Abersoch Sensation Magazine Spring 2012

SPRING 2012 £2.50

HEAVENS

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STUART HUGHESBURTON OF VENETIA

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STEVE CLAYTON AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Shipwrecks Of the Llyn

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Glass Butter Beach

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w w w.t h e s an c t uar ylo d ge s.c o.uk

RETREAT TO YOUR OWN SANCTUARY FROM JUST

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Turtle Photography

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Totally Abersoch

Spring Issue 37

It’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again- Spring has arrived and Abersoch is ready and waiting! The caravan sites have opened and the streets are filling up with people once again for the most exciting time of year. And what a season we have ahead of us; what with two festivals and plenty of local events to look forward to, Abersoch has once again succeeded in providing an exciting schedule for all to enjoy. The 10k Run, Raft Race and Sailing Competitions will take place soon- providing opportunities for the community to get together and have fun. Information on all the upcoming events can be found on page 86 and 88.

We’ve been lucky enough to escape most of the rain this winter, with mostly mild but bitterly cold conditions. And with this recent sunshine brightening up our weekends, will the weather stay on our side for the rest of the season? It’s about time we had a rainless summer, not that it got in the way of the Glass Butter Beach debut last year. In this issue, we cover all the highlights from the wet and windy festival weekend that took the beautiful village of Llanbedrog by storm in September, just turn to page 36. We will also give away snippets of gossip from what GBB 2012 has on offer so keep your eyes peeled for details! Wakestock festival is yet again taking place in its traditional spot on Penrhos hill, and has already announced some amazing acts. Rumours of the festival being moved further away were squashed by the booming line-up presented to us in recent weeks.

Steve Clayton was kind enough to have a chat with us about his new Photography company- Heavens Above. His distinctive style is a new and exciting addition to the creative businesses that we are already lucky to have here on the Peninsuladefinitely worth checking out. His aerial shots of the area will fly off the shelves in no time, so get there quick to catch a look at his collection. Not to worry if you don’t get a chance to get hold of his work straight away – Steve is available for private hire and is at your service for any overhead shots you may want captured. See page 20 for all the details.

We have all the regular features this issue too; including Soch Heads, Soch Press, and this spring’s Featured Chef is sure to get your taste buds watering. A Walk to Remember is now a new regular piece featuring every issue, revealing the most glorious footpaths around the Llyn. There’s nothing better than grabbing the family together to explore, and with our guidance it will hopefully be easier to come across those

hidden spots you don’t want to miss.

Visitors to the village this year would have been likely to encounter several improvements and refurbishments taking place at certain establishments in Abersoch, and we investigate what changes will be taking place. The Vaynol car park has been consumed with builders as an entire section of the pub is being remodelled, while the Deli Café had a temporary home in the Deli while the actual Café was having a facelift. We’ve all been curious to know what’s been going on behind the scaffolding covering the building and from a few sneak peeks it’s so far looking fab. Turn to ‘Soch press’ to find out more!

Who knows what our regular meeting places will look like by the summer?

So why not settle down with a cold drink in the Easter sunshine, and enjoy our jam packed latest issue- there’s plenty to catch up on!

Anodd yw credu bod y Gwanwyn wedi cyrraedd eto, ac Abersoch yn barod amdani! Mae’r meysydd carafannau wedi agor ac mae pobl yn llenwi’r strydoedd eto ar gyfer cyfnod mwyaf cyffrous y flwyddyn. Ac am dymor sydd o’n blaenau; gyda dwy ŵyl a digonedd o ddigwyddiadau lleol i edrych ymlaen atynt, mae Abersoch wedi llwyddo eto i ddarparu rhaglen gyffrous i bawb gael ei mwynhau. Bydd y ras 10k, y Ras Rafftiau a’r Cystadlaethau Hwylio’n cael eu cynnal cyn bo hir - yn cynnig cyfleoedd i’r gymuned ddod ynghyd i fwynhau.

Cewch hyd i fanylion am yr holl ddigwyddiadau sydd ar ddod ar dudalen 86 i 88.

Rydyn ni wedi bod yn ddigon ffodus i osgoi llawer o’r glaw dros y gaeaf yma, gyda’r tywydd yn dyner gan amlaf ond yn oer iawn. Gyda’r heulwen yn rhoi sglein ar benwythnosau diweddar, tybed a erys y tywydd braf o’n plaid am weddill y tymor?

Mae’n hen bryd inni gael haf sych, er na wlychodd y glaw yr hwyliau da yng ngŵyl gyntaf Glass Butter Beach y llynedd.

Yn y rhifyn hwn, byddwn yn edrych ar holl uchafbwyntiau penwythnos glawog a gwyntog yr ŵyl ym mhentref prydferth Llanbedrog ym mis Medi, trowch i dudalen 36. Mi fyddwn hefyd yn datgelu ambell gliw ynglŷn â’r hyn fydd gan GBB 2012 i’w gynnig felly cadwch lygad am fanylion! Bydd gŵyl Wakestock eto’n cael ei chynnal yn ei lleoliad traddodiadol ym Mhenrhos, ac mae rhai o’r perfformwyr gwych wedi eu

Turtle Photography

s t n e t n o C Features

20 Heavens Above 36 Glass Butter Beach 44 Y Noddfa 52 Spring Fever 56 Shipwrecks of the Llyn 62 Photography Showcase 70 Featured Chef 78 Decor Feature 80 Coastal Homes Steve Clayton Aerial Photography

Highlights of Glass Butter Beach 2011 and a preview of what’s to come this year!

The Sanctuary Lodges - a slice of tranquility minutes from Abersoch Spring gardening tips courtesy of Abersoch Garden Centre Hidden treasures and a plethora of secrets lay under that glassy surface...

A feast of exceptional local photography

This issue we visited Stuart Hughes-Burton of Venetia, With wine recommendations from Dean Pritchard Coastal chic - furniture and decor with a seaside theme

New Regular Feature A taste of properties available in the area to buy or to rent

10

Regulars

12 Soch Press 26 Fashion Feature 34 Did You Know That?

48 Approved Activities 54 A Walk To Remember 86 Events 90 Soch Heads 94 Abersoch Listings And Map 96 Pwllheli Listings And Map 98 Last Photo and Poem

Catch up with all that’s been happening in the village this winter with this issue’s bumper news section Abersoch style goes luxe!

Get lost in the Welsh heritage of the area with some defenitions of words you might see around Abersoch Great activities recommended by Sensation

We’ve planned a route for an unforgettable walk in the local area Essential dates for your diary

New Year’s Day Charity Dip special - this year the theme was the Olympics

A list of local businesses and where to find them

A list of businesses in Pwllheli and where to find them

This issue we dedicate the last photo and poem to the memory of William Naden Hughes

s s e r P h c So

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND ABERSOCH

Spring Wakeboard Open at Glasfryn Wakeparc

Glasfryn Wakeparc is hosting the first cable wakeboarding event of the season - the Spring Wakeboard Open on Saturday 14th April. This is a fun and grass root style contest which is designed for all standards of riders. There will be six divisions to cater for everyone as well as pro demos.

Even if you have only just learnt to ride the Spring Wakeboard Open is for you. It is all about getting riders together and helping each other progress, learn new tricks and most importantly have fun and meet like minded people. What a great way to start the season.

Glasfryn Wakeparc is part of Glasfryn Parc, the large activity centre on the A499 Caernarfon Road, just outside Pwllheli. For more information about the Wakeparc or the Spring Wakeboard Open, Tel: 01766 810202; email: info@glasfryn.co.uk or visit www.glasfryn.co.uk

Join the Abersoch 10k Run 2012 The 4th Abersoch 10K, sponsered this year by Fairline Wales, is taking place on Saturday 9th June 2012, so whether you’re a keen runner trying to beat your personal best, you want to set yourself a challenge to shape up for the summer or want to raise money for charity, you won’t want to miss this years race. It’s a fantastic course which starts in the village and winds its way up through Sarn Bach, Porth Tocyn and takes in some spectacular views over cardigan bay, Bardsey Island and the Snowdonia mountain range, ending with a dramatic finish down the golf course and on to the main beach under the SCYC. Talking of last years race Mark Durston, Race Director said “It was an extremely hot day which made for a tough race for all of the runners and volunteers but local residents really got behind the event and thankfully cooled runners off with hosepipes and provided extra encouragement. The Abersoch 10K is an intimate race with a local feel but organized to a professional level and we’re really proud of how it has grown over the years”.

If 10K isn’t your distance but you still want to get involved in some fun competition then why not check out the Abersoch Holiday Homes 3K Beach Race, a fantastically fun race for runners of all ages. As with last year, the Abersoch 10K and 3K Beach Race is urging all runners to raise money for the local Abersoch RNLI Lifeboat Station. This year the RNLI have 50 Golden Bond places that allow you to enter the race for just £10.00 (visit http://www.rnli.org. uk/rnli_near_you/west)

The Sun Inn Refurbishment The Sun Inn, our much-loved pub in Llanengan, has been undergoing a long overdue refurbishment since the beginning of January. After a lot of patience and hard work they can finally announce that the work is all finished and the pub is now back to its usual opening hours! Commenting on the refurbishment project and the crew involved Landlord John Pent said ‘The crew have been fantastic, no matter what obstruction or difficulty they smiled and said no problem, 12

If you’ve visited Abersoch over the Winter months you won’t have been able to miss the hype of activity taking place at Zinc Café, Bar & Grill. Surrounded by scaffold and with windows boarded up, builders have been working around the clock to renovate and extend our much loved café, but it seems everyone involved in this hugely anticipated transformation has been sworn to a closely guarded secret as to what the new café will look like. Over the last few weeks we’ve all had some sneak previews as the scaffold has come down and windows fitted to reveal elements of the décor and layout inside but owners of the new Café, Bar & Grill are still keeping all of the best details safely under their hat!! One things for certain, if Zinc Bar’s anything to go by, we know we won’t be disappointed!!

‘The newly refurbished Zinc Cafe, Bar and Grill will be opening soon offering an exciting new evening menu. We will still be serving our ever popular cooked breakfasts and light lunches that our Cafe regulars enjoyed. Customers who loved the Zinc Bar deck will be pleased to hear this has tripled in size to accommodate diners’ said Kerry Phillips Photo courtesy of Cheshire Life Why not dress up to raise even more money as demonstrated by local Abersoch Lifeboat crew member Rick Cotter last year who raised £1,500 for the RNLI by running the entire race in his full crew kit including dry suit, wellies and helmet. Talking of his experience and plans for this year’s race, Rick says, “It was very difficult indeed, it was like running in a tub of treacle; hot, sweaty and never ending!

I’m running this year again in full kit but with a full sized lifeboat dummy over my shoulder that weighs 9 stone. I’m aiming to beat last years time and get under 1 hour and looking to raise £3,000, so hopefully I’ll do it”. To enter this years race or to find out more about the RNLI charity places visit www.abersoch10K.com or call 01758 710011 for more information. we’ll just have to do it that way. The effect on our trade has been serious and we have only survived thanks to our regulars and the two darts teams, so we owe them a big thank you for all of their support in the last two months”.

Along with two brand new oak bars they have new flooring and upholstery throughout. The toilets have been completely refurbished and the ladies re-sited next to the gents which has made room for a new porch and disabled toilet with a baby-changing facility. For those colder evenings and blustery, wet days they have opened out the old fireplace in the dining

area and installed a log burner- perfect for toasting cold hands and feet after a long walk on the beach. Remember that every Wednesday evening they hold the increasingly popular charity quiz night and Sundays they have a delicious carvery from 12:30 (for which advanced booking is advisable on 01758 712 660). You can also ‘Like’ their Facebook page ‘The Sun Inn, Llanengan’ to keep up to date with any special events or offers they have on.

Bottoms up, cheers and iechyd da to the future of the Sun Inn!

Soch Press

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND ABERSOCH

Llyn Biker Club’s annual charity ride

The Beicwyr Llyn Biker Club’s annual charity ride took place this year on the 4th March 2012 and attracted some 120 bikers to join them on their 100 mile ride around the Llyn. The charity motorbike ride was held this year in aid of Dafydd Llywelyn Williams, aka “Sponge” who, against all the odds, also took part in this fantastic fund-raiser.

Llywelyn is a 16 year old young man. The son of Llyn Bikers founder Eirian Wyn, who on his 16th Birthday passed his CBT and is now very keen to move on to bigger bikes. Llywelyn is also a Junior Champion Surfer who loves the sea. He also enjoys helping out at the local Lifeboat Station in Abersoch -- an all round popular boy. Whilst skateboarding home on the 4th September 2011 Llywelyn was tragically struck down by a car. He suffered horrendous injuries and during the following weeks his family was told twice that he might not survive the night. The following six weeks of what seemed endless visits to theatre in Bangor & Liverpool Royal Intensive Care Units, being in an induced coma, life support machine plus Dialysis machine. Llywelyn showed everyone an amazing inner strength to recover. Sadly his right leg had to be amputated above his right knee. For a 16-year-old boy this is a tragic, devastating lifechanging situation. But Llywelyn has shown great determination and positivity. In his own words “Wants to be doing everything he was before… but better!”

The money raised by the Llyn Bikers will help provide Llywelyn the care and equipment he needs to carry on with his life and will go towards their £50,000 target needed to buy him a new stateof-the-art hydraulic limb, to get him back in the sea and back on two wheels. Talking of the success of the bike ride Llywelyn’s uncle and a member of Llyn Bikers, Eifion Roberts, said: “It was a fantastic day, the weather was kind to us and over 120 riders took part and up to now we have raised over £1,200. We are still waiting on some donation forms which are being sent back to us, so we won’t have the total figure raised until our meeting later this month. Llywelyn had a wonderful day as well, he did the whole ride on the trike with his dad and Scott Beeland, who is the nurse that helped save his life at Liverpool Royal Hospital, and they all really enjoyed the day”.

We’ll give you an update on the final figure raised in the next issue of the magazine and you can follow Llyn Bikers on Facebook.

BOB VALENTINE SHOOTING SCHOOL

Haulfryn House

18

Having celebrated its 25th Anniversary last year Bob Valentine Shooting School is going from strength to strength highlighted in their recent win of the Countryside Alliance ‘Rural Oscars’ Enterprise award last December, where both Bob and daughter Ali walked away with 1st place at The Welsh Assembly.

Ali is back. Having spent 2 years in London working for Beretta selling sporting wear and guns in both their main store on St James’s and concession in Harrods; she is now available for lessons at The Shooting School.

There is plenty going on and you can be updated on their new website launched Christmas last year. Keep up to date with events, their popular monthly Open Shoots along with the

The girls at Haulfryn House have been busy over the winter setting up a dedicated Facebook page where you can follow all the latest news and offers.

A short survey was also posted on new exciting themed ideas for Spring /Autumn out of season weekend breaks.

What could be more wonderful than escaping to this tranquil

dates of their new Friday night Skeet shoots, all on the new site www. theshootingschool.com , ‘events’.

Ever wanted to shoot but not sure how to go about it – why not come and follow our lead and join our ‘Beginners Shoot Day’ – April 21st 2012 where we are offering a special introductory offer for the beginner.

Don’t forget if clay target shooting is not for you – the archery and air rifle range will be set up for an alternative thrill come summer. Get in touch for further details.

The Shoot Room is also available for hire. Whether it is a special occasion, a business meeting or a general reason for a party, hold it here – it doesn’t get much better than this!

setting with a group of favourite friends and on Saturday being given wine-tasting lessons to get the palate going. Or hen groups how about chocolate making, cake decorating or flower arranging fun - money saving for Brides-tobe too!

The Facebook page now has a large selection of Haulfryn House photos which you can browse

through, displaying house and gardens in their full glory.

A fascinating series of black and white photos have also been unearthed, documenting the house and gardens in the 1920’s – anyone for lawn tennis?

Log onto Facebook, search for Haulfryn House, and click “Like” to receive regular updates.

Heavens Above WORDS BY HEATHER OWEN

Steve Clayton is well known locally around Abersoch, living just ten minutes away from the village and previously being recognised as ‘Steve the Decorator’. Everyone knows the van Steve would drive – a red, white and blue van with a smiley face visible behind the wheel! Steve decorated the community for 18 successful years, but has recently decided on a bit of a career change... Steve’s painting and decorating days are now a thing of the past as the local legend takes a whole new path in life!

On hearing Sensation planned to include a piece on Steve Clayton this issue, I leapt at the opportunity to interview him myself. I’d been intrigued about this photographer I’d heard so much about, and wanted to find out more. During a very pleasant chat, Steve happily filled me in on how his huge change of heart came about, and what the next steps are for him. I learnt all about his new business Heavens Above, and was soon taught a great deal more about ‘Paramotoring’ too! It was

20

a really refreshing experience speaking to someone so passionate in what they do, and so willing to share their story.

Steve informed me it was on his fiftieth birthday that he decided it was time for a change. Now, most would opt for perhaps an easier option than taking up paramotoring, like painting or learning a new language- but not Steve! Having had a go at paragliding in the past, Steve wondered what it would be like to paramotor and enrolled himself in some training. An added bonus was that the training took place at Sky School in Spain, so Steve seized the opportunity and drove there himself for two weeks of intense lessons. On his return, he brought with him all the equipment and knowledge he needed to take his new hobby to the next level. From then onward, he has enjoyed gliding over North Wales with his own Parajet taking in the breathtaking views and taking pictures for his own enjoyment.

Not quite understanding the difference between paramotoring and paragliding, I asked Steve for some help. He

cheerfully explained that the two are quite dissimilar, much to my surprise.

Paragliding involves setting off for flight from the top of a mountain, sailing your way through the air before slowly and peacefully free falling towards the ground. Wind is important to landing a paraglider as it helps control the speed at which you approach your landing spot. ‘Flaring’ is a specific technique paragliders use which is crucial to the landing process. It involves flyers taking the brakes in each hand and holding them by their side, reducing the surface area of the paraglider and allowing it to descend.

A paramotor, on the other hand, has a small motor attached to the pilot which ensures their time up in the air is a lot longer. I was a bit unsure how a heavier piece of equipment would suspend itself in the open air, but Steve also explained this process to me. Instead of jumping off a mountain, paramotor pilots must find a long stretch of land of about 100ft long, to be able to run and take off.

Steve often uses the length of Abersoch

Heavens Above - Steve Clayton Aerial Photography ‘So often you get caught out with washing on your line or cars parked down the drive when the aerial photographer comes by and takes their pictures,’ Steve chuckled to me down the phone, ‘I want people to be able to come to me a few days in advance, get their gardens ready and prepared, then I can get in the air and take some great pictures for them.’

Steve’s unique service gives people the opportunity to appreciate the lovely homes that we have in the area from a completely different perspective; his images are really something you could admire and keep forever. He services areas all over the Peninsula, but does intend to stay local as his home is based here and as previously mentioned, it’s his favourite place to fly!

Aerial photography is not the only trick Clayton has up his sleeve. He also helps out son Nick on occasion, who has taken over the decorating business. He admits it feels a bit weird having his son now tell him what to do! Nick is currently busy working on The Warren as tex decorator. Daughter Gemma Clayton also works locally and manages the Zinc Cafe and Restaurant; another business undergoing some dramatic changes in time for the season!

Not only that, but talented Steve is also a singer and has sung in many different venues such as the Yacht Club, The Warren and various hotels.

He is available to hire for any occasion, having sung at weddings, anniversaries and birthdays in the past. Despite my suggestion that his stage name should

“Steve’s unique service gives people the opportunity to appreciate the area from a completely different perspective”

24

be Superstar Steve, he has settled on using his proper name while onstage!

You may also recognise his voice from commentating the Abersoch 10k race two years in a row. He has contributed a great deal to the community so far in his years of living here, and does not seem in any hurry to stop any time soon. And good luck to him!

Steve is contactable via e-mail: s.clayton4@btinternet.com Or phone: 07778899595 For more information on Parajets and the Sky School visit www.skyschooluk.com www.parajet.com

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Celebrating in Style All p hot ogr ap hy by T ot a l l y A be r s o c h

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HEAVENS

ABOVE

STUART HUGHESBURTON OF VENETIA

FEATURED

CHEF

STEVE CLAYTON AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

>

Shipwrecks Of the Llyn

CELEBRATING

IN STYLE ABERSOCH FASHION GOES LUXE

PROPERTY SECTION

ALL NEW FOR 2012 SOME OF THE BEST PROPERTIES FOR SALE OR TO RENT

Glass Butter Beach

HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR ENDLESS SUMMER FESTIVAL

100 PAGES OUR

SOCH HEADS COMPLETE EVENTS GUIDE ABERSOCH AND PWLLHELI MAP AND LISTINGS

BIGGEST ISSUE YET

Online: www.abersochlife.com

By Phone: 01758 710011 Email: info@Sensationgroup.com Or complete the section below and send to: Sensation Group The Orchard Abersoch Gwynedd LL53 7LD

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Please enclose a cheque made payable to Sensation Group Issue 37 Spring

Spring Fashion

Celebrating in Style

TOP: LAUREN WEARS: Ted Baker Derbert Reflective Maxi Dress Coastal Culture £89 GEMMA WEARS: Firetrap Rani Maxi Dress - Coastal Culture £100 LIONEL AND CHRIS: as before.

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WORDS AND PICTURES BY LAUREN GRIFFITHS

DID YOU KNOW THAT? Regular visitors to Abersoch may or may not have noticed on their travels the rich welsh heritage of the area lives on in the names of places and houses. With so many new property developments happening all the time, the new owners/ property developers are strongly encouraged to name their house in Welsh to keep the language alive. The BBC wales website has a Welsh house name generator to help in such cases, and can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/wales/livinginwales/ nameyourhouse Here are some translations of some common welsh words you may have seen around Abersoch, and a couple of things that you may not know...

Yr Olygfa – The View

Castellmarch is a lovely little farm complex just a mile out of Abersoch with self-catering accommodation, you may have noticed it opposite the entrance to the warren.

However for anyone who has grown up in the area, Castellmarch is part of a welsh folk tale which was told to children all over Wales. The literal meaning of the name is Castle (Castell) of the Stallion (March). But according to the fable March ab Meirchion was the name of a King who lived in the castle. The following is taken from ‘ Stories of Wales Told For Children’ by Elisabeth Sheppard-Jones.

“King March, lord of Castell-march in Lleyn, had a secret; and it was a secret he shared only with his barber. Indeed it would have been difficult to keep such a thing from his barber, for the truth was, and the secret was, King March had the ears of a horse! He usually managed to keep these hidden but, of course, he was unable to hide them from a man who cut his hair and shaved his face. So ashamed was the king of his deformity, he made the barber swear never to tell a living soul.

‘If,’ said King March, ‘you breathe one word of this to anyone, I shall immediately order your execution.’

The keeping of a secret can be a difficult matter, and the knowledge he had, together with the threat of death should that knowledge be revealed, began to weigh heavily upon the barber. He worried about it, and the worry made him ill. He had to call in the doctor. This doctor was a wise and clever man; having first examined him and then questioned him, he said to his patient: ‘My good man, if you go on like this you will not recover from your sickness. It is my belief that you are slowly being killed by a secret. Rest in bed will not cure you, nor any 34

Y Ddol – The Meadow

Ysgol Sarn Bach You may have passed’ Ysgol Abersoch’ on your way around the one way system in Abersoch, ‘Ysgol’ is the welsh word for school. This tiny school caters for children in years 0-4, and after year 4 they move up to Ysgol Sarn Bach which takes children up to year 6. Local children then go to secondary school in either Botwnnog or Glan Y Mor in Pwllheli.

‘Sarn’ means causeway, and is very commonly used in welsh place names. ‘Bach’ means little, so ‘Little Causeway’

medicine which I could give you. To tell your secret is the way to relief ’ ‘alas’ replied the barber, ‘it is true I have a secret, but it is something I can tell no one.’

‘Then tell it to the ground,’ advised the doctor, ‘ but keep it to yourself no longer’ The barber arose from his bed, and left the palace. When he came to some marshy ground in a lonely spot a few miles away, he went down on his knees and, putting his mouth close to the ground, he whispered: ‘King March has horse’s ears.’

As soon as he had shared his secret, even though it was only with the ground, the barber felt better; and where he has whispered the secret words, there grew some particularly fine reeds.

One day, a little later, certain pipers from a place called Maelgwn Gwyned were on the way to a feast that was to be held at King March’s palace, when they passed a spot where the barber had confided his secret to the ground. There they saw the fine reeds growing tall and straight.

‘These reeds would make good pipes’ said one of the pipers. So the pipers cut the reeds and used them for their pipes.

‘We’ll make sweet music with these for the King at the feast’ said another of the pipers.

And they went on their way.

That night when the feasting was at its height, King March called for music.

‘Let the pipers play’ he ordered ‘I am in the mood for music.’

The pipers came forward and proudly lifted their fine new pipes to their lips. But when they blew the first few notes of what was meant to be the King’s favorite tune, a terrible thing happened. The pipes all sang out together ‘Horse’s ears for King March! Horse’s ears

for King March!’

The pipers lowered their pipes with horror and glazed terror at the King whose face was terrible to see. The secret he had tried so hard to keep was now out, proclaimed thus for everyone to hear. In a voice of thunder, he bellowed: ‘Let every piper go instantly to death,’ and he gestured to his soldiers who stood on guard at his side.

One of the pipers, however, a man of courage, stepped forward before the soldiers could grab him.

‘If it please you, sir,’ he spoke out ‘it is not our fault. The pipes are bewitched. Here, try for yourself. See, they refuse to play any tune,’ and he held out his pipe for the King.

King March was a just man but hasty in temper, and perhaps unnecessarily sensitive about his ears. He took the offered pipe and lifted it to his lips. With careful fingering he tried to play a little jig of which he was fond.

‘Horse’s ears for King March! Horse’s ears for King March!’

Quietly the King laid down the pipe and ordered the soldiers to release the pipers.

The heavy burden of the secret was no more; he even began to feel light hearted about it. No one had laughed at him. Most of those present looked quite sympathetic.

Later, when the barber confessed that he had told the secret to the ground where the reeds grew from which the pipes had been made, the King was able to laugh a little to himself.

And that was the origin of the welsh saying: ‘vaeth hynny ar gyrn a ffibav’ ‘That is gone on horns or pipes.’ Meaning that a supposed secret is most certainly a secret no more.”

Porth Porth Tocyn Tocyn HOTEL & RESTAURANT HOTEL & RESTAURANT ABERSOCH ABERSOCH

Abersoch’s only Two Rosetted Restaurant only guide, Two Rosetted Over 50 years in Abersoch’s the Good Food LongestRestaurant Running Continuous Entry Over 50 years in the Good Food the guide, Longest Outside London AreaRunning Continuous Entry the London Area One ofOutside Wales’ Country Hotel Classics One of Wales’ Country Hotel Classics Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool, All Weather Tennis Court and Impressive Outdoor Heated SwimmingGardens Pool, All and Weather ViewsTennis Court and Impressive andHustle Viewsand Bustle of the Village A Family Friendly Haven Gardens Beyond the A Family Haventhe Beyond the Hustle Bustleonofthe theOpposite Village Just a ShortFriendly Walk across Abersoch Beach,and Situated Just a Short WalkHeadland across the Abersoch Beach, Situated Over Looking Cardigan Bay on the Opposite Headlandare Over Looking Cardigan BayDisappointment Lunch & Dinner Bookings Recommended to Avoid Lunch & Dinner Bookings areDay Recommended to Avoid Disappointment Open all for Tea & Coffee Open all Day for Tea & Coffee

Tel: 01758713303 Email: bookings@porthtocyn.fsnet.co.uk Tel: 01758713303 Email: bookings@porthtocyn.fsnet.co.uk WWW.PORTHTOCYNHOTEL.CO.UK WWW.PORTHTOCYNHOTEL.CO.UK

Glass Butter beach Located in the st un Crugan farm, Ll ning cliff top fields of anbedrog, Glass booming return ca Butter’s the locals. Not on used quite a stir amongst ly were we presen chart topping artis ted with Kicks and Goldier ts and DJ’s such as Rizzle ocks, but the week also crammed with end was and fun activities so many additional sports we barely had a ch stop! Whether it ance to wa or even films that in s music, sports, comedy te Beach 2011, dubb rested you, Glass Butter festival’ had it all. ed our ‘endless summer Presented to you festival like no ot by Mark Durston, it’s a combines music, her. Glass Butter Beach skateboarding an wakeboarding, surfing, d weekend celebratin BMXing to create a beautiful area in whg healthy living and the that gathered in ich we live. The crowds ea the weekend couldn rly September to enjoy chilled out atmosph ’t help but give in to the festival. A crowd of ere that characterised the to enjoy the varie all ages flocked the arena place on the 2nd anty-filled weekend. Taking attracted most of d 3rd, Glass Butter Beach after the summer hy the locals that remained weekend a refresh pe had eased. This gave the in as walking around g feeling of together ness, of the faces enjoyi you would recognise most ng truly great experie themselves with you. A And what a week nce! en Those lucky enough d to remember it was... ticket enjoyed the to get hold of a camping bl festival site all to issful peace of having the night before the themselves the Thursday fu edge of the Crugan n began. Perched on the the incredible viewcliff top, campers enjoyed Tudwal’s islands, of the sunset over the gorgeous sunrise followed by the equally by rustic fairy lightthe next day. Surrounded of the camping s stringed along the edges ar chilled out to the so ea, the outdoorsy types below them as theyund of the sea just 30 feet eased their way in weekend in style. to the The next night was perhaps not quite as 36

Just over h alf a year a go, Glass Butter Beach made its debu t as an established festival dou ble the size it’s ever been before!

Just as we thought a ll the summe r fun and frolics of 2 011 were end ing, festival took the Llyn Penin the sula by storm and pr oved us all w rong.

Words by heather Owen, all pictures by Ianedmondson/expix.co.uk chilled out, as the re in leaps and boun st of the crowds arrived ds, full of anticip ation and unsure what to ex pe and truly on our ct! The weather was well sid with their bright e as people streamed in Identical looks ofclothes and excited faces. surprise matched expressions as we our open air stage and were greeted with a huge world famous skat a half pipe being used by er that, but the unfam s and BMXers. Not only had been peeping iliar yellow material that to all driving to anover the hedges - visible itself to be the ro d from Pwllheli- revealed tent. Inside, pa of of an enormous dance rt dancing and enjoyi y-goers were already in the evening, we ng the bar from early on ll and truly satisfie the music. d with Surrounding the ed eateries and stalls ges of the festival site were for partiers to makthat were open all night popular was the Je e the most of. Especially rk Glow Tent- selling Chicken Pit and the Day of other fancy dr morph suits and all kinds es all over the site, s. Bars were also dotted majority of us! Thpleasantly surprising the had thought of eve GBB events team really up every last detail erything when conjuring never a dull momenfor the weekend; there was t on site.

Sport

Glass Butter Beach

It all sounds like a short weekend does great deal to be packed into one and don’t quite be n’t it...? If you missed it yourself lie they’ll prove it to ve it, check it out this year and the earlier date of you! Taking place this year on August, Glass ButteFriday 17th and Saturday 18th in the same gorgeo r Beach will happen once again be even MORE on us spot but this time there will Plas Menai, Offax offer! Collaborating again with is goers will be able and West Coast Surf, festival to participate not wake, skate and BM on X lessons but ther ly in surf, be the chance to e will also tr craze Stand Up Pa y your hand at up and coming ddle Boarding! Not the same secluded just that, but the location for kaend of Llanbedrog beach will be ya Wire! Just turn up king, fishing lessons and Zip to participate in th on the beach the day you want up- it’s as easy as e activities, and you’ ll be signed th So when tickets at. go on general sa le in April get yourself down to Abersoch and buy Offaxis or Coastal Culture in yo urself a ticket fo exciting weekend r the most of convenient for yo the year. If Pwllheli is more u, Llyn Cycles an Centre will have d the Tourist Records in Bang tickets available, as will Cob or and the Tour Porthmadog. You ist Centre in ca glassbutterbeach.co n also get them online at www. m or in HMV shop the UK. So what s around ar weekend ticket, it’ e you waiting for?! At £50 a s really not worth missing out on!

See you there.

tickets go on general sale on the 2nd of april, in shops from 1st june. for more info visit www.glassbutterbeach.com

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DESIGNER SWIMWEAR & HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS

www.coastalculture.co.uk 01758 71 2414

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ACADEMY PRO SHOP HIRE & SALES

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TEL: 01758713407 WWW.OFFAXIS.CO.UK

Y Noddfa WORDS BY JESSICA BOOTH

The Llyn peninsula is one of the most picturesque holiday destinations in the UK. But we know what that can mean! Busy roads, loud neighbours and packed beaches. Only five minutes from the heart of Pwllheli is a tranquil sanctuary. Y Noddfa is a true escape, from the busy tourist buzz, nestled in the pristine countryside of North Wales. At this retreat, you really feel as if you have been transported to a secret, exclusive haven. With an extensive 60 acre property filled with rolling fields, wildlife habitats, six fishing lakes and walking trails—Y Noddfa, The Sanctuary, is a little slice of Llyn paradise.

This luxury lodge park has it all. The best amenities set in a stunning natural setting. You could easily loose yourself in the woodland glades, meandering paths around well-stocked lakes, and scenic views. There are lots of wide open spaces, places ideal for picnics and bbq’s or just watching the world go peacefully by. Nature lovers might even catch sight of some of the local wildlife, such as herons, ducks, and otters or even a rare mink.

There are just so many charming surprises hidden around the park.

In addition to the natural beauty, there is a fabulous 20 meter outdoor heated swimming pool to pass restful days lounging in the sun and a jacuzzi to sooth bodies tired from long days spent enjoying the Llyn. There is also an outdoor gazebo with BBQ

A slice of tranquility only minutes from Abersoch

facilities and refrigerators for those holiday family & friends get togethers. For those who prefer a more athletic holiday, there is an all weather surface tennis court and a state of the art gym. The best thing about all of these wonderful features is that they’re just for the residents. You really are in your own private heaven- a proper escape.

Some days you may find that you want a break from all the peace and relaxation. Well, that is easily done! The site is only five minutes from the world famous Pwllheli deep water marina with sailing and watersports and ten minutes from the challenging Morfa Nefyn Links Golf Course. In fact, the central location makes it easy to get to anywhere on the Llyn. Whether shopping or dining in Abersoch or touring the castles and gardens of Criccieth and Porthmadog, there are so many ways to lose yourself in this wonderful area. With a home at Y Noddfa, you really can have it all.

Andy and Christine Cotter took over the site in September and with their two children, Vicky and Rick have given Y Noddfa a family-run, friendly and personal touch.

Talking of his luxury lodge park Andy Cotter says: “We have been living in Bwlchtocyn near Abersoch for more than 20 years but it was only three years ago that I first visited Y Noddfa. My first impression was what a fantastic site, this

”

Hollywood luxury here in North Wales complete with your own private hot tub”

44

Luxury Lodge Park

truly was a 5 * location, everything had been built to the finest specifications. The entrance and reception were first class as was the superb pool area. The lodges themselves built by Cambrian a local company based in Porth Madog had to be seen to be believed....Hollywood luxury here in North Wales complete with your own private hot tub ! On chatting with the residents they kept referring to the peace and tranquilty of the 60 acre site, they enjoyed visiting all the local attractions, beaches and the Marina at Pwllheli where many already owned boats. However they loved to come back in the evening to relax and enjoy what the park had to offer. Although we have a park in the Lake District we have been looking for the last 18 months to acquire another lodge park on the LLeyn. As soon as I heard there might be a possibility of acquiring Y Noddfa we went flat out to make sure it was us that were going to be the new owners, it was too good an opportunity to miss.

When we finally took over the park at the end of September it was like a dream come

”

SATURDAY 9th JUNE 2012 Official Charity Partner

RACE £1,500 PRIZE PURSE | BIBTAG TIMING SYSTEM | DRINKS STATION RACE MEDAL | BROOKS TECHNICAL T-SHIRT | CLEAR MILE MARKERS FULLY MARSHALED COURSE | OFFICIAL EVENT AFTER PARTY

For full details and to enter online visit:

WWW.ABERSOCH10K.COM

With special thanks to W & G Williams for their continued support

THIS SPRING YOU SHOULD...

TAKE TO THE SKY

WORDS BY EMMA HARTLEY

Whether your dream is to fly over the remote beauty of the Snowdonia National Park, spot famous Welsh landmarks and historical castles, get a birds eye view of the rugged coastline or indulge in a twilight flight to celebrate that special occasion – Helicentre Caernarfon offers a wide variety of flights to choose from at prices that aren’t reserved for the rich and famous. From the comfort of your very own helicopter, panoramic views can be yours to savour!

Helicentre have been involved in aviation for over 15 year and provide commercial and private helicopter training as well as charter flights. They run out of two major bases at Liverpool International Airport and Caernarfon North Wales Airport as well as providing regular helicopter services at Manchester Barton Airport.

This makes Helicentre the leading training provider in the North West. Helicentre have a modern fleet of helicopters, starting from a 2 seat Robinson R22 up to a 6 seat Eurocopter AS350 which are used for both training and charter, providing students and charter clients with the most suitable helicopter for their requirements.

Charter your own helicopter The Helicentre have a wide selection of standard flight packages available including a couple of great packages we particularly liked.

Caernarfon Castle Tour Take off from Caernarfon Airport and see Caernarfon Castle from the air! In this helicopter flight you will be able to experience the thrill of flying in a helicopter as well as taking in the beautiful views of Wales - £49.00 Snowdon Tour View the peak of Snowdon from the air in a helicopter. Towering at height of 3,560 feet, mount Snowdon makes a spectacular feature £85.00 Pwllheli Marina and Abersoch Tour Flying over 50 miles in the air by helicopter this is definitely something that won’t be forgotten. Departing Caernarfon Airport and heading to the south, you will be able to see the vast size of the Llyn Peninsular. You will follow the coast over Pwllheli, the Warren and Abersoch.

Having a bird’s eye view on such a scenic coastal helicopter flight definitely makes this flight so special. £149.00 48

Or why not speak with one of their pilots and design your very own route, even ‘drop in ‘ somewhere for lunch -- heli dining is all the rage this year!!

Take the controls and fly a helicopter For the more adventurous, the adrenaline rush of a trial helicopter lesson is a must!!

Take control of the helicopter yourself with one of Helicentre’s experienced instructors by your side. Helicentre is a fully approved CAA Flight Training Organisation (FTO). This allows Helicentre to train pilots to learn to fly helicopters from beginners to gain both Private and Commercial pilot licenses in an approved and structured way.

Two seat helicopter, 30-minute flight experience A trial lesson is a great experience, whether it is just for fun or even the starting point of gaining a helicopter licence. Your instructor will brief you on the controls of the helicopter and show you how they affect the helicopter while in flight. The helicopter trial lesson is certainly special and a fantastic new way to discover the freedom of flight. £182.00 Either way, taking a flight with the Helicentre is an amazing opportunity to fly over our beautiful country and see Abersoch from a completely different perspective!! For more information visit www.helicentre.com or call 01286 830800

WITH HELICENTRE CAERNARFON

Pwllheli Marina

Rydym hefyd yn cynnig amrywiaeth eang o weithgareddau awyr agored drwy gydol y flwyddyn.

Eich i’n gwefan am fwy o wybodaeth We also offer a wide range of outdoor activities throughout the year. Please visit our website for full details.

Boatyard Services Ltd www.abersochboatyardservices.co.uk

Offering the best Park & Launch Service in the village with a friendly and family oriented atmosphere.

Total Boat Management, Servicing and Repairs. Home of The Timcast Yamaha Outboard Sales & Service, Ocean Kayak, RC Laser boats & spares For more details on any of the above give Tim a call, or email tim@abersochboatyardservices.co.uk

01758 713900

N.F. Storage Solutions Secure Undercover Storage for boats and caravans just 3 miles from Abersoch. Delivery & collection available. Run by the same great guys who run Abersoch Boatyard Services so you know we’ll look after you pride and joy. nfss@abersochboatyardservices.co.uk

LEARN TO SAIL WITH ABERSOCH SAILING SCHOOL

THIS SPRING YOU SHOULD...

The Summer is coming and Abersoch bay is looking bluer and bluer everyday. If you’re looking for something fun to do this Spring / Summer then why not make your way down to the Main Beach and visit Abersoch Sailing School.

For those wanting to truly immerse themselves in the Abersoch culture getting out on a boat is an absolute must and with Abersoch Sailing School on hand to show you the ropes, lack of experience is no excuse. Expert tuition in both sailing and power boating is available, as either structured tuition following a Royal Yachting Association course, or as informal coaching.

They also offer joyrides for Children as young as 4yrs old, which is a fun and safe way to help get your child confident with being on the water.

And for those already expert but finding themselves without a boat, they have lots of sailing boats available to hire including Laser Funboats, Catamarans, Topper’s or Laser Bahia. Hire is on an hourly basis. Price varies between £40 (1 hour) - £80 (3 hours).

Or why not go for the full sailing experience and ‘Go Large’ on Abersoch Sailing School’s Hunter 707 racer/cruiser which is ideal for families or groups just wanting to enjoy some time together on the water. Bangers ‘n’ Mash is available to hire with your very own skipper so why not enjoy a leisurely sail around the islands spotting the seals and dolphins, or visit Porth Ceriad for lunch? Price is £75 per hour (minimum two hours).

And for sheer fun just splashing around on the kayaks is always a great way to take in the sea air starting at £5 for half an hour.

For more information visit www.abersochsailingschool.com Or Call 01758 712963 or 07917 525540 50

Coastal Chic Holiday Homes...

Operating for nearly 10 years, Abersoch Holiday Homes has the ultimate collection of coastal chic self-catering accommodation in Abersoch, Llanbedrog and the surrounding area.

With over 60 specially selected high quality properties, ranging from large renovated farmhouses, boutique-style luxury homes to pretty cottages and chalets, there is something for everyone.

Whether a romantic getaway for 2 or group holiday for 14 guests, all properties are stylishly presented and well-equipped with many including Sky TV and wireless broadband.

All holiday homes welcome children and provide travel cots, high chairs and stair gates at no extra cost. And there is no need to leave four-legged friends at home, with a third of houses welcoming well-behaved dogs.

Frequent visitor to Abersoch or new to the area? Take a look at our full collection online at... www.abersochholidayhomes.co.uk

NrE2W 012 fo

The Cottage, Abersoch The Cottage is a beautiful end terrace property within one mile of Abersoch Village and 15 minutes walk to Abersoch main beach, The Cottage has been renovated and refurbished throughout in 2012.

With chic nautical design touches, The Cottage offers high quality and stylish accommodation throughout, with an elegant garden with lawn, patio, dual level decking and open views towards Abersoch Bay. Sleeps 5 in 2 well appointed bedrooms.

Borth Cottage, Abersoch Exquisite luxury coastal house situated a stone's throw from the beach. Borth Cottage in Bwlchtocyn sleeps 12 guests in 6 en-suite bedrooms and boasts its own heli-pad, cinema, open fires, state of the art kitchen, conservatory & games room. Large landscaped gardens.

Mona, Abersoch Beautifully presented cottage overlooking Abersoch harbour beach. Elegant patio and terraces with breathtaking views. Only 2 minutes walk to Abersoch village and beaches. Sleeps 8 guests in 4 elegant bedrooms.

Hyfrydle, Bwlchtocyn Immaculate cottage in Bwlchtocyn with stunning views across Abersoch Bay to Snowdonia beyond. Short walk to Abersoch main beach and golf club. All rooms are well appointed and have sea views. Sleeps 8 guests in 3 bedrooms.

Trigfa, Abersoch Magnificently renovated detached Edwardian villa located in a tranquil setting but just yards from Abersoch beach and village. High quality furnishings and decor throughout. Large private landscaped gardens with lovely patio and terrace. Sleeps 10 guests in 5 bedrooms.

F19 The Warren, Abersoch Lovely chalet on the luxury holiday home park, The Warren, Abersoch. Just 50 yards from the beach with partial sea views. Sleeps 6 guests in 3 bedrooms and benefits from all on-site leisure facilities including indoor and outdoor pools.

Telephone 01758 740992 or 07979 497071 Email abersochhh@btinternet.com www.abersochholidayhomes.co.uk

Spring fever

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.

-~Charles Dickens Words by Paul Collins Photography by Totally Abersoch It’s a joy to see your garden awaken after a cold and harsh winter but preparing your garden ready for the summer can be hard work, especially when it’s been battered by wild coastal storms. Thankfully Paul Collins from Abersoch Garden Centre is on hand with a few tips to make things a little easier and help you prioritise your efforts so that come Summer all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy your hard work.

You don’t need a huge garden to take pleasure in planting your own flowers and watching them burst into colour.

There is just as much enjoyment to be had in growing flowers in pots to place on your patio, or in your window boxes.

Spring is when the garden wakes up after winter, with spring bulbs, flowering shrubs and pretty tree blossom. Although there is all this to enjoy, there is also some hard work to be done; spring is the busiest time of the year in the garden.

Seeds should be sown both indoors and outdoors, and weeding should be made a priority.

Flowers you can expect to see in Spring Planting bulbs is a great way to get early colour into any spring garden. Spring flowering bulbs should be planted in late summer.

You know spring is on its way when you start to see the spring flowering bulbs appear. These include Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocus, Snowdrops and Bluebells. You can also expect to see several spring flowering shrubs, including Rhododendrons, Camellias and Viburnums.

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Turtle Photography

R o T k l a W A

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Plas yn Rhiw Countryside Walk

From a Neolithic burial chamber to newly planted saplings and a recently made pond, this walk offers a look at the old and the new in the countryside around the small manor house of Plas yn Rhiw.

6 5

Distance: 2.7 miles (4.4km)

4

Time: 1 ½ – 2 hours 3

Terrain: Mixture of gravel, grass, soil and tarmac surfaces. Fair amount of moderately steep slopes. Dogs on leads are welcome.

How to get there: By car: Take the A499 Pwllheli to LLanbedrog then follow signs to Plas Rhiw from the B4413 Facilities: There are toilets and a shop at Plas yn Rhiw National Trust Car Park.

Turtle Photography 54

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Hell’ s Mo

uth (P

orth N

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Shipwrecks

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of the Llyn WORDS BY JESSICA BOOTH

Many tourists and locals alike have spent days enjoying the stunning sea views around the Llyn Peninsula. The connection between the coastal villages and the sea is a long and deep one. Many villages began as small fishing communities or bigger towns that shipped mined cargo from local quarries. The watery history of this area includes tales of smuggling, war and shipwrecks. No big screen pirate movie needed here! The Llyn has a great history of action. Often stories of brave locals are told within the woeful history of tragic losses right off the shore of these picturesque villages. In the news most recently was the sad story of the ill -fated Swanland which sunk off Bardsey Island in cold and bitter November. Many of us once again watched the courageous efforts of several local lifeboat crews and coastguard rescue teams searching for days.

“Stuart”, Wrecked off Penrhyn Mawr

There are a vast number of wrecks off our coasts here, at least 143 in the last 180 years—and that is only the coast from Pwllheli to Nefyn. From Nefyn round to Anglesey there are hundreds more. One of the most intact of these is the Segontium out in the middle of Caernarfon Bay. The boat was originally a Royal Navy armaments tender but was refitted as a mussel dredger until it sank during a storm in 1984. Now it sits pretty much upright on the sea bottom, home to some fairly big conger eels and populated with large shoals of fish. The wealth of wildlife has made it a good site for divers and fishermen alike.

One of the most treacherous stretches of water is around Bardsey Island and into Porth Neigwl, or Hell’s Mouth, as it is known by many; and for good reason. Hell’s Mouth is very open to south westerly gales and lacks good places to anchor.

One famous ship to be claimed by the treacherous waters of Hell’s Mouth was the Twelve Apostles. Originally built in Pwllheli in 1858, she was a much beloved ship of the Porthmadog community usually carrying a cargo of slate. She was 118 tonnes and had a beautifully carved figurehead of St. Paul. On the evening of November 23rd, 1898 she became the second ship in the year to wreck on the Mouth. The Twelve Apostles was returning from Southampton, empty of cargo with only ballast. The Captain, Richard Jones of Borth Y Gest was heading for St. Tudwals 56

Underwater photos by Chris Holden of the ship “Segontium”

Photography

Showcase

Experience the beauty of the local area through the lens of Abersoch Sensation magazine’s two senior photographers; Martin Turtle of Turtle Photography and John Wormald of Totally Abersoch. Martin and John have kindly given us some inside information about the pictures, including some technical information for all the camera geeks out there!

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Martin Turtle The panoramic photographs on this page were both taken on the same clockwork panoramic camera; a Horizon panoramic camera. Fuji Velvia, nearly two frames used per shot.

This bottom photo was taken at the Rhiw end of Hell’s Mouth. The surfer is Chris Hookes who is emerging from the sea after enjoying the Hell’s Mouth waves. 28mm lens, f11 250sec. The top image was taken from Llanbedrog beach of the headland with a 28mm lens, f5.6, 60th sec.

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HideawayA4.pdf

5/6/09

14:40:24

Showcase Photography

TOTALLY ABERSOCH

John Wormald This photograph is of Abersoch Harbour on a misty morning. This photgraph was taken in March 2007 around mid morning.

John used a focal length of 150mm, f6 .0 and a shutter speed of 1/250sec. He used a Nikon D2x camera.

Below is a picture of the crashing waves at Porth Ceriad, it was taken around September 2011 on a Nikon D3S Camera.

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

Showcase Photography

TOTALLY ABERSOCH

John Wormald This photograph is of the seals on Half Tide Rock (Carreg y Trai) which is the small cluster of rocks out by the St Tudwals Islands off Abersoch beach.

Below you can see a photograph of the participants of the Edinburgh Cup 2011, which was taken on a clear day in July. Both of these photographs were taken on a Nikon D3S Camera.

To see more photographs by John visit www.totallyabersoch.co.uk or visit the Totally Abersoch Studio about a quarter of a mile out of Abersoch towards Sarn Bach.

27290 Egryn A5 menu 2012_26030 Egryn A5 2012 20/03/2012 13:48 Page 1

Escape to the

Little Orchard

Berllan Bach

freshly made

l

steakstones

l

pizzas

l

gourmet burgers

l

seafood

Turtle Photography

Escape to your own self contianed swiss style chalet. Close enough to the village to enjoy the fun but far enough away to relax to your hearts content.

To book call: 01758 740992

Restaurant open Easter to end October Try our takeaway service for pizzas, burgers and puddings!

You’ll find us in Abersoch village

www.abersochholidayhomes.co.uk

Lon Sarn Bach, Abersoch, Gwynedd LL53 7EE T. 01758 712332 l www.egryn.com

Little Orchard, Abersoch, Gwynedd LL53 7LD

Featured Chef Stuart Hugh es-Burton At Ven etia Words by J ess Booth Venetia is a relaxed but elegant gem located right in Abersoch. Marco and Jayne have put a warm, stylish touch on this Victorian Villa by adding modern Italian touches to a classic background.

The balance of old and new runs through the whole building, including the well-appointed rooms upstairs. In fact the Venetia is well worth a stay as the luxurious rooms have all the modern conveniences and look trés chic! This caring and personal touch carries through to the cozy but refined dining experience. The dining room itself has warm wood floors and tables with colour carefully infused through lovingly chosen art and furniture. The food is modern, inspired by Chef Marco’s Italian heritage, but also balanced with his passion for angling and the abundance of local food we have in this area. When Sensation contacted them about our featured chef, they were happy to share the spotlight with one of their key players in the kitchen, Chef Stuart HughesBurton. Stuart has lived and worked on the Llyn his whole life. He is a true local and brings his passion and knowledge of the area to his cooking.

Sensation: How did you get into the catering profession?

Stuart: Well my Granddad was a tutor in a catering college in his younger days so that kind of planted the seed but my Mum also loves to cook and she would often get me involved in whatever she was doing in the kitchen. She was always making jams, conserves and chutneys. I have always lived and worked locally. When I was younger, I worked in several restaurants in the area and then got my qualification in catering. I’ve worked with Marco in the past and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be part of the Venetia.

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make the whole thing on my own but I’ll always remember that one.

Sensation: What inspires you when you are in the kitchen?

Stuart: Living by the sea obviously has its advantages. Where fresh seafood is involved we can easily get our hands on the freshest scallops, lobster and crab to name but a few of the ingredients easily available. These items are already pretty much perfect as they are so you don’t really need to mess with them too much, which I think is always a plus point.

Sensation: Do you fish a lot locally? And what sort of fish do you like to prepare?

Sensation: Can you remember the first dish you ever made?

Stuart: Yes, Marco fishes a lot so I go with him whenever I can. I’d have to say that local sea bass and mackerel are just the best. When they are fresh and in season, there is nothing better.

Stuart: Yes, I did a lot of cooking with my Grandparents - nearly every weekend. Those are some great memories. One of the first was a trifle I made with my Nan. It was slathered in custard and cream. A true classic. Another early one was caterpillar birthday cake for my Mum. I didn’t

Sensation: Any tips for us novices as far as looking for or preparing fresh fish?

Stuart: Well, look for clear eyes, firm flesh that bounces back when you touch it, and bright red gills— As far as preparing it goes, get someone else to do if you can! Just kidding, the best thing

if using fish you’ve caught is to get the guts out as quick as possible to keep the fish fresh for longer.

And don’t be afraid to just give it a go. The taste is worth the effort.

Sensation: What are you favourite dishes to cook?

Stuart: We bake fresh bread every day for the restaurant and I do really enjoy that. Especially sun dried tomato and caramelized onion bread.

It smells fantastic when it is baking and tastes delicious. I also like making any desserts really.

They’re fairly easy to play with to make them your own. There is just so much scope for creativity.

And I guess they are part of my history, because they are some of the first things I started cooking.

So what recipes is Stuart going to share with us?

We asked him to share two of his favourite dishes.

The first is his Fennel and Sausage Casserole which is an easy family meal that ties together wonderfully with Stuart’s Welsh roots and the influences of the Italian kitchen. It is inviting, scrumptious and pure comfort.

Stuart’s second choice is his signature lemon curd cheesecake with mango sorbet and a chilled spiced fruit soup. I can say first hand that this pudding is divine! It is bright, clean and light. The cheesecake has a fluffy texture while the lightly gingered fruit and zesty mango add notes of the tropics. This pudding would be a showstopper for any Easter dinner! MMMMMM!

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Featured Recipe

by Stuart Hughes- Burton

Lemon curd ch eescake with fruit soup an d Mango sorbet Mango sorbet You can buy this if you like but this is an easy cheats mango sorbet Ingredients:

2 fresh ripe mangos 75 g caster sugar 3 Tbsp. coconut milk 1 tsp. lemon juice 250 ml double cream Method

*Slice the mangos open and scoop out all of the fruit from the skins.

Don’t forget to include fruit around the stone (a knife works well for this). *Place the fruit in a food processor or blender. Add the sugar and blitz for 1 minute, or until the sugar has dissolved and you are left with a delicious mango puree. *Add the coconut milk and lemon juice, and briefly blitz to combine (a few seconds). *Pour the mango puree into a bowl or container while you continue to use your processor/blender. Scrape down the sides and bottom with a rubber spatula to remove as much of the puree as possible. *Now pour the whipping cream into the processor/blender. Blitz until the cream forms stiff peaks, or is quite stiff (not runny) when dipped into with your finger. *Add the mango puree to the whipped cream and blitz 5-10 seconds, or until you get a good mango-cream consistency. *Pour into a large yogurt container or similar size tub and place in the freezer. Allow to freeze at least 6 hours, preferably 8.

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Fruit soup Ingredients:

5 medium sized strawberries 10 blueberries 10 black grapes 70g sugar A pinch of cinnamon A pinch of powdered ginger 2 basil leaves 2 mint leaves 350 ml water Method:

*Slice the strawberries and grapes into quarters place into a bowl with the blueberries *Put the water, sugar, ginger, and cinnamon into a small saucepan and simmer until the sugar dissolves *Pour the hot liquid into the berries and tear the basil and mint leaves in *Chill in the fridge Lemon Curd Cheesecake Ingredients:

Makes/serves 8 750 ml double cream 200g Philadelphia cheese 200g caster sugar

1 large lemon 1 leaf of gelatin 1 vanilla pod 80g butter 250g ginger nut biscuits 150g lemon curd Method:

*Whip the cream until firm, grate the lemon zest and scrape the vanilla into it *Juice the lemon and melt the gelatin in some hot water add both of these and mix with the Philadelphia and sugar until smooth and glossy *Add to the cream mixture *Melt the butter and put the ginger nuts in a blender until they make a fine powder *Mix together and compact the mix down into a medium size spring form cake tin or alternatively into 8 tall mousse mousse rings *Pipe the cream mixture half way up the mousse rings then make a hole with a teaspoon and put in a blob of the lemon curd then pipe the cream mixture to the top *Leave to set in the fridge for 2 hours.

THE SANDPIPER FREEHOUSE HIGH STREET, ABERSOCH 01758 713181

Abersoch’s Largest Free House now in its 4th year

WiFi - Patio - Pool Table Large Selection of Lagers, Beers, Wines & Spirits Try our 100% Chucksteak Burger Menu or our Olympic All Day Breakfast Food served from 12:30 - 8:30pm New for 2012 Shmoo Milkshakes Also available for Birthday Parties etc

win e reccomendations from dean pritchard of gwin llyn win es To accompany Stuart’s fennel and sausage casserole, I have chosen three red wines which will wrap their arms around you and give you a big hug. As this is an informal dish to be enjoyed with family and friends, I have selected “comfort wine” to accompany “comfort food”. There’s nothing complicated here, just good wine.

The first wine from Piemonte, Italy is a Barbera d’Asti “Ceppi Storici”. Barbera is one of the grape varieties which is definitely on the up at the moment and this wine priced at just £6.99 (down from £7.99 until May) definitely ticks all the boxes. It is a juicy, lip-smacking damson flavour packed wine.

Rich, smoky, seductive and like all Italians, so smooth!

For the next wine we travel to Chile’s Rapel Valley for the Anakena, Carmenère; £7.25 a bottle. Carmenère is the indigenous grape variety of Chile and it lends itself so well to this rich, meaty casserole. Full bodied, with aromas of blackberries, pepper and a hint of chocolate, it is rich and fruity on the palate, and, as no oak is used in the ageing, it is fresh and velvety smooth with delicious up-front fruit flavours. It’s time you fell for the charms of the Chilean Carmenère.

Rounding off our trio of comfort wines, we have a new offering from Western Australia, The Listening Station, Malbec priced at £7.75 a bottle. As you can see by the photo, its label is not what you would expect to see on a wine bottle. In the 1960’s those involved in the space race were dependent on the tiny tracking stations in Western Australia in order to keep in contact with the astronauts spinning around the planet. This wine celebrates the isolation of the Western Australian night and the remote communities that work there. The Malbec is sourced from low yielding un-irrigated vines; the grapes are picked in the dead of the cool night in order to retain their rich flavours. It is violet black in colour, exotically perfumed and smooth on the palate. It is the ying to the casserole’s yang.

Wine Fact - The maximum permitted level of sulphites in red wine is less than the permitted level in white wine, this may be surprising to people who blame the sulphites in red wine for their headaches.

Histamines, found in the skins of grapes, are more likely to be the cause of some people headaches. If they are sensitive to histamines red wine will affect a wine drinker more than white wine because red wine has spent more time in contact with grape skins.

Wine Fact - Wine contains about 10 times less sulphite than most dried fruits.

Dean’s choice of ‘comfort reds’ Sweet wines or “stickies” as they are known don’t seem to be loved right now, but this dessert of lemon curd cheese cake with mango sorbet and spiced fruit soup cries out to be accompanied by such a wine. Once tasted I am convinced that there will be legions of new fans for dessert wine and, as many restaurants serve dessert wine by the glass, there’s no excuse not to give them a go.

In brief, a sweet (dessert) wine is created when the grapes are left to hang on the vine for longer than usual; this concentrates the flavour and sweetness and allows the onset of botrytis. Botrytis can be a real pest, responsible for grey rot on fruit, but it can lead to what is called “noble rot” which allows the grape to produce a juice of intense sweetness.

Such wines, usually sold in half bottle or 50cl sizes, will have “Noble” or “Noble Late Harvest” on their labels and I have selected two such wines widely available to accompany

this luscious dessert.

The first choice is simply decadent; Riverby Estate’s Noble Riesling from Marlborough, New Zealand is stunning if a little pricy at £18.99 for a 37.5cl bottle. It has aromas of grapefruit, lime, honeysuckle and lemon tart.

Then on the palate, is so sensual and has such a purity of sweetness, it has to be experienced.

You will agree it is a very worthy partner for the lemon cheese cake.

The next choice of dessert wine is a fun and affordable Chilean beauty. Anakena’s Late Harvest Viognier / Muscat is £7.50 for a 50cl bottle. It has yummy flavours of apricot, pear and honey with delicate floral notes. On the palate, it is clean and crisp not at all cloying and is simply delicious.

There had to be an Italian option and the Villa Giada. Moscato d’Asti from Piemonte, Italy, £6.99 for a 37.5cl bottle, ticks all the right boxes. There can’t be anything as grapy and refreshing as this. The semi sparkling wines of Asti are low in alcohol and they have a mouth watering barley sugar and citrus freshness about them. The heady perfume that bursts from the glass is good enough to put behind your ears; it is flipping delicious!

Sweet wines such as these, matched with this outstanding dessert, are not just a treat, but a must for any serious foodie to experience.

The above suggestions, all widely available, work with the featured recipes, but never be afraid to experiment. As far as I am concerned, j y if it works for you, go with it and enjoy.

Wine FactHow large can a Champagne bottle go?

Litres Bottles Standard bottle .75 1 Magnum 1.5 2 Jeroboam 3 4 Rehoboam 4.5 6 Methuselah 6 8 Salmanazar 9 12 Balthazar 12 16 Nebuchadnezzar 15 20 76

Dean’s choice of dessert wines

Sailmakers to Wales & the North West We make, launder, and repair excellent sails, beautiful sprayhoods, fabulous boat covers.

If you need our help, simply email, call or drop by for a chat.

Email: rob@jkasailmakers.co.uk or Call: 01758 613266 Location: South Beach Chapel, Pwllheli, LL53 5AP

Red & White Cushion - £20, Nautical Stripe Cushion - £20, Welcome Sign - £8.00, Grey Willow Rope handle chest (Small) £25 - All Lavender House Sailing Boat - £39 from Totally Abersoch & Lavender House Stainless Steel Lantern - £29.99 - Abersoch Garden Centre

COASTAL CHIC Image above - Seaway Cushion - £29.95, Wooden handpainted Oar (bespoke) £29.50, Fisherman’s Lantern £21.95. All from Finn & Louie Image below - Beach Hut Key Ring £3.50, Handmade Sea Bird £4.50, Pebble Lamp £49.00 - All from Lavender House (Pebble Lamp also sold at Totally Abersoch)

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Fish Serving Dishes, Small £8.99, Large £14.99 - Abersoch Garden Centre Distressed Duck Egg Blue mug £5.50, tea pot £18, sugar pot £5 - Lavender House Blue Clam Bowl, £20 - Totally Abersoch

Various Coastal pieces from Totally Abersoch

PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN THE LOCAL AREA Turtle Photography

Coastal

Homes A taste of the properties available in the Abersoch area

A new addition to Abersoch Sensation Magazine is our property section, which brings you a taste of some of the great homes that are on the market in and around our picturesque coastal village. We’ll also feature some of the stunning accommodation available to rent to make your time in this area something very special, and the agents you should be considering to find that special sanctuary & idyllic retreat.

Dream Cottage

View from Bwlch Clawdd Isaf

BWLCH CLAWDD ISAF, CILAN, NR ABERSOCH. £695,000 A truly impressive detached and extended five bedroom country residence including a detached three bedroom cottage, both having undergone a very comprehensive scheme of renovation, contemporary in style and design with superb interior fittings, yet retaining some of the character features from The owners first acquired the property in the original part of this period residence. a very run down state of repair and have undergone a pain staking transformation This gorgeous property lies in beautiful of the property into a quality home with countryside setting only two miles south five bedrooms to the ground floor, having of Abersoch. The property is slightly four en suite shower rooms and a family elevated and enjoys panoramic views across bathroom. To the first floor the owners the surrounding unspoilt countryside with have created a stunning main living room Cardigan Bay and the Welsh Mountain with multi fuel fire with superb views from Range to the North Easterly direction and all windows, together with open plan design the renowned surfing beach at Porth Neigwl kitchen/breakfast room and a separate (Hell’s Mouth) to the Southerly direction. dining room.

Bwlch Clawdd Isaf

The separate cottage lies to the far South Westerly boundary, tastefully appointed with a large living room/kitchenette, three bedrooms and bathroom. An excellent timber sun decking area encompasses the magnificent views with a brick built barbeque. Externally the grounds provide an excellent gravel parking for numerous vehicles and space for additional boat parking. Adjoining the parking area there is an expansive grassed paddock/play area.

Bwlch Clawdd Isaf is on the market for £695,000 and is available through Beresford Adams, The Harbour, Abersoch tel: 01758 712016 www.beresfordadams.co.uk

Elevated Charm CRAIGWEN, MYNYTHO, PWLLHELI. £695,000 This superior detached residence is situated in a delightful rural area on the outskirts of this small village with an elevated position boasting truly spectacular views over the open countryside, Abersoch Bay and Porth Neigwl (Hells Mouth).

Craigwen

This magnificent property is located just 2.5 miles outside of and Pwllheli, the market town for our area, is only about 5 miles and boasts excellent amenities including leisure centre, golf course and the award winning marina.

The property has been extensively refurbished, extended and improved and the comfortable accommodation is attractively decorated throughout, has the benefit of full double glazing and briefly comprises

LUXURY LODGES FOR SALE ON THE LLEYN PENINSULA

R ET R EAT TO YOU R OW N SANCT UA RY FROM JUST Y Noddfa is the perfect place to appreciate the peaceful and picturesque experience that is the Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales.

Set amongst a delightful woodland glade, this carefully planned park occupies beautiful rolling countryside with tranquil views of the surrounding area. Y Noddfa has the rural charm along with all the modern facilities you would expect from a 5-star development including outdoor swimming pool & Jacuzzi, tennis court, a gymnasium as well as its own private fishing lake.

PR E OW NED LODGES FOR SALE

The Prospect 55ft x 20ft 5 Star Luxury

£205,000

Fully furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom luxury lodge.

The Prospect has a stylish and contemporary feel with some great unique features. Panoramic doors open the full width of the lodge and added with its automatic awning creates acres of outdoor/ indoor living space. The open plan lounge with its extensive seating means that you can enjoy your holiday in style, as a family. The stunning en-suite is another key feature of The Prospect. With a modern his-and-hers bathroom and separate dressing area in the master suite.

The Hudson 60ft x 20ft

£195,000

Fully furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom luxury lodge with hot tub.

The Hudson is the ultimate sleek and stylish home. Bright decor, clean finishes from the marble kitchen worktops to the open plan lounge. The Hudson, with its spacious layout, offers generous living space for the whole family. Equipped with the latest in modern technology – an in-built, state-of-the-art surround system.

The master bedroom boasts an en-suite with a walk in shower, whilst the second bedroom leads into the link attached family bathroom.

You are welcome to come and have a look around, please call

01766 819098

The Sanctuary Luxury Lodge Park, Rhosfawr, Pwllheli, Gwynedd LL53 6YA. info@thesanctuarylodges.co.uk

www.thesanctuarylodges.co.uk

2 1 0 2 s t n e Ev

ESSENTIAL DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Turtle Photography

April April 1 - 6 - RYA UK Youth championships. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk April 21 - 22 -Welsh Youth and Junior championships. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk April 23 - Ladies Spring Open - Texas Scramble. Further information contact Abersoch Golf Club on 01758 712622

May May 20 - Gents Greensome Open.

Further information contact Abersoch Golf Club on 01758 712622 May 26 - Carlsberg Open - Ladies and Gents. Further information contact Abersoch Golf Club on 01758 712622 May 27 - Open Mixed Texas Scramble. Further information contact Abersoch Golf Club on 01758 712622 May 28 - The Olympic torch comes to Pwllheli May 27-June 1 - International Finn World Masters championships.

Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk

Sign up for the 10k run today!

June June 4 - RLNI open day www. rnliabersoch.co.uk June 9th- Abersoch 10k - enter at www.abersoch10k.com

July July 6-8 Wakestock Festival, Penrhos, Tickets on sale now www.wakestock. co.uk July 21 - Dinghy Week www.scyc.co.uk July 22–27 - International Topper UK National championships. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk July 28th - Seabird Open www.scyc. co.uk

August August 4- Squib Welsh Open www. scyc.co.uk August 11 - Abersoch Regatta & Mirror Week www.scyc.co.uk August 11- Sailing Regatta; Best Dressed Beach Hut Competition August 12 - Crab Catching Competition

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abersochlife.com

www.abersochlife.com events | news | blogs | pictures | videos | magazine | directory

See you at GBB 2012!

Totally Abersoch

August 12 – 17 - International Optimist UK National and Open championships. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk

August 26 - 31 - Firefly UK National championship. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk

Totally Abersoch

August 16 - Sandcastle Competition

championship. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk

August 15 - Open Golf Competition; Great Raft Race

SCYC

August 18 - Keelboat Week www.scyc.co.uk August 18 - 19 - RS Feva Open www.scyc. co.uk August 17-18 - Glass Butter Beach 2012. www.glassbutterbeach.com August 19-24 -Cherub UK National

September September. 8 - 11 - RS 300 and 600 UK championships. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk

RNLI Sea Dip 2012

October October 6 - 7 - International Laser UK Ranking event. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk October 20-21 North Wales Surf Contest

Totally Abersoch

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October 27 - 28 - International 29er UK Grand Prix series. Further information contact Pwllheli Sailing Club on 01758 613343 or events@pwllhelisailingclub.co.uk

January 2013 January 1st- RNLI New Years Sea Dip

17th - 18th AUGUST 2012 Beach Side - Crugan Fields - Llanbedrog - Cardigan Bay

www.glassbutterbeach.com

SURF SKATE MUSIC WAKE BMX YOUR ENDLESS SUMMER FESTIVAL A SENSATION LIVE LTD PRODUCTION

s d a e H Soch

THE RLNI NEW YEAR’S DAY SPONSORED SEA DIP ALL PHOTOS BY TOTALLY ABERSOCH

Eager young dippers!

Nice.....wig.

All wetsuited up for the cold water

The theme for this year’s RNLI sponsored sea dip was ‘The Olympics’ and we certainly weren’t disappointed by the wide variety of imaginative interpretations of the theme. Spirits were high on the day despite the bitter cold, and approximately 450 brave souls took the freezing cold plunge in support of the RNLI. This New Year’s day dip was the busiest yet with a fantastic turnout, the beach was transformed in just a few hours from its usual winter state of deserted chilly tranquility to being busier than the hottest day in August.

Upon returning to the village the spectators and dippers swarmed to the ‘Vaynol Shack’ (Which takes the place of Cadwaladers in the winter months) for bacon butties, and they were a little more prepared than last year having not predicted the sheer number of hungry Abersochians craving a hot pick-me-up.

Representing Mexico at the olympics!

Is sumo an olympic sport? At least they’re warm!

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Top marks for the improvised olympic torches!

The home stretch

ABERSOCH INDEX RESTAURANTS & CAFES

1 THE COCONUT KITCHEN, Abersoch 01758 712250 Favourite Thai restaurant by the harbour.

2 THE DINING ROOM, Restaurant 01758 740709 www.thediningroomabersoch.co.uk Great food in this central location.

3 PLAS BODEGROES, Pwllheli, 01758 612363 www.bodegroes.co.uk Delightful Georgian Manor House, elegant bedrooms & lovely grounds.

4 ABERSOCH DELI & CAFE, Lon Pen Cei, Abersoch. 01758 713456 Breakfast, lunches & daytime snacks, to eat in or take-away.

5 PETAL A POT TEAROOMS, Ty Mawr 01758 713098 www.abersochgardencentre.com 6 THE TWNTI, Rhydyclafdy, 01758 740929 Fantastic fish restaurant near Pwllheli 7 TREMFAN HALL, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli 01758 7140169 Delicious Food, Great Atmosphere & Stunning Views. www. tremfanhall.com 8 VENETIA Stunning Restaurant with rooms in the centre of Abersoch - 01758 713354 www.venetiawales.com 9. EGRYN TASTE, Lon Sarn Bach, Abersoch, LL53 7EE Tel: 01758 712332 Web: www.egryn.co.uk Egryn Taste offers freshly made soups, pates, salads, pizzas, gourmet steak and chicken burgers, fish and steakstones.

10 FLIPSIDE CAFE, Up the hill by Land & Sea 01758 712772 Coffee, Tea, Cakes Sandwiches & Ice Cream 11 BLADES CAFE, 3 High Street, Abersoch 01758 713158 Licensed Cafe seeling lots of great food

HOTELS

10 GOSLINGS, Abersoch 01758 712526 4 star guest accommodation with stunning views. www.goslingsabersoch.co.uk.

11 PORTH TOCYN HOTEL, Bwlchtocyn. 01758 713303 www.porthtocynhotel.co.uk Continuous entry in the Good Food Guide since 1957 12 VENETIA, Abersoch 01758 713354 www.venetiawales.com.

ACCOMMODATION

13 ABERSOCH HOLIDAY HOMES, 01758 740992 www.abersochholidayhomes.co.uk. Stunning holiday properties

to rent in the village 14 Y NODDFA LUXURY HOLIDAY PARK jjjjj 15 BERESFORD ADAMS The Harbour, Abersoch, LL53 7AP Tel: 01758 649011 Web: www.beresfordadams.co.uk Estate Agents 16 CASTELLMARCH, Abersoch, LL53 7UE Tel/Fax: +44(0)1758 712242 Web: www.castellmarch.co.uk Self catering holiday accommodation 17 DEUCOCH CARAVANS, 01758 713293 www.deucoch.com. Family friendly run caravan & camping site near Abersoch.

18 SELECT HOLIDAY RENTALS, 01928 711671 www.selectholidayrentals.co.uk. Specialise in management of self catering holiday accommodation in North Wales

19 HAULFRYN HOUSE, Abersoch Beach Road, Abersoch.

01625 262571 www.haulfrynhouse.co.uk Stunning house of great charm. Sleeps 6 - 24 overlooking Abersoch Bay 20 MENAI HOLIDAY COTTAGES 01248 430258 www.menaiholidays.co.uk Fabulous self catering holiday cottages in North Wales

PUBS

21 ZINC BAR, Lon Pen Cei, Abersoch 01758 712880 Open every day, 5pm until late.

22 SANDPIPER FREEHOUSE, Abersoch, 01758 713181 Abersoch’s Largest Freehouse now in it’s fourth year

RETAILERS

23 ALCATRAZ, High Street Abersoch – Great women’s fashion and skincare 01758 713633 24 FLIPSIDE JEWELLERY Aber Uchaf, Abersoch 01758 712772 www.flipsidejewellery.co.uk Jewellery, handmade on the premises. Commissions undertaken.

25 PRESENT THOUGHTS Lon Pen Cei, Abersoch 01758712646 Inspirational and unusual gifts, Abersoch merchandise, fun beach goods, unique home decor and a range of jewellery and accessories.

26 TURTLE PHOTOGRAPHY Aber Uchaf, Abersoch 01758 713641 www.turtlephotography.co.uk Landscape & seascape gallery, prints, postcards, framed pictures, photo restoration 27 WEST COAST SURF Lon Pen Cei, Abersoch 701758 www.westcoastsurf.co.uk Surfboards, wakeboards, windsurfing kit, wetsuits, clothing and footwear. Mail order and surf check.

28 SEREN, High Street Abersoch – Great women’s fashion and skincare 01758 713633 29 OFFAXIS Glanafon Garage, Lon Engan, Abersoch, LL53 7HP 01758 713 407 Web: www.offaxis.co.uk Offaxis is a leading supplier of wakeboards, wetsuits and surfboards. Run by boarders for boarders.

30 ABERSOCH GARDEN CENTRE Ty Mawr, Abersoch 01758 713098 Gardeners mecca, come and visit our extensive range of garden accessories, water features and displays.

31 HIDEAWAY BOOKS High Street, Abersoch 01758 701022 Books, gifts, jewellery, beach stuff and much more.

32 FIRST LIGHT High Street Abersoch 01758 713830 Clothing for men & women, jeans, hoodies etc stock HOWIES & clothes made with organic cotton. www.firstlightclothing. co.uk 33 CHUCKBUDDIES, Abersoch 07812 059726 www.chuckbuddies.com 34 LAVENDER HOUSE Bron y Berth, Penrhos 614343 www.periodpine.com Extensive showrooms, country furniture, stockists of brass beds, antique furniture, will deliver 35 TOTALLY ABERSOCH - Gallery and gifts, Abersoch 01758 713666 www.totallybersoch.co.uk 36 COASTAL CULTURE - Abersoch www.coastalculture.co.uk, Abersoch 712414 37 SPAR CAE DU, Abersoch Providing you with all your local shopping needs 38 WHITFIELD BESPOKE HANDCRAFTED BOWLS Beautifully hand turned wooden bowls 07833 548514 www.facebook.com/mikewhitfieldwoodturner

Last Poem Will somebody wake us and tell us it’s not true Inside we feel empty, hollow and blue Look to the heavens and you’ll see a new star Lighting the night sky, so near yet so far Not a day will go by without us thinking of you Alone with our memories in all that we do Destiny denied you from a son and a wife Everyone knew they were the loves of your life Nothing can hide the pain we all feel Hoping that someday we’ll learn how to heal United in sorrow for a friend o so dear Gathered together we wish you were here Heaven has called you and keeps us apart Eyes are still swollen there’s a pain in my heart Sweet dreams to a great mate so full of fun, To a boyfriend, father, brother and son.

Vick Ktori

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This issue’s poem is dedicated to the memory of William Naden Hughes.

A boat beneath a sunny sky, Lingering onward dreamily In an evening of July Children three that nestle near, Eager eye and willing ear, Pleased a simple tale to hear Long has paled that sunny sky: Echoes fade and memories die: Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise, Alice moving under skies Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear, Eager eye and willing ear, Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, 1987-2011 Dreaming as the summers die: Ever drifting down the stream Lingering in the golden dream Life, what is it but a dream?

Traditional British Game Shooting set in the Heart of the Beautiful Llyn Peninsula

At the Bodfuan Shoot we aim to offer a first class package that includes good shooting with strong sporting birds and simulated game.

We provide a professionally run day, excellent food & hospitality, safe efficient transportation around the shoot, spectacular scenery and nice homely shoot lodge to come back to at the end of the day.

Walked-Up Game Shooting • Driven Game Shooting • Simulated Game Shooting

Bodfuan Shoot Ltd, The Shoot Lodge, Bodfuan , Pwllheli, Gwynedd North Wales LL53 6DT

Tel: 07920 517 289

bodfuanshoot.co.uk