My Stomping Ground

25 comments

Welcome to the second edition of piccies from my trip to Welsh Wales, and the beautiful part of the country known as the Snowdonia National Park; the area being Trawsfynydd. I’m sorry, but there are no flowers or plants in this edition, just some scenery for you to hopefully enjoy!

This is a the River Glaslyn, near Porthmadog. At certain times of the year a breeding pair of Ospreys comes to visit. I wouldn’t have got this shot if they were about because the area would be closely guarded, which is good!

Another view of the river, this time looking across at the mountain range.

The real name for this beautiful lake is Llyn Mair. However, locally it has a far more sinister and depressing name………

…………Suicide Lake! Many people have been found dead in this lake, having committed suicide.

Some friends of mine – when we were younger – used to ride motorbikes over the bridge. I’d be standing there with my little camera waiting for a plank to give way! Naughty me!

This footbridge is about a quarter of a mile long and crosses over Trawsfynydd Lake, which is a large reservoir built in the 1920’s to serve a small hydro-electric power station at Maentwrog. Farmers in those days walked to the village this way, so the bridge was constructed to still allow them access rather that have to walk around. Later, the lake also served as a cooling medium for the nuclear power station which you will see later on. The small hydro-station still works!

This was the sun setting over the lake and mountains last Friday evening. I stood there for a couple of hours watching it.

In this pic you can see the nuclear power station in the distance at the end of the lake. You can also notice that the lake seems to have been split in two by that wall/dam running between the small islands. The water on the left side was the cool water that was used to condensate the steam after it had been through the turbines. Then it was pumped back out to the right hand side of the wall/dam 10 degrees warmer. We used to swim in that part in the winter!

I thought I’d finish off with a few random shots around the lake, and hope that you enjoyed looking them all. Ta-ra for now chucks!!

15 Sep, 2009
14 likes

Comments

Louise1

Lovely scenery Merfyn.
That bridge looks a bit hairy - i'm not good with 'rickety' bridges that are over water.

15 Sep, 2009

Morgana

Beautiful pictures, so you glow in the dark then Merfyn swimming!!!! lol, Is you finger that quick then to click hopeing a plank would go he he , shame about the lake haveing such a reputation, I 'm surprised you did nt visit Indy he lives in the national park in Snowdonia. also what a georgous sunset.

15 Sep, 2009

Merfyn_james

A quick finger you ask Morgana? They don't call me "Trigger Happy Merf" for nothing you know! Yes; it is a shame about the lake's reputation, but I hope you realise that they are two seperate lakes - Llyn Mair (suicide) and Llyn Trawsfynydd (my old stomping ground). About visiting Indy - Snowdonia is quite a large place!

15 Sep, 2009

Sanbaz

lovely pics merfyn, so pretty and calming, well if your going to kill yourself may as well be somewhere beautifull, saying that if i saw that before trying to kill myself think i wouldnt want to leave such a beautifull place lol, great shots

15 Sep, 2009

Indypendant

Wonderful photos Merfyn, looks like youhad a great little walk around!

15 Sep, 2009

Milky

Amazing photos Merfyn...Thanks for sharing your weekend with us............

15 Sep, 2009

Pottygardener

Lovely photo's Merfyn, we go through part of Snowdonia National Park each week on our way to our coastal market. You're right, it is a big area...some 800 or so square miles! A very lovely place, your pictures have done it justice. :o)

15 Sep, 2009

Indypendant

I love that camera, such clear shots, what make and model do you have Mate!

15 Sep, 2009

Lincslass

Smashing photo`s Merfyn it all looks so calming a place for just wandering and letting the world go by and when the day is nearly done a beautiful sunset..........

15 Sep, 2009

Merfyn_james

Thank you all for your kind comments. The camera's a Nikon D40 Indy. What do you have?

15 Sep, 2009

Bobg

Thanks for showing us your pictures Merfyn, Snowdonia is a wonderfully scenic place and you have got some fine shots.

15 Sep, 2009

Merfyn_james

Cheers Bob.

15 Sep, 2009

Merfyn_james

Lincslass: I can spend hours mooching around by the lake, as you suggest just letting the world go by!

15 Sep, 2009

Drc726

Really capture it for me Merfyn I love Wales. Thanks.

15 Sep, 2009

Blodyn

Great photos Merfyn. It's beautiful around Trawsfynydd.

15 Sep, 2009

Crazydi

Great blog Merfyn...brought back happy memories of an A- level geography field-trip to Trawsfynydd, way back in my younger days :))

15 Sep, 2009

Indypendant

I got a box brownie!

Its a very badly treated Samsun D 103 will have to replace it soon! but it wont be as high end as a Nikon!

15 Sep, 2009

Fluff

You're a bit of a dab hand with the old camera aren't you Merf? Really good pics...especially the sunset.
Wales never fails to deliver great landscapes.

15 Sep, 2009

Clarice

Thanks what lovely photos, must admit wales is a very lovely country.

15 Sep, 2009

Orgratis

Great to get a glimpse of such a lovely place. Thanks. Do you call it Eryri? and if so, how do you say that and what does it mean?

16 Sep, 2009

Merfyn_james

Orgratis: You are absolutely correct, including the spelling! Eryri is Welsh for Snowdonia, but eryr (without the 'i' on the end) means eagle. How that works I'm not sure, unless there used to be some eagles nesting there many years ago, and bearing in mind that Welsh is an older language than English, Eryri was probably used first! I think you'd pronounce it air-er-i. Welcome to GOY by the way.

16 Sep, 2009