Friday 9th – Monday 12th September 2016
It’s a good job that I keep this Blog because The man and I have been wondering all weekend where it was that we had a lovely pub meal in the sunshine. Reading back on our last trip I could recall when and where it was – very handy when you’re getting on a bit and your memory is not what it was!
This is a long weekend trip and the 2nd in our new van ‘Dora’. We prepared for a long drive as we were going to Llanidloes in mid Wales, and we weren’t disappointed – the traffic jam on the M4 added about an hour to our journey. Looking on the bright side we heard that the motorway was completely closed shortly after we must have passed.
We were booked into Red Kite Touring Park, a private site that opened this year. It was lovely, easy to get to, neat and trim with a warm welcome and a lovely view over a small valley liberally strewn with wildflowers. We got a pitch right on the edge and were able to pitch ‘backwards’ so we could take full advantage of the view (none of that CC ‘off side right to the marker post’).
We started the pitch up routine; The Man sorting the ‘outside’ and me getting the inside ready. As the evening wore on it became apparent that The Man was haiving some difficulty with the awning and when I stepped out I realised that we were in the grip of a fierce storm. The rain held off but the wind was whipping the awning around and ripping out the tent pegs. A fellow ‘vanner came to our assistance to hold down the awning and I made a couple of trips to the site office to buy hard core pegs and a ‘strap down’ kit! We spent the evening listening worriedly to the snap and flap of the canvas against the sides of the van.
Saturday 10th September
By morning (after a surprizingly good nights sleep) the wind storm had passed and the van and awning seemed to have survived. A kindly neighbour returned our hitch cover, and we lost a peg bag, but that was the only casualty. The weather was dull but warm and we set off to explore the local town Llanidloes. Llanidloes is at the heart of the ancient medieval kingdom of Arwystli; the first town on the River Severn. It’s a nice little town with a street market and lots of charity shops. Everyone seemed to know each other and many were speaking in Welsh. As usual our coffee stop was disturbed when Jim took exception to a border terrirer – I think it’s the facial expression that raises his hackles!
From here we took a bit of a drive to visit Aberystwyth. I love the sea and try to incorporate a visit whenever possible. Aberystwyth turned out to be a quintessential seaside town with a charmng sweep of houses framing the bay that boasts a pier.
At one end the ruins of Aberystwyth castle dating from the 13th C, overlook the Old college. The sun came out and we had a pleasant meander.
When we got back to the van the sun was out and we could sit outside and read the papers – bliss!
Sunday 11th September
Today was lake day. We started with a massive fry up, listening to the Archers omnibus of Helen Titcheners trial – you can’t get much better than that!
First stop was the LLyn Clwedog resevoir and dam. It was a short hop from Llanidloes and we drove all around the resevoir stopping every now and then to take in the views. It was breathtaking and very remote.
We only saw two houses, and one track access for fisherman and the sailing club were the only signs of civilisation. The Clywedog reservoir was completed in 1967, and was built to supply water to Birmingham and the English Midlands. The reservoir was formed by damming the Afon Clywedog, a tributary of the River Severn. Its concrete buttress damis the tallest concrete dam in the UK, with a height of 72 metres and a length of 230 metres. The resevoir was opened in 1967 and to this day has been in continuous usage, generally filling with water over the winter months and gradually releasing it during the summer months.
From here we went onto Bwlch Nant yr Arian. This is a visitors centre with walking and bike trails at the head of a dramatic valley and views over Cardigan bay and the Cambrian Mountains. One of the main attractions was the daily feeding of red kites as a programme set up to encourage these threatened species. The red kite is now Wale’s national bird of prey and the feeding was spectacular. It was timed for 3pm and by 2:30 the birds were circling above the lake like planes stacked over Heathrow. People started to gather and photographers set up their tripods and huge lenses. The birds crowded over the site, and started their swooping and dancing in a wonderful arial display.
We spent the late afternoon looking for somewhere to eat but eventually settled for a delicious Chinese takeaway. A lovely end to another delightful Welsh weekend.
Me, the man, our dog, and a van 