Author: Phil Rees
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Parc Cenedlaethol Glyndŵr National Park
Choice of name (Glyndŵr National Park) for the new North East Wales National Park, and the Statutory Consultation
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4 Short Walks in the Peak District
I had 4 nights booked in a small self-catering cottage in Chinley, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, slotted in just before the busy half-term week. In the past when I’ve visited the Peaks it’s mainly been to hike the higher ground around Kinder Scout and Bleaklow, but this time I was looking to do some of the smaller…
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The new Moel Famau cafe, that isn’t
This morning, Denbighshire County Council Planning Committee have approved (by 13 votes to 3) plans to build a visitor hub at the start of the main path to Moel Famau in the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley National Landscape (formerly AONB), at the ‘top car park’ at Bwlch Penbarras. The building will include information displays,…
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Bannau Sir Gâr – the Carmarthenshire Fans
At the western end of Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), in a very quiet corner reached only by minor roads, there’s a glorious ridge where 4 peaks sit majestically above the glacial lakes of Llyn y Fan Fawr and Llyn y Fan Fach. They’re dissected by the county boundary, so that only 2 of the…
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Mitchell’s Fold, Corndon Hill and Lan Fawr
Welsh speakers have a phrase ‘Mwynder Maldwyn’, which translates roughly as ‘the mildness of Montgomeryshire’, to describe the gently rolling hills that cover most of the old county. On the border between Wales and England though, where they merge with the Shropshire Hills near the Stiperstones, they get a bit rougher round the edges, and…
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Wales’ Sustainable Farming Scheme. Pick a side
Last week, the University of Exeter published the results of a survey for North Wales Wildlife Trust about the re-introduction of beavers in Wales. Around 80% were in favour. But the survey also asked people how much they knew about beavers. 10% responded with ‘nothing’, but that hadn’t apparently deterred them taking part in a…
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Coed Llandegla and Cyrn y Brain
Cyrn y Brain is the 2nd highest point (behind Moel y Gamelin) in the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB.
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The Roaches, Staffordshire Peak District
Mention the Peak District, and many people will think of the ‘High Peak’ around Kinder and Bleaklow. But it’s a huge area, stretching into 6 counties, with the Roaches, a prominent gritstone escarpment with interesting rock formations that cram it with character, sitting on its south-western edge. Approaching from Leek, I headed as most people do…
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Herefordshire Beacon & British Camp, Malvern Hills
Herefordshire Beacon’s a hill in the Malvern Hills that sit near the borders of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. It’s the site of British Camp, a celtic hill fort dating from the 2nd century BC, though was subsequently extended and a Norman castle was later built on the site too. It’s said to be the site of the last…
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Ynys Sgomer – Skomer Island
Skomer lies just half a mile, and a 15 minute boat trip, off the Pembrokeshire coast, making it one of the most accessible locations in the British Isles to see coastal wildlife up close and personal. It’s owned by Natural Resources Wales, but staff and volunteers of The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales (who helped…
moel a mynydd - hill & mountain 