Episode 4 A Summer in Wales

Summer in Wales is a time of sell demonstration. Holidays. I wahn't

to see a castle and pubs. And the great outdoors. A time when many

businesses must turn a profit. have put everything we have got

into this. Or face a struggle to survive. And a time when good

weather with make all things possible and bad can leave dreams

in tatters. The weather could be better. This summer was

extraordinary. It saw laughter, heartache. Try ul of. -- triumph

and despair. These are our stories. Filmed in every corner of the

nation across the summer of 2012. This is a story of a Sumner Wales.

In summer 2012 we were all encouraged to staycation. That's

holiday at home to you and me. It should have been a bumper year for

camp sites and hotels but the weather undermined the best laid

plans. And this is the front that could bring some very heavy

downfalls tomorrow. With around 600 camping sites, Wales is arguably

the camping capital of the UK. For the hardy lovers of life under

canvas, there is no such thing as bad weather - only ill-prepared

campers. Hi guys, alright, just arrived; so have you set up and

everything OK? Yes. Yeah, just to let you know, there's a little bit

of wet weather coming tonight, so, you know, just to make sure you're

all pegged in. At Three Cliffs Bay campsite in the Gower, owner Tom

Beynon has just heard of the approach of a nasty weather front.

We've got a full site coming in and the weathermen are suggesting

there's going to be a monsoon - which isn't particularly helpful.

Just to make sure everything is secure and you don't leave anything

that can fly away during the night. Tom's family have been running the

campsite for three generations. grandmother and grandfather used to

farm the farm and one day somebody knocked on the door, one wet Friday

evening, wanted to put a tent in the field, which my grandfather and

grandmother thought they were nuts. But then they saw a bit of money

and they thought, "Oh well, hang on", you know, "Let's not be too

hasty". So we had a tent in the bottom corner there with the sheep

in the field. We get lots of regulars that come year in, year

out, which is really nice, and there's people you get to know; and

several people who came here as children who've got married here as

well. So we get a real, real mix of people, and sometimes in the summer

we can have 200 people playing football. It all adds to the nice

family atmosphere that we've got going on here. This is the view

that the campers get to look at when they have their cornflakes in

the mornings. This former sheep field is now regularly reviewed as

being one of the UK and Europe's top camp sites. In fact the

Independent newspaper voted it as having the best view from a

campsite anywhere in the world. When it's sunshine and lovely,

everybody wants to be overlooking Three Cliffs Bay like these tents.

But like this evening now, when a little bit of wind and a little bit

of rain is on the way, we need to put the people in the protected

fields at the back there to give them a bit of shelter from the

inclement weather. It doesn't take long before the wet front arrives.

It doesn't seem to dampen the hardy campers' spirits. Well some wine

and some beer, all ready for the night. Camping, which was once

enjoyed by only the most adventurous of us, has become a

British holiday craze. With money tight, millions of families are

embracing sleeping bags, camp fires and tent pegs. Let's have a

practice run. I'm hoping we've got the right poles. For the veteran

camper, it can offer a little entertainment. It's the worst

possible scenario, isn't it? wish. Wish doesn't happen when you

turn up at a campsite. But it's quite nice watching them doing it.

It happens to all of us at some point or other. It is quite bad.

I'm sure Sam will go and help them in a minute. I love it, I love the

rain actually, as long as it doesn't go on for too long. No it's

really nice, cosy, warm cosy feeling. We were hoping for a bit

better weather really. It might be a bit better tomorrow. That will do.

I tell you what, if there's any relationship going on there it's

going to take a couple of days for that to make up. But if you can

past that, you'll get past anything. It's the first test in a marriage.

Get that out of the way, you'll cruise through the rest of it.

bad weather has wreaked havoc with tourism businesses all over Wales.

On a little knuckle of rock in the chilly Bristol Channel, Barry

Island's funfair has had a disastrous summer so far. But

whenever the rain stops falling, the crowds flood in. Come on, good

boy, there we go then, thank you very much. Thank you very much

Manager Vernon Studt and his team it's good news. We've got a few

more coming then William, aye. This is our Bill here. He's getting

ready with the fish. They're all wet, they're all wet and orange

aren't they? Are you going to ring the bell? To be honest, I didn't

expect this many people here. It's a horrible day isn't it? It's

overcast, but they're coming out aren't they? It's filling up.

little bit more sunshine and it will be even better. Win a goldfish,

all wet and orange. Are you having a go? But it's a case of too little

too late. For the last six years the fun fair has been hit by

washout summers and the writing is on the wall. Everybody is finding

things difficult. I think it's certainly the survival of the

fittest, and you've just got to keep going and try and keep your

head above water at the moment. Park owner Ian Rogers has had

enough. He has secured planning permission to demolish the funfair

and replace it with an undercover leisure complex. Times change and

we've got to change with them. So, it will always be a fantastic place

though, Barry Island, do you know what I mean. It's now just a

question of when the work will begin. Will you drive one way

around please, no head on bumping. Vernon is part of the Studt family

funfair dynasty. A fourth generation showman. Can you come

and help us out for a couple of hours? Oh you're a good 'un, you'r

a good 'un. Until he took on Barry Island's summer pleasure park six

years ago he worked the travelling circuit all year round. Being the

fairground manager has given him a chance to lead a more settled life.

Partner Tracy is worried. Vernon would love go back travelling with

his, you know, with his dodgems, so. I think he's done his fair share of

travelling now. Settle for a few more years still here, hopefully.

When this is going to take place, I don't know. But maybe, maybe I'll

be here next year, I don't know yet. Like I said, I've got to speak to

Mr Rogers and see when development will start. Barry Island will

always be Barry Island. What I want to do is make people talk about it

even more, you know, for the right reasons. For Vernon and his fellow

showmen, closing the funfair will be the end of an era. Very, very

big shame. I came here in 1973, and it's gradually gone down hill.

park will be closing in 15 minutes. The park will be close in 15

minutes. Thank you. Because Barry is going to finish, we're not going

to just, you know, curl up and finish with the business, that

doesn't happen. The show must go on. On the border between Wales and

England stands Bryngwyn Hall. Ancestral seat of the Sandbach

family and home of Auriol, Marchioness of Linlithgow. Good

girl. Is it your dinner time? Maintaining this substantial

Georgian house and its 60 acres of parklands is costly. Lady

Linlithgow and her household have turned Bryngwyn into a money making

enterprise. And the summer is a particularly busy season. Today,

they are laying on a tour and high tea for some very discerning guests.

Christine the cook is stressed. We've got Trenarnie Women's

Institute coming - I think there's 25 of them. And I really hate doing

food for the WI ladies, because they're all such good cooks.

Christine always gets very nervous when they're coming for tea, in

case the place isn't dusted or the scones aren't right. But she always

does a fabulous job. Because we're mixing the butter into the flour

for the scones, which I hate! If I could find somewhere that sold

little scones, I would buy them rather than make them! Tours of

Bryngwyn Hall provide a much needed source of income so it's important

they go well. I think the secret to a good tour is to make people feel

welcome. I love opening the house up. I think I live in paradise here

and as I always say, paradise doesn't come cheap. It's important

that guests are given the right impression so afternoon tea at

Bryngwyn is a formal affair. I like my napkins just so, you know!

Served on the best bone china. Albert, I can see I've got to train

you. Correct. So they pick it up and simply. Every detail must be

perfect. $$$WHITE I've decided they're coming out. I can't wait

any longer. We can relax, scones are made. Welcome to Bryngwyn. I'm

very conscious you're local, and I think every time I have a group

here, I learn something. So if there's anything you can add, or

anything you know about the area, or anybody knew my grandparents,

please tell me, it's always wonderful. It looks like the

afternoon is off to a smooth start. But as the tour gets underway,

there is a crisis in the kitchen. It's a disaster! Christine's

vegetarian flan is burnt to a crisp. I think it's a little overlooked.

It will have to do. What's in the other quiches? Bacon,

unfortunately! Just tell them it's sun dried tomatoes! No, no, this is

bad, and I haven't got a spare. This is not good! In summer,

whatever the weather, overseas visitors pour into Wales. And top

of their must see list is our castles. We have more per square

mile than any other country. Ruined, restored, dilapidated, eccentric,

square, tenth century, 18 Century, take your pick. One even comes with

a working farm. Woah! Good girls. Each summer, 40,000 tourists

traipse through a Carmarthenshire farmyard to reach Carreg Cennen

Castle perched high on a crag above it. Fortunately farmer Bernard

Llewellyn is not too bothered by his paying guests. I quite like

people, I do. But I particularly think of some of the foreigners

visitors that we have. I mean they really are lovely people; they've

come here basically because they, you know, they want to see some of

the heritage of other parts of Europe, or as far as the Americans

are concerned, it's any sort of heritage to be quite frank. I love

telling Americans that it really is quite a modern castle - it's only

late 13, 14th Century! Austria, from Austria, yeah. Oh we have

plenty of castles, but not so romantic like the ones in Wales.

When I go back from here to India, I have taken so many photographs.

Definitely I'll show them my friends. Most of them are very

restored and you can't climb around, and, these castles are more

adventurous. The castle is a vital source of income for this hill

farming family. It's a very small upland farm. It's reality. It's

probably the only way we could exist. But they didn't inherit it

so much as acquire it by mistake. This farm was part of a very large

estate, the Cawdor estate, and they own a lot of land in this area. And

when the estate was sold, my father-in-law, as a tenant, offered

to buy it, and something quite strange happened! Because there

were no deeds associated with the farm, they drew a red line around

whole, well the whole of Castell, which is what this farm is called,

and as a result of that we actually own the castle as well. The family

are a canny lot. After taking over the property, they concentrated on

developing the farm and its castle as a tourist concern. The reality

is we now tend to farm very much with the visitors that come here in

mind. Go on! Go on! Go on! Go on! Go on! Bernard even rears long horn

cattle, an ancient British breed because they make the castle look

even more medieval. Yes, you're a good girl aren't you? You know,

it's not every day that you see these great horned beasties

galloping passed you. Come on children! Voted Wales' most

romantic castle, the family have added a wedding venue to their

We do an awful lot of weddings. Basically, people have just come as

tourists and then they think, I wouldn't mind having that as a

wedding venues. This is where we do the civil ceremonies. The whole

idea was to have the castle up their. It is one of the more

profitable parts of our Business but having said that, it is also

very demanding. Brides tend to be very demanding, I find! The

tourists are starting to trickle through which is the real bread and

butter of this place. I have a castle in my house to play with, a

small one. Whether you visit Wales or London, you should come and see

this castle, it is very special. remember one American lady with

spectacles with semi-precious stones on the outside and a plastic

bag on her head. She said to me, we have just done 39 castles but this

has to be the cue just! Now that the writing is on the wall

for Barry Island, Vernon's other ventures are more important than

ever. He has travelled to Aberystwyth to check on an

amusement ride pitch he leases on the prominent. What we have here is

a children's train ride. Behind we have the children's cups and

saucers and I think what might be very profitable is the bungee jumps.

They will work pretty well here. Despite being based in Barry Island

for a large part of the year, and Vernon has kept his close ties with

the travelling showman a community. Vernon is a cousin and he has known

me all my life. He is a nice lad. have never given up the travelling

side. Maybe one day I will come back here myself, it all depends. A

shame to see Barry Island goal because it has been a long, long

time. For a Vernon, and moved west could be on the cards. I love

Aberystwyth and the people are great. It is a nice part of the

country. Our family have been associated with their grounds for

one had and 30 years. I have always regarded Aberystwyth as the capital

of mid-Wales. On the border between Wales and England is Brangwyn Hall.

That was me when I married. I didn't realise I was being painted

to certain dimensions, because I had to go in the frame of John's

ex-wife. It makes me laugh now but when John and I split up, he gave

me a portrait. History doesn't relate to whether the third wife

will fit the frame! It may be open to tourists but the hall is still

very much a private family home. The first time we opened the house,

we rushed around, tidying it all up and put everything away. We said

after the first time, no, this is our home, but a house, a home. So

we leave everything out now and people see our lucky when the pits

and that is what they enjoy because it is not like going into a

National Trust house. This is my room, it is absolutely wonderful,

apart from the fact that spiders keep catching here and I am

terrified of spiders. I'm going to take the through -- food through

now. That is my mother there in the middle. I will take the paper off

and get everybody else to do the running about. As the tour draws to

a close, Haiti is laid out in the dining room. Well Christine's

baking are pleased the ladies of the Women's Institute? Does it work,

this thing? Then all do it. Will it be over cooked vegetarian flan do?

Delicious, it really melts in the mouth. The cooking is very much to

Women's Institute standard. I have only had a few bites but I'm going

back for more! Christine has pulled it off. It seems to have gone, that

is the main thing. They are eating. We would like to thank you very

much for an absolutely fascinating evening. We've really enjoyed the

food, we have stuffed ourselves silly. She knows all about what she

is talking about and her family goes back such a long way. With

another successful tour in the bag and their reputation intact, were

hustled can relax. I'll take the high heels out and put my boots on

and take the dog out. He did brilliantly. As ever. Kitchen is

closing! Summer events are always at the mercy of the weather. This

year, more than most. Some have made alternative plans whilst

others just prayed that the sun would shine. For the last 22 years,

whatever the weather, the streets of Grangetown in Cardiff have been

filled with the noise and colour of the carnival. This year, for the

first time in its history, a commercial sponsor is backing it so

organisers have decided to go for broke. They have moved the parade

into the city centre and are planning a holiday of celebrations.

The leading designer, Aegean, has an impressive 12 carnivals under

his belt and this year, his creations will be even bigger and

better, including at 10 ft rabbit. This is Robo bunny. I think I need

to to get off now. The head is spinning around and around. This

year's parade will include a whole menagerie of a fantastical puppets.

This is an octopus and I think he will be painted lime green. At one

point he was going to be shocking pink but I put my foot down. This

is a bird of prey so he can be built a proper. He is a dream.

of costume and choreography planning are coming to a head.

You've got to be able to dance in these as well so keep the

choreographic very simple. dance teacher tuna Campbell Davies

takes it all in her stride. Q one to try one? Have ago. When

everything is finished, you think, this is amazing. If we had a little

bit of sunshine, that is all we need. Feel free to make noise with

your feet. This year and the pressure is well and truly on. Not

only will it be parading through the busy city centre, but their

audience will be swelled by thousands of football fans clocking

to the Millennium Stadium. This is our footballer section, and nice

tribute from bass to the Olympic Games. We are feminising this

because it is such a male-dominated sport. There are lots of different

pieces going on plus a big carnival parade which lasts three hours, so

it should be an amazing day for everybody. For the artistic

director, Steve Fletcher, the appeal is simple. Who hasn't wanted

to dance down the centre of Cardiff, dressed as a two-metre high giant

prawn? It is another washout day on Barry Island. The school holidays

have started and the park should be at its busiest. But with no hope of

the weather improving, Vernon has decided not to open the funfair.

familiar sight, looking at those gates closed over. Time is running

out for him and the team. But the funfair due to close for the season

in September, they have little chance to cover their losses and he

and the park order now has news of when the demolition work is due to

start. This is a day for it! A nice cup of tea for you. This is the

second day this week that has not given any of us a chance, none

whatsoever. With a new complex down here, whatever it might be, senilis,

bowling alleys, whatever, it has to be better than this. We are ready

to go. The airier where the log is will be demolished first so come

the end of September, all these rides will be pulled off the site.

It is bad news for the fund their but Ian does have a proposal for

Vernon. Will you be interested in coming into the new development?

Yes, I do like to come on board. Anybody who has supported me

through the hard times, and it has been very hard to the last five

years, I am glad to hear that you're interested. Yes, definitely.

I am here now and we're taking the good with the bad and hopefully

they will be good at the end of all this. It will be cracking. So they

say on Davan and Stacey, is that right, Vernon? Barry Island, it is

cracking, I wouldn't lie to you, that is what they say!

At Three Cliffs Bay, the bad weather has well and truly set in.

Camping in conditions like this is not for the faint-hearted. We have

at lowly tent here which I think people have gone to a B&B tonight

because the wind and rain are having an effect on that.

Considering it is rough, everyone else seems pretty good. It is

fantastic, you cannot beat it, can you? You wouldn't want to go to

Tenerife or anywhere, really. wardens, we will be up checking on

everyone. You've got to be nuts but you cannot not go, especially if

you have paid for it in advance, which you have. We have had a

couple of cancellations, people are chilling out. It is all part of the

experience. We have had 10% of people cancelling which for all the

weather warnings, we're quite pleased with that. There will be

sunshine tomorrow so little all be OK tomorrow. How are you doing? Was

that the cleverest idea, to try and get down? We have to do these zips

up because the wind is getting in there. The wind blew and the tent

nearly disappeared so we had to grab it before it took off! Will

probably go and find a B&B, I think. You cannot get attend up with a

broken the poll. This hasn't put you off, though, you'll be back

next year? Keep on going, that's what we need. There's some sunshine

of a there. It will be sunny in an arc. Wales is in the firing line

for a risk of flooding. Next time: Olympic fever sweeps

Cardiff. Come on Team GB. A tour guide turns gladiator. I am ready