Just before we set off for Wales, the temperature in Surrey had soared to almost 30 degrees. But we arrived in Pembrokeshire to a very different climate – it was cold, wet and windy! The weather took a turn for the worse on our first day so donning our waterproofs, we headed to a deserted Tenby beach. When I say deserted there was an ice-cream van circling the beach on the hunt for potential customers!
What I liked about The North Face Evolution Triclimate Jacket (currently £175 from Millets) from the off was how comfortable it is. It didn’t feel heavy or bulky like some 3-in-1 jackets can, plus there are velcro strips round the sleeves and the hem has a drawcord. The Triclimate fleecy inner kept me warm and the waterproof DryVent™ outer ensured I stayed dry when some rather heavy downpours arrived. Surprisingly dry in fact given the horizontal rain, no leaking down the sleeves or cold draughts down the neck area. There’s an adjustable hood you can roll away when you’re not using it. This jacket also has ventilation zips so there’s no chance of getting too hot if you’re wearing the fleece and outer. I love the quality and how versatile the jacket is – you can wear it as it comes, as a fleece or in warmer weather just wear the outer to stay dry. There are two pockets in the outer and another two in the fleece as well so it’s easy to separate things that shouldn’t be together – like camera equipment and sandy shells in my case!
While the temperatures were nowhere near what we’d experienced at home, we did see the rain disperse and the sun tried its hardest to stay out. It’s wasn’t warm enough to take my jacket off (partly because it’s ridiculously cosy!) but a great excuse to find a meadow and have a BBQ later that evening. Perfectly cooked meat coupled with tasty salads and washed down with a few drinks. The kids had a great time too running around chasing the cheeky seagulls away from our feast. It was the perfect end to a fun-filled day of outdoor fun.
The following day we headed over to Skomer Island on a quest to see some puffins and seals. You can get off the boat and stay on the island but with three children among our group, we opted for a tour in a fishing boat. Little did we know we’d see hundreds and hundreds of puffins or that we’d spot so many seals. Skomer Island is a haven for wildlife and it was an absolute treat to get a taste of that.
After then we headed for the Druidstone Hotel and the nearby beach which is only accessible from a cliff path. This long stretch of sand is somewhere I used to frequent as a child and it’s largely remained the same. Totally unspoiled with an abundance of rock pools to explore, fish to chase and sandcastles to build. The only thing missing were the horses from the local stable trotting through the waves although it was the back end of the day.
I lived in The North Face Evolution Triclimate Jacket for the duration of our trip to Pembrokeshire. But a great deal since then too – mostly just the outer to keep dry when we’re out exploring or I’m doing the school run. My walking boots are The North Face and I’ve had them since 2008. I suspect this jacket will see me good for a long time too, I absolutely love it.
Disclaimer: We received a The North Face Women’s Evolution II Triclimate 3-in-1 Jacket for the purpose of this review. Opinions are as always our own. Check out The North Face womens and mens ranges at Millets here.
