• About
  • Contact Me
  • Disclosure

accentBritain

~ a romance with art and all things British

accentBritain

Tag Archives: Wales

Dylan Thomas

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by pat in sketching, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Dylan Thomas, Laugharne, Wales

This year is the centenary year of the poet Dylan Thomas’s birth.  The Welsh poet lived his last 4 years in Laugharne, Wales before he died in 1953 at the young age of 37. The author of “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night”, the work he was probably most known for, walked the coastal paths of Wales often in his lifetime. He was also a fairly good amateur painter.

Paths follow the coastline in Wales.

Paths follow the coastline in Wales.

Last summer we visited this part of Wales, and I walked the coastal paths that Thomas so eloquently wrote about.  His themes of life vs. death, our desire to stop time, and nature as an expression of our internal world all are vividly evident in this dramatic countryside.

"Coastal Path", pastel drawing by me from  my walk in Wales

“Coastal Path”, pastel drawing by me from my walk in Wales

I tend to have a cheerier view of Wales (and life) than he did.  The sunny lanes and cool breezes off the sea were invigorating and delightful for a fair weather traveler.

Entering Wales.

Entering Wales.

But the isolated area must have given Thomas many hours of deep reflection about our desire to slow the progression of time, and contemplation of the idyllic vs. reality.

IMG_9746

Wales may just be the place to have these monumental conversations with ourselves.

 

Llandudno and the sea.

16 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Travel, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Llandudno, Snowdonia, Wales

Llandudno in Wales is a classic British Victorian/Edwardian seaside resort with the pier, the beach and a stellar crescent of old hotels.

IMG_9859

We stayed at the St. George, located right across the street from the promenade.  The gulls could be heard from dawn until dusk.

IMG_9868

Although it was rainy and grey, people were still packed in to the resort, hoping to catch a bit of sun before autumn took its final hold on the season.

IMG_9862

It was quite impressive, even in the misty rain. We had driven for hours through Snowdonia and the mountains to reach it on the northwest coast of Wales.

IMG_9864Llandudno is tucked into the cliffs and mountains, and does capture the rain coming east from Ireland.

IMG_9854

The west side of the resort, Great Orme,

IMG_9863

and to the east. Llandudno is wedged between two cliffs on a crescent of beach on Colwyn Bay.

IMG_9866The pier has seen better days, but children still flock there to get some sweets or try to win a prize at one of the games.

IMG_9857It wasn’t very active today, probably due to the weather. But the town was busy, the hotels full, and people were seen trying to find a place to sit and have a cup of tea or some fish ‘n’ chips.  A typical British day at the beach.

IMG_9858

It was my choice to visit Wales this trip.  I had never been, and it was lovely and different.  But I still prefer England, I think.

Driving across Wales

13 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Anglesey, Snowdonia, Wales

After we left St. David’s on the southwest coast of Wales, we headed up to the north coast.

IMG_9841

I wanted to see Anglesey, and we were going to stay at Llandudno, a Victorian Beach Resort town on Colwyn Bay. It was a 4 1/2 hour drive.  It was not boring.

IMG_9837

My Beloved Brit volunteered to drive the narrow winding roads along the coast…

IMG_9838

through the small villages and towns…

IMG_9826

that made their home by the sea.

IMG_9829IMG_9827

This is Wales as I imagined it.  We wound around the coast on the western most edge of the UK.

IMG_9840

And then on up in to the Snowdonia National Park.

IMG_9847

IMG_9846

Mountains and the sea. As we left the coast behind, the roads seemed to get darker and windier.

IMG_9845

It was one of the times on this trip when I really felt like we were on holiday.

IMG_9849As we headed in to town at Llandudno,  I was rather sorry to leave the coast and mountains of Wales.

IMG_9851The next morning we headed over to the island of Anglesey.  It proved another lovely drive.

IMG_9873

We drove out to Holyhead where the ferries leave for Ireland.  It started raining…again… and as we saw a rescue helicopter overhead, I wondered if it was Prince William whose RAF base was nearby. f course in the news this week, it was announced that it was his last week at this job.  Perhaps this was his last flight.

 

IMG_9871

As we crossed the bridge back to mainland Wales, it was time to head east to England.

IMG_9875

We must have seen a half-dozen rainbows driving out of Wales.  Quite amazing. IMG_9879

Wales does have its own personality.  Rugged, and artsy and beautiful.

St. David’s, Wales

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Barry Flanagan, Caerfai Bay, Pembrokeshire, St. David's, Wales

At the western most coast of the British Isle, there is St. David’s, Wales, and it is stunning.

A fourteenth century cross in the center of St. David's. Photo by me

A fourteenth century cross in the center of St. David’s. Photo by me

We came in after driving for hours behind a “wide load” vehicle through the countryside.  It was a slow, agonizing trip.

The town of St. David's slopes down towards the sea. Photo by me

The town of St. David’s slopes down towards the sea. Photo by me

But at the end was the small coastal town of St. David’s.

St David's. Photo by me.

St David’s. Photo by me.

Near the cathedral. Photo by me

Near the cathedral in the center of the “city”. Photo by me

The town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is billed as the smallest city in Great Britain, both in size and population. It is also the final resting place of Saint David, the country’s patron saint.  The village of St. David’s was given city status in the 16th century due to the presence of St David’s Cathedral but lost the recognition in 1888.  City status was restored in 1994 at the request of Queen Elizabeth.

IMG_9765

St David’s Cathedral. Photo by me

St. David’s is a unique area.  It is very Welsh.  You see the signs in the Welsh language everywhere, and the food has local favorites like Welsh Cakes.  There is also fabulous seafood to be had.  The nearby fishing village of Solva provides an endless supply.

The grove, our home away from home. Photo by me

The Grove, our “restaurant with rooms” and home away from home. Photo by me

And on the edge of town is a great visitors center with a beautiful art gallery.

"Small Nijinsky Hare", Barry Flanagan. Photo by me.

“Small Nijinsky Hare”, Barry Flanagan. Photo by me.

Cwn Gwylt, Bay Catrin Howell. Sculpture of wild dogs is Howell's response to the legend of the sunken kingdom believed to lie between Ramsey and Bardsey islands. Photo by me.

Cwn Gwylt, Bay Catrin Howell. Sculpture of wild dogs is Howell’s response to the legend of the sunken kingdom believed to lie between Ramsey and Bardsey islands. Photo by me.

It was time to see the famous Wales’ coastline.

IMG_9788

Just outside “the city”. Photo by me.

Late afternoon and before the predicted rains, I decided to take a walk down the side road to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and Caerfai Bay.

IMG_9791

Small cottages, campgrounds and farms line the road down to the sea. Photo by me.

And organic farm and campground. Photo by me.

And organic farm and campground. Photo by me.

Camping in Wales.  Photo by me.

Camping in Wales. Photo by me.

Laundry day in Wales. Photo by me.

Laundry day. Photo by me.

IMG_9800

From the Coastal Path as the rain approaches. Photo by me.

Photo by me

The well-travelled coastal path. Photo by me

The Irish Sea is treacherous and notorious for very strong tides and large numbers of offshore rocks. And it brings in lots of rain.

All those consonant and very few vowels...Welsh. Photo by me

All those consonant and very few vowels…Welsh. Photo by me

Photo by me

A hidden beach with cliffs of distinctive red sandstone. Photo by me

Carved in the stone on the side of the path.  Photo by me

Carved in the stone on the side of the path. There were symbols etched all over the area.  I have no idea by who. Photo by me

The whole area has a rather “new-age” vibe, with surfers, druids and artists all in the mix. There are a number of interesting archaeological sites along the coast such as burial chambers, Stone Age hut circles and Iron Age field systems.  It is also said this was the site where St. Patrick stood when he had the vision to travel to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity.

Photo by me

Looking out towards Ireland. Photo by me

Photo by me

Many dairy and sheep farms lined the coast. Photo by me

Photo by me

Photo by me

This walk along this lonely cliff was one of the highlights of my summer.  I felt like I was on the ends of the earth.

Wales is a different country

08 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Travel, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Breacons Beacons, Wales

Great Britain consists of four separate yet united countries: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.  This week, for the first time, I crossed a fog-shrouded bridge into Wales.  It is lovely and does seem somewhat “foreign”. Everything is written in English, and also in Welsh.

IMG_9727

A strange “Totem” at the visitors center in Brecon Beacons. Photo by me

There are lots of “L”s and “W”s and “F”s in the Welsh language, unfamiliar and unpronounceable to the American tongue. We stopped in the town of Merthyr Tydfil for lunch, right after we had driven through LLwyn-0n.

Merthyr Tydefil Wales. Photo by me

Merthyr Tydefil Wales. Photo by me

It was a strange land, but the countryside was stark and beautiful. We started in the southern midlands, beautiful valleys and farmland, before we head for the western coast.

Wales in the Beacons.l Photo by me

Wales and the Beacons. Photo by me

IMG_9748

Driving through the valleys of the Breacons. Photo by me.

IMG_9729

A stop at the Visitors Center for the Breacons. Photo by me.

And the natives are very friendly.

IMG_9731

IMG_9735

You have to love a country that has acres and acres of these friendly little residents walking around.

♣ Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 27 other subscribers

♣ Archives

  • September 2022
  • May 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • August 2021
  • May 2021
  • January 2021
  • September 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • July 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • July 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011

♣ Recent Posts

  • Autumn Stroll on the C&O Canal
  • A Winter’s Project
  • A Walk In The Park
  • An Adirondack Pond
  • Golden

♣ Categories

  • Art
  • Art Museums & Exhibitions
  • Bath
  • Books
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Burnham-on-Crouch
  • cars
  • Cornwall
  • Cornwall
  • England
  • entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Gardens
  • Grasmere
  • Guana Island
  • History
  • Lake District
  • Lake District
  • London
  • movies
  • Music
  • National Trust
  • Olympics
  • paintings
  • Peak District
  • Sailing
  • Scotland
  • Shopping
  • sketching
  • The New Forest
  • The Royal Family
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • United Kingdom

♣ my button

accentbritain.com
<a href="http://accentbritain.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://accentbritain.com/accentBritainbutton.jpeg" alt="accentBritain.com" width="125" height="125" /></a>
Copyright 2011 accentBritain LLC. All rights reserved. All original photos, text and art is copyright protected.

Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Chateau by Ignacio Ricci.

 

Loading Comments...