16/04/2024
Lovely write up on a nearby Brechfa Forest walk
“16000 acres, a place to immerse yourself in nature”
Today’s Meander took Emma, Boy, Luca and I to Brechfa Forest in Carmarthenshire, West Wales.
We arrived at around midday and started our walk along a track lined with pine trees either side of us. The pines trees growing as straight as a plumb line and dominating, for now, the landscape. So dense is the forest, that peering into the thick of it, it’s difficult to see further than 20 metres, particularly on this cloudy day. What can be seen is the undulating forest floor, with occasional animal tracks leading further into the forest, where nature is unspoilt and untouched.
Boy and Luca are dashing about, leaping over the water run offs, that flow like little streams. So happy they both are to explore new surroundings.
We branch off right, from the main track and enter the forest. As we do so, the sun makes an appearance and its rays pierce through the canopy, lighting up the narrower path that we are following and also illuminating the pine tree branches that are literally dripping with moss, leaving me wondering if the moss grew on the trees first then dripped to the ground or did it creep up the trees and consume them (see image in comments section). I’ve never seen trees so heavy with moss, nature has decorated them.
We continue on the path, following it for a further 20 minutes or so, until we reach a clearing that gives us an amazing view, looking out and over the pine trees into the distance, but still only seeing a small section of the 16000 acre forest. Emma and I both thought that the view must be similar to view points in some states of the USA, West Virginia or Colorado maybe.
Birds singing in trees that are swaying in the wind, only add to this relaxing Meander as we walk down the hillside, headed to a river.
Old hand built dry stone walls stand as they have done for centuries, probably once boundaries, marking the forest dwellers land. How I’d love to live in the forest, back to basic living would suit me I think, although I’m sure the winters would be quite harsh.
We approach the river Gorlech and find a suitable place to stop for a picnic. Nature has lent itself to our needs and even provided us with a moss covered boulder to serve as a table. Sandwiches and coffee and a must needed rest in this idyllic setting couldn’t really be any better.
As we sit and relax, I notice the prettiest little plant growing on top of another moss covered boulder. The flowers resembling lanterns and one flower in particular appearing to be lit up from within, shining like a bright red ruby. I spent some time trying hard to get an image of the this particular flower, some images in the comments section will hopefully give an idea of how it shone. The plant, I found out later, is Bilberry, some of you may know that it’s produces edible berries.
Both Boy and Luca made the most of the river, splashing about and generally have fun. Luca finds a suitable stick and decides to tease Boy with it, showing it to him then running off, a game of chase ensues, but Boy cannot keep up with Luca, she can turn on a sixpence. 😂😂🐾
Whilst I take some more images of the Bilberry and the river. I’m unaware that the photographer is being photographed, Emma decides to capture a moment of me capturing nature at its finest.
Lunch break over and a walk back to the car for the drive home. Both Boy and Luca are asleep on the backseat within 10 minutes of leaving.
Such a lovely Meander today and we will no doubt visit and immerse ourselves here again soon.
More images of today’s Meander can be seen in the comments section.
Wishing you all a lovely Sunday 😊😊🐾🐾
