As I descend from my hill walk this week, this tunnel of light and shade is full of pattern and texture. The light and shade itself creates some great patterns and shapes, but they are also very obviously present in the structure of a mossy wall and the peeling bark of a birch tree.
More images from this walk can be seen on Instagram and/or the StillWalks Facebook page and Twitter.
Looking round a gnoll on the hill I have been walking up this week revealed this (bath)room with a view of the hills beyond.
Stone and brick construction is not the only element of ruin – the trees here are very exposed to the wind and quite a few of them have fallen under the pressure. Nature will have its way though and the ruins have been well colonised by the roots of plants and trees fighting against both natural and man-made elements.
More images from this walk can be seen on Instagram and/or the StillWalks Facebook page and Twitter.
Even towards the end of my walk round Lower Lliw Reservoir, the thaw was minimal. But as the snow gently melted new shapes and patterns were revealed. I particularly like the twisting twiddles of last years bracken.
The woods at this stage of my walk round Lower Lliw Reservoir are not silent as you will hear in the sound clip below. However, with there being no wind, much of the background sound that is often there, is missing. This changes the acoustics of the woodland environment entirely and the soft plop of ice and snow dripping into the reservoir can be clearly heard along with the hollow reverberation of someone’s voice and the raucous call of a crow.
The scene was magical, not least because of the crooked wooden fence that lines the twisting footpath and the soft crunch of my footsteps in the snow.
Peaceful Background
If viewing this in an email, to see the sound player you will need to visit the blog – please click the post title to view the full post.
Reasons to visit Swansea beach – none needed, go anyway and enjoy a walk in the sea scented space and listen to the waves as they lap or pound on the sea wall and steps. If the tide is out, then the space is that much greater and you can have the give of the sand under your feet instead of the hard concrete of city streets. Rain or shine, windy or still, the sensations are there for anyone and everyone.
Waves on Promenade Steps
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Walking on round the corner, away from the turbulence of flowing water in yesterday’s post, I arrived back in a place of stillness. The water was still flowing fast at the overflow to the lake at The Waterside, but the surface was smooth and the ripples clear – no leaping froth and foam here, even if it was just a few yards away.
This was a good place to end my walk and return to the warmth of the lakeside cabins for a coffee and a delicious bite to eat. Until the next First Friday (if not before), thanks very much to Sue and Steve Heatherington at The Waterside.
The full walk sequence and a soundscape will be on tomorrow’s post.
Approaching the southern end of the lake on my walk around the valley at The Waterside, the sound and atmosphere changed from peaceful and calm to turbulent and vigorous. Before reaching the rapids of water flowing into a tunnel, I could hear it in the background – in fact the sound of the rushing water had been noticeable for some time. However, the volume rose dramatically as I stood directly over the crashing deluge.
There is an aspect of acoustics in my perception of the volume of sound in this place. I cannot imagine what Niagara or Victoria Falls sound like but the environmental space at this point at The Waterside is much more enclosed than that at Niagara or Victoria and so, as there is inevitably more reflection of sound, it may be that the perceived difference in volume is (slightly) affected by this. However, I wouldn’t dream of comparing one with the other as the scale difference is astronomical.
Today (Friday) StillWalks is at The Waterside running presentations about the StillWalks package for businesses and organisations. If anyone is interested in coming along to one of these in the future, First Fridays are currently regular open days at The Waterside, please check out the website above and contact us in advance.
The first part of my short walk around the old reservoir, now a lake at The Waterside, was wet underfoot – hardly surprising given all the rain we have had this winter. The dampness is, of course, ideal conditions for moss to grow and these steps down the the lakeside are covered in the stuff.
But I love these steps and the fact that they are being taken over by nature to the point where, from certain angles, they are so well camouflaged as to be almost completely hidden. The rise above the lake from which the steps descend gives an excellent opportunity to enjoy reflections in the water.
On Friday this week (5th Feb) StillWalks will be at The Waterside running presentations about the StillWalks package for businesses and organisations. If anyone is interested in coming along to this regular open day at The Waterside, please check out the website above and contact us in advance.
Wet Footsteps
If viewing this in an email, to see the sound player you will need to visit the blog – please click the post title to view the full post.