As of 2019, there are 15 National Parks in the UK where you can enjoy some of the most breath-taking and treasured landscapes in the country. Each National Park is unique and that certainly applies to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
From the remote, rugged wilds of the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland and the ancient woodlands of the New Forest in southern England to the Preseli mountains and beaches of the Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales, all the National Parks are truly special places.
FelinFach Natural Textiles is located within a ‘stone’s throw’ of the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park boundary at Pont y Glasier or Crymych, some 2 miles away. Some of the wool used in our Welsh Blankets, throws and other wool products comes from sheep living in the National Park. FelinFach is based in a 200 year old former flour mill in the Preseli area of Wales, designing and making wool products including Welsh tapestry blankets, Welsh blankets, throws, scarves, hand dyed yarn, cotton, silk and wool scarves all with natural dye colours.
Saturday 6 April marks the start of Discover National Parks Fortnight – a two-week celebration across the UK with events and experiences running throughout the Easter holidays to inspire people of all ages and interests to go outside and explore and learn more about these special places.
This year’s celebration marks the 70th Anniversary of the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act that paved the way for the establishment of National Parks in the UK. The fifteen National Parks were created to protect and care for special landscapes across the UK, and to do this on behalf of everyone in the country. So, the 70th Anniversary is a perfect moment for us to encourage people – whether they live in a National Park or in the middle of a city – to discover the extraordinary variety and inspiring stories of the fifteen National Parks.
In Wales there are three National Parks. They are the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), the Snowdonia (Eryri) and the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Parks (Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro). These three parks contain very different landscapes; the Brecon Beacons is an inland National Park containing rolling hills with Pen y Fan being the highest point at 886m / 2907feet. Snowdonia has most of the highest peaks in Wales and is mountainous, with Snowdon itself being the highest point at 1085m or 3560 feet.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park was established as a National Park in 1952 and is the only one in the UK to have been designated primarily because of its spectacular coastline.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path was established in 1970, and is 186 miles (299 km) long, much of it at cliff-top level, with a total of 35,000 feet (11,000 m) of ascent and descent. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path twists and turns its way for 186 miles from Amroth in the south to St Dogmaels in the north. During the 186 miles walk are some of the most breath-taking coastline views and landscapes in Britain. It covers almost every kind of maritime landscape from rugged cliff tops and sheltered coves to wide-open beaches and winding estuaries.
The Park is managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which has around 130 staff and a committee of 18 members. The Authority’s purposes are to conserve the National Park, encourage the public to enjoy and understand it. In pursuing these purposes, the authority should seek to foster the social and economic well-being of the communities within its boundaries. The Authority also manages the entire length of the Pembrokeshire coastal path, a 186-mile (299 km) national trail which lies almost entirely within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
There are so many stunning parts to the is National Park that trying to find some favourites is very difficult, but after much deliberation, here are three to consider a visit…
Our company, FelinFach Natural Textiles is located in the heart of the Preseli area of Pembrokeshire near to Boncath. We design Welsh blankets, Welsh woollen blankets and throws which are traditionally woven at Welsh mills. We also design and make natural hand dyed yarn, cotton, silk and wool scarves and other handmade products. We are a proud supporter of the Campaign for Wool, Global Welsh and Wales International.
Cilmeri (Cilmery or Kilmery) is a small village in Powys, mid-Wales but is of great historical importance to Wales. It is also a sad place, for it was there that the last Welsh-born Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd died. Llywelyn was killed in the battle of Irfon Bridge in a minor skirmish with the soldiers of England’s King Edward I on 11th December 1282
Our last posting day for Christmas 2019 UK residential addresses is 20th December. This is for “Next Day Deliveries” which should arrive on 21st or 23rd December. For International shipping see Blog for details. We use UK Royal Mail for international and UK shipping with "signed for and trackable" shipping
We are delighted to join other Exhibitors at the Hampton Court Christmas Festive Fayre on 6th – 8th December. Set within the walled, cobbled courtyards of Hampton Court, we will have our full range of Welsh blankets, Welsh Tapestry blankets, hand dyed scarves and yarn and our so, so cosy throws on show. Twilight Christmas shopping at its very best!