Our post-lockdown visit to Dyffryn Gardens - Family Photographer North Wales
*ewch i waelod y dudalen i ddarllen yn Gymraeg*
Our post-lockdown visit to Dyffryn Gardens - North Wales Family Photographer
Travel restrictions were lifted here in Wales today (woohoo!), so where did we go? Did we drive 4.5 hours to my favourite beach? Did we travel 200 miles to see friends? Nope, we drove 7.1 miles to our closest National Trust property - Dyffryn Gardens. Pre covid (in the good old days), we used to spend a lot of time here. I grew up on Anglesey, so Plas Newydd was a massive part of my childhood, and we wanted the same kind of experience for our little one. A place where children can climb trees, collect pinecones and conkers, and run without fear of traffic and bikes. Dyffryn Gardens ticks all those boxes. As soon as it was announced that the National Trust could open its gardens in Wales, I went to the website to book tickets for the first available day. I had a million questions in my head about what it would be like (yeah, I know, I worry too much). We had SUCH a lovely time today though that I thought I’d share with you so you don’t hesitate to book tickets for your family’s day out.
Annoyingly, I didn’t take my proper camera, only my little Sony 6000 which I use as my travel camera (click here to read why I love this camera so much!). I’ve included some photos, but I can’t wait to get back there in a few weeks with my Canon!
1. It’s oh so quiet.
The first thing that struck me was just how quiet it was. If you’re a regular at Dyffryn Gardens, you’ll know that through every season, as long as the sun is out, there are plenty of people visiting. When we were booking our tickets, we knew it would be quieter, but driving up the driveway was almost surreal. There were around 50 other cars in the carpark, and considering how big the gardens are, at times it really felt like we were the only ones there. It was super easy to socially distance and the original booking process was easy.
2. There’s lots to see
As you might have read, the Log Stack and Playground and any inside areas - cafe, house, glass house - are still closed. I was a bit worried that Elsi wouldn’t be very happy knowing that so many things were still closed, but honestly, it didn’t even register with her. The only thing she asked about was the Log Stack, and when we told her it was closed she said “but I thought the coronavirus was going now?”. So sweet. There’s still so much to explore though that we spent a good 3 hours there - climbing trees, trying to spot fish in the pond, and catching grasshoppers in the long grass.
3. It’s so well planned
So as we know, the guidelines still say that we should be keeping 2m away from most other people. The routes around the gardens have been so well planned that it’s really easy to do this. There’s a one way system in place for parts of the route, the parts where social distancing wouldn’t be possible. We explained to Els beforehand that our visit would be a bit different to usual, and made a game out of finding the arrows. She got to be the ‘line leader’ (bascially she got to boss us around and tell us which way to go!) and spot all the arrows - for her, it was a fun and exciting change to the ordinary. There’s a map near the entrance which shows you the routes available, and lots of them are signposted for wheelchair users so they’re great for prams too. The loos near the Log Stack are open (and so clean), and there’s baby changing facilites and an accessible toilet here too.
4. Nature has really taken over
It’s been documented lots over lockdown that because people haven’t been where they usually would be, nature has had a chance to move back in. Well we didn’t see any foxes or sheep on our visit, but the long grass and wildflower borders were absolutely lovely and Elsi spotted lots of butterflies, grasshoppers, ladybirds and crickets. At the moment, the National Trust can’t hand out leaflets, but next time we go, I think we’ll make our own ‘treasure hunt’ list before we go so that we can tick things off as we find them.
5. You can make a whole day of it
The booking system that’s in place lets you choose a time to arrive, but it doesn’t give you a departure time. So you can spend as long as you like at the gardens to get the most out of your day. Although there’s nowhere to sit indoors, there are a few covered benches dotted around which are ideal if it starts raining. When we visited, the weather was changeable, with bright sun one minute, and storms threatening the next. We took a picnic and had a lovely time eating it sat next to the wishing well (thankfully it only rained for about 10 seconds!). The sweet pea garden is also stunning, the scent is unreal! There’s a pathway been cut through the long grass near the stone bridges and weeping willows, and the ponds are full of water lillies - the gardeners must have been working non-stop during lockdown to keep the place looking at its beautiful best.
If you’ve visited Dyffryn Gardens after lockdown, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What did you enjoy? Was there anything that your children really missed? Let me know in the comments section below or come and join me over on Facebook or Instagram.
Clare x
About Me
Hi, I’m Clare, an award winning North Wales baby photographer and family photographer who loves working with natural light. I cover Anglesey, North Wales and Cheshire for maternity, newborn, child and family photoshoots. Get in touch if you’d like to book your family’s Anglesey photoshoot.
Am Dro I Gerddi Dyffryn - Ffotograffydd Ynys Môn
Sut naethoch chi ddathlu bod ni ddim angen aros o fewn 5 milltir ddim mwy? Aethoch chi i’ch hoff draeth? Neu i weld ffrindiau drosy ffîn? Mi oedden ni’n ffodus iawn i gael tocynnau i ymweld â un o’n hoff lefydd ni - Gerddi Dyffryn ym Mro Morgannwg. Mae o’n 7.1 milltir o’n ty ni, felly ddim cweit y ‘road trip’ o’n i di dychmygu ar ddiwedd y cyfnod clo (sori Sir Fôn, mi fydd raid i chdi aros). Cyn covid (yn y dyddiau da!), mi oedden ni’n treulio cryn dipyn o amser yma. Mi ges i fy magu yn Sir Fôn, ac mi oedd Plas Newydd yn rhan enfawr o ‘mhlentyndod. Mi ydan ni isho’r un fath o fagwraeth i Elsi Dafydd, a da ni wedi mopio efo’r ffaith fod hi’n gallu dringo coed, casglu mes, a rhedeg heb boeni am draffig tra bo ni yng Ngerddi Dyffryn. Felly cyn gynted ag oedden ni’n gwbod fod y National Trust yn agor eu gerddi yng Nghymru, mi aethon ni i’r wefan a bwcio’r diwrnod cyntaf oedd ar gael. Mi o’n i’n pendroni am LOT o betha cyn i ni fynd (dwi yn un i boeni braidd), ond mi gafon ni’n siomi ar yr ochr orau ac felly dwi am rannu ein profiad fel eich bod chi’n teimlo’n hapus i fynd a’ch teulu chi yna :)
Mi o’n i’n flîn efo fi fy hun am beidio mynd â ‘nghamra mawr, dim ond y Sony 6000 bach, sef yr un dwi’n iwsio fel camera teulu ( cliciwch yma i ddarllen pam dwi’n caru’r camera bach yma!). Dwi wedi cynnwys cwpl o lunia, ond dwi’n edrych mlaen i fynd nôl na efo ‘nghamra mawr!
1. Heddwch O’r Diwedd
Os ydach chi’n hen ffrind i’r gerddi, ma’n siwr bo chi’n gwbod yn barod fod hi’n brysur yna drwy’r flwyddyn, yn enwedig os di’r haul allan. Felly wrth i ni gyrraedd, a dim ond 50 car arall yn y maes parcio, mi oedd hi’n od iawn bod hi mor ddistaw. Pan naethon ni archebu’n tocynnau, mi oedden ni’n gwbod bod hi’n mynd i fod yn dawel, ac wrth fynd o amgylch y gerddi, mi oedd hi’n hawdd i feddwl ar adegau mai ni oedd yr unig rhai yna! Mi oedd bwcio’r tocynnau’n broses hawdd, a gan fod hi mor dawel yna, mi oedd hi’n hawdd iawn i gadw o leiaf 2m oddi wrth unrhwyun arall.
2. Mae na lot i weld
Ella’ch bod chi wedi darllen yn barod fod y Log Stack a’r parc chwarae wrth y caffi, ynghyd â unrhyw rannau tu fewn - y caffi, ty gwydr a’r ty mawr - dal ar gau. Mi o’n i’n poeni braidd fod Elsi’n mynd i ypsetio wrth wbod bod hi ddim yn cael mynd i rai o’i hoff lefydd hi o fewn y gerddi, ond prin nath hi sylwi. Gofynodd hi am y Log Stack, ond pan udishi fod o dal ar gau, ei hateb hi oedd “ond o’n i’n meddwl fod y feirws yn mynd?”. Ma’r ffordd ma’u meddylia nhw’n gweithio jyst mor ciwt. Mi oedd na dal ddigon i’w diddanu hi am dros 3 awr wrth iddi ddringo coed, trio gweld pysgod yn y pwll dwr, a dal sioncyn y gwair yn y gwair hir.
3. Mae nhw wedi meddwl am bob dim
Fel ma pawb yn gwbod erbyn hyn, da ni fod i gadw o leiaf 2m i ffwrdd o’r rhan fwyaf o bobl eraill. Mae’r llwybrau o amgylch y gerddi wedi’u trefnu fel bod hyn yn hawdd iawn i’w wneud. Mae na system ‘one-way’ yn gweithredu yn y mannau lle fysa hi’n amhosib pasio rhywun arall o 2m i ffwrdd. Naethon ni esbonio i Elsi cyn i ni fynd fod hi dipyn bach yn wahanol i’r arfer, a bod angen i ni sbïo am arwyddion i ddangos y ffordd i ni. Mi oedd hi’n cael ffeindio’r arwyddion a deutha ni pa ffordd oedd angen mynd. Mi oedd hi’n fos arnyn ni ac wrth ei bodd hefyd! Mae na fap mawr wrth ymyl y fynedfa sy’n dangos pa ffyrdd sy’n gorad, ac maen nhw wedi’u labelu ar gyfer pobl mewn cadair olwyn hefyd (felly maen nhw’n addas ar gyfer prams a bygis). Mae’r toiledau wrth ymyl y Log Stack yn gorad (ac yn lân iawn!) ac efo toiled anabl a lle i newid clwt babis hefyd.
4. Mae natur wedi ffynnu
Dwi wedi gweld lot o erthyglau dros y cyfnod clo am anifeiliaid yn symud mewn lle mae pobl wedi symud allan! Dwi wedi darllen am fyd natur yn ffynnu wrth i ni slofio lawr (a peidio’i ddifetha gymaint), ac mae hyn yn glir iawn yn y gerddi. Naethon ni’m gweld llwynogod na defaid ar ein taith, ond mae’r gwair hir a’r dolydd blodau gwyllt yn fendigedig ac yn gyfle gwych i’r rhai lleiaf chwilio am bili pala, sioncyn y gwair a buwch goch gota. (Gyda llaw, be ydi mwy nag un buwch goch gota? Gwartheg goch gota?) Ta waeth, ar hyn o bryd, dydi’r National Trust ddim yn cael rhoi pamffledi allan, felly cyn i ni fynd tro nesaf, dwi am neud ‘ticklist natur’ i Elsi i ni gael gweld be welwn ni.
5. Mae’n hawdd treulio diwrnod cyfan yna
Er bod rhaid bwcio faint o’r gloch da chi am gyrraedd, does dim cyfyngiad ar ba mor hir alla chi aros yn y gerddi, felly mi allwch chi dreulio drwy’r dydd yna! Er does na nunlla i ista tu fewn, mae na ‘chydig o feinciau tu allan sydd yn y cysgod, rhag ofn iddi lawio. Mi oedd y tywydd yn heulog un funud ac yn bygwth storm y funud nesaf yn ystod ein ymweliad ni, ond diolch byth bod hi mond di glawio am ryw 10 eiliad! Mae digonedd o lefydd i gael picnic bach - mi naethon ni ista wrth ymyl y ‘wishing well’. Mae lliwiau ac ogla’r ardd pys pêr yn syfrdanol! Mae llwybrau wedi cael eu torri drwy’r gwair hir ger y pontydd cerrig, ac mae’r pyllau dwr yn llawn lilis pinc a gwyn. Mae’r garddwyr wedi bod yn gweithio rownd y rîl yn ystod y cyfnod clo ac mae’r holl le yn ddigon o sioe.
Os ydach chi wedi ymweld â Gerddi Dyffryn ar ôl y cyfnod clo, ‘swn i wrth fy modd yn clwad eich sylwadau. Beth oedd eich hoff beth? Oedd eich plant yn hiraethu am unrhwybeth oedd ar gau? Gadewch i fi wbod yn y comments isod, neu dewch draw i ymuno â fi ar Facebook ac Instagram.
Clare x
