For those who have never heard to Dan-yr-Ogof, it was explored by Tommy and Jeff Morgan in 1912, as the emergence of the River Llynfell at the base of some cliffs can be said to have drawn attention to it. Although I have been referring the caves as Dan-yr-Ogof, there are several different ones which make up the area and are now collectively referred to as the ‘National Showcaves Centre for Wales’. The centre has been adapted to appeal to children more successfully, and have consequently added what is fondly named the dinosaur park. The dinosaurs were somewhat out of proportion to what they would have been in reality, but they did add a cute little touch!
The caves themselves were fascinating, especially as I’ve not been to any caves in ages. I loved looking at the waterfalls etc inside them! The ‘Bone cave’, however, was such a nightmare to get into as it was really low down, but let’s face it we were lucky enough to be able to get into the caves at all! If it wasn’t for people discovering them, it would be highly unlikely to have any entrances!
In addition to the caves, the tickets also gave access to ‘Mr Morgan’s farm’ which is a real farm (rather than pretend animals…) that you can take a leisurely stroll around and meet the animals. With sheds styled to look like old fashioned rooms, the farm is designed to represent life 80 to 100 years ago. There was a ‘talking’ sheep dog (a.k.a poorly constructed animatronic dog) which explained what his blacksmith ‘owner’s’ life was like back then.
Afterwards my dad decided we should go and see the Gower peninsular, so we drove for several hours trying to navigate the poorly signposted Welsh roads in an attempt to find it. Eventually we gave up in the realisation that by the time we eventually found it it probably wouldn't even be visible anymore. Instead we stopped for fish and chips in Mumbles. It's the only seaside town/village I've ever been to which doesn't have a fish and chips shop where you can sit down and eat in! However we did stumble across a sweet little restaurant where they happened to serve beer battered cod with chips; it was a treat which went down rather nicely, especially as I only fully appreciate battered cod when it's in beer batter-I find it too greasy otherwise!
We got lost on the way back as they had decided to shut the main route in and out of Cardiff which is difficult enough in a regular town but even more so in a city which seems to be designed to anger the car driver!
For our last full day in Wales, I think we squeezed quite a lot in!
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