Turner by the sea

Turner is one of my favourite artists; his eye for colour, his capturing of light, his obession with water. I look at his art and realise how much it has inspired a lot of my more abstract work. I look at his work and it speaks to me on a level deep in my soul.

I took the train down to Barry island today. The moon was nearly full and its light fell down on a distant, far out sea and in its glow the beach became luminous and beautiful. I wanted to capture that ghostly feeling, that feeling of the awe and subtle mystery found in nature that's so present in Turners work.

As I took photos I reveled in the oranges, blues, whites and yellows found in the pictures I was taking. I took pictures of the light reflected upon the sand, the moonlight reflected on the water and of the glowing multicolored neon lights of the nearby lights of the attractions there.

And as I took pictures I imagined what Turner must have felt like capturing pictures by the sea.

A path up the mountains

The Skrrid (also know as the holy or sacred) mountain in the heart of South Wales really is an enchanting place to take an autumnal stroll. Filled as it is with leaves that are busy burning through all the autumn hues. The clouds that sweep across the sky before bursting spectacularly with rain.

There are many legends associated with this mountain and the huge chunk that has been carved out of it. Some say that a part of it broke off at the moment of Christ's crucifixion, other legends say that earth from mountain is sacred and has the power to make any land it touches fertile. On a more personal note the land here also has a special association for me, home as it is to both the people that I consider to be my extended family and as a neighbor to where we laid my stepdad to rest.

It was therefore a pleasure to take a pleasant Saturday to hike up to the top, taking photos as I went. The views were spectacular spanning the black mountain range and as I struggled at the top to take pictures while the wind tried to pitch me off the top I was filled with a real sense of accomplishment.

If you do decide to scale the Skirrid I would thoroughly recommend a trip to The Skirrid Mountain Inn, one of the oldest (reputedly most haunted) and welcoming pubs in Wales. I spent many a happy night there as a child enjoying the great food.

It really was a great day to take a trip up this historic mountain.

Abergavenny: the gateway to South Wales

Based in the rolling green hills of monmouthshire and perched inbetween three beautiful mountains. Abergavenny really is a great place to get away from it all.

Whether its to go hiking, explore the castle ruins, wander around quaint shops or enjoy the food festival that occasionally rolls into town Abergavenny really does have a lot to offer its visiting tourists.

I had had the week off work and so rather then sit around the house I decided to get out and do some hiking. On a whim I took the train to Abergavenny, as it pulled into the station I didn't regret the decision as I was immediately welcomed by beautiful sweeping vistas.

I set my sights on one of the nearby mountains and after procuring some supplies I set off. The path led me over a rushing river, by a beautiful local church and up onto an enchanting canal that was home to some lovely houses and a couple of sleepy looking boats.

After taking some time to wander along the canal I doubled back and followed the trail back up mountain and into some woods straight out of a fairy tale. I've never happier then when I'm in woodland so I relished the chance to be out in nature like this. After stopping to eat some lunch I finally broke the tree line and was rewarded with a great view across to the surrounding far off mountains.

When I was on my way in I didn't realise how close Abergavenny was to where my step father had been laid to rest at the foot of the Skrid mountain and it was a slightly emotional moment for me. Still it was nice to sit and take in the view and think of old times.

Afterwards I took the trail back down into town and over the meadows to Abergavenny castle. Unfortunately it was closed by the time I arrived but its ruined glory was more then enough to enjoy and take photos of. I finished my trip by heading into the town centre itself and nursed a coffee in one of the many shops that lined the centre. The friendly local banter left a smile on my face and as I left for the train I was happy that I had come and explored this beautiful place.

This blog post is in memory of my stepdad Berwyn Rogers, rest in peace Ber.

Kenfig Nature Reserve

Located in the desolated and wind swept heart of the South Welsh coastline, lies Kenfig Pool Nature Reserve. This beautiful reserve is home to a wonderful selection of nature due to its impressive freshwater lake, sweeping sand dunes and expansively lovely coastline.

I volunteered at this site for a year and a half and it stills holds many good memories for me. Whether it involved sloshing through flooded reed beds hunting for elusive Waterails (a type of wading bird that squeals like a pig when it gets territorial), hunting by flashlight for the rare newts that dot its pools or (like today) exploring its beautiful beaches it really is an extraordinary home for nature.

I was there with a friend and together we stomped over the dunes, gazed across the lake, took a moment to rest in the bird hide by the lake before finally making our way to the sea. The coast stretches for miles and is made even more amazing by the fact that just over the hill lies a steel mill that seems to exist to pump clouds into the sky.

After walking a fair stretch of the beach we climbed over the now rocky shore before looping our way back the local pub The Prince of Wales to take in a pint. It really is an excellent place to relax, filled as it is with warmth, old worldly charm and some truly exquisite food. This historic pub and the reserve itself is also home to many legends of ancient apparitions and ghostly goings on. After all if you visit the reserve on a lonely night you just might hear the toiling of a church bell from far beneath the lake or feel the icy chill of the local lich that wanders Kenfig's local graveyard.

Overall I would thoroughly recommend Kenfig as a wonderful and beautiful spot for a day out.

The historic welsh town of Caerleon

Located a few miles from the city of Newport is the utterly charming welsh town of Caerleon. I was having one of those days when I just wanted to jump on a random bus and see where it took me and I was very pleased with the result.

Caerleon is set right in the heart of some beautiful countryside and has an absolutely lovely selection of small, locally run shops. It is also the site of some fascinating history, having been both the site of an ancient roman fortress and an iron age hill fort.

Fortunately today the town is a much more tranquil place and upon arrival I set about exploring the nooks and alleyways that lined the high street. As I explored I stumbled on an side street lined with beautifully carved wooden statues and filled with lovely little new age shops (including a jewellery shop, that had a working metal smithing work shop inside it).

After doing a bit of exploration and photography I stopped for lunch in a local cafe/bar. As I relaxed I enjoyed the atmosphere of the place and tucked into a delicious goat cheese and olive sandwich.

Afterwards I took a walk along the Usk river and crossed by onto a scenic winding footpath that took me up to and past the remains of the roman fortress itself.

I left the town refreshed at having had such a great day out.