Wednesday 29 April 2015

the elan valley



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I can't believe how beautiful this valley is. It's mustard and rust, bracken and heather, burnt umber, yellow ochre and flint grey. The rocks echo the colours of the plants. Photoshopped by sunlight and minerals. It's earthy and ancient. We look for fossils in the slate. Listen to the wind that whips the shrubs and makes the water lap against the stones. We walk the reservoir's circumference, careful not to slip in. I imagine gold panning, sleeping in a log cabin; drinking coffee from a rusty metal cup and eating beans baked over a driftwood fire. 

Then we find another one edged with woods of dark green conifers. A central island, a pearl drop of Christmas trees. This time it's brown bears that I visualise, and canoes paddled in the lake dug by men only a hundred years ago. 

Another one, the blue carpet crossed by an arched stone bridge, bound with calm pistachio green hills. Different again. A ewe with her lamb wanders along the path in front of us. She stop dead and comforts her nervous offspring letting the scared baby suckle whilst we wait patiently to pass by. 

We spent half a day but could have stayed for a month. We'll be back soon. It's just across the border, a half hour drive. Another country. It seems like a million miles away...

10 comments:

  1. I love Wales and spent many a walking holiday at Glasbury.

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    1. It's such a beautiful country. I get so excited every time we cross the border. Glasbury...I've never visited. I will check it out.So many lovely places to visit.
      Have a great weekend,
      debx

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  2. My dearest Debby, I can see why you could stay there a month, what a magical place.
    I love finding places 'in my backyard' to visit. This planet really is amazing isn't it?
    Oh, and the photo with the bridge and the little building is wonder, as are those
    stone steps!
    Have a beautiful day!

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    1. It's beautiful. I think there are about five lakes in total. We just saw three and each one was so different. We'll be back with a picnic basket next time. Totally agree it's amazing to have a little time to explore it as much as possible.
      Thank you Tracey have an amazing weekend,
      debx

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  3. I loved seeing you and your mitts! what pattern? Lovely views you shared with us today and I can just imagine the fresh air that accompanied your day!

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    1. Thank you Karen, they are from a free pattern Erika Night pattern called 'Mittens for Mum' that you should be able to download on the following link:
      http://www.deramores.com/erika-knight-mittens-pattern
      They are nice simple knit on two needles ones. A lovely evening project.
      It was quite windy the sun was scorching hot and made the colours look amazing. Lots of fresh air.
      Have a great weekend.
      debx

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  4. wow. what an outing!!! beautiful!!!!!

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    1. It was an amazing afternoon Steph. Hopefully we'll go back soon.
      dx

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  5. Hi Debby, thanks for stopping by my blog and for leaving a comment.
    Your photos are so beautiful. It sound like a beautiful peaceful place to visit and plenty of fresh air. I love those old steps, the bridge and and those big trees. I wonder what stories they have to tell. The day looks perfect with such blue sky and water. Just spectacular.

    JB

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    1. Hi Julia,
      Nice to meet you. Thank you too. It is really beautiful and wild. It was so good to blow the cobwebs away for a couple of hours.
      Have a great day.
      debx

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