Monday 5 February 2018

Belated photos from my walk

Apologies I didn't get a chance to update my last post with the photos taken along the route.  Here they are now.  This is looking across country, Eastwards, near the farm which used to belong to old Isaac and his wife Rosina, now pushing up daisies.





One field along to the left from the first photo.  Black Mountain hidden by low cloud.


Up the top of Colomendy Hill looking towards Carmarthen.  I think it's the middle one which is Merlin's Hill.  Sadly, not topped with the Crystal Cave that Mary Stewart wrote about - though there is a very down to earth mucky spring at the bottom of it!



Looking across the Towy Valley.



Looking back on my route.  That farmhouse is Colomendy Farm.  The double hedgerow behind and above it is the line of the lane - a very steep hill to go up or down.  Sadly, the verges had been scalped late last year so no primrose flowers and scarce any leaves.


Above and below: Right round the loop.  The top lane I walked along to reach Isaac's farm and then Colomendy is just behind these trees.  You can see the hedgerow of it in the photo below.







The lovely old oak tree in the centre of this parkland.


Look, RAINBOW SHEEP!!! 


The motte and bailey of the old Norman castle in the grounds of Alltyferin.


A long view across the Towy valley to Paxton's Tower.

Back tomorrow I hope, with a proper roundup.


10 comments:

  1. I'm going to start plotting your walks on OS maps. So many interesting features. When we were in Usk in September and drive to Llanthony by way of St Patricio's Church and the church with the leaning tower, some of the lanes were so extraordinarily steep I wondered how the locals managed in icy winters. We've just finished watching the Arena programme about Shirin and Unity Spencer, daughters of Stanley Spencer. Some beautiful Welsh scenery, where Shirin aged 91 still lives. A sad history ran through their lives though which I was aware of having visited the Stanley Spencer Gallery and Museum in Cookham in January last year.

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    1. Sarah - that would bring you pleasure I am sure. I will have to do some further afield now spring is on the horizon. We are planning to visit the church with the leaning tower - Cwmyoy - when it's a bit warmer.

      I didn't see the programme about Stanley Spencer's daughters - sounds an interesting one too. Was it on the Beeb?

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    2. Yes, it was titled “Stanley and his daughters” and was on BBC Four 10pm Sunday 4 February. It was a bit sad really, two old ladies talking about their lives. They were full sisters but brought up separately due to some disastrous philandering and bad decision-making by their father. There is a good illustrated resume of Stanley’s life on the Christie’s (auction house) website if you would like to be reminded and the Cookham Gallery was just so interesting. You felt as if you were wandering around his studio with artwork displayed casually against the walls and lots of biographical detail too. Cwmjoy - how could I forget - and the plaque on the wall to the aged gentleman. I will now search my photographs for the exact words.

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    3. Thanks Sarah. I will look for that. I keep missing good programmes on BBC 4 and should pay more attention!!

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  2. Your mid-winter seems much greener than here in Kentucky. I could get lost in your photos. I suppose there is far more cleared land than in the times of Llewellyn. I'm still a bit stuck in that impressive trilogy of historical novels finished several weeks ago.

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    1. We don't often get snow - says she, looking out at snow falling as I write this!! The forecast did predict it and so far it's a sort of snow-drizzle rather than a proper fall.

      Ah, I think I remember that trilogy and it was very slow reading for me too! The landscape would have been VERY heavily wooded back in Llewellyn's time. I will try and find a couple of photos of round here to show how it may have looked.

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  3. Gorgeous photos and countryside :) The motte and bailey looks interesting! I haven't read a Mary Stewart book for years - ought to look into her novels again. Kindle versions on Amazon look quite reasonable! :)

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  4. RR - sometimes I would love to re-read the novels of my 20s - Delderfield, Georgette Heyer, Catherine Cookson, Nevil Shute and the like, but the pile to read here never seems to shrink so I can't see it happening any time soon!

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  5. It's fabulous country, isn't it? I love the picture with the old norman castle.

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  6. It's beautiful countryside. We are spoilt for views round here. The old motte has survived remarkably well.

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