bonds of up to $15,000 to secure a U.S. visa, part of President Donald Trump’s broader crackdown on travellers from countries that officials said had high rates of visa overstays.
The Trump administration last month suspended the requirement for ticket-holders from Cape Verde and four other World Cup nations, but critics said it was too late for many fans.

However House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stepped in and spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and “asked the State Department to do everything in their power to ensure that Vozinha’s mother can attend Cape Verde’s next match.”
Jeffries said all fees have been waived and travel arrangements are being made to get her to Cape Verde’s next game on Sunday against Uruguay in Miami.
“I thank Secretary Rubio, U.S. State Department officials, the government of Cape Verde and FIFA for working together to make this possible,” Jeffries said.

Final Thoughts:
I do like a fairy tale ending and seeing Vozinha’s Mum in the crowd at his second match definitely touched my heart.
Do you have any views on the tournament so far?
Do you feel, like me, that sporting events should remain free of political interference?

Eating Our Way Through Antigua: Local Food, Surprises and a Few Lessons Along the Way

One of the things that has changed most since retirement — and since we swapped holidays for longer stays travelling abroad — is the way we eat.

Back home our days are quite simple. Breakfast, our main meal sometime between 1 and 3pm, and then maybe a piece of fruit or a slice of toast later if we are hungry.
We don’t eat out very often. Partly it’s about keeping to a budget, but also because we genuinely enjoy cooking and sometimes find ourselves thinking, “we could probably make this better ourselves.”

It always makes me smile when I think back to our very first overseas trip to Santorini in 2016. We ate breakfast, bought baguettes and crisps for lunch or stopped for a bowl of Greek salad, and then headed out every evening for a three-course meal by the sea.

How on earth did we eat that much?

Somewhere along the way, travelling changed our habits. When holidays became longer adventures, our budget needed to stretch further, and cooking became part of the experience. We started buying fresh local ingredients, wandering around markets, and creating meals wherever we were staying.

Eating out became a treat rather than an everyday occurrence.

And here in Antigua we have discovered something interesting. Sometimes, especially if you are only cooking for one or two people, buying food at local eateries can be cheaper than actually buying the ingredients and making it yourself.

We have enjoyed cooking with the fresh produce we find here, but we have also enjoyed exploring the local food scene.


Home cooking with Antiguan ingredients
An English roast dinner (well you have to don’t you!)
Fried eggs in a multi pan (we want to take this pan home!)
Pasta bolognese (but for some reason cheese doesn’t melt in Antigua 🤷‍♀️)
Using up some rolls, some bacon and leftover mince to make bacon, cheese burgers!

Local Food In Antigua:
If you refer back to my post from when we were here in February entitled Affordable Dining in Antigua, you will see that we had already discovered some of the cheaper places to eat. This included supermarkets with hot food counters where you can pick up freshly prepared Caribbean and Asian dishes. We have done this a couple of times while shopping and paid around £15 for both of us.

We also returned to the Green Apple near the University, another place where we found ourselves surrounded by local people rather than tourists. For us, that is always a good sign.

But during this stay we have also found a couple of new favourites.

Roti King:
Roti King sits in the centre of St John’s, just a short walk from the cruise terminal and Redcliffe Quay. When we arrived, the queue was already stretching outside — always encouraging.

This wasn’t a place full of visitors stopping by for a holiday lunch. It was families, workers grabbing something after work, and locals who clearly knew exactly where to go. If local people are choosing to spend their own money somewhere, it usually tells you something!

Inside there are simple tables with traditional plastic tablecloths, and outside a few picnic benches. Nothing fancy — just good, honest food.

The staff were wonderful. Friendly, welcoming and genuinely pleased to see us.

Roti is a popular Caribbean comfort food consisting of curried or stewed meats and vegetables wrapped inside a soft, flaky flatbread. We ordered a fish roti, a beef roti, chips and plantain. We were directed to a table while everyone else waited for their food, and then something happened that really stayed with me.

Our drinks were brought over.

Our food arrived on plates with cutlery, (everyone else was eating from takeaway containers).

I would happily have eaten from a container too, but the effort they made to make us feel looked after was such a lovely gesture. It was one of those small moments when you remember that travelling isn’t just about places — it’s about people.

Including the tip, we paid just under £35 for two huge meals, and every mouthful was delicious.

Firehouse Grill:
Another day, after our usual supermarket trip, we decided to drive a little further north and explore somewhere different.

We found ourselves at Firehouse Grill in Bay Gardens, sitting outside on brightly painted picnic benches under umbrellas — a welcome change from cooking back at our duplex.

The menu had burgers, wraps, salads and daily specials. Our server, Theo, was brilliant. He was happy to answer our questions and clearly took pride in the family business.

It was just a simple lunch, but those are often the moments we enjoy most when travelling.
Two meals, a nice setting, and a chance to chat with someone local.

The cost for both of us? Around £27.

Restaurant Week — a different side of dining in Antigua:

While we were here we also noticed that Antigua was celebrating its annual Culinary Month, which included Restaurant Week.

It sounded like a lovely opportunity to explore some of the island’s restaurants and perhaps try somewhere new. The idea is that participating restaurants offer special menus during the event, giving visitors the chance to experience Antigua’s food scene.
We looked through the options, but in the end the prices were beyond what we usually spend on a meal out which made me stop and think.

Restaurant Week is clearly aimed at a different market, perhaps visitors looking for a more traditional holiday dining experience. There is nothing wrong with that, but it was interesting to see the contrast between the Antigua experienced through tourism and the Antigua we have been discovering day by day.

FABFest — when expectations and reality don’t quite meet:
While we were here, we discovered that Antigua’s Culinary Month also included the FABFest (Food Art & Beverage Festival).

It sounded exactly like the sort of thing we would enjoy — local food, culture, music and a chance to experience another side of the island.

So we went along.

The event was held at Cedar Valley Golf Club and we arrived mid-afternoon. The car park was already full, so we joined the other cars heading onto the golf course and made our way in.
The entrance fee was around £23.50 each and included a small goodie bag. To buy food, you purchased chits which were then used with the vendors.

The advertising had painted a picture of a lively food village, with local experiences, demonstrations, tastings and entertainment.

Maybe our expectations were too high. The reality felt much smaller than we imagined.

Stilt Walkers in Traditional Costumes were a Highlight

There were a few craft stalls and an interactive painting wall, but we didn’t find the food tastings we had expected. The chef demonstrations required a different entrance ticket at a cost of £100 each and the music was only really getting started later in the day.

The “Eat Like A Local Village” had around a dozen vendors, and we walked around it surprisingly quickly.

We chose two local food stalls and found somewhere to sit.
Unfortunately, my meal arrived cold and was nowhere near the standard of the food we had enjoyed elsewhere on the island. Half of it ended up in the bin, which was disappointing.

We still had chits left, but when we asked about using them, we discovered they couldn’t be refunded — they became a souvenir instead.
£93 lighter in pocket, after just over an hour, we left!

For us, the most interesting part wasn’t actually the event itself, but what it highlighted.
The Antigua we have loved discovering, whilst living here for a month is found in small cafes, market stalls, conversations with shop owners, and places where locals eat every day. It isn’t always polished, and it doesn’t always match the picture created for visitors — but those everyday experiences are often where the real character of a place lives.

The best meals we’ve had here haven’t necessarily been the most expensive or the most advertised.
They have been the ones where someone smiled, took a little extra time, and made us feel welcome.

Final Thoughts

Food has a funny way of telling you a lot about a place.

When we first started travelling for longer periods, we thought we would miss eating out more often. Instead, we found ourselves enjoying the simple things — wandering around local markets, picking up fresh ingredients, cooking with whatever was available, and occasionally treating ourselves to a meal we didn’t have to prepare.

Antigua has reminded us that some of the best experiences don’t always come from the places designed to impress visitors.
They come from sitting at a small table, chatting with someone who lives there, watching families pick up their lunch, or being welcomed like a regular even when you’re clearly not.

Of course, not every experience is perfect. Some places will exceed your expectations and others won’t quite live up to the picture painted beforehand. But perhaps that is part of travelling — seeing the good, the disappointing and everything in between.

For us, the highlights have been the everyday moments: a great roti, a friendly conversation, a helpful smile, and those little reminders that we are guests in someone else’s home.

Have you discovered a hidden food gem while travelling, or had an experience that surprised you (good or bad)? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

If you’ve enjoyed following along with our adventures, please feel free to leave a comment, share the post, or give it a like — it really helps and we love knowing who is travelling along with us.

A Perfect Day at Long Bay: From Snorkeling to Sunset Dining

Long Bay was a little different from the beaches we’d visited so far, not least because it required a 40-minute drive across Antigua from our home on the west coast to the island’s eastern shoreline.
The journey itself was part of the experience, taking us through villages and countryside that reminded us just how varied this relatively small island can be.

On arrival, it quickly became apparent that Long Bay naturally divides itself into two distinct worlds. At one end, the guests of Pineapple Beach Club enjoyed the comforts and convenience of their all-inclusive resort. At the other, locals, independent travellers and day-trippers, like us, gathered to enjoy the same beautiful stretch of sand, but in a rather more informal way.

We hired sun beds and an umbrella from a friendly, local gentleman who immediately made us feel welcome. As a novice snorkeler, I was particularly grateful for the advice he shared about the best places to enter the water, the direction of the currents and the varying sea depths along the bay. Local knowledge like that is invaluable and often makes all the difference between a good day and a memorable one.

As it turned out, we couldn’t have chosen a better spot. The sea was wonderfully warm, even by Caribbean standards, and the underwater life was surprisingly abundant. Shoals of fish seemed to be everywhere, darting amongst the rocks and seagrass, providing plenty to admire during my snorkelling adventures. I spent far longer in the water than I’d originally intended, simply enjoying the clarity, warmth and marine life.

Not the greatest of photos
but I’m still learning
how to use my underwater camera!

The only downside to Long Bay was the lack of anywhere to grab a bite to eat as the local beach bar at our end of the beach was closed for the season. After a day of sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling, we found ourselves getting hungry and eventually had to pack up a little earlier than planned. Still, that simply gave us an excuse to continue our exploration of Antigua as we headed off in search of dinner.

Our search took us around thirty minutes south-west to Papparazzi Pizzeria and Bar at Nelson’s Dockyard. Ordinarily, we might not have chosen pizza whilst living in Antigua, preferring to seek out dishes we couldn’t easily find back home. However, the restaurant had come highly recommended by the owner of our accommodation, and curiosity eventually won out.

Arriving shortly after 5pm, just as the restaurant was opening for the evening, we found ourselves among the first customers. We were welcomed by Justin, a friendly young local who, as it turned out, lived not far from Long Bay himself.
With the restaurant still quiet, conversation came easily. Before long, he and my husband were discussing English Premier League football. An Arsenal supporter and talented athlete who had represented Antigua on neighbouring islands, Justin was eagerly anticipating the Champions League Final the following evening and even invited my husband back to watch the match on the large screen in the bar.

The pizzas proved every bit as good as we’d been promised. One of the more unusual features was the opportunity to add Caribbean-inspired toppings such as jerk chicken, while the option of ordering a half-and-half pizza made it easy to sample more than one combination.

As the sun slowly began to set across the harbour, we enjoyed our meal from an outdoor table overlooking the bay.

It was a familiar style of restaurant, but one that had been given its own distinctly Caribbean character. Combined with the warm welcome and relaxed setting, it provided the perfect end to a memorable day on Antigua’s east coast, and it’s somewhere we’ll certainly return to if the opportunity arises.

The meal provided a fitting end to what had already been an excellent day on Antigua’s east coast.

In fact, our experience at Long Bay left such a positive impression that we found ourselves returning a second time whilst living on the island.
Our original plan had been to spend the day at Half Moon Bay, one of our favourite beaches from a previous visit to Antigua in February and also on the East Coast. Unfortunately, when we arrived we discovered that the beach was heavily affected by sargassum seaweed. Disappointed, but unwilling to waste the day, we decided to retrace our route and head back to Long Bay instead.

It turned out to be an easy decision. The warm, clear water, excellent snorkelling and relaxed atmosphere were exactly as we remembered from our first visit. Sometimes the best travel experiences aren’t the ones you carefully plan, but the places you happily return to when your original plans fall through.

With its warm waters, excellent snorkelling and relaxed local atmosphere, Long Bay proved well worth the drive, offering yet another reminder that some of the island’s best experiences are often found away from the resort gates.

Final Thoughts
Looking back, it’s not just the beach that stands out in our memories of Long Bay. It’s the friendly local advice that led us to the best snorkelling spots, the abundance of fish beneath the surface, the conversation with Justin over football, and the sunset enjoyed over dinner at the end of the day. Together, those moments captured exactly what we loved most about Antigua: beautiful places, welcoming people and the occasional surprise that turns a good day into a memorable one

Have you ever found that a change of plans led to an even better day than the one you’d originally planned? Let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear your stories.

And if you enjoyed this post, a like is always appreciated and helps others discover my travel adventures too.