Brynithel to Swyffryd village, South Wales

The cliched top of the world - Brynithel !
Where the sky and land are divided equally at the horizon.   A true mountain village with clean bracing air.

A lorry piled high with scrap metal cuases minor traffic chaos as the driver touts for business, house-to-house, amongst the ex-coalboard houses renovated with pride and council grants.   On the first stage of our journey, sleeping policemen, installed to deter boy racers and joy riders from speeding along the narrow roads, cause discomfort to the elderly and infirm.

The switchback road drops hsarply into Llanhilleth, created piecemeal over time in the creases of the valley.   Each row of houses built on a different geometric plane, with those on the valley floor appearing as if in miniature.  

Sheep wander the rain-soaked slopes as in a watercolour painting.   

Brightly painted miners'cottages display neat front gardens to their neighbours, but over the rooves we can see their steep back gardens with brightly painted pigeon lofts, Mediterranean patios or unmown lawns.  

Victorian bay widowed houses are suspended above a ferocious stone wall and overshadow the narrow road.   Should you miss your way, a delicate iron railings is the only defence from nplummeting onto the stepped rooves of houses below.

The writhing tarmac tortures its way down the hillside, twisting like a demented python.   Uneven road repairs, parked cars and oncoming vehicles make for an uncomfortable ride, with staccato progress.

Two crows and a magpie play chicken with the traffic, pecking at a morsel in the road.

ROAD CLOSED

Llanhilleth ends.   The result of optimistically locating a road on a precarious ledge on an unstable mountainside.   Undeterred, we turn left and rise steeply through a tunnel of trees and greenery, leaving Llanhilleth behind and heading towards Swffryd.

South Wales Castles

Newport's vaulted ceiling

If you love Castles, then South East Wales is the place to come.  Some were created to oppress the Welsh hordes who were terrorising the people across the border, but others were created by the Welsh.   All were built to show power and authority.

A fantastic website exists that lists castles with photographs and text.   See my link http://www.castlewales.com/

Go to the "Castle Index" on the top line of the web page and type in any of the following:



Caerphilly's leaning tower

Caldicot

Raglan

White

Abergavenny

Usk

Newport

Cardiff

Cyfarthfa

Caerphilly

Chepstow

Llanhilleth, Castell Tailorem

These are not in any order of preference but are all within a short drive from my home.   Castles range from Norman ruins to 18th Century reproductions (Cyfarthfa).   Caerphilly's fractured tower leans further than the Italian Tower of Pisa.

Situated in the city centre, Cardiff boasts William Burgess' fantastic Gothic decoration with gold leaf and gargoyles alongside the original Motte & Bailey shown on the above website, as well as the remains of the surrounding Roman wall.   Well worth a visit, but unlike the publicly owned museums, there is an entrance charge.   You can see Burgess' series of animal sculptures appearing to climb over the boundary wall for free and get some shopping done at the same time.



Extravagant Gold leaf at Cardiff Castle

Caerleon Festival 2012 South Wales

Later Note:  Unfortunately, this Festival has seen the wettest summer on record and outdoor events have, naturally, been affected.

I went to the Bathhouse Bards event with Gillian Clark, the National Poet of Wales.  Despite the pouring rain, over 100 people attended.   Students from Newport University 'warmed up' the audience before the main act.   Between pieces Gillian praised the people of Newport for saving the Medieval ship for the nation.   An excellent performance.

Caerleon is a small town situated in the very south eastern corner of Wales on the river Usk.   Once a Roman port, it has extensive evidence of a Roman presence and attracts visitors from all over the world.

The Caerleon Festival has been held every summer, and this is their 10th Anniversary, hence the

on the front cover of their brochure.  

Events last from 6 - 15 July at various venues.   On 14-15 July there will be FREE entertainment on Hanbury Field & Quay.   (Opposite the Hanbury Public House)

Events range from an Art Exhibition in the Methodist Church, to a Farmers Market;  Monty Python and the Holy Grail showing in the open air Roman Amphitheatre on 6th July,  to a Meet the Authors on 7th and and Comic Verse Finals on 8th.

Bathhouse Bards present Gillian Clarke, the National Poet of Wales.   She will be performing in the Roman Baths on 12th July.   Despite the current deluges experienced by Wales, she will not, I understand, be performing under water. 

Richard III will be performed by The Festival Players Theatre Company in the Roman Amphitheatre on 13th July.

Check out the following website for detailed information and to purchase          e-tickets for the events that need it  -  Many are FREE !! especially on 14th and 15th.

www.caerleon-arts.org

It all sounds great fun.   Wish I could scan the whole golden brochure.   See you there!



The Caerleon Festival is run entirely by volunteers, and are always looking for people to become involved.    For more information, please call 01633 430194.

Dewstow House & Gardens, South Wales

Dewstow House is situated between Caerwent and Chepstow and was built before l804, when John Proctor (d. l837) lived there.

Dewstow Gardens were built after 1895.

After World War II the grottoes and fernery were buried , presumably because there was insufficient staff to maintain them.



The hidden structures were discovered and in 2000 large scale excavation and restoration of the gardens began.

There is a labyrinth of tunnels interconnecting underground grottoes, ponds, tropical glass houses, a rock garden and an alpine garden.   There is scope for children to run and play, but plenty to interest them in the nature stakes.

A tea room provides snacks and cakes and there's plenty of parking.
Open 10am-4.30pm but check before visiting  01291 431020

http://www.dewstowgardens.co.uk/

http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/dewstow_gardens_grottoes

Welcome to South Wales

According to statistics stay-cations are all the rage, as opposed to vacations.  So why not travel along the M4 and come and see us?

M4 entry to Wales

Unlike most European countries, you don't need a passport to enter Wales (from England, anyway).   But if you enter along the Severn Bridge and M4 you will be required to pay a toll (currently £6 for cars).

The alternative is to travel to Gloucester, then Ross, Monmouth and Usk - quite a detour.

Any resemblance to welsh harp strings is purely coincidence.

The second Severn crossing is a beautiful suspension bridge, although as with other suspension bridges around the world, it has its internal problems.   The tiny wires making up the cables are slowing rusting and 'twanging.'    Don't panic, its okay, honestly.   They have a machine monitoring the number of twangs, so they will know if they have to close it.

Caravan holidays can be fun !

A brief view of the mudflats as you pass when the tide is out.

Sorry if you don't like poetry, but I thought you might like this one:

A Portrait of Lady Severn 

Moon-pulled, her skirts swirl and sway,
each frill encrusted with humans
                precariously balanced.
Enamelled bands adorn her throat and wrist
                bejewelled with Fords, Hondas and Mercedes.

To a symphony of seabirds
she glides to and fro attended by bobbing barnacled craft,
                fish dancing lip service at her feet.
Salmon and lamprey travel back year on year to her voice’s call.

 The sunset glitters bronze and gold
on the swathes of her mud spattered robe,
              creating admirers from passers-by.

 Her seaweed coiffure curls round her enigmatic face
as it reflects the joys and stormy sorrows of passing clouds.
History hides beneath her stare, giving glimpses to the few
of her treasures held for future’s eye,
                beneath those terracotta skirts. 

Her eyes sparkle with untold truths.
Artists attempt to interpret her beauty
but no-one can reveal the many facets

                       of this Mud Flour Madonna,

this Sedimentary Salomi,

Majectic  Lady of the Sea,

 

                                                         The Severn Estuary.

 by Meg Gurney

The Skirrid Mountain, near Abergavenny, South Wales

Who likes mountain climbing ?     NO, not with crampons and safety harnesses...

The climb is rather steep, but the views are well worth it.   The Skirrid mountain is just outside Abergavenny on the way to Hereford.  It has a distinctive 'nose' shape and competes with the 'Sugar Loaf', and the Blorenge mountains surrounding Abergavenny.

As you break through the tree-line at the top it can be windy.  I held on to a very sturdy post to take these views on a particularly clear day last summer.

Relieved I'd reached the bottom of this very steep decent.

http://www.visitabergavenny.co.uk/pages/index.php?gallery_ID=1&mod=gallery

http://www.abergavenny.org.uk/skirrid.htm

Tredegar Town Clock

Hi Everyone,

In case you have been wondering about the absence of recent posts, for the last few days I gave up our Welsh scenery to admire, for a short while, the mountains and scenery of Southern Italy and Sicily.  

Once I have cleared my backlog of mail, washing, and cat cuddling, I will be back with you.  

Here are some pictures to be going on with....



The Iron clock in Tredegar

A view showing the stairways within the clock tower.



View down inside the clock from near the mechanism

Plaque on the base of the clock

This clock was at the centre of the town when erected.   Hopefully it will received a little more attention now that the nearby Bedwellty House has been renovated.  More on Bedwellty House again.

http://www.tredegar.co.uk/gallery/


http://www.tredegar.co.uk/gallery/gallery.