Down By The Riverside

It’s been some time since I’ve written anything for Say It With A Camera but I just didn’t have anything to say. Maybe it’s because I’ve not been out with my camera much but I think this quote by Destin Sparks just about somes up the past few months.

Photography Is The Story I Fail To Put Into Words

Destin Sparks

Anyway this weekend I decided to get out of the office and get back to doing what I should have been doing for the past few months, using my camera. With that said I decided to make the short journey to Betws-y-Coed (don’t you just love the beautiful Welsh names). My intention was to follow the Afon (River) Llugwy from the well photographed waterfall by the bridge in the town centre to the Miners Bridge further upriver.

Water tumbling over rocks at Betws-y-Coed

The added bonus being with Autumn in full swing now I might get some good colour in my photographs.

At first the path is quite easy, wooden walkways start you on your way but eventually you get out to the forest proper and the path follows the river more.

Low light shining on mossy rocks

Autumn is really here now and as I walk along the river I’m struck by the changing colours in the trees. Around Betws-y-Coed, as in a lot of Snowdonia, many of the forests constitute mainly pine trees. So it’s nice to see a splash of colour mixed in amongst the green.

Bit of foreground interest from the tree stump

The path is moving away from the river and here all of the trees had changed colour, so I was met with a solid wall of autumn colours.

A solid wall of orange from trees at the side of a woodland path

The path is looping back towards the river again taking me under this canopy of trees. It’s so peaceful here, just the sound of the river and with almost no wind. I don’t need to worry about the leaves moving too much whilst I’m taking photographs.

A rich canopy of orange leaves at the side of the river

Moving away from the river again and heading out onto the meadows. It looks flat but due to a lot of people passing this way, heading for the Miners bridge, and with the rain we’ve had recently, this path is slippery underneath. But I’ve got my hiking boots on so it’s not too bad.

Little wooden bridge over a small stream

You know they are there but you just can’t see them. Underneath all those leaves are lovely little parcels of “golden nuggets” just waiting for some unsuspecting walker to step on them. 

I walk my dogs I pick up, why can’t other people do so.

Heading across the meadow, watch for “Golden Nuggets”

Almost at the bridge now and I’m back down by the riverside.

So many leaves have already fallen on to the path

Obviously this is not the original bridge but it is thought that around this area the Romans crossed the Afon Llugwy. However, we do know that local quarry men did have a bridge here to reach the mines of the Gwydyr Forest.

Bridge over the Afon Llugwy

Just to my left and slightly behind me there is a very small waterfall, dropping down from the hills. Compared to some of the falls in this area it’s a tiddler, being about 10 feet tall at most.

Water dropping over rocks near the Miners Bridge

I almost forgot to put this one. Standing on the bridge you get a good view of the river as it drops down through a narrow gap in the rocks. Now then I’ve seen some great photographs from here, where photographers have clambered over the rocks to get a straight on photograph of the bridge and falls. Not for me, my days of taking chances like that are over. Those rocks are wet, one slip and you’re off, and that waters damn cold because it’s coming down from the mountains of Snowdonia.

Afon Llugwy tumbling over rocks near the Miners Bridge

Time to leave the river and head back through the forest. Most of the trees here are pine, they block the sun and it’s quite gloomy, but occasionally light breaks through.

In the forest

Finally I’m out of the forest, to be met with a magnificent view over the valley. Down in the dip, just below that house is the Afon llugwy and the path that I followed to get to the bridge.

View from the forest path down to the river and hills in the background

I’m on solid ground now, a forestry road, which heads back to Betws-y-Coed. Wherever you go walking in the Snowdonia National Park, you’re always bound to find an old abandoned stone building. It always intrigues me what their purpose was. Some I can guess at, Shepherds Huts, Wales has more than it’s fair share of sheep. You can see some in the photograph above

Old building long abandoned

I’d like to leave you with this final image, my walk is almost at an end and it’s time to head home.

Beautiful Autumn colours

Well that’s it. Hopefully I will have more to show you soon and I’d like to leave you with this final quote.

Every picture tells a story don’t it – Rod Stewart