Bad Wolf Bay (Revisited)

Hi Guys - First things first, I've recently added two tabs just above this page, so my blog now looks more like a blog and not a mass of information dotted all around the place randomly. It should make your navigation of this page a lot simpler. 

The first tab includes all of my contact information, so if you need to contact me for any reason do not hesitate to send me an email or tweet me on Twitter (@PluckyKelly). The second tab contains a list of 'New Who' episodes from 2005-2012, linking you to any of my blog posts which contain locations I have visited which are included in these episodes. I aim to visit as many as possible over the coming weeks... months... maybe even years so bear with me as the list of links will continue to grow.

After the excitement my South Wales Odyssey Part 1 caused and the brilliant feedback I received from the blog post, and my blog as a whole I just couldn't wait to post the rest of my trip. Unfortunately, I have little time on my hands of late. Being back at University and in my third and final years means dissertation GALORE... I've been trying to fit everything around it but it just seems to be taking over my life! But Thank You for the feedback its been great! I've also changed my Dissertation topic, I'm now writing it on Doctor Who, of course! Hooray!

Bad Wolf Bay

Anyway, Part 2 of my trip sees me and my brilliant chauffeuring partner head back to Dunraven Bay, also known as the infamous Bad Wolf Bay. You can read about my first trip to the beach HERE.

I desperately wanted to go back to the bay, not only because of its beauty, but because since we last visited the Doctor Who crew have been back to shoot for the Series 7 Part 1 episode 'Dinosaurs on a Spaceship'. 

It was a stunningly nice day mid-October that we chose to visit, and I planned the journey so that we arrived when the tide was out (around 3pm). We also parked down the bottom this time, right next to the beach so I did not have to endure the horrendous walk back up to the car like our last visit. Luckily for us, the beach carpark was overcrowded so we were able to park for free further up the road. 

I will warn you that dogs are allowed on this beach, and there were a fair few of them running around, so those with small children please be aware. I should also warn you that the beach is very hard to walk around. It is a pebble beach with huge rocks, stones and only a small allocated pathway down to the sea. I saw endless mums with prams that were finding it extremely difficult and virtually impossible to navigate around the beach. 

However, I found trying to make my way to the sea great fun, as I tried to navigate my way over rocks and stones for better views (I could tell I was probably getting tutted at by all the other holiday makers!) I finally found my way to the sand and stood still for a moment, reminiscing when Rose said goodbye to the Doctor...twice - both were two of my favourite Doctor Who moments. (Army of Ghosts/Doomsday/Journeys End)

My chauffeur *Ahem*... I mean Luke took a seat on one of the rocks for a bit so I decided to wonder off. I was heading for the cliff-face itself, where the iconic scenes from 'Dinosaurs on a Spaceship' and 'The Time of the Angels'/'Flesh and Stone' have been set. Once reaching the edge of the rocks I climbed up onto the platform-type level and sat for a while, pondering life and admiring the bays beauty. The sun was beaming in the sky and I took some stunning images from my spot. 

I honestly did not want to leave this spot, but after a while I saw Luke walking to usher me back to the car... and I suppose I was hungry, I hadn't eaten after all my adventuring during the day! I reluctantly headed back to the car, vowing that I would return to this beautiful location once again in the near future. 

 So that's it for Part 2 of my trip, sorry to tease you! Only one more post left and that's my South Wales break completed. Part 3 will contain the spot where we said our last farewell to the Pond's. *Warning* May be pretty devastating for criers. 

Enjoy, blog to you soon!

                                   

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Bad Wolf Bay, Neath Abbey, Barry Island and More!

So after enjoying our first night in the lodge after spending much of the previous evening in the hot tub, we decided to venture out for our next few locations on a sunny Saturday morning.

About 10minutes away from where we were staying was Craig-y-nos Castle hotel, which was used in David Tennant’s episode Tooth and Claw. This was where Queen Victoria and the Royal Party arrived at Torchwood House, and the Queen later founded the Torchwood Institute. It is a beautiful building surrounded by exquisite views, altogether a lovely visit. Parking is found alongside the front of the building or in the car park, straight through the front gates. Any pictures I have used are courtesy of the BBC.

Next, we hopped back into the car and travelled down to Neath. We had trouble finding the location as we could not find a suitable postcode for the site, so relied on road signs to guide us the way. As it turned out, the site was parallel to the main dual carriageway, and if we had peeled our eyes a bit better we would have noticed it straight off. 

The site is free to enter, and another beautiful location. Parking can be found right outside the ruins. We were lucky the weather was lovely and I was able to take pictures which really emphasised the sites beauty. The exterior of this location was used for Series 6 – The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People.

  

We also found the wooden door to the inside of the one remaining room of the Abbey, but unfortunately for us, it was locked. This room had been used numerous times in Series 5 - The Beast Below as the ‘Tower of London’ and Vincent and the Doctor, when Vincent battles the monster in the crypt. It was also used in Series 6 The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People as the chapel, where the gangers were created.

We headed back to the lodge from here to get an early night, ready for our big drive the next day.

When we woke up on the Sunday, we hopped in the car early and headed to our first location, Dunraven Bay, also known as Bad Wolf Bay. I have to admit, I was so happy to be here, I had been looking forward to this location the most, however, the tide was in when we arrived so we were unable to climb onto the beach. I had worn wellies for this part of the trip, but I must warn you, I found myself slipping over on the uneven, wet rock surface as I ventured across for a better view. For all those of you who are looking to go here, I would stick to the allocated path; it could be rather dangerous otherwise.

We parked at the top of the hill, which is miles cheaper than the car park next to the beach, you just have to endure the steep walk back up to the car after (I struggled)! To get here, I recommend you follow the signs to Southerndown Beach, as the signs then switch to Dunraven Bay.

The episodes which have been filmed here, to my own knowledge are: Series 2 – Army of Ghosts and Doomsday, where Rose says goodbye to the Doctor. Series 4 – Journeys End, where Rose leaves the Doctor with her family once again. Series 5 – Time of the Angels, where the TARDIS lands at the crash site and Matt Smith’s Doctor meets River again, Series 6 – The Almost People, where the Doctor takes ganger Jimmy to meet his son on the beach, and the cast of Series 7 have been spotted filming here late February, early March this year.

You can find more information on this location, from the Doctor Who Locations website, HERE 

Next, we drove off to Dyffryn Gardens, just down the road from Barry. This was the hardest location to find, as we took an early turning and the Sat Nav could not locate itself back onto the correct road, but we got there eventually! The building was closed for construction work, so we were unable to go through the gate but took photos from afar. The episodes filmed here were: Series 2 – Girl in the Fireplace, a few Torchwood episodes and Series 4 Forest of the Dead, as the hospital Donna is transported to from the library, and where River is saved by the Doctor. This building also featured in one of my new favourite programmes, Stella, with Ruth Jones

We then drove on to Barry, and Barry Island. It was free parking in Barry Island on a Sunday at this time of the year which was lucky for us. We had a quick walk around, saw the sites from Gavin and Stacey; the beach and arcade where Nessa worked, and the train station used in Doctor Who Series 1, The Doctor Dances and The Empty Child, with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and John Barrowman and Captain Jack.

 Then we went into Barry and found the houses used in Gavin and Stacey:

 So that was the end to our Doctor Who South Wales trip, we both had a lovely time and thought it was a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend together. I love going to look at locations like these; you get to learn a lot about the history of a lot of the sites, along with re-enacting shots from your favourite episodes. As well as this – there’s always some walking involved, so as a bonus, it keeps you fit and healthy!

I’d love to go back to these places, and if anyone has any recommendations of anywhere we missed, please let me know, I’d love to go back down there!

Oh, and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all those mothers out there, I personalised my mums card a bit, needless to say she loved it :)

I've got a busy week this week with assignments, university, work and then Cardiff on Friday for the Doctor Who Convention at the weekend... I can't wait, is anyone else going?

 Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend, blog to you all soon x

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