subject: Candles Light a Pembrokeshire Visit [print this page] Candles Light a Pembrokeshire Visit Candles Light a Pembrokeshire Visit
For an illuminating experience in one of the County's beautiful secret valleys, the Pembrokeshire holiday tourist can do worse than seek out the Pembrokeshire Candle Centre near Newport.
Set up by Swedish-born Inger John in the out-buildings at the traditional stone cottage she escaped to from the rat race more than 30 years ago, the Candle Centre has a special fascination that will appeal to Pembrokeshire holiday visitors. Inger, who brought her candle-making skills with her from Sweden, offers a warm welcome to all visitors who can watch hand-dipped candles being made without mechanical aids in the time-worn tradition she inherited. The candles are created with unique graded and blended colours and with exotic scents and specially blended essential oils. The Pembrokeshire holiday visitor will find the experience a visual and aromatic pleasure, therapeutic in the extreme.
The workshop is a veritable Aladdin's Cave ablaze with candles of all shapes, sizes and shades, most of them made on the premises, but others imported from all corners of the world. And the Pembrokeshire holiday visitor will also be able to buy many types of candlesticks, snuffers, lanterns, oil burners, accessories and candle-making kits. There are also books of local interest as Inger's husband Brian, a former University lecturer, is a well-known local author of books of many kinds, including a popular series of best-selling novels inspired by the nearby mystic mountain of Carn Ingli. His Angel Mountain historical novels have reached an international readership, no doubt including many people who enjoy a Pembrokeshire holiday. Upstairs is a gallery featuring larger unique items such as candlesticks, candelabra, wall sconces, floor-standing candle holders and specially-commissioned artefacts from local craftsmen and artists. The Candle Centre is located in the little hamlet of Cilgwyn in a sheltered hollow at the entrance to the beautiful Gwaun Valley, about two miles from Newport. The tourist can follow the the signs from the A487 at the east end of Newport or from the B4329 at Tafarn-y-Bwlch, near the northern cattle grid. Either way it is an attractive drive along leafy lanes.
Admission is free and the Candle Centre is open from Easter to the end of October every day from 11am to 5pm. During the rest of the year restricted opening operates, but people coming from a distance are advised to make telephone contact in advance to discuss arrangements.
