Cascade Trail - Abergynolwyn - Wales

It is time for me to start blogging again but no longer will News From Italy be my main platform for posts because as regular readers know my life has changed dramatically during the course of this year.  I know that David wanted me to continue blogging because when he was ill I told him that I was going to give up completely to spend all my time with him. He was in fact upset by this suggestion as he felt I enjoyed the virtual interaction with people from all over the world that shared our passion for Italy. He was right of course so I intend to try and make Travel Tales as successful as News From Italy had become because this was his wish. I think it will be hard at times as I still have lots of  posts to share from our travels together over the last year of his life.

However I hope that your support and encouragement will continue to motivate me. Easing myself in gently I will start with some of the lovely places I am discovering in the vicinity of my base here in Wales, starting today with a recent walk I took with my sister, The Cascade Trail.  We started our walk from Abergynolwyn village having driven there from Tywyn. Leaving the car in the car park by the Village Community Centre and Cafe we took the short steep walk up to the trail. It is also possible though to catch the train from the Talyllyn Railway in Tywyn and join the trail from one of the stations as there is a Stations Link walk between Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol stations.

The trail follows a rocky river gorge with cascading waterfalls and beautiful woodland surroundings. The Cascade Trail is a short one ascending the valley close to the riverside, a longer route the Quarryman's trail takes one higher above the Tal-y-llyn valley to the ruined mine workings of Bryn Eglwys. No time for the longer walk this time so we instead took the bridge across the valley and descended the valley again via the old mine tramway, ruins of the mine's drumhouse and the station before making our way further down to the village again.

I hope my photos have enabled you to enjoy a virtual walk of the 'Cascade Trail' 
NB: For larger view just click on individual photo.

For those planning a visit.
OS Grid Reference: SH 681 067

The following website links may also be of interest:
Forestry Commission - Wales     Natural Resources - Wales

Snowdonia National Park   Talyllyn Railway

All photos are my own taken in July 2013. 

  All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection 

The full set of photos may also be viewed individually in my album entitled  

  Cascade Trail - Abergnowlyn at  My Flickr account.

Blogging Absence Update

An update to explain my continued absence here, hoping to be back soon, when I feel ready to start posting again. 

The best part of the last ten years has been spent with my husband  David living a dream life in Northern Lazio, Italy. Sadly his recent death has meant the end of this adventure. We were a close couple and I do not want to live full time alone in Italy. It is too early yet to say how much time I will spend in Italy every year but sadly I feel it will not be enough to warrant continuing with my blog 'News From Italy'

Thankyou for all the wonderful support I have had from all around the world.

I am dedicating 'News From Italy' to this wonderful man, who was a very special husband, father, brother, son, uncle and friend to all who knew him.

David Stewart McFall July 27th 1950 - May 24th 2013

Easter Monday Market - Tywyn - Wales

Wherever we travel we always make a point of visiting local markets as we find that they can be a fascinating  insight into local culture. In many parts of the world the market is still a primary source for the locals requirements and an important source of food. Although this may not be the case so much in the UK these days there are still many areas where local markets are still surviving and depended on by the locals. Where we have our house in Wales there is a year round market (Wednesday) in nearby Machynlleth and in Tywyn itself a weekly market is held on Mondays from Easter until, I think the end of September.

The market season kicks off with a big market on Easter Monday with the High Street and other adjacent areas being taken over by traders for the day.  The market stalls return every Monday throughout the summer months on the market field behind the Corbett Arms Hotel. I had a wander around the market to see what the market brings to Tywyn and was pleased to find a selection of local food suppliers among the usual stalls.

My photos which I hope you found of interest tell the story of a busy day for visitors. Markets of the world have been featured on Travel Tales previously, one of the most famous being the Ladies Market Hong Kong. Markets have also been featured on my other blog  News From Italy

Tywyn Links

 Visit Tywyn,   Tywyn - Wikipedia,  Tywyn - Wikitravel,