Brecon Beacons National Park
Categories: holidays
Date: 20 December 2007 02:14:18
Photos here from the last two days [boo hoo!] of my time in Wales.
The Brecon Beacons National Park is truly an amazingly beautiful area. There is so much to do in terms of hikes and sight-seeing, and there are many lovely small towns and villages. I also gained some appreciation as to why New South Wales is so called: while it doesn't appear to rain as much here, the landscapes, particularly the rolling hills, do share much in common.
I was no longer solo on this trip: several friends from Australia, and my friends' friends and my friend's fiancé, came also. It was nice to have company, and to share experiences with others, but it was also a strange feeling; while I think we travelled well, I am someone who travels better alone I think. Or at least has some space and time to himself. But it was nice to have meals with friends [lovely food in the pubs we visited: and the Navigation Inn at Gilwern was a very friendly place: the owner and chef spoke to us, and joked with us, regularly.] From our lovely B&B (our rooms). The B&B had sheep on the property and nearby, and a horse that took a particular liking to my scarf. I took an early morning Sunday walk around the "town" [a series of farms and B&Bs mainly] along roads and what was once a railway line but is now a cycleway and walking path. I met several locals, walking their dogs, along the way and had quick chats with them about the area. Very friendly.
Most of our Sunday was taken up with Four Waterfalls Walk near Ystradfellte. The walk itself, let alone the waterfalls, was beautiful: and some unexpected sights such as sheep greeted us along the way. Something that made it all the more different, and even beautiful, in its own way, was the bare trees: we have very few native deciduous trees, so even in winter there is greenery [and dull green, not like the bright greens of the UK, but a green nevertheless] to be seen. It was a very interesting experience to see bare trees as far as the eye could see. It also meant you could see a bit farther than you otherwise could if the trees had leaves. But I do look forward to a return visit in the warmer months to see, and feel, the difference.
One of the best waterfalls was the one you could walk behind rather easily: though I, clumsy man I am, did trip: thankfully not into the water. I, and the two who followed me, did get wet, and it was rather loud behind the waterfall, but it was an experience.
The other waterfalls were just as majestic:
A great day out, and a great day spent with friends.
I look forward to returning to Wales soon.