UK 10 Wales Part 1
Monday, 15 October 2018 3:45 pm
..note the BLUE SKY !
It may be that we keep looking for our ancestral line that we are searching out these Neolithic tombs.
One of oldest burial sites in Wales at 5500 years old - The Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber
The cap stone is estimated at 16 tones. It is made from the same Blue Stone as Stone Henge some 250kms away !
The Bleeding Tree at the Church of St Brynach in Nevern. These Yew trees are 600 years old and this particular one had been bleeding for most of known time ?
On the 7th April each year the first cuckoo to sing each year does so from the tip of this cross !
Camp E45: Penrallt y Gardde picnic Area
Cost: Nil - Wild Camp
Altitude: 191 metres
Today : 67 Kms.
UK Total : 7,330 Kms
Monday 15th October 2018:
Green Grass and Blue Sky what a change from the last 3 weeks.
Following the coast this morning now at seaside resort town of Aberystwyth.
We walk the fore shore and catch the 1896 Cliff Railway to the top of Constitution Hill.
More typical holiday towns.
It is now a dotted line into the mountains for camp and views.
The final kms are misty and eerie.
Camp E46: Lakeside camp
Cost: Nil - Wild Camp
Altitude: 367 metres
Today : 111 Kms.
UK Total : 7,442 Kms
Tuesday 16th October 2018:
Saw these toadstools on the road side and just had to back up for a photograph.
Then this guy that seriously needs a hair cut !
Now we are in the Elan Valley.
Known as the Welsh Lakes District.
It is an area set aside for water and Hydro generation but 80% of the valley is designated as sites of Special Scientific Interest = Nice Country.
The Devils Bridge above the River Mynach.
Three separate bridges that coexist each one built on top of the other.
The lower and oldest built as a foot bridge in 1075, the next a horse and carriage bridge built in 1753.
These are toped with an iron bridge built in 1901 for motor vehicles and is still in use today.
According to legend the first bridge was built by the Devil because it was too difficult for mortals to build. The agreement the Devil made was he would build the bridge in return for the soul of the first living thing to cross.
The Devil was outsmarted by an old woman who through a loaf of bread over the bridge that her dog raced after. The dog thus became the first life to cross the bridge tricking the Devil.
Beyond the town of Aberdovey is Tywyn and then our camp at the end of a road next to the rail line.
Camp E47: Tywyn End of Road Camp
Cost: Nil - Wild Camp
Altitude: 16 metres
Today : 161 Kms.
UK Total : 7,603 Kms
Wednesday 17th October 2018:
Meet the real ‘Thomas The tank Engine”.
This is the narrow gauge Talyllyn railway that worked up to the Slate mine in the 1860’s. After it closed it became derelict but later in the 1950‘s became the first ever preserved rail line and rolling stock.
For us the volunteers that maned the train on our visit were just so much like those in the series.
Even Mr Controller !
Actually an enjoyable morning.
The 1921 engine here is named:
‘EDWARD THOMAS”
That afternoon we were down a slate mine.
Camp E48: Car Park near a nuclear Plant
Cost: Nil - Wild Camp
Altitude: 219 metres
Today : 95 Kms.
UK Total : 7,699 Kms
Thursday 18th October 2018:
A visit to the unusual town of Portmeiron.
Built by a ‘crazy’ ( my words) Italian and based on the Italian city of Portofino.
It was built from discarded parts of other buildings and then brightly coloured.
Perhaps the first tourist publicity stunt.
The town with the worlds longest name.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllilantysiliogogogoch
Another end of the road for us at South Stack lighthouse.
Had to walk the 408 steps down and the same number back up again.
Flat glassy sea and no wind.
Great camp site
Camp E49: South Stack Light House Car Park
Cost: Nil - Wild Camp
Altitude: 110 metres
Today : 102 Kms.
UK Total : 7,802 Kms
Friday 19th October 2018:
Mt Snowdon at 1050m is into the clouds.
We caught the cog train up to the summit, that trip took about an hour.
The down is 8kms and took us 2 hours 15 minutes.
This is at 850m, above this, is just cloud with visibility down to 3 metres.
Camp E50: Forest Camp
Cost: Nil - Wild Camp
Altitude: 219 metres
Today : 86 Kms.
UK Total : 7,888 Kms