Tchotchke fans will want to visit Castle Welsh Crafts, located just across from the main gate of Cardiff Castle. This is a good place to buy Penderyn Welsh Whisky and Welsh hand-carved wooden lovespoons. During the 17th century, the giving of wooden hand-carved gifts to loved ones was common among working people, and the gift of the lovespoon originated in Wales. It was traditionally given to a woman as an indication of a gentleman’s serious intentions.
Before boarding the train back to London, I stopped in Fabulous Welshcakes, a small friendly TT (tourist trap) located in Mermaid Quay. Along with fresh-from-the-oven pastries, they sell local specialities including Wendy Brandon Preserves, NewQuay honey, and Sheep Poo Paper products. That’s right… The poo people take great care in collecting super-fresh sheep poo from the mountains of rural Wales. They take it back to their mill, sterilize it and wash it repeatedly before pressing it into eco-friendly note cards bearing greetings like “Let’s flock together, just me and ewe.” Scented stationery is not part of the product line.
With Welsh hugs,
Sarah
Is Wales your next shopping destination? Tell Sarah and Peter your favorite shopping cities….
For more shopping and Wales adventures, check out:
- Sarah’s Postcard from Ireland
- Hidden Gems: Wales, Welsh Art
- Hidden Gems: Wales, Traveling Through Wales
- Hidden Gems: Wales, Adventures in Wales
Text and photos by Sarah Lahey for PeterGreenberg.com. Sarah Lahey keeps an active travel schedule as editorial director and co-author of the “Born to Shop” travel guides. When not on an airplane or in a hotel, she lives with her husband Tom and their two dogs in Tiburon, California.
