There seemed to be no end to the heatwave, nowhere to go to escape the glare of the sun. Not that I'm complaining, I have enjoyed the current phase of liquid gold, but taking photographs of mines and quarries in this weather results in very stark photographs and is beyond my skill level. Petra suggested having a look at the Coed Felinrhyd, which is near to our home- we'd never been before. It looked like a handy trip without too much sweaty driving, but I wasn't too enthusiastic...another forest, close to a power station... Of course, I was hugely mistaken. The place is really special, as I hope the photos show. We took a path close to the Afon Prysor- the river was very low- but this was to prove an advantage. We soon encountered a wonderful old bridge, about six feet wide with no parapets, but with ivy growing down like Lianas. Because of the low water, we were able to get quite close and take some shots from the river bed. I think for the best photographs, you would need early morning light, but my shot here gives the general feel, I hope. The path started to ramp up in a series of steps through ancient oak and birch woods. I wondered if Tolkien had been here, and had been inspired to create the woods of Lothlorien, as I was feeling the sense of enchantment with the place. What put the icing on our cake was the discovery of a mine (well, a trial, really) above the path. The tip had been degraded by the construction of the trail path, but there was a fair preponderance of rustic slate about. There is a record in Wilkinson's Gazetteer of a gold mine on the north bank of the river possibly on the same lode- we will have to investigate. We carried on- up until this point, we had the place to ourselves, but soon we noticed a school group doing some gorge walking in the river. The place is so enclosed that after walking a very short while from them, we couldn't hear them shouting. We eventually reached the Rheadr Ddu, normally a raging torrent- it was barely a trickle. I get the feeling that in wet weather, this would be a waterproof footwear type of walk, but during the heatwave it is a delight to wander and not encounter bog in Wales, even if the waterfall was non-existant! There was a great variety of wildlife...from signs of badger activity to the unmistakable sound of wood warblers, long tailed tits, redstarts and flycatchers. Sadly, the moss and lichens that the reserve is famous for were all under great stress- great banks of moss were fragile, dry confections of light green fibres. We did note some wonderful trees in the woods, including some amazing oaks that had survived attempts to kill them in the 'forties and 'fifties. This woodland was rescued by the Woodland Trust, who had to fight a stiff battle against the invasive rhododendron and the widespread coniferisation of the area. I didn't see one rhododendron, so they have succeeded there. I noted some dog's mercury and wood sorrel in some of the clearer areas. Some of the conifers, being mature trees, have been left to protect the oaks and ashes from the weather, although I did note quite a few with the dreaded red circles on them.
I can recommend this place if you like a peaceful walk with plenty of trees and wildlife, or if you just want to sit for a while and enjoy the peace of one of Wales' oldest woodlands. Maps: OS Explorer OL18 and Landranger 124 Grid reference SH656389 Woodland Trust web link for the reserve Parking for five or six cars is available in a lay-by across from the Power station at Maentwrog.
24 Comments
Sharon
7/7/2018 02:47:09 pm
Glad to see you're still out and about with your camera, and writing your lovely poems! I miss your adventures an Flickr, but it can be troublesome at times, can't it? Sharon
Reply
Iain Robinson
8/7/2018 05:37:48 pm
Thanks for looking in, Sharon! Yes, I am still as keen as ever about photography, but Flickr was rendered very unpleasant by someone who had taken a dislike to me. I was sad to leave all my Flickr friends, but I do come and look and keep an eye on Flickr :-) Happy photography and hugs to the dogs!
Reply
Sharon
9/7/2018 03:31:18 pm
Glad all is well, Iain - I must admit to have being a bit worried, I had visions of you falling into one of your mines! I must admit that Flickr has been a trial - I got pestered by girlies wanting me to look at their nude pics - honestly, I'm a 65 year old woman! I complained long and loud, then it would only allow me to put one picture on at a time, this has resolved itself now, thankfully. Nothing like as horrid as your experience though. Now I've found your web-site, I shall keep an eye on your pictures and deeds of derring-do. Take care!
Iain Robinson
10/7/2018 09:15:50 am
Thank you, Sharon, good to hear that you managed to keep on through the strange time that Flickr had. I'm sure with their recent merger, things will become more stable. I might even come back once the dust has cleared and my troll has hopefully moved on :-) best wishes, Iain
Reply
Steve Anderson
11/7/2018 11:05:37 pm
Glad to see that you're alive and well. You're long absence from Flickr started to make me think the worst. Cheers.
Reply
Iain Robinson
15/7/2018 03:58:49 pm
Thanks, Steve, good to hear from you :-) I did block the guy, but it didn't make any difference...I also complained to Flickr, who did seem to be doing their best. So far he hasn't discovered this blog. I will be back :-)
Reply
Nigel Mack
24/7/2018 03:45:55 pm
Iain, so glad to see that you are still with us !! I thought, perhaps, that your absence on Flickr was probably something to do with the smug mug thing !! Never realised that it was something more unpleasant. We will be up in North Wales mid August for two weeks - I can't wait !!
Reply
Iain Robinson
27/7/2018 03:12:47 pm
Thanks very much, Nigel. I hope you get some good weather, it has returned to the normal summer weather for the moment :-) I will look in to Flickr and look at your photos after your trip- all the best!
Brian
22/7/2018 07:00:22 am
Hi, just found your web site great pictures. Have you ever thought about taking pictures in some of the Stone quarries. I live along the coast from you and there are some fantastic quarries, penmaenmawr, llanfairfechan, Conwy all the best to you and take care 😀
Reply
Iain Robinson
27/7/2018 03:19:20 pm
Hi Brian, thanks very much for dropping in and the suggestion. I did cover Penmaenmawr on my previous blogger site, it is still available at http://robinsonmaps.blogspot.com/search/label/Penmaenmawr and I did the Syenite Setts quarry too- and Trefor: http://robinsonmaps.blogspot.com/search/label/Trefor%20Quarry
Reply
victoria
24/7/2018 05:09:23 am
So good to still be able to catch up with your wonderful photos and interesting walks.
Reply
Iain Robinson
27/7/2018 03:23:06 pm
Thanks very much, Victoria. I must say, that apart from the moor fires, I have enjoyed this summer. It was so good to be able to get out without navigating loads of boggy morasses :-) We've been doing lots of explores, but the sun and the lack of cloud makes for dull photos...but I will get round to writing about them. I hope you enjoyed your Cruise to BC, it looked like you were having a great time. The marks on the bench are, I think, meant to be badger's paw prints, there were others carved nearby. Take care, thanks for looking in- cheers, Iain
Reply
Aberdeen granite
13/8/2018 02:56:39 pm
Good to see you are still active.
Reply
Iain Robinson
19/8/2018 09:47:46 am
Thank you, it was good of you to look in here. I've missed your interesting photographs, but I'm hoping to come back to Flickr in the next couple of months. Thanks again, Iain
Reply
15/8/2018 07:23:17 am
Hi Iain, sorry to hear about your trolling experience on Flickr. I missed your regular photographs of interesting or forgotten locations in Wales, and was starting to worry whether something had happened to you. Hopefully Flickr will deal with the abuser, so you'll be able to return at some point.
Reply
Iain Robinson
19/8/2018 09:50:53 am
Hi Shaun, thankyou for looking me out :-) I'm hoping to come back to Flickr in a month or so, I got a mail from them saying that they had noted the identity of the troll and he had been erased from the site, but I'm still wary. We'll see. I've missed your work too, Flickr is such a wonderful community and I've had so much support and encouragement. I am keen to get back :-) Thanks and all the best, Iain
Reply
victoria
19/8/2018 11:48:06 am
Hi Iain, those recent comments sound encouraging! I hope you are both well. Has the weather changed to rain yet, you will be pleased to see it when it does come.
Reply
Iain Robinson
13/9/2018 05:42:05 pm
Thank you, Victoria! Yes, it has been raining non-stop for a couple of weeks...to think I was glad to see it :-( I have a lot of photographs and accounts of explores to write up now the usual weather is here, so you should be seeing some new posts in the next week or so. Thanks for keeping an eye on the site- although I feel guilty now...
Reply
Jim (RustHunterJim)
21/8/2018 09:27:48 am
Hi Iain,
Reply
Iain Robinson
13/9/2018 05:44:14 pm
Hi Jim, I'm so pleased that you made it to Cwt-y-Bugail, and that it was dry! It's a fab mine, still one of my favourites. Yes, I miss Flickr, perhaps I will be able to return some time. Thanks for looking in, so good to hear from you :-)
Reply
Mikkel
23/8/2018 06:36:37 am
Hurrah! Great to see you updating here again Iain. I was worried that you'd abandoned the internet forever. The markings on that bench look very interersting indeed. I'm trying to work out how they were done!
Reply
Iain Robinson
13/9/2018 05:46:38 pm
Thank you, Mikkel...that is very kind of you to look in. I was a little unlucky with Flickr as the troll was a very persistent one, although he doesn't seem to be interested in this blog so far! I wondered too what had made those foot/paw prints...perhaps a stamp of some kind, but it would have to be a one-off, for a couple of benches. It's a lovely place, anyway.
Reply
David Hayes
12/9/2018 09:25:21 am
Hi Iain - so sorry to hear about the trolling experience, but good to read you'll be returning to Flickr soon. I do miss seeing a part of Wales that's so close to where I live, yet seemingly of another world! All the best, David
Reply
Iain Robinson
13/9/2018 05:48:26 pm
Hi David, I have been enjoying your photos, and those of my other friends on Flickr...hopefully I will return soon. Thanks for looking in here, that is much appreciated. You won't be surprised to hear that Coed Felinrhyd is back to it's boggy self now :-)
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
TracksReceive the occasional Treasure Maps Newsletter- and alerts when a new post is available!
If you enjoy my content, please buy me a coffee!
Check out my other online activity...
Index
All
|