She recounted fond memories of drinking crisp cold Picpoul de Pinet whilst feasting on fresh seafood overlooking the sea. I instantly booked us a table.

On the day of our booking, we were blessed with perfect blue skies and sunshine – the ideal weather for lapping up seafood by the ocean. After weaving our way along the waterfront, we spotted a vibrant orange wall with “Crab Shack” painted on its side.

We’d arrived and it was far from ‘shack’ like…

Décor 

Located a hop, skip and a jump from the sand, the seating area outside was heaving and led to the calmer light and airy indoor restaurant.

The décor was simplistic but with gentle uses of character throughout. The exposed brick walls and beams were painted white – perfect for opening up the small area with pops of colourful ‘fishy’ artwork and driftwood on the walls  – constant reminders that we were in a fish restaurant. I’m obsessed with these paintings and would like some for my house please…

I also loved the clever use of boat ropes and fishing wire nets as lampshades to elevate the restaurant’s design! 

On arrival I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t space to sit outside. However, as soon as we were shown to our table I realised that the restaurant had been cleverly designed to ensure diners can enjoy the outdoor views of the beach from inside.

The brightness from outdoors is carried through in the thoughtful decoration, which makes you feel like the restaurant is a cool oasis from the busyness outdoors without sacrificing the view and buzz. The Crab Shack VIP area if you will…

Food and Drink

We sat down and I very quickly started to devour the menu. To ensure the freshest, best sourced produce, The Crab Shack change their menu daily depending on the catch of the day, so I couldn’t pre plan what I wanted to order (I do that a lot..).

I loved that there was such an array of choice on the menu in terms of seafood options and price. You can go all out with an extravagant seafood platter at £55pp and a bottle or two of wine or, enjoy a great quality Teignmouth crab sandwich and a beer for just over a tenner. It appeals to the masses, which explains why it was so busy on a Wednesday!

We ordered a bottle of Albariño, the perfect crisp white wine to accompany delicate fish, and soaked up the menu.

And the view…

We decided to share a couple of starters.

First up was pan fried crevettes (£11.95) swimming in a chilli, lemon and strong smoked paprika sauce which we greedily mopped up with the side serving of fresh bread.

Then, seared Brixham scallops (£12.95) served with grilled peach and a caper, shallot and pink peppercorn vinaigrette.

What a pretty plate that is!

However tempted we were by the Royale platter (£160), we decided to rein it in and go for individual mains.

I opted for the whole monkfish tail (£27), which was roasted with lemon and garlic and served with a juicy mango and chilli salsa. I also ordered some chips ‘for the table’.

It was divine and the mango and chilli salsa cut through the richness of the lemon, garlic and the “meatiness” of the fish wonderfully. 

Mum ordered the dressed crab (someone had to have crab!) served with new potatoes doused in butter and mixed leaves. Her verdict? The crab was succulent and flavoursome and the buttery potatoes really hit the spot. 

Jane went for the steak of Brixham turbot (£28) sat on a bed of samphire and asparagus finished off with a thyme and pancetta butter, which she said she thoroughly enjoyed.

Although she did help herself to a few of my chips…

Each dish received a 10/10 from us and although they were a little on the pricey side, we weren’t disappointed by the quality, flavours or portion sizes.

Service

The service at The Crab Shack is the only area where I would say there was room for improvement. There was nothing wrong with the service but there was also nothing special. In such a small, intimate restaurant it would be nice to see service and hospitality that goes above and beyond and leaves more of a lasting impression. 

The Verdict!

I really enjoyed our lunch at The Crab Shack and would 100% recommend it to anyone who is in the area and is a lover of seafood.

The location is picture-perfect – you can literally hear the lapping of the sea from your table – and I love their promise to use the freshest and best quality seafood from the most local sources as possible – why wouldn’t you when you’re literally steps away from the sea? Other than the slightly underwhelming service, this was just the lunch I’d hoped for and well and truly settled my fish craving until I can next return…

Do you love feasting on fresh seafood by the beach? Book your table at The Crab Shack in Teignmouth, Devon NOW! 

A Brief Insight into Glastonbury

Glastonbury in Somerset, UK is most commonly known for its iconic festival however, dig a little deeper than the muddy Somerset hills and you’ll discover a quirky, colourful town sprinkled with shops selling everything from crystals, healing ointment and incense sticks to Aladdin pants, tarot card readings and reiki.

“It’s a small town with a lot of attitude, which makes it a delight to explore!“

The Hut

After a day of mooching around the nooks and crannies of Glastonbury, we set off to find our accommodation for the night. Located around a half an hour drive from Glastonbury, ‘The Hut’ is accessed by snug countryside lanes hugged by rolling farmland. The Airbnb can be found nestled on the host, Sarah’s farm in the secluded village of Dinnington.

On arrival, we were greeted by the host, Sarah and her gang of guinea pigs, chickens, geese, ducks, sheep and the resident goats – Trigger, Dell Boy and Rodney. If you’re an animal lover, you will instantly fall in love with this place, before you’ve even laid eyes on your Shepherd’s Hut.

Sarah kindly showed us to our home for the night. Look at this beauty that Sarah built out of wood during lockdown for her son (she also built the Shepherd’s Hut – she’s one talented lady)!

The Hut is tucked away to the side of the field and cleverly faces the vast expanse of fields to the rear of the farm rather than the farmhouse, giving you the illusion that you have the views of rolling countryside to yourselves. Oh, and the goats of course!

As you approach The Hut the first thing you’ll notice is the adorable, gravelled seating area to the front. It’s a great size for two people and has all the amenities you could need for a summer’s evening – two sets of table and chairs, a BBQ, chiminea, logs, coal, umbrellas, herbs (for a Pimms?), a canopy in case the weather isn’t in your favour, solar powered fairy lights for when the sunsets and flower pots galore giving the area a pop of colour.

As soon as we laid eyes on this alfresco area we were so happy the restaurant at the end of the drive had been fully booked – we weren’t leaving this place until we were thrown out kicking and screaming at check out the next day. 

Décor and Amenities 

As we stepped into the Shepherd’s Hut the attention to detail from the outside area followed us through.

Sarah had very kindly gifted us a bottle of prosecco, a balloon and a box of chocolates as she’d remembered that Nicole had mentioned it was a trip for my birthday – it’s thoughtful surprises like these that really makes an Airbnb stand out from the rest! The décor was simple and cosy, with punches of yellow amongst the grey.

I LOVED these amazing brass pipe toilet/kitchen roll holders and the mosaic floor and tiles in the toilet, which both added a homely, charismatic feel to the hut. There was also an indoor log burner, dressing gowns and slippers for those chillier winter nights.  

The kitchen was kitted out with everything you could need for a weekend away. From an oven and hob, kettle and coffee plunger to bacon, bread, fresh coffee and eggs laid on the farm that day. 

I honestly can’t fault the amenities at The Hut and it was immaculately presented for our arrival. 

Food

Fear not on the food front! There are a few options for dinner at The Hut. If you plan ahead better than we did, you can book a table at the wonderful country pub, Dinnington Docks which is a stone’s throw away from the farm and offers up delicious pub classics as well as a few fancier dining options.

If like us, you’d rather a snug night in, dining alfresco under the stars with a bottle or two of wine and a takeaway, you’re in luck! There are a couple of Thai and Indian restaurants that deliver and all details and menus can be found in the handy visitors booklet in the hut. We placed our order at Lopen Raj and within half an hour we had an array of delicious Thai curries to compliment our New Zealand Sav.

After a spot of star gazing, it was time to hit the sack – we needed our beauty sleep for a day of exploring! The bed was a good size considering how compact the Shepherd’s Hut was and the bedding was fluffy, soft and warm. 

Brekkie

The next morning we awoke to the faint sound of the cockerels and sunshine. We enjoyed a freshly plunged coffee outside before setting to work on cooking a hearty breakfast from the ingredients Sarah had left in the fridge. I was excited to give the eggs from the farm a sample! 

Ready and fuelled for another day of exploring Glastonbury, we very reluctantly packed up our belongings, waved goodbye to the beautiful countryside, gave Trigger the goat one last slice of bread and headed off. Sarah was there to make sure we’d had a good night’s sleep and to wave us goodbye.

Verdict

We LOVED our night’s stay at The Hut and were gutted we couldn’t have stayed longer. It’s the perfect balance of on-point hospitality, amenities and seclusion. Thank you so much to Sarah and the gang for a wonderful night’s stay!

Fancy a stay in a gorgeous Shepherd’s Hut in the depths of Somerset, look no further! To book your stay at ‘The Hut’ (you won’t regret it) click here. 

I just can’t quite express how much I love this place… and its Milwaukee rye. 

Located in Weston-on-the-Green, a cute village just off of the A34, M40 and 4 miles from Bicester, The Milk Shed is the perfect stop off point for a comforting meal in the countryside before heading towards the craziness of Bicester Village (or if you’re locals – heading in the opposite direction and avoiding it like the plague).

The Milk Shed is based on Manor Farm and offers a true country café experience combined with the trendiness and attention to detail of a café in the city (plus a few more horses).

The inside of The Milk Shed has a homely, farm-kitchen feel.

Rustic, chunky wooden tables are dotted around the café and are complemented by fresh flowers and The Milk Shed logo’s blue stools and seats. Stools are perched along a bench in the centre of the room scattered with newspapers and magazines – the perfect spot for those looking for a relaxing space to do some work – and cute touches such as, fairy lights, picture walls and ‘meet the team’ blackboards give it that added personal and cosy feel.

Every time I’ve visited The Milk Shed it’s been buzzing. From families and yummy mummies to pensioners and couples, people flood to this café every day of the week (minus Mondays when it’s closed) for a bite of their delicious menu and an inevitable ice cream or milkshake as a pud.

Lucie (the owner) makes her own ice cream on site and sources her produce from the farm and surrounding areas. The menu boasts café classics such as, eggs on toast (£7.25), club sarnie (£9.50) and brioche French toast (£6.95) as well as, more unique dishes including squid stew (£10.95), Milwaukee rye with avocado, halloumi and roasted toms (£8.50, my fave – see pic below) and chorizo crostini (£9.50).

Don’t forget to also keep an eye out for their daily specials on the black board and their cakes on the counter. 

In keeping with the relaxed atmosphere of the café, The Milk Shed is all counter service (which also means you’re more likely to be tempted by the goodies on the counter – well played Milk Shed). The staff are lovely and friendly and are always happy to offer out ice cream tasters to ensure you make the right flavour choice… 

Their comfortable seating area outside means you can bask in the sunshine in the summer and the shop – Heart and Soul – opposite is definitely worth a mooch.

The Milk Shed is flexible, which is why I love it so much. You can pop in for a coffee and a slice of cake or a sit down meal with wine. They also host Supper Clubs so keep an eye out on their social media for updates on when the next one will be! 

The food at The Milk Shed is infused with the passion and love of the people who work there, which is what makes it so blinking delicious! When you’re next in the Bicester area, make sure you pop in for a bite to eat (**cough** get the Milwaukee rye)!

Please note: this is not a sponsored post and, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having grown up in the scenic rolling countryside of Buckinghamshire, I’ve found that it’s very easy to overlook and take for granted the natural beauty, which is on your doorstep.

Therefore, this year I made it my mission to make the most of what the U.K. has to offer. First stop: climbing Mount Snowdon in North Wales.

Snowdon is the highest mountain in both Wales and England and stands at a whopping 1,085m. Situated in Snowdonia National Park, the 6 hour trek (approx) to and from Snowdon’s peak offers magnificent views across Snowdonia, Anglesey, Pembrokeshire and Ireland and boasts scenery you would never imagine to exist in the U.K.

Cascading waterfalls, inky-blue lakes and towering, rugged rock faces are just a few of the wonders you’ll pass along the way.

Now to get to the important bits about the trek…

Is climbing Mount Snowdon hard?

If I can do it, so can you!!

I’m far from fit and although there were points where I found the climb tough, it was never unbearable. Go at your own pace and you will definitely be able to make it to the top.

Which route?

There a 6 different routes you can take when trekking to Snowdon’s peak. We trekked up the Miner’s track and down the Pyg track. Both of these tracks start and finish at the Pen-y-Pass car park (LL55 4NY/£10 parking for the day) and are considered to include both ‘leisurely’ and ‘hard’ parts to trek.

The Miner’s track starts rather flat and weaves alongside spectacular lakes and corroding old miner’s houses whilst ascending gradually. Around an hour in, the path gets a lot less distinct and the gradient gets steeper. Nonetheless, it’s doable. We made it to the top in around 2 1/2 hours with a fair few breather and photo stops along the way.

The Pyg track is a lot more ‘bumpy’ than the Miner’s track. It’s less guided and involves a lot more concentration as you clamber over the jagged rocks. Even so, it opens up excellent views over the mountains and lakes on the other side of Snowdon and seemed a lot quieter than the Miner’s track – we only saw 3 other people in the 2 1/2 hour descent.

Where to stay?

We stayed in Snowdonia National Park for one night. We arrived in Wales on Monday afternoon, warmed up our calves at the underground trampoline park, Bounce Below and then stayed at YHA Bryn Gwynant.

This remote hostel was perfectly positioned overlooking mountains and lakes. It was cheap (£40 for a 5 bed dorm) and had absolutely zero signal or wifi – making it the ideal getaway spot.

Packing list…

Comfy hiking boots or shoes

Walking socks

A comfortable pair of trousers/leggings

Waterproof jacket and bottoms

Lots of layers! Your body temperature will fluctuate a lot as you go up and down so it is good to have lots of layers which you can take on and off as you go up. The summit is freezing!

Hat and gloves

Water and snacks (although there is a cafe at the top where you can buy food and water)

A camera to capture the stunning views.

A backpack to carry jumpers, waterproof, water, camera etc. – you’ll need your hands free for parts of the walk.

Have you ever trekked Snowdon? What would you add to this guide?