travels of a welshman: Newtown to Harlech.

the ariva train arriving in Newtown from Pwllheli/ Aberystwyth

the Mochdre hills with a sprinkling of snow

Newtown station the only now working area is the ticket office.

Driftwood where the tide ends on the Dovey Estuary at Dovey junction estuary bridge

Too cold for anybody to be out on the platform at Machynlleth station.

the moon at 8.45 shot taken while waiting for the train to Harlech from Machynlleth station 16.12.11

Turbines at Cwmllyniau

Cormorant photo taken at Machynlleth station

Pochards on the Dovey Estuary

Kittywake in flight shot taken from the train

Oystercatchers on the sand bank in the Dovey estuary,the next 8 frames are taken in sequence of the birds.

one herring gull with all the Oystercatchers

A lone wigeon on the estuary

The second Rail bridge over the road at Llwyngril.

Rail bridge over the road at Llwyngril.

Early morning golfers at Fairbourne

Cattle looking frozen on the muddy farm the kitty-wakes look as if they are enjoying all the mud

Many of these dilapidated buildings dotted along the Cambrian coast.

Snowdonia mountain range with Snowdon in the background just as the bad weather was setting in,

looking across the bay from Fairbourne

Rooks enjoying the free food meant for the sheep.

The lonesome pines between Fairbourne and Aber Mawdach

Canada geese on the Mawddach estuary

the bridge across the Mawddach Estuary

Life boat station on the math of the Mawddach Estuary

an old landslide Towyn


Y ddraig theartre mosaic

st martins church

this old call box still in use at tal-y-bont station

A summer house and its outshed on the steep hill up to Harlech castle

fucia,s still in flower amongst the dead copper birch leaves

A magnolia tree coming into blossom

Jackdaws paying in a cottage garden to the base of the Castle

Harlech Castle - Castles

www.castles.me.uk/harlech-castle.htm

The History of Harlech Castle

The History of the of Harlech Castle dates back to 1283. Harlech was a massive defensive castle. During the Welsh rebellion of 1294, thirty-seven men defended Harlech Castle against the entire Welsh army led by Madog. The castle fell to Owain Glyndwr ( 1355 - 1415) a great Welsh revolutionary leader. In 1400 Owain Glyndwr declared himself Prince Of Wales and embarked on rebellion against the occupation of Wales by England. The revolution was successful and by 1403 the Welsh controlled most of Wales. After a long siege Harlech was captured by Owain Glyndwr in 1404. Harlech Castle was in turn besieged by English troops. Owain's son-in-law, Edmund Mortimer, died during the seige of exhaustion and starvation and the castle was recovered by the John Talbot with an army of 1000 English troops in 1409. King Henry IV of England finally crushed the Welsh army in a series of Battles during 1410.

Men of Harlech
In 1461 the castle was held against seige by Lancastrian forces, during the War of the Roses, under the Constable of the castle, Dafydd ap Ieuan. The siege is said to have been held for seven years by these stubborn "Men of Harlech" who were immortalised in the famous Welsh song. The Harlech garrison held out long after other Lancastrian commanders in Wales had surrendered to the Yorkist faction. In 1468 famine eventually forced their surrender to Lord Herbert under honourable terms.

Harlech Castle from what would have been the supplies docking area in the eleventh century.

WHEN THE CASTLE WAS BUILT THIS WAS WHERE THE SEA CAME TO, SUPPLIES WOULD BE CARRIED UP THE STONE STEPS TO THE CASTLE.

Looking down from the outer rampart to the docking area.

opposite the steps is this entrance into the main castle grounds

Two jackdaws on the gate to their home on top of the castle ramparts.

Two lovebirds on the castle walls

Only me and a Robin in the castle on this bleak December day

The Cambrian line looking towards Porthmadog just below the castle is the Harlech station the last photo is of the Castle from the end of the station platform