Allt y Geufron

Forestry work continues in the hills of Coed Ty-llwyd. The tractor was being used to haul out removed timber.

On a bright but cold day. Didn't notice at the time, but the Moon is clearly visible upper centre.

With Neuadd Parc Farm visible, bottom left. Viewed from Aberffrwd.

Statkraft is the company that operates the dam and powerstation here. The visitor centre is for the many visitors that come here car touring or walking or to ride the nearby railway and provides history and info on the area and the industry here.

Styled to look naturalistic, this weir looks very photogenic.

All still very redolent of its 1960's heyday. Very nicely styled though, an uninformed visitor would hardly notice that it's all part of a man-made reservoir with powerstation etc.

As viewed from the Vale of Rheidol Railway.

As viewed from the Vale of Rheidol Railway.

Looking over sloping fields and the forested gash of Cwm Rheidol to the distant mountain. Taken in December, after an unusually mild Autumn.

Pant Da Nature Reserve is managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Pant Da Wood lies about one and a half miles from Capel Bangor, beside the minor road which runs through Cwm Rheidol, and it is part of the extensive area of south-facing woodland to be found in the valley. The reserve was established in the 1980s and at that time an area of larch, planted in the 1950s, was felled and replanted with oak. In earlier times the wood was used to coppice oak and some coppice stools survive. Other species, including rowan, silver birch and beech, are also to be found. Most of the reserve lies in the north-west corner of square SN6778 but it just extends into the south west of SN6779. The entrance to the site is to be found at GR SN67087879, beside the Cwm Rheidol Road, and the northern extent is at GR SN67067902. The path through the reserve climbs some 100 metres over a straight distance of about 280 metres, so some zigzagging has been created so as to ease the walking gradient. In addition to the trees, bramble and bracken scrub has been allowed to develop and this has encouraged a diversity of woodland birds. Badger sets are also to be found here. The reserve is bordered by Ffynnon-wen and Troedrhiwlas farms and there is no public access to the site, other than from the entrance mentioned above. In 2003 a previously unknown hill fort was discovered, by aerial survey, on the hill above Pant Da wood. In 2007, a memorial viewpoint was constructed in the reserve to commemorate Nancy Kirk, a lecturer in geology at Aberystwyth University, who died in 2005. The memorial consists of a bench and a slate table and is set at the highest point of the reserve, where some fine views of the Rheidol Valley are to be had. Links: South and West Wales Wildlife Trust page Link RCAHMW page Link Nancy Kirk Link

Mild, but drizzle blankets the valley. It will shortly clear, to allow those looking for fresh air before the Christmas Day feast to get out for a walk in the dry, but will return before too long.

A south-facing sloping field, gathering what warmth there is from a low sun, on a fine but cold January day.

On the minor road along the valley floor, between Nantyronen and Aberffrwd. A telephoto shot taken from Pisgah. In the field behind, two cart horses enjoy the January sun.

A fine cold day, on the end of a mild, damp period.

Looking east towards the narrower part of the cwm, where productive farming largely gives way to forestry.