“IT’S definitely your best picture ever.”
That was the verdict from my son when I proudly showed off my hot-off-the-easel painting after an inspiring “art experience” on a weekend break in Wales.
It was the highlight of my time in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, with Coastal Cottages.
The location is the UK’s smallest city — more of a village with a stonking great cathedral attached.
Our base was the cosy Goat Street Cottage — a traditional end-of- terrace kitted out in a very comfortable country style.
It sleeps five and has everything for a short break, a longer holiday or even a family Easter or Christmas.
The centre of St David’s is a few yards away and yet it’s incredibly quiet.
Pembrokeshire’s golden beaches are the big draw and even in winter they are breathtaking.
The water was turquoise, the skies blue and the sand seemed to go on for ever.
This is a national park lined by a stunning coastal path. At Whitesands Bay, surfers were catching the waves.
The fact the water was icy made no difference.
There isn’t just one beach here — the St David’s Peninsula has 26.
Solva, a quaint inlet, and Newgale — backed by massive pebble bank — were among our favourites.
We were the odd ones out as we didn’t have a dog. Among the walkers they were almost compulsory.
There are signs everywhere for dog ice cream, dog menus and home-made dog treats.
Many of Coastal’s 400 cottages welcome four-legged visitors too.
Ours had a dog bed in the living room although pets are not allowed on sofas or upstairs.
The crashing waves were our muse when we met artist Jill Jones for a two-hour lesson booked through the cottage’s concierge service.
Jill is a human dynamo who, after a 30-year career in graphic design, built her own studio in Talbenny loaded with art equipment.
MAGICAL MEMORY
She has a unique technique and doesn’t believe in doing more than a few strokes with one brush.
So every few seconds we had fresh brushes in our hands with the used ones tossed into a large bucket.
Her step-by-step teaching was truly motivating.
It was the first time in years anyone had really shown me proper acrylic painting skills so I could achieve a result I wanted to hang on my wall.
The concierge service can also deliver hampers of Welsh produce or flowers to your cottage or book activity days ranging from boat trips to spa treatments, cooking classes or flying lessons.
It turns a cottage stay into a magical memory.
Pleased with our masterpieces, we treated ourselves to a hearty and delicious Sunday lunch at The Castle pub in Little Haven.
Back in St David’s, there was just time for a final browse of the shops.
Arts and crafts abound, from the Goat Street Gallery to Solva Woollen Mill and the Window On Wales which had so many covetable gifts it felt like Etsy on steroids.
For the family back home, we grabbed some handmade treats from Chapel Chocolates and the MamGu Welshcake bakery.
If you want to eat out on a Sunday evening, be warned. Despite having a three-Michelin-rosette restaurant and a tapas bar, the town was mostly closed — but this was in winter.
Luckily Saffron met our needs for a final Indian meal.
At the Oriel Y Parc visitor centre we topped up the EV — the break had already recharged our human batteries.
GO: St David’s
STAYING THERE: A week at Goat Street Cottage for up to five starts from £620 in total.
See coastalcottages.co.uk or call 01437 765 765.
OUT AND ABOUT: The Art Your Way experience with Jill Jones, booked through Coastal Concierge, costs from £55 per person.
For more info, see coastalcottages.co.uk.
