The Mawddach Trail

The day didn't turn out to be good enough to warrant taking the train up to Snowdon so we went into Dolgellau, had coffee and scones in The Royal Ship and then walked a good length of the Mawddach Trail.  A man who had just got back to his car having walked some of the trail said he'd seen Shelducks and their young family and a few Heron.  We didn't come across the Shelducks but did see Mr Heron on a few occasions. Other than that there wasn't much wildlife around apart from cows, seagulls, bees gathering pollen from the wild Dog Roses, one Oyster Catcher and a  few Canada Geese.

A sit down and a beer were called for after our walk at the George III pub by the Penmaenpool Toll Bridge.  We sat under a 'Ginco Biloba' tree - Not knowingly seen one before but the sign said ......   'does the idea of a prehistoric plant growing in your back garden appeal to you?  Fossilised remains of the Ginco Biloba tree show it hasn't changed in 200 Million years.  Add to that,  attractive fan-shaped foliage resembling large maidenhair ferns (hence the common name Maidenhair tree) turning golden in Autumn, Ginco Biloba adds up to a most attractive  feature for that special spot.  Given well drained soil, water and sun, it will grow slowly to 30ft (9m) or more.  These Chinese Trees are popular bonsai subjects and can be dwarfed by pot growing even if not bonsai trained' .......  We learn something new every day and I wonder if just sitting under the tree will help to alleviate any older adult cognitive decline??!!


Weather is disappointing but not really awful and it doesn't interfere too much with walks,  except when it's raining cats 'n' dogs,  but we're being bitten to death by midges at our CL site, even though we're in Wales, not Scotland?!