CELTIC PROMISE

Nick Harding and partner Lin enjoy an end-of-season Celtic Routes tour through West Wales and East Ireland

Lin wanted to go to a Greek island. I wanted to tour Wales. And Ireland. In the end, we both got our way. I think you call it win-win. We had enjoyed a pretty packed year of touring during 2022, so when Lin told me she had helped organise a late summer week on Kefalonia with a small group of friends (“for a complete break”), how could I possibly say no?

But that also opened up the opportunity for some subsequent out-of-season campervan touring. The October half-term holiday would be the next available slot.

So, Celtic Routes. It’s a story that goes way back to when Irish settlers left the fifth-century Ogham stones along the Welsh coast, and Wales, in turn, gave Ireland St Patrick (or so the legend has it).

Today, Celtic Routes is one of those cleverly devised ‘touring initiatives’ that might look a bit off-putting on first acquaintance, but soon has you completely hooked.

We only gave ourselves a week away, but the list marked ‘Things to Do’ still encompassed the following: Neolithic burial chamber, a ferry crossing, a sprinkling of castles, a world-famous crystalware factory, some good meals out – and three festivals. Actually, they might not all have been on our list at the beginning, but they’re the experiences we brought home with us.

Coastal Wales 

Our first day was one of meandering, exploring the secluded bays and traditional seaside towns of Ceredigion (formerly the county of Cardiganshire) – generally picking places we’d never visited before, including Llangrannog and New Quay, before enjoying an evening in Aberaeron.