Home Comforts

It is exactly a year to the day, that i last managed to travel to any foreign destination due to the current pandemic. This morning a year ago i flew from Gatwick North to Central America to begin my four week adventure. Little did i know that this was to be my last journey, for more than a year, possibly two.

With two cancelled holidays already and another in November to the Far East looking more and more unlikely to go ahead. I thought i would revisit some of the remarkable places and countryside that i am lucky enough to have on my front doorstep.

Carreg Cennen Castle early one morning

One of the areas most imposing locations is Carreg Cennen Castle. Perched on top of a limestone precipice, where it dominates the adjoining valleys.

Carreg Cennen Castle is located near the picturesque River Cennen, in the village of Trap, four miles south of the market town of Llandeilo, in Carmarthenshire.

The castle is located within the Brecon Beacons National Park, and its location has been described as unequally spectacular, due to its position above an imposing limestone precipice.

Viewed from the South it is both spectacular and picturesque, having been captured on canvas by many artists including Turner. This castle is only 6 miles from home and i like others that were raised in the area tend to take it for granted that its there and always will be.

This morning with only the bleating of sheep for company, you could be forgiven the felling of being in another world.

Llyn Llech Owain Country Park

Wales is a country built on legends and it is not surprising that our next call has one.

Legend has it that historic serviceman Owain Lawgoch (known as Owain The Red Hand in the the Hundred Years' War) was entrusted to look after Mynydd Mawr, a well on the mountain.

Every day, after withdrawing enough water for he and his horse, Owain was always very careful to replace the stone slab which held back the water. However on one occasion he somehow completely forgot to do that and an absolute torrent of water poured down the side of the mountain! The resultant lake was hence named Llyn Lech Owain, meaning 'the lake of Owain's slab'!

At the heart of this Country Park is the lake, which is surrounded by a peat bog. This rare habitat is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Elsewhere are areas of heathland and broadleaved woodland, whilst areas of coniferous woodland are being cleared progressively and converted to heathland and broadleaved woodland. There is a network of footpaths throughout the Country Park and many of these are well surfaced and include boardwalks which allow safe access over the peat bog and around the lake.

Some nice original and new buildings add to the ambiance of a pleasant walk around the lake.