It’s always harder than we think to leave the house, the garden and the bakery. Four excitable kids and our dog make getting anywhere on time a challenge. So, for me, the best adventures, always come with a deep, satisfied sigh; when I arrive at a place and my shoulders drop, and I know it’s all been worthwhile.

Arriving in West Wales is just like that. The journey is long but the reward is great. It has everything we need; great food, friends, sea, sand, kite flying and bike rides, even swims in the river if it’s hot enough; all the stuff family holidays are made of.

The sun shone on us for an entire week in April whilst we stayed at the amazing Fforest in Cardigan, so we took the opportunity to visit one of our very favourite places – ‘the secret beach’ – a place we love all the more for the fact it requires a little bit of effort to get to.

For us, any journey or adventure always starts with the food, so to the groans of our children we first headed to the farm shop to stock up for our picnic. Next we made a stop for homemade ice-creams in the traditional seaside village of Llangrannog, before setting off south along the coastal path in search of our special place.

As we walked our family party naturally split in two, a constant dilemma for the dog who darted between us. At last we arrived and set to, feasting on our treats; sourdough bought from home topped with some great Welsh cheese and chutney, and the first of the season’s tomatoes. Then some bara brith washed down with a flask of coffee.

With dresses tucked in knickers and only a rugby ball for entertainment the afternoon was spent building sand palaces and playing catch; losing ourselves in the tranquility and beauty of it all. As the sun started to fall into the sea we made haste for our return journey back to the warmth of our tent at Fforest and the promise of a hot meal before sundown. A special day together in the most special place in the world, something worth a lot of effort.

Images by Anna Herbert