A Walk in the Woods.

The low cloud and chilly weather was still with us this morning and so it continued for most of the day with some blue just before sunset.

Today's walk was in the woods near Trawscoed a few miles further up the Afon Ystwyth from last week's walk. It was a good thing that having parked at Bow Street train station which has ample parking I then had a lift with a fellow walker along with two other passengers since the parking area in the woods was pretty crowded. As we try and do as much car sharing as possible all 12 of us came in just 3 cars.

Although our walk took us beside the Ystwyth for the most part we were deep in the woods.

All around were uprooted and broken trees, a legacy of Storm Darragh. Apparently the devastation had been a lot worse but the NRW had worked hard to clear the paths so that people could safely walk in the woods.

A few areas had been cordoned off and elsewhere there were piles of logs and branches that had been cut and moved to the sides of the path.

Not far from this clearing we found a number of tree trunk sections next to the path that made very good seats for our lunch stop.

As the bridge we would have used to cross the river had been closed off we walked round the woods for a few miles and then went along the road to a section of the woods higher up the hill. Passing under an old railway bridge that used to carry the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen line (there is now no line to South Wales but there is talk of reopening it at a cost of £620 million.) we naturally had to test out the echo qualities of the stonework.

We then went into Birch Grove Walk with more fallen trees and flowing streams,

and a small lake/pond with what looked like an defunct fishing jetty.

Then back down through the woods to the car park and eventually home. We may not have had the sun but at least it didn't rain.

There was a touch of blue in the sky as I drove home from the station car park and then a hint of pink at sunset. Tonight we ended our LOTR marathon with Return of the King all 4 hours and 23 minutes. We'll have to find something else to watch on Sunday nights now.