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My first attempt at using the slow cooker. Very easy … this isn’t a guideline at how to cook !
Here’s the bag of ingredients. Here’s the cooker in the box.
It comes out of hybernation.
Red Pepper Green Pepper A Red onion
with carrots Guess what ? With the powder mix : Chicken Chasseur
Forgot the mushrooms + garlic The pan is on and time for a drink
265 miles equals 400 miles (and counting) ….
My journey back home from Liverpool normally takes about 265 miles. On this occasion though, I wanted to discover some new scenery in Wales. So after a great Yorkshire holiday I left Liverpool on my way home. The weather was sunny but I didn’t know how long it would last. I was hoping to reach the Elan Valley which is near Rhayader in Mid Wales and then follow the river Elan into one of the Welsh wilderness areas.
Here is the Welsh Wilderness area. And the other map is showing the location in the United Kingdom.
My journey started by going under the Mersey tunnel then on to to the M53 then the A494 road to North Wales. I then travelled through the wonderful town of Ruthin. Intending on getting to the Elan Valley in Mid Wales I decided to head straight for Bala instead of diverting to the much liked Betwys-y-coed / Snowdon area for some photos.
I really wanted to go to the Elan Valley as I had heard some wonderful things of that location. On the A494 as I was heading toward Bala I kept diverting in the hope of finding interesting and scenic roads – hoping to find a place of scenic wonder.
Eventually, near to a place called Bethel I discovered something really nice at Llandderfel. But as it had taken me so long to reach here I couldn’t spend time investigating.
Taken near Bethel on the way to Llandderfel
The Roof Of Wales
The journey carried on to the wonderful Bala Lake and then beyond to Corris with it’s exciting views. There is an amazing mountain road here but I wasn’t going that way today, so I stayed on the A487 to Machynlleth. Just after passing through the town I took the A489. And then on the right is an amazing road which leads you over a steep mountainous area. Driving along here is like being on the roof of Wales. It really is, as you are looking at vistas for miles around ! (sorry no photo to show you but here’s the route on a map).
At the bottom turn right onto the B4518 then a short while later and before reaching any of the lakes there is a sign saying scenic route. I have found out that most signs saying ‘scenic route’ don’t live up to their expectations, but the forest road here is fantastic. It takes you into the heart of the Hafren Forest. (Two pics of the forest area below)
The route taken on the roads from the previously mentioned town of Machynlleth are wonderful. But a walking route travels along side it as well. This is called the ‘Glyndwrs Way’. I could only think that they must have included the best scenery around so hopefully if you follow that route on a map you will see other places worth exploring. http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/glyndwrsway/
At the end of this drive through the forest the small town of Llanidloes is reached. It really is worth a visit and not just the whistle stop tour of 30 seconds it took me to find my next road. I really did want to stop here and hopefully will go back. Click this link for a nice web site about it which includes an audio description of the towns focal points. http://www.llanidloes.com/maps/llanidloes2.html
Reaching The Elan Valley
The next town to be reached is Rhayader and from here you will see brown tourist signs for The ‘Elan Valley’. My plan was to go across through the hills travelling west one way until reaching ‘Cwmystwyth’. And then to travel south before coming back on the Eastern route. The Eastern route goes from further down the B4343 at Tregaron across to Abergwesyn. I’m only telling you these Welsh names because I can’t get the entire route of this area on a map, as there are a lot of minor roads.
Anyway enough of the boring stuff… Somebody once described this Elan Valey road as being the hidden jewel in the crown of Wales. But it didn’t compare to the previous part of my journey from Machynlleth over the hills and through the Hafren Forest. In fact the southern route of the two roads I took in this region of Wales was much better and was probably the best road I had travelled along all day. And maybe the best road ever in my history of being born and visiting Wales… eth. If you can believe that.
Here’s some photos from the Elan Valley road (the Northern route) :
And then there was the southern route …..
Forests, winding mountain roads and rivers are all the order of things here. Unfortunately the sun went in shortly after these pics below so I didn’t take any of the rivers and forest roads. But the road goes through the Tywi Forest. The forestry commision website describes the Tywi Forest saying that the … “unique landscape provides spectacular views including the ‘Llyne Brianne Reservior’ “
T
One last and final thought : Geese on a farm …. and off I travelled home. Home on this occasion being 400 miles and still counting ….
Quote
THE DAILY HERALD : Man Eaten Alive By A Big Forest !!
Reports are coming from the wild regions of the Welsh mountains that a man has been found wondering, aimlessly, and in an impoverished state…….
Apparently he was unable to find his way out of a very big forest ! His first words to those who found him were : “It seemed like the trees were all around me. They were talking to me and threatening to fall on me. There was no escape, and I thought I would die in there ! “
So deluded was his sense of reasoning that at one point he was convinced he had seen Ray Mears (Bushcraft and Survival expert) walking towards him with a bag of cakes and telling him how to reach Narnia !!
Onlookers laughing at the man were left dumbfounded when looking at the pictures in his camera. They appeared to be taken not by a man who was out of his mind but by someone who had been having a fantastic time….. One onlooker said, “They were full of the joys of somebody who had found a new world !! “ Another said: “I wish I’d discovered what he had found in there”
The forest in question was the COED-Y-BRENIN forest in the Snowdonia National Park. And he was found near Ganllwyd.
Here are the pictures and videos found in his camera, and in the order in which they appeared. We have also added the mans own words as he explained to people the images, and what had happened to him :
“ I was driving near Bala when I left the main road and headed up over the hills travelling West.”
I was really happy here (above) and thought, “This is great.” ….. The road was lovely and a delight to drive along. “A bit narrow like.”
The road started rising and then I was right next to the tops of these tall Pine trees. I felt like I could have reached out and touched them. The roots of them were somewhere down the steep hillside.
I thought the forest here was the Coed-y-Brenin forest. The place where I was intending to go. I then realised that this particular forest wasn’t on my map and that there was something wrong with the map I was carrying.
This is a road and not a meandering river going through this vast expanse of mountainous countryside. However, alarm bells began ringing because I didn’t see some of these roads on my map. I came to a few junctions but didn’t know where I was as the places on the signs weren’t on my map either ! ……….. I attempted to use my sense of direction to guide me.
I saw this lovely Welsh speaking sheep. It said “Baa”. Is that Welsh ? Then after about an hour or so of driving along the meandering country mountain road I came to what I thought was the Coed-y-brenin forest (above right).
I found a river and knew I could get a drink if I needed to, and if it got dark. A slight feeling of trepidation was creeping in to me because of the lack of road signs and my map not being correct. Some junctions didn’t have any signs. On this picture (above) the road was the same height as the view of these trees. “I was level with them and it was great !”
I was getting really excited as each turn along the way presented me with great views. I was by now wondering why nobody had posted videos on YouTube of this forest for me to look at. The forestry roads and places were amazing….
A really nice stream. One of so many here. Another landscape view of the Coed-y-brenin.
My worst fears began to come true. This video (above) was taken while I was lost and looking for a way to go. I had headed up this road which was not sign posted. It turned out after about two miles to be a dead end. The video shows me driving back to where I came from.
I know you won’t believe me but this video above is where I found Narnia. I began seeing strange creatures and one of them went into this forest. So I followed him.
The onlookers viewing his pictures were unable to convince the man that Narnia didn’t exist. It was pointed out to him that the reason for the snowy appearance of this photo was the fact that the settings on his camera were set to take a Black and White image. There was no snow, no Narnia and no funny creatures in the forest !
I knew I was lost but couldn’t help taking more pictures. I was so happy being here. Even though I was starving. ha ha
I came to another river as I drove across a bridge. The sun was beginning to appear so I felt much better.
I found this fantastic river.
The same river as in the video above.
Another really nice place was just by this tree.
The end of the road ! I couldn’t go on anymore so I laid down my head on the ground just here. Next thing I knew there was a group of people telling me “They’d found me.” ….. But they seemed more interested in the pictures in my camera.
Reports are coming from the wild regions of the Welsh mountains of a man who was found wondering aimlessly, and in an impoverished state…….
Apparently he was unable to find his way out of a very big forest ! His first words to those who found him were : “It seemed like the trees were all around me. They were talking to me and threatening to fall on me. There was no escape, and I thought I would die in there ! “
So deluded was his sense of reasoning that at one point he was convinced he had seen Ray Mears (Bushcraft and Survival expert) walking towards him with a bag of cakes, and asking him if he would take them to Narnia !!
Onlookers laughing at the man were left dumbfounded when looking at the pictures in his camera. They appeared to be taken not by a man who was out of his mind but by someone who had been having a fantastic time….. One onlooker said, “They were full of the joys of somebody who had found a new world !! “ Another said: “I wish I’d discovered what he had found in there”
The forest in question was the COED-Y-BRENIN forest in the Snowdonia National Park. And he was found near Ganllwyd.
Here are the pictures and videos found in his camera, and in the order in which they appeared. We have also added the mans own words as he explained to people the images, and what had happened to him :
“ I was driving near Bala when I left the main road and headed up over the hills travelling West.”
I was really happy here (above) and thought, “This is great.” ….. The road was lovely and a delight to drive along. “A bit narrow like.”
The road started rising and then I was right next to the tops of these tall Pine trees. I felt like I could have reached out and touched them. The roots of them were somewhere down the steep hillside.
I thought the forest here was the Coed-y-Brenin forest. The place where I was intending to go. I then realised that this particular forest wasn’t on my map and that there was something wrong with the map I was carrying.
This is a road and not a meandering river going through this vast expanse of mountainous countryside. However, alarm bells began ringing because I didn’t see some of these roads on my map. I came to a few junctions but didn’t know where I was as the places on the signs weren’t on my map either ! ……….. I attempted to use my sense of direction to guide me.
I saw this lovely Welsh speaking sheep. It said “Baa”. Is that Welsh ? Then after about an hour or so of driving along the meandering country mountain road I came to what I thought was the Coed-y-brenin forest (above right).
I found a river and knew I could get a drink if I needed to, and if it got dark. A slight feeling of trepidation was creeping in to me because of the lack of road signs and my map not being correct. Some junctions didn’t have any signs. On this picture (above) the road was the same height as the view of these trees. “I was level with them and it was great !”
I was getting really excited as each turn along the way presented me with great views. I was by now wondering why nobody had posted videos on YouTube of this forest for me to look at. The forestry roads and places were amazing….
A really nice stream. One of so many here. Another landscape view of the Coed-y-brenin.
My worst fears began to come true. This video (above) was taken while I was lost and looking for a way to go. I had headed up this road which was not sign posted. It turned out after about two miles to be a dead end. The video shows me driving back to where I came from.
I know you won’t believe me but this video above is where I found Narnia. I began seeing strange creatures and one of them went into this forest. So I followed him.
The onlookers viewing his pictures were unable to convince the man that Narnia didn’t exist. It was pointed out to him that the reason for the snowy appearance of this photo was the fact that the settings on his camera were set to take a Black and White image. There was no snow, no Narnia and no funny creatures in the forest !
I knew I was lost but couldn’t help taking more pictures. I was so happy being here. Even though I was starving. ha ha
I came to another river as I drove across a bridge. The sun was beginning to appear so I felt much better.
I found this fantastic river.
The same river as in the video above.
Another really nice place was just by this tree.
The end of the road ! I couldn’t go on anymore so I laid down my head on the ground just here. Next thing I knew there was a group of people telling me “They’d found me.” ….. But they seemed more interested in the pictures in my camera.
We arrived at Chester. Having found somewhere to park we headed towards the town centre.
This road was near the Cities wall which we intended to walk along.
The footpath where these girls are walking is the cities wall. While I was there I realised it’s a very scenic and popular walk.
Below are more pictures of the wall / walk :
And here’s a few more photos taken around Chester :
We came down from the wall when we had joined up with the river.
At this place there are boat trips. People selling paintings, a bandstand and cafes etc. It was such an amazingly tranquil atmosphere and everyone was enjoying the sunshine.
We walked through a lovely park where the same peaceful atmosphere prevailed and then we came to the City centre.
It has the reputation of being the ‘English Medieval city par excellence’ And in Wikipedia it says it’s city walls are the most complete in Britain
The cathedral (above and below) is in the town centre.
We decided to carry on into Wales. The weather was fantastic. We found ourselves at the Clocaenog Forest. A very narrow road led to it. We were just testing out various roads and one of them led to a dead end up near a farm. We eventually found one which led into the forest.
James, Angela and myself ventured into the forest and found a lovely meandering path through forestry. There were pine needles over the floor in parts and we came to a monument.
Later on as we began to head home we found a nice quiet road near Ruthin. Down here was a small woodland were we parked the car and began to heat some water using a mini stove. It was good fun making some hot chocolate. And we were parked right by this view below of some sheep grazing in a field near a farmhouse.
Hi James, just two more days to go. And we will be getting up and starting to get ready for our Clocaenog journey. When I left Liverpool with my friend from Telford last year (we had stayed in L,pool for about 4 days) we were driving and I think we were on the A494. We stopped at one of those burger/breakfast vans. Don’t know what you think of those James ? I know some are not very good.
Anyway it was a lovely sunny day and we were feeling relaxed just standing outside this van on the roadside and waiting for the lady to cook our brekky in a bun.
Watching all of the traffic going by and people on their way into Wales was great. I think it was about 8am but really nice just standing there.
We were planning on driving through Snowdonia and stopping to do a walk there.
As we carried on I took him down that road near to Moel Famau which carries on down to Ruthin. A very narrow and windy road/track. I remember us going that way ourselves. The red pushpin on the map here marks the road and you can see Moel Famau nearby.
Well my friend and myself got out and began walking. We didn’t realise how far it was but i got this nice view from the footpath.
Anyway after the walk we got back to the car which was parked in the Snowdonia mountains at a car park you had to pay to stay in.
Nice cafe there with photos inside of the mountains etc. The tea there was shocking. I think £1-50 a cup!
We carried on driving and came to a lovely village which had a very popular Welsh Fudge shop. It was truly amazing.
Then carried on driving and went through the Coed-y-brenin forestry area. yet again I wanted to stop and explore here.
We drove on to Telford. I had a meal at his house and then I set off.
Looking forward to seeing you all when I am up there.
Dave.
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