Fishing in Wales

5 years to the day since we set off on our camper van trip in Iceland, myself and Sam are chugging down a morning coffee, packing up our own vans and hitting the road again. We’re heading west to Wales, the sun creeping up behind us, for a few days of catching up, wandering and fishing.

We arrive to an empty Fishguard, a beautiful little town on the coast, after a 4 hour drive through the gorgeous valleys of the outskirts of the Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire. A trip down memory lane for both of us as its a place we visited as children.

An afternoon of walking the coast path and munching fish and chips, we climb back into the vans and head south along the coast to Strumble Head Lighthouse, our first camp spot of the trip.

Home - Fishguard - Strumble Head

Sunset At Strumble Head -

We arrive along the winding narrow lanes to the most beautiful golden evening light as the sun begins to set, the rugged Pembrokeshire coast looking even more dramatic.

We watch the sky change from bright gold to deep blues and purples, beer in hand, with a cracking view across to the lighthouse perched atop it’s own little island. Exhausted from a long days drive and preparing for a long days fishing tomorrow, we climb into the vans for some sleep.

Day 2 -

We wake to a much more bleak view of the coastline, the beams from the lighthouse blasting through mist out to sea. It seems that any weather condition suits this part of Wales. A quick coffee sat inside Graham, tucked away from the elements, we saddle up and head back east, inland to a stretch of the River Teifi where we will be fishing all day.

It’s been a few months since Sam and I have been on the river together, long long overdue. Waders on, flies tied, camera in hand. We trudge through the wet fields down to the river and take our first casts.

Strumble Head - River Teifi - New Quay

No catches for us today, not even a sniff for me, but sometimes thats not what it’s about. Spending a day in surroundings such as this with your best mate, not a soul around, fresh air, the sounds of nature, thats what it’s all about.

Day 3 - Exploring New Quay -

With the light fading on our only solid plan of the trip we de-wadered, packed away our gear and headed back to the coast again, to another nostalgic spot. We arrived in New Quay as it got dark, found the most level parking spot we could and wandered down the hill into town. A couple of beers and a takeaway pizza over looking the harbour, reminiscing about the day we’ve just been honoured to spend on the river, and about older trips we’ve taken.

We spend the next day exploring New Quay further, taking in views from the coastal path of yet more rugged Welsh coastline.

New Quay

Rock-pooling in New Quay -

Following our hike along the Wales Coast Path we wander back to New Quay and take advantage of the low tide. A new found appreciation for seaside textures and a heavy hit of nostalgia, minds travelling back to hours spent exploring the coasts of the UK as kids, minus the lime green fishing net.

Sunset on The Coast -

For sunset we drive a few miles up the coast, find a more secluded spot with a better view and set up the kitchen, and what better view from the kitchen window? We rustle up some burgers and crack a couple of beers, enjoying an uninterrupted display of a beautiful sunset over the Irish Sea. The tide was creeping back in and the sound of the waves lapping up the rocky beach made for the perfect white noise for our last night of the trip.

Cardigan Bay

The Journey Home -

A slow morning, a rainy start, some pretty decent bacon sandwiches and watching seals from bed. We begin the journey home with a pit stop at Devil’s Bridge Falls, like a walk through Jurassic Park we climb down and back up the valley, a real leg stretcher on our drive back to the Midlands and the perfect way to end another epic trip with a best mate. Already planning the next one.

Cardigan Bay - Devil’s Bridge Falls