Morecambe Vintage by the Sea

{restored Midland Hotel, a streamline moderne Art Deco style built in 1933}

{vintage folk all around Morecambe for Vintage by the Sea}

{old electricity substation Trip the light fantastic}

{A classic car rally}

{WWII Spitfire}

{Vintage ice cream by Kate Sundae, a creative lady that as well as icy treats did the urban murals around Morecambe}

{The old railway station in the background, now the tourist office and an arts venue}

{Neptune and Triton medallion by Eric Gill and is at the top of the circular staircase in the hotel’s central tower}

{A nice trip along the prom in one of the Ribble Vehicle Preservation’s Trust’s heritage buses}

 Morecambe is such a hive of art with so much to see, second visit this year and it's clear to see the magnitude of effort put in to ensuring that this seaside resort is not forgotten. Vintage by the Sea is just one of the many initiatives for the town has something on each month. With a beautiful shoreline too and views across the bay to the hills of Cumbria, Morecambe is perfect for a stroll and an ice cream.

A happy birthday seaside walk

Brisk wind in our faces, hats and boots on, we took a walk along the beach at Llandudno for little man's 6th birthday. With the tide out we crossed the high pebbled ridge and onto the flat sands where leggy gulls picked up tasty sea offerings and we ourselves found marine treasure to look at. A mermaids purse nestled itself among the colourful rocks, its long curly tendrils and shiny case, likely to have been the home of a young dogfish, our resident mini shark.
 LLandudno is a place we have visited before, for Victorian charm and typical seaside fun it's the place to come but in winter, stripped to its bare bones you see a different side. Without the buzz of people you can really appreciate the bay's position between the two headlands. The Great Orme on one side, famous for its funicular tramway and it's smaller counterpart on the other, Little Orme.  The pastel coloured hotels along the seafront seem desolate but on closer inspection are still alive with ground floor diners looking out into the cold winter air. Many of the shops are not open  - back in February say cardboard signs propped up in windows. For the birthday boy it was the perfect place, fresh air, a plentiful supply of pebbles for splashing into the sea and a pizza to share in the warmth of the car. We also had a walk along the pier and a very quick look in the town centre as night quickly started to drape itself around us by 5 o'clock. It's always a quiet birthday for LB, after the festive commotion it's what he needs to relax. A sleepy car ride home meant that cake and candles were saved for the day after instead.....

Caernarfon charm

 An ancient town in North Wales, on the mouth of the River Seiont where the imposing stone castle was built for King Edward I in 1283, this is Caernarfon. A pretty walled town brimming with history and superb buildings to see around every corner. 

Freshwater East

After the torrential rain stopped we headed out along the Pembrokeshire Coastline, returning to the areas we love. First stop, Freshwater East where a stream flows across the sands and into the roaring waves of the bay.
The rain yesterday was pretty much non-stop, so the stream flowing into Freshwater East was raging and bubbling over the tumbling, rounded pebbles and had forged itself a gully through the sand creating a steep edged bank. It seemed to be attracting the attention of regular walkers to the area who were looking with interest at this new state of affairs. 

Water cold that filled my boots but a happy boy with salt whipped legs and a collection of seashells was well worth the squelchy feet. The rest of the beach was relatively calm and perfect for blowing away the cobwebs, as a goose thought so too. 

Miles of sand

Mevagissey

 Down steep winding streets to the fishing port of Mevagissey. Saint Meva and Saint Issey combine with the word 'hag' which is 'and' in Cornish.....Meva hag Issey.....

A walk around Padstow

 Typically Cornwall, harbours full of boats: fishing vessels, visiting beam trawlers, crabbers, scallopers and pleasure craft. We had a very short walk around Padstow as Little Bird was ailing for something and wanted carrying - not possible for too long.

West Kirby Marine Lake

 It was a sudden decision last weekend to head out to the Wirral Peninsula, another reasonably local destination that we have rarely explored yet there is so much to do there. We had a walk along the promenade, exploring the gardens and then went to take a look at the crabbers on the small jetties by the marine lake. Even the seagulls were joining in as we saw one gull quickly swoop down and in a few seconds guzzle a crab right down. 

St Ives on a lovely sunny day

 Park at the top of town and meander down the hill past many a Cornish pasty shop. Huge pasties filled with potatoes, swede, meat (although a vegetable one for me), lunch sorted. The narrow streets weave and wind until you reach St Ives harbour and its quaint buildings. 

My Favourite Place

A little trailer parked up in the carpark at the stunning Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire. Amongst the campervans, a gem of a foodie heaven known as Cafe Môr, for the surfers and beach day trippers.

Local food and welsh seafood delicacies. Laverbread made from seaweed, gathered from the shore and dried, a popular product of South Wales.

A whole host of seaweed goodies, like Sea Black Butter or Laverbread Pesto that you can take a pot of home.

Or maybe a crab roll or a beach burger, washed down with home-made lemonade as you walk along the wide sandy beach and watch the surfers ride the waves.