“A lovely evening walk,” said the photographer. “With spectacular views.”
It was that last sentence that should have warned me before we set off, I thought as I climbed over the stile and looked upwards.
He’s such a clever clogs: climbing the stile one- handed and taking a video. Hmph!!
A little information here: Pen y Gaer is a mountain summit in the Snowdonia – Beddgelert to Conwy region in the county of Conwy, Wales. It’s the location of a Bronze Age and Iron Age hillfort near the village of Llanbedr-y-Cennin. It’s a natural defensive site. There is a long history of occupation.
There are two Bronze Age cairns on the north-west slope, and extensive prehistoric and later field systems, nearby. The remains seen today are mostly of Iron Age origin, but further earthworks, probably of medieval origin, lie on the south-eastern slopes.
The summit can be identified by one of the large cairns.
Pen y Gaer is three hundred and eighty-five metres high with a prominence of thirty-six metres. (My legs and feet can confirm this!)
The photographer was right though, the views are spectacular.
There’s a broad bank of stones about two metres in width, with a partial kerb of large, irregularly placed boulders before getting to the summit; these are the remains of two defence walls, as well as the outlines of a chevaux-de-frise (A defence, usually a timber or an iron barrel covered with projecting spikes and often strung with barbs of glass).
There are two stone circles. Archaeological evidence indicates that in addition to being used as places of burial, the purpose of stone circles was probably connected to agricultural events, such as the summer solstice.
And, of course, sheep – which moved a lot quicker that we did.
The sun was setting, a mist was creeping in. We were (as far as I was concerned) on top of a mountain. At this point there was a discussion: we could carry on having an adventure and take a track (over a stile) to fields and marshland, and meander until we saw buildings, which could or could possibly not be the cottage we were staying in. Or we could take the windy, steep lane that would definitly lead to the cottage where we were staying.
Whilst someone couldn’t resist one last photo … I staggered sauntered past, with that glass of wine in mind, and carried on.
“A lovely evening walk,” said the photographer, gazing admiringly at photographs on the screen of his camera. “And brilliant scenary.”
I have to admit I agreed, as I soaked my feet in a bowl of cool water. Though next time, I decided, I would check out the mileage… and the ascent … of further ‘walks’.
Who am I kidding?!
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Judith Barrow 
Whew! My legs hurt just reading this. But, oh, those views! Thank you for sharing the photos.
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Thank you for dropping by to comment, Liz. Good to have you along. x
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My pleasure, Judith.
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Looks like a lovely walk, Judith. I love the Isle of Wight, where there are lots of hilly walks too… good for the legs!
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It was glorious, Stevie. I’ve not been to the Isle of Wight (it sounds as though it should be in my buckery list though!) Good for the legs… yes indeed … my mantra, as I climb those hills, is a little more basic, I’m afraid… “Bum and thights, bum and thighs!” 😊
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Lol!
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😅
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Terrific photos, Judith. Glad you got the cool water for your feet and hopefully the wine.
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Thank you. It was a glorious place, John. The wine came first. LOL Thank you so much for being here. 😊
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tell me you got a glass of wine out of it.. And great view,
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I did, Thorne… one or two! This walk was after we’d walked the first one, the Llanwrst – Melin Y Coed – a Five Mile Circular Walk, earlier in the day. Must have been mad !! 😉😊
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Snookered again, huh? I would have collapsed before the wine, but those views are indeed spectacular. I remember when I attended a meeting in Wales, we were taken on a narrow gauge train ride in Snowdonia National Park.
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Hahaha – I nearly did, Noelle. But I always try to anticipate the views. He never lets me down with those – even though I plod on behind… muttering. We’ve been in the train up to Snowdon a few of times. Usually we walk back down. It’s strange, after walking down the winding narrow rough tracks, as soon as I hit the tarmaced road at the end, to go into the village, my legs give way. Last time I had to walk sideways all the way… to the pub! 😅
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I’d be right there with you!
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My envy knows no bounds!!!
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Sometimes, on these walks,Terry, I wonder what it would be like to have a holiday where you sit on a beach and read. And then I see the views … something we will all see on Arran soon. I envy you your never ending imagination – and ability to publish so many brilliant books. I’m a plodder (as I am cheerfully told on the walks, when giving Husband chance to take photos)😉😅😊
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Hi Judith, this did give me a smile. In my partnership, I am the photographer although my legs are much shorter than TCs and I walk two steps for every one of his. We walked 100,000 of his steps in 4 1/2 days while we were abroad. The photographs of the scenery are marvellous.
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Thanks for being here, Robbie. I do enjoy our walking -I particularyly like the stops for taking photos! Which I always admire, as I always admire your photography. I love that we live in such an inspiring and wonderful world. I just wish that, sometimes, my photgrapher was a little more honest about where we’re going.😄 x
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Yes, he should prepare you, TC always knows but he has long Scottish legs of steel.
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Fabulous scenery. You know I love places like this where my imagination can go wild. He certainly gets you out and about!
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Thanks, Darlene. I do know how you love these kind of places. I do, as well. David does find glorious scenary – always an adventure.😊
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