Aberteifi Codi Pac

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-Welcome to Codi Pac.

-I'm Geraint Hardy,

-and I'm travelling across Wales...

-..to find some of our treasures.

-If you want a weekend away,

-you needn't travel far.

-It's all on the doorstep.

-Places to eat, places to stay,

-things to do and see.

-They're all here on Codi Pac.

-This week, I'm on the west coast

-of Wales in Cardigan.

-It's the home of Cardis and one

-of Wales's most important castles.

-Welcome to Codi Pac.

-This is where I'm staying.

-Those doors make it intriguing.

-Let's head upstairs next.

-My accommodation

-is based in a Georgian house...

-..in the town centre.

-The house includes three cosy flats.

-What we have here is several units

-within one house.

-I'm starting in here.

-Here we are in the first unit.

-It's clean and modern.

-There's a solid bed

-and a large sofa.

-The pictures on the wall

-add a little colour.

-There's a nice chair there

-to watch the world go by.

-This is where they've been clever

-with the space.

-They've stuck a kitchen in here.

-The black contrasts with the white.

-What's hiding behind the door?

-It's a bathroom.

-They really have used

-every nook and cranny.

-This is where I'm staying tonight.

-Wow, look at this place! It's very

-light, the wall looks amazing.

-There's wood on the ceiling.

-Here's the bathroom.

-The bed is remarkable,

-but is there more to see?

-Yes, there is.

-There's a kitchen hiding here.

-It's great use of the space

-once again.

-There's more to see outside,

-because I've spotted a garden.

-Unfortunately, I don't have time

-to stay here and enjoy the sun.

-I have to find out more

-about Cardigan.

-I've been told the ideal place

-to start is the castle.

-At one time, Cardigan was the third

-largest port in the UK...

-..after Liverpool and London.

-Ships would sail up the River Teifi

-almost to the castle.

-The castle

-is the oldest building in town.

-I'm meeting Non Jones

-to hear more of the history.

-Non, you work at this

-wonderful castle in Cardigan.

-In general,

-what's on the site these days?

-The site has been restored

-over the past few years.

-It used to be totally derelict.

-In 2003, Ceredigion County Council

-bought the Cardigan Castle site.

-Since then, it's been a project.

-Around 12 million has been spent.

-It's been restored to the state

-it's currently in.

-We recently won Channel 4's...

-..restoration project

-of the year award.

-We started by winning

-the Georgian era category.

-The house in front of us

-is a Georgian building.

-We then found out that we'd won out

-over all the time periods.

-Cardigan Castle was

-Restoration Project Of The Year.

-The first castle was built here

-in 1093 by the Normans.

-We know there was a castle

-on this site in 1110.

-The Normans built that too.

-It was a wooden fort.

-Cardigan Castle is famous for

-hosting the first ever eisteddfod.

-That was held by the Lord Rhys.

-Lord Rhys came to Cardigan in 1171.

-He decided he wanted to build

-a brand-new castle.

-He was the first Welshman

-to build a castle from stone.

-He did that in 1171.

-He finished building it in 1176.

-To celebrate finishing the

-construction, he held an eisteddfod.

-A good idea.

-A great idea.

-There were over 30,000 people here

-for the eisteddfod.

-I'm sure this is very popular.

-It is, yes. The children love it.

-I don't know if they know the rules.

-I don't know if they know the rules.

-

-I don't know the rules either.

-Can we walk over it?

-It's an all-weather chessboard.

-This is the garden.

-Yes, this is the kitchen garden.

-We grow all kinds

-of vegetables here.

-Usually, the vegetables

-are used in Restaurant 1176.

-If someone goes there for Sunday

-lunch, they'll eat these vegetables.

-Who keeps this garden going?

-It's mostly volunteers.

-We have a head gardener...

-..volunteers do the planting,

-weeding and keep it going.

-This is one of the oldest parts

-of the site.

-That tower dates back to 1244.

-It was built

-by Robert Walerand in 1244.

-Curiously...

-..someone lived in that part

-of the site until 1999...

-..when the last owner

-left the site.

-It's extraordinary.

-It's a castle that's been inhabited

-for so many years.

-Another interesting feature

-are the wings on either side.

-It's said that this was the first

-tower of its kind with two wings.

-This enabled them

-to build a taller tower.

-We've seen the outside,

-can we go inside?

-Yes, let's head inside the tower.

-Here we are in the kitchen

-in the tower.

-This is the kitchen

-that was lived in for a long time.

-Who lived here?

-We think people lived here

-through the centuries.

-More recently...

-..the most recent owner

-spent her life here.

-She was an amiable character.

-She was eccentric.

-Her name was Miss Woods.

-Everyone in Cardigan knew her.

-She lived here in the castle.

-Unfortunately, over the years, the

-site was deteriorating around her.

-She couldn't afford

-the upkeep of the site.

-She was forced

-to leave the house in 1984.

-She moved into a caravan

-outside the front door.

-She lived in the overgrown garden

-as the house fell apart.

-By 1999,

-her health was deteriorating.

-She was forced to leave

-Cardigan Castle for the final time.

-She went to live in a home

-for the elderly in the town.

-The site was sold to Ceredigion

-Council four years later.

-The restoration work

-started after that.

-There's an exhibition here about

-the history of the eisteddfod...

-..from the time

-of Lord Rhys to today.

-It's a perfect place

-to start exploring Cardigan.

-I've learned a lot

-about this place's history.

-900 years of history on one site.

-As you can see,

-I've found a huge chair.

-The question is, "Is there peace?"

-"Peace!"

-I've found a classic place here

-in Cardigan town centre.

-During the day, it's a great place

-for a cup of tea or coffee.

-You can look at artwork

-while eating your cake.

-During the night,

-there's a great room in the back.

-It reminds me of travelling

-in Thailand with live music playing.

-The market is worth a visit.

-It was built in 1860

-by local craftsmen.

-It's a grand building

-with Arabic influences.

-The clock on the roof was

-manufactured by the same company...

-..as the one that made the clock

-on St Paul's Cathedral...

-..Midland Clockworks.

-Meat, dairy products and vegetables

-were sold on the upper floor.

-On the ground floor,

-wool and livestock were sold.

-As you can see,

-this building is quite striking.

-The walls and ceiling

-are worth a look.

-The floor is even better.

-This is where the animals

-used to be kept...

-..before heading upstairs

-to the butcher.

-By now,

-there are countless stands here.

-I'm starting over here.

-This building

-has all kinds of everything.

-You can get your hair cut

-in that corner.

-You can buy garden tools here.

-There are cleaning products

-for your home.

-In the far corner,

-there are antiques...

-..to keep parents

-and grandparents happy.

-This little corner

-reminds me of my childhood.

-There are old computer games here.

-I could be here for hours.

-Unfortunately, the phone is ringing.

-Hello? No, Mam, I'm working.

-It's important to pick up gifts

-for the important people on holiday.

-Sometimes, it's also important

-to buy yourself a gift.

-As I've got a baby at home,

-I'm buying this for myself.

-It's time to meet our local Welsh

-learner, Jamie McCoy.

-It's a pleasure to meet you, Jamie.

-Tell us about yourself.

-Where are you from?

-I'm originally from Norfolk.

-I went to university in Aberystwyth

-and never went home.

-Why did you stay here?

-Why did you stay

-in the Cardigan area?

-I work with farmers and this is

-a great area for that kind of work.

-I met my partner at university.

-Love is the answer!

-When you're walking around Cardigan,

-do you hear a lot of Welsh?

-Yes, there's a lot of Welsh here.

-With the classes...

-..there are a lot of chances

-to take it out of the classroom.

-What do you like most

-about Cardigan?

-It's really nice by the river.

-There are a lot of small pubs

-in Cardigan.

-There are a few chip shops too.

-Theatr Mwldan is also a busy place.

-Walking the streets of Cardigan

-is a pleasure.

-There are plenty of shops

-and beautiful buildings to enjoy.

-As Jamie said, if you want to watch

-a film or a live performance...

-..go to Theatr Mwldan.

-I'm looking forward to heading back

-to my holiday flat later.

-There are plenty of other places

-to stay in the area too.

-Llety Teifi on the high street

-offers reasonable bed and breakfast.

-There's a Welsh welcome

-and colourful rooms.

-Outside the town, Fforest offers

-glamping in geodesic tents.

-It's ideal for a cwtch by a wood

-fire and to sleep under the stars.

-Where better to end my day

-than the quay near the River Teifi?

-It's time to relax

-before falling into bed.

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-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Welcome back to Codi Pac.

-This week, I'm in Cardigan

-for a leisurely holiday.

-Things are about to get exciting.

-I've had a good night's sleep.

-I'm up before everyone else

-in Cardigan for a good reason.

-I'm heading out on this boat

-in search of sea life.

-The plan, apparently...

-..is to head to Cardigan Island

-from Gwbert which is where we are.

-It's not "Ynys Aberteifi"

-but Cardigan Island. I'm learning!

-We're going to look

-for wild birds there.

-We'll then head to Cemaes,

-where the seals are waiting for us.

-After that, we're heading to Mwnt

-to look for dolphins.

-I'm looking forward,

-it's a fine morning.

-The coastline here is incredible.

-It's stunning and colourful.

-We're heading into the cave.

-Wow!

-That's amazing.

-The captain has just said it's time

-for some fun, look at us turning!

-Woohoo! Yeah!

-Woohoo!

-Here we are at Cardigan Island.

-This is where the birds gather.

-I've already seen guillemots

-this morning.

-They tend to be

-at the top of the cliff.

-There are also razorbills.

-They're like little

-black and white penguins.

-They tend to nest

-right on the cliff wall.

-They lay eggs there and leave them

-until they're ready to hatch.

-Interestingly, their eggs are

-more like pears than rugby balls...

-..which allows them

-to stay on the cliff.

-The sun is shining.

-It's a wonderful morning.

-We're off to look for seals.

-Look there, right in the water.

-Right in front of us there,

-there's a small seal.

-There he is. Hello, seal.

-Wow!

-He loves being in the water.

-Usually, hundreds of seals

-congregate here.

-We're heading to see the dolphins

-and hope we'll be luckier.

-There's one, right in front of us.

-It almost jumped over the boat.

-I think it's gone that way.

-They're playing with us

-at the moment, they're everywhere.

-What a way to start your morning.

-It's like they knew we were coming.

-They're trying to hide. There they

-are out there on the left.

-There were two jumping there.

-They're so beautiful.

-So beautiful.

-Wahey! Wow! Did you see that?

-They're not out in the deep sea.

-They're right up next to the cliffs.

-They're playing around.

-Wow, now they're showing off,

-they're jumping out of the water.

-That's the end

-of our trip out on the sea.

-It's time to return home.

-What an amazing morning.

-Those dolphins were something

-I'll remember forever.

-I felt like a child again.

-A great morning.

-After all the excitement

-on the boat...

-..I'm travelling from Cardigan

-to St Dogmaels...

-..to learn

-some of the abbey's history.

-I'm meeting Nia Siggins.

-The abbey was established

-in the 12th century.

-Twelve monks and a friar

-came here from France.

-They came from a part of northern

-France called Thiron-Gardais.

-They established a priory here.

-Within ten years, its status

-was upgraded to that of an abbey.

-Until the reign of Henry VIII...

-..it was a prosperous monastic

-settlement, owning several farms.

-They were also fishermen.

-They introduced building techniques

-that are unique to this area.

-And then, after Henry VIII's

-dissolution of the monasteries...

-..it was demolished

-and sold off into private ownership.

-Melrose,

-we're here on the abbey's site.

-What's happening on this site?

-A Shakespeare Company

-performs here every year.

-This year,

-they're performing Richard II.

-In July, there's a concert here

-with Pendyrus Male Choir.

-It's an open-air concert so you can

-bring a bottle of wine and a picnic.

-People can sit out in the sun.

-There's a centre

-at the coach house too.

-What can you do there?

-The centre is magical.

-Parts of it are incredibly old.

-It's the old coach house

-belonging to the vicarage.

-There's an exhibition and gallery.

-The abbey is 900 years old

-and you can enjoy the view...

-..from a modern cafe while

-enjoying a cuppa or a tasty lunch.

-It's a wonderful location.

-It's a wonderful location.

-

-It's magical.

-It's a wonderful area.

-In general,

-what else is there to do here?

-I think this is one of Wales's

-hidden gems.

-It's a place people should put

-on their bucket list, as I say.

-It's a big tick on my bucket list.

-Thanks for the chat, Melrose.

-Luckily,

-while I was visiting the abbey...

-..I had the chance

-to visit the local market.

-The market is for local foods

-and happens on Tuesdays.

-In 2016,

-it won a BBC Radio Four prize...

-..as the UK's best open-air market,

-and it's worth a visit.

-Thanks. Thanks. Have a great day.

-Bread is the king of food,

-according to some.

-Wandering around the market

-has made me hungry.

-Luckily, my journey comes to an end

-at the local bakery and cafe.

-I'm back in Cardigan

-with Gwion Thorpe.

-Gwion, here we are at Bara Menyn.

-It's a great name for a cafe.

-Why pick that name?

-It was a simple idea.

-The menu revolves around

-the sourdough we make here.

-Everything we make

-uses good quality, local produce.

-We're a bilingual company.

-It's a simple name

-that describes what we do.

-What makes you special is that you

-bake the bread every day.

-You're one of the bakers.

-Yes, there are two bakers here,

-myself and the owner, Jack.

-We bake every morning.

-Everything is made

-from natural produce.

-It's mixed on one day and then we

-come in at 7.00am and bake all day.

-We make between 80 and 100 loaves

-a day.

-What kind of bread do you bake?

-Are there lots of different kinds?

-Over the year, we'll make

-six to eight different loaves.

-Generally,

-we work around three types.

-There's our Daily Loaf

-which is a white loaf.

-There's a seeded loaf

-called the Five Seeds.

-It's very popular,

-usually the first to sell out.

-Our Welsh loaf

-is made with Welsh ingredients.

-We have a lot of loyal customers.

-They come here

-for their daily bread.

-Do you get tourists here too?

-Of course. We're glad to see them.

-It's great for the whole town.

-We're glad to be a part of that.

-You're a Welsh speaker.

-Do a lot of the people

-who work here speak Welsh?

-I'd say we're about half and half.

-Two or three of us are fluent,

-two or three are Welsh learners.

-I would say that is representative

-of the town as a whole.

-I've only tried to bake something

-once. It did not go well.

-What's the secret

-to baking great bread?

-Perseverance, and getting a feel

-for it and enjoying it.

-Whatever you do, really.

-That's what we try to do here.

-We feel like a happy company.

-Ready, Gwion? One, two, three.

-Happy with that?

-I've had a fantastic time

-here in Cardigan.

-I've seen some of West Wales's

-coastline at its best.

-I've had an unforgettable experience

-with the dolphins.

-I've got one message,

-come on down and keep coming!

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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