Tag Archives: nature

Penrhyn Castle

Posted on by
2

Leaving Caernarfon, we followed the Menai Strait northward with the Isle of Anglesey across the water to our left. The Menai Bridge was built to carry traffic between Anglesey and mainland Wales.

1-menai-bridge

Construction began in 1819 with the towers on either side of the strait, built using stone from Penmon quarry on the island.

2-menai-bridge

It was the first iron suspension bridge of its kind in the world, completed in 1826.

3-menai-bridge

We walked across the bridge, stopping to admire the view northward to the Irish Sea.

4-menai-strait

We couldn’t resist a visit to nearby Penrhyn Castle.

5-penrhyn-castle

It’s not really a castle at all but a country house built to resemble a Norman castle.

6-penrhyn-castle

Created between 1820 and 1833, Penrhyn was built on the site of a 14th century manor house and is now owned by the National Trust.

7-penrhyn-castle

After exploring the gorgeous restored interior, we strolled through the grounds.

8-penrhyn-castle9-penrhyn-castle10-penrhyn-castle

The countryside was breathtaking, with views across Snowdonia National Park

11-snowdonia-national-park

and north to Llandudno and the Great Orme.

12-the-great-orme13-the-great-orme

Whether you love or loathe the idea of a mock castle, you can’t help but be impressed by the workmanship.

14-penrhyn-castle

Abetone

Posted on by
4

On the last weekend of the guitar making course, Michael had some time off between coats of oil. The two of us took a drive to Abetone, a renowned skiing resort in the Apennines. There were remnants of snow on the alps and a bracing crispness in the air.

We parked the car just as some Vespa enthusiasts were leaving.

3-modena-vespa-club

The town was very quiet,

4-abetone

most of the shops had closed and the hotels and holiday chalets were waiting patiently for next season.

9-chalets

The view from the Hotel Bellavista was stunning, the ski runs clearly visible between the trees.

The chairlifts had been put to bed for the summer.

13-chairlift

16-chairlift

There weren’t many places open for lunch but fortunately, we found La Casina. The open fire and cosy ambience were perfect

17-la-casina18-la-casina

along with the delicious food. The staff spoke no English and we inadvertently ordered roasted balsamic onions as our vegetable side dish.

We walked further after lunch, accompanied by magnificent scenery.

26-view

Our stroll through a tranquil beech forest was cut short by two rather unfriendly dogs who didn’t like us on their turf.

From the higher ground, we had a different perspective of the alps

and of the town nestled snugly in the valley.

32-town

It was time to wend our way back to Benabbio for that final coat of oil and our last night at Villa San Rocco.

33-farewell

wistful walks

Posted on by
7

Poppy is usually accompanied on her walks by Michael but he has fallen victim to a nasty virus and so, Poppy has been taking me instead. We have been exploring the different paths and finding all sorts of interesting things. The morning mist as we start the River Walk is breathtaking

1-river-walk

and the forest is serene.

2-river-walk3-river-walk

Despite the lingering cold and wet, the spring flowers are trying their best.

I haven’t been along Spooky Path for a while. Soon after we moved here, I was walking this path with Poppy and was unnerved by the thumping sounds around me. Memories of the movie, ‘Predator’, whipped my nerves into a frenzy along with my imagination. Hence, Spooky Path was named. Where the path becomes swallowed by scrub, the valley drops out of sight to the Blythe River below and the ridge opposite seems so close.

13-spooky-path14-spooky-path

Poppy found some special newcomers in the forest.

14a-baby-birds

They grew very quickly and soon flew the nest.

14b-baby-birds

Down in the rainforest, the water is tumbling along in the stream

17-stream

and the manferns are lush with new growth.

On a damp morning

21-raindrops

we walked Pat’s Path, named for my sister who first discovered the path when she came for a holiday soon after we moved here.

22-pats-path

The views of the rainforest are stunning from this higher ground.

23-pats-path24-pats-path

After a while, the path disappears into the trees and we have to retrace our steps.

25-pats-path

You never know who you might meet on the way back home.

26-parrot

Of course, Poppy is always ready to do one more path.

27-poppy

Desert Park

Posted on by
4

The last day of our Northern Territory holiday had arrived and we made the most of it at Alice Springs Desert Park. The ridge of Alhekulyele (Mt. Gillen) is a stunning backdrop to the 3,000 acre park.

We arrived in time for the Nature Theatre show to be entertained with demonstrations of free-flying birds of prey.

4-wedge-tailed-eagle

8-whistling-kite

10-barn-owl

The bush stone-curlew stole my heart again.

The park has three re-created desert habitats to explore: Sand Country, Woodland and Desert Rivers. The Woodland habitat includes enclosures for dingoes

and kangaroos.

It was a bit early for the wildflowers but they were lending some bursts of colour.

The Desert Rivers habitat was full of life, from the magnificent perenties enjoying the sun,

39-perentie40-perentie

to the black cockatoos posing majestically in the trees.

41-black-cockatoo

The waterholes were popular

while some preferred dry land.

We had the opportunity to learn more about the wedge-tailed eagle

50-wedge-tailed-eagle

and he very kindly posed for a photo.

51-wedge-tailed-eagle

The reptile house was home to some cute lizards

and snakes.

58-snake

The tawny frogmouth looked very regal.

59-tawny-frogmouth

Our day at the Desert Park was amazing

60-path

and we left with some very special memories.

West Wales

Posted on by
2

Following our exploration of Cilgerran castle, we found a lovely place for lunch in nearby Cardigan.

1-castle-kitchen-restaurant

I thought it would be nice to buy a cardigan in Cardigan, but I didn’t. Instead, we strolled along the River Teifi

2-river-teifi3-river-teifi

before continuing our drive north. Not far from Aberystwyth was our inviting B&B, Awel-Deg, at Capel Bangor.

4-awel-deg

The views were stunning across the gorgeous Rheidol Valley.

5-rheidol-valley6-rheidol-valley

We walked to the Tynllidiart Arms for dinner

7-tynllidiart-arms

and sampled ales brewed at the smallest commercial brewery in the world. Bragdy Gwynant is a five foot square former men’s toilet where, since 2004, beers have been brewed for the Tynllidiart Arms.

8-bragdy-gwynant

The next morning, we detoured to Devil’s Bridge. There are actually three bridges built on top of each other, the oldest dating back to the 11th century. The stone bridge was then built in 1753 when the original became unstable and the most recent iron bridge was constructed in 1901.

9-devils-bridge

The bridge is at a point where, before reaching the River Rheidol, the River Mynach drops 90 metres down a steep and narrow ravine.

10-devils-bridge

As we descended the steps

the bridge rose above us.

13-devils-bridge

At the bottom, the water created wonderful waterfalls as it cascaded through the confines of the gorge.

14-devils-bridge15-devils-bridge16-devils-bridge

According to legend, the original bridge was built by the Devil. He was visiting Wales and came across a lady whose cow had wandered across the river and she couldn’t get her back. He offered to build a bridge in return for the soul of the first living thing to cross the bridge. The next morning, the lady returned but she tricked the Devil by throwing bread so her dog went across first. The Devil wasn’t happy and was never seen in Wales again.

17-devils-bridge

We continued our drive north through Snowdonia National Park, 823 square miles of stunning landscapes,

18-snowdonia19-snowdonia

as we headed for the coast.