Powys and Leominster...

Monday, 16^th May – (Catch-up)

POWYS CASTLE

Seemed to be a lot of traffic through Berriew this morning, and we were told there was a market day in Welshpool. Lots of local farmers seemed to be taking livestock in small trailers. We drove into Welshpool but could see no evidence of the market and assumed it must be elsewhere in the town.

On to Powys, and was initially taken aback with the prospect of a very long walk from the car park, but the road winds around a bit and it isn’t too far. There were already lots there waiting for the opening, and we had reciprocal entry rights through our National Trust membership. (Well worth having if you intend going to  more than a couple of properties).

 

Found an Aussie girl working for the N.T. and she said she’d knocked on their door for a couple of years before she got the job in the garden centre.

Had a coffee first, and then ventured out to the gardens. These are open from 11.00am, which seems late to me, and the castle not until 1.00pm, so we decided we would not be here for the castle, as it would make us too late for the rest of our journey later in the day.

The gardens are magnificent, and some of the Yew trees date back to 1610! The terraces are beautifully managed and descend a long way down to the lower areas of the garden. Beautiful plants everywhere, and some we’d never seen, along with different varieties of those we knew. 

We ended up spending 2 hours at Powys, and they are so well maintained. You can tell the difference in the plants, just because they have so much more rain (usually), than we do.

On to Leominster (pronounced-  lemster ), which pronunciation we got from two different sources. The road in and out of Wales and Shropshire was quite good, and after a small bit of getting lost finding the B & B, we arrived at Rossendale Hall, which is very nicely done, but our room was right at the top, and again on a main road, hence the triple glazing to cut out the noise. (These small towns might not be suited to vehicular traffic, but they still have trucks and semi’s driving through them!)

Very nice dinner at a hotel called the Dukes Head, which had formally been a Post Office, and the theme was carried through in the decor, with some old ‘pigeon holes’, and letter sorting signs.

Our 'loft' in Rossendale Hall B & B

We didn’t sleep well as we had hard lumpy pillows again. (Is it so hard to get sameness in pillows used in accommodation?)

Beds and pillows and duvets...(another aside)

We have been here nearly five weeks, and the other inconsistent thing, (after bathrooms and plumbing), is in the bedroom. 

No, nothing to do with Lee and I, but when you are travelling to so many different places, you do need your sleep. That is not always possible, simply because every place varies in what it provides.

PILLOWS - if you are going to be here as long as we are, buy two pillows at the beginning and take them with you! This will only work if you have a car for most of the time, but at least you will know what to expect each night. The pillows range from what seem like a bag of cereal, to spongy, or very hard.

MATTRESSES - again, these vary from simply lumpy, to hard as rocks, to squishy, to quite OK. But again, not consistent. And, they don't do top sheets. So, if you are a top sheet person you will be disappointed. They do duvets, which also vary in weight and thickness, and they have their own cover, (which is changed after each use). But, they don't seem to change the type of duvet from season to season. I asked at one place, and the lady said she'd never thought of it!

BED SIZE - Never assume that if you book a room which says Double Bed, that you will get any other size. So if you are used to a Queen sized bed back at home, you might just end up being closer than you want to be.

You have to remember to ask. Whenever I have done so, and been told the bed would be a 4'6" (double bed), we have gone for twin beds. That way you both get a good night's sleep.

The most consistent bedding we have had is with Premier Inn hotels. No, I am not on their payroll, but whichever one we have stayed with, and that has been four different places so far, you get the same good stuff every time. This may change, as we still have a number of them across the country to try out, so this recommendation might also change.