Full Circle and Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 14/08/201610/08/2016 by Alastair

I started my walk this week with a post of 360 degree views of Swansea Bay at Crymlyn Burrows. Now after getting excited about so many of the patterns and forms in the sand on this expansive beach, I have come full circle. Back in front of the Bay Campus of Swansea University the view is as good as ever but after all the subtleties of sand I was surprised by the glare of contrasting colour in front of the Great Hall on the campus. The grass was new and the paint on the tables was new too!

Mumbles Across the Bay

Contrasting colour

Virtually all sound from the city and the motorway was being blown inland by a light breeze on this peaceful morning walk and the sound of distant birds and people along with my footsteps on the sand is most of what makes up this calm soundscape.

Crymlyn Burrows Beach Soundscape

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Swansea Bay Campus

Swansea Bay – Port Talbot

Sand Piper

Sand Patterns

Sculpted by the Flow

Sand bank

Sand Patterns

Beach Perspective

Dry and Drying

Crymlyn Burrows

Mumbles Across the Bay

Leaving the Beach and Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 07/08/201602/08/2016 by Alastair

Reviewing my walk this week I realise that the railway line running across this bridge separates not only the beach from the town, but also something of the wind as well. The beach at Colwyn Bay in North Wales is a wide open expanse across which the wind can blow unimpeded until it reaches the railway embankment above the promenade. However, this barrier does not run the full length of the bay by any means and so I imagine, like Swansea’s seafront in the south of the country, the sand gets blown far into the streets nearby.

The soundscape below illustrates the point at which the wind starts blowing – just as I cross the road to the promenade at the pedestrian crossing. My favourite sound in this soundscape is towards the end – the rhythmic rattle of metal on metal in the wind before I return to the road.

Leaving the beach

Colwyn Bay Soundscape

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Glimpse of the bay

Running into the wind

Crossing to the sea

Colours in the Sky

Paragliders in the surf

Paragliders

Wild and Windy

Looking out to sea

Wind blown sand

Sand Drift

Sand Haze

Sand and Tide

Dark Sea and Weathered Fence

Pier Structure

Looking Over Corris – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 31/07/201625/07/2016 by Alastair

Back to my car again and looking over Corris where I have been walking this week, I was hopeful that the rain that was still falling at 5.30 AM had finished for the day and that I would be able to climb the mountain for my StillWalks production walk.

As it happens, it did not rain again but the route I ended up taking up the mountain was not my original planned path and was fairly arduous. On top of that (or the mountain), the mist came down and so the video I produce from it will be a “Misty Mountain Walk”.

Overlooking Corris

Sorry again that there is no soundscape this week. I hope you can still enjoy the images below without it.

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Hostel

Corris street

Afon Deri

Railings pattern

Morris railway station

cemetery in the mountains

railing decoration

Stiwdio Maelor – Liz Doyle

Tafarn – Tŷ Bwyta

Overlooking Corris

Nicholaston Farm Cafe – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 24/07/201618/07/2016 by Alastair

Always on the Taste of Gower walks there is a welcome cafe to be enjoyed at the end of the walk. Many of the walks have given me a first visit to the cafes associated with them and do an excellent job of persuading me and others to return in the knowledge that refreshments are available as well as beautiful views, wonderful habitats and enjoyable exercise. Nicholaston Farm Cafe was no exception and everybody enjoyed the fayre they provide.

The next walk will be next week on Friday 29th July and starts from Gower Heritage Centre – I’m looking forward to it!

Nicholaston Farm Cafe

Listen to the walk soundscape below while viewing the image sequence, just click the play button and then the first thumbnail image.

Nicholaston Walk Soundscape

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Oxwich Bay

grasses and clouds

Big Tor, Tor Bay, South Gower

Three Cliffs Bay

overgrown site of an old church

Taste of Gower walkers resting

Three Cliffs

Heading back

Rocks from above

Little Tor, Tor Bay and Oxwich Bay

Oxwich Bay

Bleach Walkers

natural tunnel

Nicholaston Farm cafe

Hereford Cityscape – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 17/07/201611/07/2016 by Alastair

Back at the start of my walk this week and you can listen to the soundscape while viewing the images. The image below shows two parts of the same alleyway – despite the graffiti the walkthrough is kept pretty clean.

Hereford City Walk Soundscape

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city footpath

Hereford City Centre

Church Street

Hereford Cathedral

Hereford in Bronze

Cathedral architectural detail

Cathedral architecture

Sir Edward Elgar

Hereford street wall

Wall Patterns

Seeing the Signs

pipework

Hereford marketplace

Church wall and smoker

subway

City Street – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 10/07/201605/07/2016 by Alastair

One thing (several in fact) that was often in the background of my walk this week along a city centre street were the gulls. As previously mentioned, it was a bin collection day and the sea gulls were pretty active. Much of the time their calls were largely hidden by the other sounds of the street, but they are there.

gull

Street Walk Soundscape

Play the sound clip and look through the sequence of images at the same time. If you would like to hear more of the subtleties of any of my soundscapes, listen through headphone. Having said that, I always edit the soundscapes with the expectation that most people will listen without.

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Roof Reflections

Rubbish Collection Day

Street Steps

Street Perspective

Pedestrian Crossing 2

Bins and wildflowers

Walking down the street

monochrome railings

Construction and Growth

Reflected Conversation

street markings

car park

monochrome manipulated

Barring the Way and Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 03/07/201623/06/2016 by Alastair

The sheep that accompanied me on the last stage of my walk were barred from continuing by the effective but simple design of a kissing gate and a cattle grid. My geology walk this week with geographer Geraint Owen and other walkers was both thoroughly enjoyable and informative. The walk was arranged by our local library and I imagine they may be involved again in the arrangements for a second outing to complete the walk route.

gate and route home

Geology Walk Soundscape

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My starting point

Looking for evidence of plants

Bog cotton

Bog cotton detail

Geraint Owen

Foxgloves

Hammer test

conglomerate rock

plant fossil

Loughor Estuary from Cefn Drum

Looking north from Cefn Drum

Looking to Twyn Tyle

Twyn Tyle detail

Foxgloves and footpath

sheep in the way

Buttercups

gate and route home

Bright Yellow Buttercups – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 26/06/201621/06/2016 by Alastair

My walk this week started with the birth of an alpaca – a Spring / early Summertime event that was reflected in all that surrounded me on this walk, including these bright yellow buttercups on the banks of the lake at The Waterside. A place I will be visiting again next week so I guess I will get to see how the little ‘un is getting on and may even meet another newborn from what I have heard.