Tag: Wales

Wales

A trip to Wales

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A few days away to see my lovely aunt who lives in the tiny Welsh village Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. On the way we stayed at The Bear of Rodborough, a rather delightful hotel near Stroud in Gloucestershire. The next day we visited Hay-on-Wye, renowned for its many bookshops, then on to Llanrhaeadr to see my aunt over the next couple of days. A visit to the nearby town of Llangollen threw up a surprise with an amazing second-hand bookshop Books Llangollen which boasts an amazing 100,000 books to be perused. I needed a day there, not just half an hour!

View from our hotel room
Hay on Wye bookshop
Llanrhaeadr YM
Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen canal
Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant/Wales

Llanrhaeadr trip

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I’ve had a lovely, relaxing 4 days away in the delightful village of Llanrhaeadr, just inside the Welsh border. This visit was primarily to attend my Aunt Isobel’s funeral, but I was overdue for and ready to come anyway.

This is my lovely Aunty May who I am always happy to spend so much time talking to, about family and things.

She used to make jars of marmalade and jam but now seems to concentrate on pickles!

There’s not much in the way of street lighting in the village, which makes for a slightly creepy but pleasurable night stroll to the pub. The smell of the smoke from the house fires adds to the atmosphere.

ME!
In front of the spectacular Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall, an almost 4-mile walk from the village of Llanrhaeadr.

A rare selfie!

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Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant/Wales

A bus to Oswestry

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For my last day in Llanrhaeadr I’ve been on a bus trip to Oswestry. There’s only one bus out, at 10am, and one bus back, at 1:30pm, so I had three hours to fill. This is more than enough! An amble and a tea, cake and browse in the bookshop just about filled my time. A very interesting chat with a villager on the way back made it a worthwhile excursion.

View from the bus
View from the bus

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Family/Wales

I would love to be up there

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It was the day of my aunt’s funeral, the primary reason for my visit to Wales. My mum was one of twelve children, but now there is just one left, an uncle. The church was packed and the service was in Welsh and English, and on a bright, sunny day there was an emotional burial at a remote church surrounded by stunning hills. Whenever I see a hill or mountain I always want to be up there on the top.

Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant/Wales/Walks

A walk to the Llanrhaeadr waterfall

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It’s all very well blogging from an iPhone but it does require a signal and here in the village there is no Wi-Fi in my cottage and a very intermittent mobile signal! Nevertheless with a bit of perseverance I’ve managed to construct this post.
The walk to the waterfall from the village is a relatively gentle hike, nearly 4 miles along a single narrow lane. It’s a beautiful walk marred only by the occasional vehicle. The waterfall is stunning and with all the rain there’s been it is particularly spectacular. The rain also means there’s water pouring down the hills and onto the lane as well as filling the river.

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Travel/Wales

Notes from a week away

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Traveller hint #1: Before travelling, as well as checking if the trains are running / on time, it’s also worth checking that the underground line you intend using is running. We didn’t and it wasn’t.

Traveller hint #2: Don’t assume that because the bus company confirms that the last bus is running on your date of travel and that it goes as far as your destination, that this will be the case. It wasn’t – the late service has been discontinued. Sadly the company (Tanat Valley – www.tanat.co.uk) have not updated their on-line timetable, so others may also find a £26 taxi will be required.

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