We crossed the Severn estuary to Chepstow, then skirted the ‘Wye Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ up through Devauden to Raglan, on to Abergavenny and a skirt around the Brecon Beacons to Libanus where we were to stay with Russ’s friend Howard. When I first came to the UK in 1979 I wrote home about seeing the fields ‘plotted and pieced’ (GM Hopkins) on the descent into Gatwick. Back home, Mum cried when she read this, understanding. I cried as we made our way into Wales. From Howard’s house we look up to the Beacons, in particular stark, beautiful Pen y Fan which reminds me somewhat of Mt Bradley in Whakaraupo. In the paddock opposite us are chooks, sheep and two small goats!
Sunday morning the three of us drove into Brecon, originally a market town, then a military garrison and now a centre for the Brecon Beacons National Park. A wander through part of the town, down to the River Usk and up the hill to the the 11th century Brecon Cathedral where we had tea outdoors in the Cathedral Close. Glorious trees, crocuses and just the very beginnings of autumn leaf change.
Departing Brecon we were stopped at a junction where lots of people had gathered – caught unexpectedly in a big road race. We abandoned our car in the road and joined the spectators to watch the police hamming it up on fast bikes and then the main bunch of competitors whizzing past in a blur ,followed by all the support vehicles. Fun.
Late afternoon we drove up onto the Beacons to see Maen Llia, standing alone in moor-like grassland.
“Made from a massive sandstone block which stands 3.7m high, the task of moving and erecting it must have been a huge challenge, especially as it is likely that a quarter to a third of the whole stone is below ground.
On a clear day it can be seen from quite some distance down the Llia valley suggesting that it may have been important as a territorial marker. Standing at an altitude of 573m it is also thought to be the highest standing stone in South Wales.” (http://www.breconbeacons.org/standing-stones)
On to The Old Yew Tree at Defynnog, to catch up with Huw and Helen whom Russ and Howard knew from the Libanus Hotel. In the churchyard is a yew tree estimated to be at least 5000 years old. Its original core has gone, but the outlying branches that now constitute the tree are extremely healthy.
JaneRussell journeys 