The views are changing daily around here, leaves are falling fast and waterfalls and streams are overflowing. Suspect next weeks view of this same walk will be completely different again!
Forest
10/14/2019
Rainy Day Elan Valley
this Dam above is Pen y Garreg Dam - I think it is probably the most photographed out of all four main dams as its sat in amongst stunning scenic views and the road curves around it! You can go on open days up the inside wall and in to that tower! If you are much braver than me.
looking just like a bridge with a road on, this is Garreg Ddu Dam, a completely submerged dam. There were two flooded valleys to cause this reservoir, and numerous buildings and houses. I find it a little eerie if I think about that too long. In fact over 100 people were 'moved' and rehoused in the Elan valley for the building of all the reservoirs. Two mighty fine large country houses were also submerged, both of which were connected to the poet Shelley.
The dams are beautiful, amazing feats of engineering from back in the early 1890s, but the countryside around here is something else. The river is gorgeous and the autumn colours merely accentuate it.
Elan Valley Visitors Center
It IS raining. I know the title of the blog tells you it isn't always but it certainly was today...
Luckily reservoirs and waterfalls always look better after/during rain, when full to bursting. And bracken takes on a whole new glow when wet. Its just a bit damp for the photographer ...
There are four main dams in the Elan valley, supplying Birmingham - many miles away - with fresh drinking water. this great wall of a damn is Caban-coch – 35,530 megalitre capacity apparently and is, for those of us with an irrational fear of any water that isnt a hot shower, equal parts terrifying and beautiful. The noise is something else!
08/27/2019
05/27/2019
Bluebell season. Still.
I'm sure bluebells have a very short season. And I'm sure I remember back in England you literally had about three weeks to 'get the bluebell shot' before they faded away. Not sure what's different in Wales but we are still swamped in huge carpets of the purple blue flowers. They grow everywhere. Still takes my breath away when I find woodlands like this one tho.
05/14/2019
Trees of green
Just so many different greens. Awesome.
05/10/2019
Bluebell Season
Running a little later than England and - happily- lasting twice as long. Everywhere is covered in bluebells. Heavenly for us photographers!
04/18/2019
Spring arriving in the Forest
Even the most ordinary Forest walk is full of spring light and bright bright green these days. Taken on a spring morning as the mist burnt away to blue skies, these photos are almost a week old now and I can't believe the difference in greenery since then to now either. Spring is THE most positive season to be outside isn't it? It can't fail to lift the spirits!
03/25/2019
Beech Trees are my favourite
At every season. Maybe it's the novelty of them - there's an awful lot of pine trees around here. Maybe its the very British-ness of them... whatever it is, they are my very favourite. Planning to plant several this year which will be lovely.
