Following on from my other post regarding walk from Llangrannog, this is the extension that takes you northwards to Cwmtydu, which we actually did over two trips but it is possible to do in one and return, the sequence of photos is going north but either or which way doesn’t matter. So the first bit from Llangrannog is as per the first post in this series and then picks up at the point the land side of the big hill that you can walk around from part I. The walk is well way marked so would be hard to get lost, but no promises.
As the photos show, there are a couple of bits where there is a sharp drop off to the sea below but it’s not that bad, I’m not great with heights but I managed. A big benefit of this walk is that in the summer months there is/was a small cafe at the Cwmtydu end and public toilets, plus a car park. Hence doesn’t matter which end you start really.
Part III when I get round to it, will be the bit between Llangrannog and Penbryn, which if you are brave (I wasn’t) it is possible to access a lovely secluded beach by a short scramble.
Back in March 2018 when we first came to Maesyfelin Isaf the local farmer Gareth had used the field for grazing his sheep for nigh on 20 years, with permission from the previous owners, using fertiliser and stuff to keep the grass growing long and his sheep well fed. But that was to be the last year as we have since left it alone, other than to let Gareth cut silage last year in return for some favours including digging out the tail race.
Since then we have basically left it alone until recently when we have started to plant a variety of trees, we had a lad who stayed with us for while who was a tree planter and he planted some baby oaks and Alder or something for us. Plus in the last few months we have added a load more, mostly from cuttings which we planted when it was very wet and boggy which have took very well, including a willow tree and again more recently when a guest very kindly donated some more trees including Horse Chestnuts.
At the moment as you can see from the pictures it is very hard to tell anything is there, but they are just about visible and hopefully in the coming weeks as they green up a bit more. The plan is to get the field area to be not exactly re-wilded but hopefully a bit more natural and to replace some of the trees we have had to take out, together with providing screening and a nice place to walk. Hence the mown paths running around, following the river plus a few twist and turn offshoots
We have also over the two years or so slowly removed the wire fencing by the river, firstly because it looked so ugly but also it meant we couldn’t get to the banks to cut down the weeds and stuff. This also had the added effect of allowing the river to once again flow better during floods, as the wire fence weeded up and formed a semi permeable flood barrier so the river ended up being a torrent 6″ or so above the flooded fields, that was in October 2018. These last few months what with the long non grazed grass, the river has been in the field more often but for the most part not seen.
Having lived here for two years now, the other day was the first time we actually walked up the hill and went inside the local church, even after some guests have visited to trace their ancestry advising that we should take a look and on top of that one day back in July 2018 a large helicopter landed nearby, which is very rare around these parts, for us to find out later it was Prince Charles dropping in. This may have been due to the interesting story behind the intricately carved pews, or that the church is Grade I listed as it is one of the most complete medieval churches in Ceredigion.
Whatever the reason it is well worth a visit if in the area. The church is mainly 14th century, although the south chapel was probably built on 6th century foundations. Or that an old holy well that used to be known for its healing properties, with the spring that fed it still running off and actually passes through our property, I must give it try sometime.
We are currently working on totally re-furbishing the ensuite bathroom to a bedroom we plan to introduce in early 2020, which has double aspect views to the surrounding garden/fields and hills beyond. The photos show some boxing in and panelling for the new shower and recently re-plastered walls, waiting installation of new bathroom suite.
29.12.2019 – I am slowly getting there honest, all plumbing done and whiteware plumbed in and now working on the tiling and walls. The new floor is in just waiting for final finish when everything else is complete. Had fun with the Bidet as there was a fault in the casting so it wouldn’t stop leaking no matter what I did, so next time I shall avoid Victoria Plumb, not only for that reason but I have had to replace all the associated fittings supplied as they where utter rubbish. Take for example the plastic pipe connections made out of thin, soft plastic that you can strip the thread of no problem, so replaces with McAlpine fittings which first time every time. Thanks also to Ceredigion Plumbing in Lampeter and Screwfix who have been excellent.
07.01.20 – Just had an online chat with Phoebe from VictoriaPlum and she has now resolved the issue and refund been arranged, much happier now 🙂 … tip don’t try their phone customer service go straight to online chat.
16.01.20 – Very nearly there, what with fitting in with all the other jobs. Then on to a refresh of the bedroom itself ready for release on March 1st.
30.01.20 – Finally gone live on our website, together with Booking.Com and Expedia, offering a large comfortable bedroom with private ensuite facilities in the re-furbished bathroom. So we now offer three B&B rooms all off the first floor landing, with the other double and the single sharing the bathroom.
Addition of more boxing in and positioning of the white ware 🙂
The penultimate stage is almost now complete with the deck and side rails/balustrade in place, with just a few finishing touches to do. Then it will be all about building some steps to ease access to the bridge, until such point that I can formulate a plan to construct ramps up to both ends so I can get equipment across more easily.
When we first moved here back in 2018 the footbridge over the river was a simple construction using telegraph poles that had seen better days, but was still serviceable with care as there were no handrails to speak of. Then in October 2018 along came the floods and kind of finished the job, especially as the river actually went over the top of it for a short while. So the decision was made that we had better get something better installed, that could take lawnmowers and stuff across etc…
OK it took a while to research and cost up the options available, but in the end we went for a wooden bridge made from oak timbers for the more traditional look and feel. The next stage after much discussion was how to do the foundations in such a way would keep the bridge safe and secure even if we had another big flood. So concrete foundations were installed at great personal effort, as Jeff and myself constructed the hoarding to form the concrete foundations, 6.5 tonnes in total and yes that is the cement lorry in the field.
Then after measuring the actual gap to bridge, it was just the long wait for the timber to turn up on site so Alwyn (local carpenter) could get cracking. The three support beams duly arrived weighing in at around 1/2 tonne each and are 16″ x 4″ in size, or in metric 400mm x 100mm. The pictures and video below tell the story….
So now all we have to do is make it so we can actually cross it, then build the ramps that will lead up to each end…
