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" Swansea - 5 - Carreg Cennen " Date & start time: Sunday 24th March, 2019. Location of Start : Our son and daughter-in-law's new house, Ammanford, South Wales, UK. Places visited : A drive to Carreg Cennen and back. Walk details : Short local walks, to the castle and then down to the river. Highest point : Luke, feeling a lot better when we got back. Walked with : Ann and our dogs Dylan and Dougal. Weather : Sunshine and blue skies. |
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Sunday dawned fine and bright as Dylan and Dougal are awoken from their slumbers by us arriving downstairs. In fact they had spent the night in our bedroom but ended up with an extra lie-in on the playroom car mat.
- - - o o o - - - We decided to stay more local and within range so set off to re-visit somewhere we hadn't been for twenty years or so . . . Wales is famous for castles, most of which have been bashed about in their time. Carreg Cennen, home to Welsh Princes, was first constructed in the 12th century, but there are signs of earlier Iron Age and Roman fortresses. The present structure mainly dates from the (English) King Edward 1st time, about 1277. The end came in 1462 during the War of the Roses when the castle was vandalized by 500 Yorkist men brandishing not swords but picks and crowbars. It had been a Lancastrian hideout. The castle sits on a limestone rock outcrop surrounded by good quality farmland. Carreg Cennen is therefore unusual as you have to pass through the working farm to reach the attraction.
Here we're in the outer ward of the castle, inside the first protective wall. In the foreground is a deep ravine in the limestone summit rock and to the right are the steps and draw bridge that will lead us up into the castle. The stonework in the centre foreground, beyond the ravine in the previous photo, turned out to be a lime kiln. They would have needed considerable amounts of lime mortar for building and so they had constructed a kiln on site. There would have been a stables, blacksmith and other ancillary buildings in this area too.
Photographically 'zooming down' over the escarpment and down to the valley floor below, where someone has constructed a teepee and a fine campsite next to the River Cennen.
Looking down the less vertical northern side. As we climb the steps we can look down on the busy car park and the farm at the entrance to the castle. They have a nice tearoom, meeting rooms and and outdoor seating area . . . but more of that later.
Into the inner keep and time to soak up the surroundings.
The oven would have been preheated by a fire inside and the ash raked out before baking (just like some modern pizza ovens !) Another view of the inner ward of the castle from the other corner. The area with the high gabled wall was the Grand Hall, with steps up to the chapel and the castle's main accommodation.
Her view down from the chapel area on the high walkway.
The steps to the cave leave from the corner of the inner ward.
The tunnel turns ninety degrees and dives deep below the ravine we saw in the outer ward earlier.
This would not have contained the main water supply for the castle due to the porous nature of the rock. The purpose of enclosing the cave is still not fully understood.
- - - o o o - - - Back out into the sunlight and though we've left the castle, the surrounding area still hold delights to entertain.
The area is part of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the castle lies on one of the Brecon Beacons long distance footpaths. We join the route of the path for a short walk down to the valley below. Carreg Cennen Woods is a mixed woodland, with oak growing well on the underlying sandstone and ash thriving better on the open limestone areas of the crags. Dougal takes advantage of the seat for a better view.
Down to the River Cennen where there's a family already enjoying the fun of the water. A brief stay for us then back over the bridge for the climb back up to the castle. After all . . . there's a the chance of vegetable Welsh Cawl (soup) and bread at the farm tearooms Shame the dogs weren't allowed inside as the gentle breeze was cold in the shade of the barn.
This is the River Amman as it passes through the town of Ammanford. There is a viewing platform overlooking this stretch of the river.
We return home with the sun setting over the local Tesco superstore . . . nothing if not romantic. - - - o o o - - - The following morning we take our leave and travel over the local mountain road to Swansea. This is Gareth's preferred route to work and on a good day like today has fine views back over Ammanford. From a small viewing area at the roadside we get a panoramic view north into mid-Wales. Click here or on the photo above for a larger Loweswatercam annotated panorama Up over the top of the mountain where there is a large wind farm. Love them or hate them, they do serve a practical purpose on a windy day.
" Beauty and the Beasts " We drop down into Swansea and the busy Swansea Valley commercial zone. Below us, the Liberty Stadium of Swansea City Football Club. (Link to club to impress my son !)
- - - o o o - - - Hours later . . . the welcome sight of the Howgill Fells . . . as we drive the M6 north. Welcome back to the Lakes and the saddleback shape of Blencathra, silhouetted against the late afternoon sun. A fine mackerel sky as we approach Keswick. Ahead is the familiar outline of Causey Pike through our slightly dirty windscreen . . . after well over eight hours we're nearly home. - - - o o o - - - |
Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Panasonic Lumix Tz60 Compact, or my Panasonic Gx8 mid-range System Camera. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . a friendly teashop at the end of a walk. Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here Previous walk - Swansea -2- Jeff and Gill A previous time in the area - Sorry, April 97 pictures not on line (except the one above) Next walk - 24th March - Swansea -3- Carreg Cennen & home Next walk - 28/29th March Local with Jo, Dee & John
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