How green is my valley

 

Over the next few days, the dark clouds lifted and so too did my spirits. I had known that I was surrounded by beautiful countryside but I'd not been able to appreciate it properly before.

Once the light came back into my days, the colours took my breath away. I have never seen green like it. The rain makes the fields and meadows so verdant and at this time of year when the new autumn grass is growing, the whole landscape glowed!

One perfect example is Pont Minllyn. I had read about this old pack-horse bridge, which had been built by Dr John Davies in the middle of the 17^th century and so I went to find it; now disused and covered with grass, it is such a lovely thing to see.

The following day I packed myself a picnic and was looking for a secluded place to sit and dream the hours away. I have been letting Fate take me where she wills and I was not disappointed. I followed another steep and tiny winding road until I was high in the hills. I noticed a path leading into trees, so I went exploring.

It was an enchanted place. The ancient Oak trees were covered in moss and ferns, there was an ancient crab apple which had more lichen than fruit and the berries of Rowan trees shone a bright orange. The woodland was quite open with small meadows and patches of gorse and bracken.

The path led me upwards until I came to the top of the hill and I could see across to the valley below. The sun came out and it was like looking down on Paradise.

I have fallen in love with these lush wooded hills and valleys, they are so different from the wild and bleak mountain tops, each has a very different spirit.

 I am so glad I decided to move from place to place- it is exciting and challenging getting to know the feel of different landscapes.