Thundering By

Went for a 6 mile walk just south of Ruthin in north Wales which is dedicated an area of outstanding natural beauty and I can vouch that it deserves that title. Parked up at the village hall, with the church, pub and cricket green nearby and noticed a large group of riders crossing the field on the other side of the road.

When we reached the top of the first hill more riders and horses came into view below us. And so it continued around our walk sometimes in small groups of two or three and other times in much larger groups. We came across horses and riders in open fields, on paths in the woods, crossing rivers at the fords and in narrow lanes. Sometimes walking sedately sometimes galloping at full speed. They had gathered for a fun ride.

Part of our walk took us close to Nantclwyd Hall whose three acre garden surrounding the house is adorned with temples and follies designed by Clough Williams-Ellis best known for his Italianate village of Port Merion - you will probably remember it as the setting for the TV series The Prisoner.

The woods were not quite a carpet of bluebells just yet but the wild garlic was thick, lush and verdant and the fragrance was heavy in the air particularly where the horses had trampled it underfoot. Hugh Fearnley-Whathisname would have had a field day foraging here.



Some more images from today's walk in Wales.