Weekend on the Wye

For a change of scene whilst recuperating we booked a cottage in the Wye Valley, very last minute so unfortunately our son couldn't join us due to work but our daughter and her boyfriend did. It's so nice being retired as not only can we do things last minute but can book Friday to Monday so we do all get a full weekend away instead of having to leave 10am Sunday morning. 

Kerne Cottage in Kerne Bridge was lovely, if a little hilly. I managed to walk up and down the slope from the garage to the front door which was a huge improvement. We were very lucky with the weather, it was glorious when we arrived. 

Settled on the patio 10 minutes after arriving

The house was over two floors; a large cosy lounge, a well equipped kitchen, super dining room, utility room and loo downstairs; three double bedrooms and family bathroom upstairs. There was everything we could need, even vases for my Mother's Day flowers - a real home from home.

Homely hearth - roses from Hubby

Daffodils from our daughter and her boyfriend 

Superb dining room with stone fireplace 

The garden sloped away with views across the Wye although we couldn't quite see the river from the house. There were plenty of birds both in the garden and soaring high above, we even had a pair of swans fly by.

The view from our lounge on Saturday morning -
earlier we couldn't see anything out of the window

The fog cleared to reveal the stunning view  to the hill across the river 

Lovely to see the sparrows having a bath

Afternoon visit from Mrs Pheasant 

Saturday morning it was just Hubby, myself and our daughter so we popped into Ross-on-Wye, a fabulous riverside town although the main street was on a very steep hill so I didn't walk far. Just enough to see the old market place and have lunch with cocktails in Leonards at 39.

Ross-on-Wye

Cocktails with lunch 

The scenery is the Wye Valley is amazing. We went for a drive around on Sunday along the river and to Symonds Yat Rock. It was high up in the forest so I stayed in the car whilst the three explorers followed the trail to the view over the river with birds of prey flying beneath them.

Kerne Bridge over the Wye River

Looking upstream 

View from Symonds Yat Rock

The Wye River flowing off in the distance

It was a very relaxing weekend, enjoying the countryside, good food, good beer and good wine which were all from Majestic.

Our daughter brought a bottle of Prosecco with her - Romeo and Juliet Prosecco with it's very arty label. This is a light bubbly, plenty of pears and red apples with some acidity. Served well chilled it was perfect with our  light pizzas.

Romeo and Juliet Prosecco

Hubby had a meaty pizza which paired very well with Papa Luna red wine from the Calatayud region of Spain. It's a blend of Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell grapes with plenty of raspberries, cherries, a touch of spice and vanilla high notes.

Papa Luna 

With our fish and chip supper on Saturday we had a new wine - Gufetto Pinot Grigio. I picked this up the other week when in store, in all honesty because it was £4.99 and I liked the owl on the label. It was a nice little wine, plenty of citrus with a little minerality and was a great match to our meal. All wine having it's place this would be a perfect light wine for a summer's lunch, certainly one to have in the wine rack for easy drinking.

Gufetto Pinot Grigio

Our other wine was also a Pinot Grigio. Salveto has flavours of white fruit and pears but for me needed a little more depth. Of the two my preference would be for the Gufetto.

Salveto Pinto Grigio

It was a lovely weekend away to an area we have passed through any times on the way to Cardiff, a very enjoyable time which certainly helped with recuperating !!