A few hours ago we were exploring the nature reserve at Pwll-y-Wrach, just outside of Talgarth. The Welsh name translates to "pool of the witch " and in Medieval times women accused of being witches used to be tried there. Of course, it was not much of a trial - if they drowned they were deemed innocent, but if they floated they were clearly guilty and lost their lives in more horrendous ways. The area is an SSSI - we saw Yellow Archangel, Bluebells, Common Cow-wheat, and beautiful ferns unfurling. I was hoping to see the Pied Flycatchers which are often seen there, but no such luck today.
I think this is Rhos Dirion, in the Black Mountains. Height 713 feet. I shan't be climbing up there any time soon! We looked at a house at Llanelieu, very close to this. Lovely scenery and walks, but the house lacked outside storage and had a resident ghost . . .
Finally, Common Cow-wheat, which used to grow on the bank by the river Cothi at our old home. HERE is the link to its medicinal uses on Plantlife.
Sorry to be short on words this time, but I'm tired and so the photos will have to suffice. . .
I have been there years ago but the falls were not in high dudgeon! If I'm right it's out towards the glider club - which always strikes me as being situated in the oddest place for a glider to land; sort of on the side of a hill! I walked up Mynydd Llangorse which is not far away for the first time last year and it was steeper and higher than I expected.
ReplyDeleteI remember looking up at that the last time we were at Llangorse Lake. Bet the views are amazing. I need to work on my walking-up-steep-hills muscles and give my lungs a talking-to!
DeleteI think falls need to be going flat out to impress. Tam took me to some near Sheffield when she lived up there - after heavy rain of course - and the water was peat-brown and incredible in spate.
Never knew there was a glider club at Llangorse, but they must be used to the landing spot by now.
What a wonderful place. I live right next to a spot in town where women were ducked in the water for either being witches or criticising their husbands, but it is nowhere near as beautiful as your place.
ReplyDeleteWell, I suppose if you're going to drown, you may as well do it in a spectacular spot and not in a slow-moving river with a lot more spectators. . .
DeleteWomen certainly suffered in the past - heal someone with herbs - WITCH; have a facial disfigurement - WITCH; get old and have a pet cat - WITCH; dare to criticise someone with power - WITCH; live nearby when cattle or sheep die from pestilence - obviously a curse from the nearby old lady - WITCH! Don't ever sell spells to girls wanting to make a lad fall in love with them - a bad career move!
Beautiful photos and as such don't need a lot of words. I do envy you the quietude and the options you have for enjoying its expanse. I walk vicariously through your posts.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the walk. We didn't see another soul, though there were cars in the car park. It was very slippy underfoot though and not much between the path and the river in places!
DeleteIsn't it wonderful to live near such splendour. Sorry about the wellies, nothing worse than wet feet while walking. Sorry about yesterday's confusion, re: bracken. I do know the differences, and just wasn't connecting brain to typing. My garden is full of native ferns, and I live two minutes from a bracken filled common. I already told my American friends in a blog last year we would never eat our ferns, no matter how much they looked alike.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed RP -I love the wilder parts of the countryside, so it suits me well around here. New wellies will be here soon - I was just trying to avoid the deep sticky mud yesterday but feet stayed dry even though trainers took on mud! Fiddlehead Ferns, which are eaten in America, are safe to eat.
DeleteBeautiful photos and such a lovely walk. Looks a super nature reserve :) Yellow Archangel is such a lovely flower. These days I always try and keep wellies in the car not that I always remember to put them on!!! I would not have fancied a house with a resident ghost!!!! It looks as though you have moved to an area with some super places to walk and see nature.
ReplyDeleteMy wellies have Had It - splitting where they have been bent in use and heels worn thin too. Cotswold ones from Charlies - shan't buy those again, and have ordered some Dunlop ones to arrive Thursday (mind you, they are probably made in China too!) The resident ghost was right in a close-up old doorway - Keith tried to persuade me it was a draught - nope, I pick up on these things. Think freezing cold pillar in your living room.
DeleteWe have landed on our feet here with places to explore and enjoy.
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ReplyDeleteLovely header photo! I really enjoy the walks through your beautiful country. Thanks for sharing about your life and letting us see it through the wonderful pictures. Take Care!
ReplyDeleteIt is quite splendid. I always hate it when I take an old header down to share anew one, as I always try to get a really special photo. However, I got SO many taken today I have a year's worth I reckon!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed coming along for the walk.
What a truly beautiful place to walk, it's lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely there, but at times the slippy mud threatened to pitch you down the bank into the stream!
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the resident ghost residing in a doorway. Though I am partly a disbeliever, I once had a very 'cold experience in a house in Essex. We were to learn later that someone had hung themselves from the top bannister. Thin places perhaps.
ReplyDeleteI used to try to keep a logical mind about such things, my experiences down the years have more than proven that there are things out there we can put no rational explanation to. NO WAY was I going to live in a house with a ghostie in the corner of the living room, fabulous stone fire place and stone Latin inscriptions over the Medieval doorway or no.
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