A rather misty and chilly morning saw us all gather in Llandovery Carpark for our mystery walk with Phil. He did explain before the walk that there were some steep climbs through fields before some excellent views back over the town and then there would be some wet places through woods, followed by very wet and muddy places and then a downhill tramp over a road back into the town where we could all enjoy a coffee and cake! And lo …it all came to pass!
After walking up through some woods and up the side of a hill we stopped and turned around to admire the view below! It would have been so much better if it wasn’t so misty and murky but it was still pretty special to see the whole valley below. The church took central stage and the townscape expanded from there.
After going up we started going down passing lambs and ewes grazing in the fields.
Next came the wet and muddy part of the walk! We passed the time chatting with some off roaders, on trail bikes, who had ridden from Newport and were completing a circuit on green lanes before heading back home.
It was down hill all the way from now on still seeing some hills in the distance and passing through some more woodland, where teapots were hanging from trees, all ready for birds to nest in them….very pretty and great idea.
Nature’s art was everywhere to be seen and enjoyed!
Thank you Phil for a wonderful walk and for taking us to West End cafe where we all enjoyed our cake and coffee! Great idea of yours to do the walk in reverse next time…look forward for that!
We enjoyed a lovely day out to celebrate Jim’s birthday on a visit to Shrewsbury on the Heart of Wales train line! He was really spoilt as I had also ordered online some Staffordshire oatcakes for him….his favourite ! They duly arrived and filled with cheese and heated in the microwave, they were his best present…apparently!
We set off from Llangadog station early in the morning in the pouring rain but by the time we arrived in Shrewsbury the rain had stopped and it was a pleasant day.
We enjoyed our walk around the town delighted to see many of the shops still open and we eventually ended in the museum. We always seem to end up in museums! Amazing places!
We later visited some of the churches and in one we were given a very interesting guided tour by an ex teacher. He certainly hadn’t forgotten his ‘teaching’ ways and would gain top marks anywhere!
The sign below details the sad tale of Cadman who in 1739 aged 28 tried to fly off the top of the church spire but didn’t succeed. Poor Cadman!
It was late when we arrived back at Llangadog station but we’d both had a great birthday treat!
A visit to the Botanic Garden of Wales to listen to an interesting talk about Plants on the Mekong was followed by coffee and cake in the Great Glass House.
Back home the sunrises, sunsets and sky nights have all been amazing to watch and enjoy.
Our pond is also filling up with all our amazing regular visitors! There are two mallards, two Canada geese and two moorhens and an occasional heron! There are birds on our feeders but not as many as before.
The garden is continuing to look more spring like with crocus and snowdrops all out and daffodil buds are slowly opening up too.
A painting of Saskia by Rembrandt has been lent to Carmarthen Museum by the National Gallery . I’ve enjoyed my visits to view it and my walks around the grounds.
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Hope all is well for you, your families and friends. Enjoy this time of year wherever you are in our world.
The camera was on full zoom so poor photos of an adult moorhen with two chicks and a chick ( the black spot!) running underneath the gunnera (which shows frost damage on its leaves!)
Just look who’s coming back over the fields for the night- hope the moorhen chicks are safely tucked up in bed for the night or there’ll be ructions!
Happy Gardening everyone!
The goslings are only two days old and already quite able to forage for themselves but stay close to mum and dad! The ‘dad’ chased away the moorhen , who had only come to say ‘Good Morning!’
As it was a dry, sunny but chilly day we thought a ‘brisk’ walk would be in order. Jim’s knee is not quite up to ‘brisk’ yet but it’s getting there…when the swelling goes down!!
There are many magnificent oak trees around the parkland – how many mysteries have they seen?
Turn the other way from this view of the bluebell woodland and you see Newton House and in front the White Cattle enjoying a morning snooze.
Continuing our circular walk we passed banks of primroses between the woodland bluebells and saw some White Cattle close at hand!
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