May, the month of Lily of the Valley peeping into my garden. My Fritillaries are in full force as are the weeds, and my garden trees are no longer naked. There are Bluebells in the woodlands, and sadly the cheerful Daffodils are beginning to shrivel to make room for the Primrose and Pansies.

The mornings are filled with the cry of baby lambs looking for their mums who are, for now, munching on the lush grass over the other side of the hills, the male cuckoo calls first thing, and the sky is alive with birds and bees. The windows stay open later in the day, and there’s more certainty of warmer evenings.  The hum of tractors stay on till past 9, and the long whistles from farmer to sheepdogs echo over the hills. The Ceiriog Valley is truly awake and ready for a much more pleasant change of season. Of course, May is the last month of Spring but it only really feels like the season has just begun!

It’s been such a busy few months working and adventuring and I’ve been more active on Instagram than I have on my blog.  As you can see, I’ve had a little makeover.

Here are some adventures I’ve been on recently, hopefully, they’ll inspire one of your own. 

Aberystwyth

April Bank Holiday saw us pack a mini wet adventure in, on the pier of Aberystwyth.  We passed through snow and ice, to a typically Welsh soggy but beautiful beach. The sky and sea were grey and the white water rushed on to the sand, catching an unsuspecting Bel who kept getting a mouth of seawater as she retrieved her much loved frisbee!

Penmaenpool

During the May Bank holiday, we had our first van adventure, camping by the Mawddach Estuary in a National Trust car park for a donation of £1 a night. We arrived at dusk, as the clouds descended around the surrounding mountains and woke up to glorious sunshine and loud moos of excitement, as the cows had been let out from their winter slumber, left to graze on the banks of the estuary with their calves.

 In Wales, it’s the year of the sea, so I’m looking forward to exploring more of the 870 miles of the stunning Welsh coastline.

Clywedog Dam

A favourite body of water for Rik and I, and one we’ve been going to paddleboard on with the family.  We’re on a mission to get everyone we know on a paddleboard, or at least on the water! Plenty of laughs, splashes, and attempts at yoga were had.

Chepstow

I went glamping in an impressive Mongolian Yurt at Hidden Valley Yurts in the tiny village of Llanishen. Among 80 acres of ancient woodland, babbling brooks, vast fields, outdoor swings and so many corners of ‘hygge’.   I’ve so much more to tell you about my week away in South Wales but you’ll have to wait, for now….

Abergavenny

Yay, I got my yearly gorge scramble in – I missed it last year – gorge walking was the first water activity that made me feel excited rather than worried about water.  Whilst there was no deep bits to plunge into, there was plenty of adrenaline during a scramble through a  dark tunnel, rushing waterfalls and fallen tree branches to duck and dive under.  It was great to do it with a group who’d never done it before and I heard a few who said it certainly challenged them! Bravo.

Chapel-en-le-Frith

Guys, I do go out of Wales sometimes you know! Especially when it’s to meet my lovely friend and editor Eleanor of Creative Countryside Magazine. Our spring issue has recently been published and so we’re working hard on building CC’s brand.

I’ll be joining her again in the Yorkshire Dales in July for the summer gathering. Fancy coming along?

Cannock Chase

I do like a bit of tree swinging now and then especially at Go Ape. We had our first date at the Delamere one and it gave me a taste for climbing and heights.  We went back on behalf of Go Ape Staffordshire and I’ve to say there were a few NERVE TESTERS! The Tarzan swing is a lot higher than you think…. Being 14m in the treetops does give you some lovely views mind and the zip wires, the longest one being 260m, are by far my favourite thing to do. Still, I could never get the hang of landing on my feet – Laura Croft made it look so easy!

As a thank, you for attending I’ve got a discount code: CALM18LL. This will give you 10% off any activity (Tree Top Adventure, Tree Top Junior or Forest Segway) at Go Ape Cannock excluding Saturdays.

I’d love to hear about your adventures no matter how big or small. Share the inspiration, won’t you?