Walking in Wales

Wales ist ein Fest für die Sinne — das sich auch von zu Hause aus erleben lässt. LOIS HOYAL lässt Sie hineinhören in den Klang der Sprache und walisischen Gesänge und gibt einen kleinen Einblick in traumhafte Landschaften.

There is no better way to explore Wales than on foot. However, before you join Lois Hoyal on her tour of discovery, listen to the sounds and savour the tastes of her native country from the comfort of your armchair!

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A view of Wales

Even after 19 years of living and working in Brecon Beacons National Park, area warden Jon Pimm is still surprised by some of the views. “Only yesterday, while driving back to the office, the way the light was hitting the Black Mountains was superb.”

Pimm’s work is varied and can change at short notice. “I could be giving advice to visitors, measuring a bridge that needs replacing, managing contractors who are doing work for us, supervising a film shoot or installing a gate on a public right of way.”

And it’s a job Pimm appreciates, for it allows him to live and work in a beautiful part of the world — and he’s paid to go out and enjoy it every day. What’s more, he’s happy his job allows him to share the stunning landscape with visitors.

“The wildlife here is amazing. Sit still for a few minutes in the right place and you may be lucky enough to see a red kite soaring overhead or hear a skylark chirping away quite merrily.” Then there are the sheep and Welsh mountain ponies, which move freely, keeping the vegetation in check.

Pimm has always loved the outdoors. As a child, he was often taken for walks and on camping trips, and his stepfather worked for a while as a National Trust warden. After studying land use and recreation at college, Pimm was lucky enough to get a paid summer job with Northumberland Park Authority. “I think this was the lucky break that gave me the experience that led on to other warden and ranger jobs and finally got me where I am today.”

For Pimm, it’s the dramatic landscape and changing weather that make the Brecon Beacons so special. He loves the entire area but admits to having a favourite place: Mynydd Illtud Common, close to the village of Libanus. “On a clear day, you can see the four main hill ranges that make up the park, and the view is dominated by the flat peak of Pen y Fan. It’s also close to our visitors’ centre, so it’s convenient to get a cup of tea and a piece of cake!”

For live webcams of the area, go to: www.beacons-npa.gov.uk/livewebcams

A taste of Wales

From the City to cheese? Maybe not the most obvious step for some, but for Tom Lewis, it was one that made perfect sense. After growing up in the historic Welsh town of Monmouth, Lewis tried life in London for about six years. “I worked in the City but was very average at my job,” he says. Lewis realized his heart wasn’t in the job or in London; he was ready to return to Wales.

The next step was to decide which new career to try. “I drew up a shortlist of all the things I was interested in: rugby, history and cheese. Having worked out that I was never going to play rugby for Wales and that archaeology wasn’t the same as Indiana Jones, I thought that cheese might be the way to go.”

Lewis opened a delicatessen — The Marches — in his home town of Monmouth. The shop specializes in local artisan produce from both sides of the Welsh–english border. “Everything from the charcuterie to the beer to the gin to the chocolate is locally produced. Even the coffee is roasted just two miles away. The more local the better.”

Let’s not forget the spectacular variety of cheeses made by farmers in the region. Along with the local gin, they’re Lewis’s bestselling produce. His favourite is Celtic Promise, an unpasteurized, semi-soft cheese he describes as “very punchy with a nice full flavour — a stunner”.

In addition to selling delicious hampers, running a courier service and a home-delivery service, Lewis supplies cheeses to local Michelin-starred restaurants. He also runs a coffee shop at the back of the delicatessen; its lunch menus, cakes, cheeses, meats and chutneys reflect the produce sold in the shop.

Take a look at The Marches produce here: www.marchesdeli.co.uk/hampers

How good is your Welsh?

You couldn’t get a better sense of Wales than by listening to the musical cadences of the Welsh language. Here’s the opening paragraph of our Travel story on page 30, first in English and then in Welsh for you to compare. Our special thanks to Anne Hoyal, the mother-in-law of our author, Lois Hoyal. Anne was kind enough to check the translation of the text into Welsh, which you can listen to here: www.spotlight-online.de/wales

The medieval town of Abergavenny lies only 10 kilometres beyond the English border, earning it the title “The Gateway to Wales”. The surrounding area is rich in history, myths and legends — and it is beautiful. Located within the Brecon Beacons National Park and with the dramatic Black Mountains rising up in the background, it’s small wonder that Abergavenny acts as a mecca for walkers.

Nid yw tref ganoloesol y Fenni ond yn 10 cilometr y tu hwnt i’r ffin â Lloegr, gan ei bod yn ennill y teitl “y Porth i Gymru”. Mae’r ardal o’i hamgylch yn gyforiog o hanes, mythau a chwedlau — ac mae’n brydferth. Wedi ei leoli o fewn Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog a gyda’r mynyddoedd DU dramatig yn codi yn y cefndir, nid yw’n fawr o syndod fod y Fenni yn gweithredu fel mecca i gerddwyr.