Year: 2026
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Teifi Valley Trail, day 4: Lampeter to Llanybydder
These days Lampeter is a quieter place than it was. The main reason is the loss of St David’s College. The closure of a university is a blow for any town, but when that town is small and rural and far from a rail line, and when it has no other economic focus, then the…
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Teifi Valley Trail, day 3: Llanddewi Brefi to Lampeter
In Llanddewi Brefi the night has been hot and close, and sleep difficult. Awaking before five o’clock, I find it impossible to nod off again; a wood pigeon sets up a constant call as soon as it becomes light. So I have an early breakfast in the New Inn, pull on my boots and make…
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Teifi Valley Trail, day 2: Pontrhydfendigaid to Llanddewi Brefi
I’d arranged to meet a friend, H., for breakfast in the Black Lion in Pontrhydfendigaid, but she rang to say that, because of her asthma she’d need to stay indoors at home in the morning to avoid inhaling the wildfire smoke. So I make an early start, pass through the village, cross the Teifi bridge…
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Teifi Valley Trail, day 1: Teifi Pools loop to Pontrhyfendigaid
Ystrad Fflur (Strata Florida) is the official starting point of Teifi Valley Trail. At least it is if you’re walking from source to sea, which is the best way, unless you’ve mastered the art of reading guidebooks backwards. It isn’t the easiest place to get to, if you start out from Mumbles, as I have. …
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Michael’s universe
Before long Michael will be moving home, from a small London flat to a small house a mile or so away. This is the kind of change, you might say, that happens all the time. Most people manage it without much stress or fuss. After the initial disruption and excitement, they get on with their…
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Celf a geiriau
Hwn yw testun Darlith Goffa Ieuan Rees a draddodwyd yn y Lle Celf, Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, Llantwd, Sir Benfro, ar 8 Awst 2026. Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol a’r Lle Celf am y gwahoddiad i draddodi’r ddarlith hon er cof am Ieuan Rees. Bu farw Ieuan ym mis Hydref 2025, yn 84 oed…
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The second death of Kilvey Hill
Swansea, like Rome, is built around several hills, but the tallest of them is Kilvey Hill, just to the east of the city centre. The Welsh form of Kilvey is Cilfái (‘nook in an open place’), though the original name, it seems, was Y Bigwrn. Pigwrn means ‘peak’, but it can also mean ‘ankle’, and…
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Three Castles Walk, day 2: Llangattock Lingoed to Grosmont and Skenfrith
Another hot day looms. This morning, to avoid the worst of the late afternoon heat, I’m starting out earlier, at eight o’clock. P & C have kindly given me a lift to where I left the Walk yesterday, south of Bont. A slight breeze has blown in overnight. The road leads eastward. Swifts dart about,…
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Three Castles Walk, day 1: Skenfrith to White Castle and Llangattock Lingoed
In my cycling days I used to mooch round north Monmouthshire often enough, but it’s a while since I did much wandering there on foot, except when tracking Offa. So the Three Castles Walk seemed a good way to rediscover the area – like Radnorshire, a place full of unpeopled paths and quiet lanes. It’s…
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In Nantlle
These are torrid days. On my way to the Mumbles shops this morning, on the shaded side of the road, I met an acquaintance walking with her stick and small dog. She looked down at the dog, a pug with a facial expression of one with a long prison sentence still to run. ‘He’s as…