Our trip to Wales began with a stop at Coughton Court (pronounced Coat on) in Warwickshire. A historic house lived in by the same Catholic family for 600 years, members of which were involved in the Gunpowder plot. The house was built around a courtyard with an imposing gatehouse, the roof of which gives great views of the surrounding area. A large walled garden is stuffed with plants and outside it there is a lake and a bog garden. An unusual feature is its two churches, one catholic and one protestant. Then a long but interesting journey through the lovely countryside of the Wye and Usk valleys and over the head of the valleys road passing Welsh towns now much changed with the demise of the mining industry.

On Saturday we embarked on a bus tour of Cardiff centre with a local guide. We walked around Cardiff Bay and saw the Assembly building and the Millennium Arts Centre. The change from the derelict docks to the present layout was staggering. We spent time in the National Museum containing amongst many exhibits a priceless collection of art and sculpture much of which was left to the museum by two sisters who made money from coal and spent it well. The ground floor was full of laughter and chat with lots of children enjoying hands on experiences of aspects of science and natural history. Our visit to Cardiff Castle was a revelation as we toured amazing rooms heavily decorated by William Burgess for the Marquis of Bute in the C19th. Our last visit was to Llandaff Cathedral on the outskirts of the city. It was damaged by a bomb in the war and George Pace the York architect was tasked with some of the restoration work. The building is dominated by the towering statue of Christ in Majesty by Jacob Epstein not liked by everyone.

On Sunday our first stop was Tredegar House near Newport, via a brief stop at Caerphilly Castle. This is a rare house built in the reign of Charles II and recently acquired by the National Trust. It is entirely wrapped in plastic at present for massive restoration work. The volunteers here were especially friendly and chatty. Then we went on to St Fagans castle, the National Museum of Wales. On this large site are over 50 buildings rescued from demolition or ruin from all over Wales. We were able to watch a blacksmith and a thatcher at work and visit a church, shops, fairground, cottages and farmhouses. Our last stop of the day was Dyffryn gardens set around an imposing Edwardian house. Some of the vast gardens were laid out in rooms with some autumn colour to enjoy.

On our way home on Monday we stopped at Hidcote, one of the gardens to see in Britain. Although not at its best in October, at least it was not crowded as it always is in Spring and Summer.

This was a varied and interesting trip especially for me as I was born in Cardiff and was amazed at the changes since I was last there. Michel Gill was an excellent and informative guide. He was very knowledgeable about the area as he has lived there in the past.