My husband and I decided my son's family deserved a treat as they had had a very hard year caring for elderly relations.
As my son had been to Swansea University (where he had met his wife) they were particularly fond of the Gower Peninsula so we searched for a house large enough to accommodate six adults, one teenager and a year old toddler. Oh, and a dog!
This was not easy, even though we started looking in the spring! Eventually we found a website called "Home from Home" which has offices in The Mumbles and located a beautiful house callled Hill Lodge in the tiny hamlet of Overton. This is very near to Port Eynon which has a large sandy beach.
We were immediately impressed with the house when we all arrived quite late in the afternoon. The youngsters homed in on the ice dispenser and chilled water in the American style fridge! unfortunately we never quite learned how not to spill it all over the floor!
Bedrooms were soon allocated and we (as the people who paid) chose a large room with a glorious view of the sea and the cliffs. All the rooms were well fitted and there were three bathrooms so no queuing for a shower!
Downstairs there was a fully fitted kitchen, a conservatory used as a dining room, a lounge complete with Sky TV and a Wii ,a large hall furnished with sofas and, best of all , a play room!
Our great grandson had learned to walk and was very much into exploring! Although he liked the playroom and all the toys he actually preferred to play outside in the well kept garden, being particularly fascinated with the pebbles.
We had intended to eat out a lot whlist on holiday but the facilities were so good we only ate out at lunchtime. If we visit again it would be sensible to arrange a supermarket delivery as there were few shops nearby.
The house was a bit remote but we got plenty of exercise walking to Port Eynon. The fitter members of the family walked six plus miles to Rhossili via the coastal path and at one point the dog rebelled and refused to walk another step! The toddler was happy to snooze, safe in a backpack on his father's back.
Unfortunately mobile phone reception was poor and we had to walk to the top of a hill to get through! A small price to pay!
The Gower Peninsula is a wonderful place to visit although access is often via a single track road and can be a bit scary if travelling in a larger vehicle. We had great days out on Three Cliffs Bay, Oxwich and The Mumbles.
We were very fortunate to have picked a warm week for our holiday but I have no doubt that we would have been quite happy to luxuriate in our holiday home ,had it rained every day!
We were treated to an exciting display of thunder and lightening but that cannot be guaranteed fo every visitor to this beautifiul house!
