|
Middle Cottage is a 5 mins easy stroll down to the local Real Ale Inn which offers an A La Carte menu (Bread and Butter Pudding is really nice, as is Hake in lager batter and home made chips, or Salt Marsh Lamb) not to mention some decent wine and Tomas Watkin Cwrw Haf or Chwarae Teg and Marstons Pedigree. We are also just a 8-10 mins picturesque stroll down through Cwm Ivy hamlet and (15 mins from cottage) down the lane further to Whitford / Llanmadoc beach and Cwm Ivy woods (National Trust). There you can pick your own mussels and cook them in white wine back at Middle Cottage. (We've actually done this ourselves).
Is this the perfect walk..... ?
....immediately follow up the lane at rear of Middle Cottage cottage you can walk up Llanmadoc Hill, which is Gower's second highest peak, on which sits an incredible Bronze Age fort - The Bullwork). After taking in the incredible views across Gower, and a few camera snaps, you can then walk 1 mile over to Llangennith village for lunch (or "lunch"!) in Kings Head Pub at Llangennith. From right outside the King Head pub, then catch the local bus back to Llanmadoc, (10 mins by bus) dropping off outside our front door....the perfect "walk".
Eating out? Five of the very best not too far from Middle Cottage, in Gower
The Britannia Inn and restaurant: Martin, the young but entrepreneurial chef at your local Inn, in Llanmadoc, would challenge some of the more established venues below, with his top drawer dishes. Martin, who is Gower's answer to Jamie Oliver, 'cheffed' in Sydney, Australia, and he and his partner Lindsey will not let you down on quality nor taste, and the wines and beers match anything in Gower. Go for the locally caught sea-bass, belly pork, lamb, Welsh Black fillet beef, always soe quality vegetarian options on parade, and make sure you try his bread and butter pudding. The restaurant was refurbished in December 2007, and this pub is the quintessential Gower local, yet with a classy restaurant and great food, to go with it (or settle for a bar meal of lager battered hake and home made chips). Sunday lunch is great too but book early. Try the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, or the Chilean Merlot, or just good old fashioned Felinfoel Double Dragon cask ale. [4 mins walk from the cottage.]
Maes-yr-Haf. Did you know, a fantastic new restaurant has just, in autumn 2007, opened in Parkmill, south Gower, "Maes-yr-Haf" (meaning 'Summer field'). In a modern restaurant setting, is served some of Gower's best A la Carte cuisine, incorporating local produce, some fine Welsh, English and world wines, and desserts to die for. It takes approximately 20 mins to drive from Middle Cottage to Maes-Hy-Haf through some of Gower's most attractive scenery.
Fairyhill County Hotel and Restaurant: Closer still to Middle Cottage is the acclaimed Fairyhill restaurant in Burry Green. Commonly accepted as easily Swansea and Gower's finest restaurant, admittedly with with prices to match, but worth it since you can expect some of Wales's finest local fare, including dishes incorporating salt marsh lamb, locally caught sea bass, and cockles and laverbread - and cooked to perfection, in a fine setting. [5 mins drive from the cottage, down hill, turn right at The Britannia, then after 1 mile, turn left into Burry Green, head for Reynoldston, and you'll see signs in leafy lane.]
The Welcome to Town: named after one of Gower's legendary (but now closed) old public houses, the Welcome to Town, set in the historic assizes/gaol/court room at Llanrhidian (looks like a row of small white cottages), opposite the old whipping post, near Llanrhidian Church, in N. Gower. Expect quality a la carte food both local and european in style, in a cosy, intimate 'cottagey' atmosphere. Again expect to be served local fish dishes and desserts to die for, as well as fine Welsh ales. [7-8 mins drive from the cottage, back down past The Britannia, on north Gower road, past Landimore, Oldwalls, and into Llanrhidian Village, turn left down hill just before Llanrhidian (Heronstone) filling station.]
The King Arthur: One of Gower's finest pubs, with a very ambient and spacious yet cosy feeling, (log fire etc), set on Reynoldston Green, with the widest specials board selection of genuinely local produce including Welsh Black Beef, cajun hake, grilled trout, all sorts of roasts and grills, and fine desserts. Great wines too.
|
