I fell in love with Snowdonia the first time I visited in 2019. I was almost at a loss for words at her beauty when I first set eyes on her. There is just something amazing about seeing mountains that have taken millions of years to produce their peaks which dominate the sky. Snowdonia is a special place and one that I hold very close to my heart. The scenery is just truly breathtaking in all directions and even the occasionally harsh weather extremes cannot take that beauty away.
Behold the sweeping valleys
Where the heathered slopes do lie,
With rugged peaks that reach
Unto the ever-changing sky,
Where Snowdon stands before me now
As clouds begin to break,
Llanberis still the morning light
Now rests upon the lake.Snowdonia by Andrew Blakemore (excerpt used with permission)
The mile upon mile, or kilometre upon kilometre, for those brave enough to embrace a scientific unit of measurement of unspoilt land in all directions makes Snowdonia a truly special place. With roads and the occasional hamlet or pub being the only man-made distraction, one can drive, cycle or walk for hours on end taking in the sights and sounds of nature along the way.
The gallery contains just a sample of my photographs taken in Snowdonia. Feel free to check out the full gallery.
I have been back several times since and each time, it somehow manages to get just that little bit more magical. I find more summits to climb, more roads to cycle, more lush scenery to photograph and more reasons to go back.
On one occasion, I met an ex-pat called Tony when setting off on a walk around Llyn Crafnant and Llyn Geirionydd in Gwydyr Forest. He was casually waiting, hands in his pockets, on the road outside his house for a furniture delivery. Amazingly, our conversation started with Tony expressing concern for a lamb in the field opposite his house. It didn’t look good tbh, it seemed lifeless and it didn’t stir at all whilst we chatted.
Tony had taught himself Welsh when he moved to Llanelli years ago. He said he made loads of mistakes with pronunciation, but no one gave a fuck and this helped him, so he stuck at it.
When we parted ways, we shook hands and I told him that I’d be back to buy him a drink at his local rugby club…using Welsh.
I was inspired to learn Welsh. I already knew some very basic words and phrases but had little understanding of the grammar and pronunciation rules that govern the language. I’m getting better but haven’t been able to dedicate as much time as I would like to Welsh as other commitments such as my degree course have been a priority. However, I think I might be able to have a very basic conversation in Welsh…and if the topic was focused on numbers, colours, basic greetings, asking for a pint, I think I’d be ok.
It’s an ongoing process, but one that I’m determined to succeed in.
For anyone who hasn’t experienced hearing anything in Welsh, I cannot think of a better example than the Welsh National Anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau being belted out by the Welsh rugby team and fans at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. How can you hear that and not be moved? The video was taken from the 6 Nations match against England in 2019 which Wales won 21-13. Wales went on to complete the Grand Slam.
Here are the full lyrics, although the version sung at sporting events is usually just the first verse and chorus:
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i’r heniaith barhau.Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd;
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i’m golwg sydd hardd
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i fi.Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i’r heniaith barhau.Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad dan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i’r heniaith barhau.
Translated into English, it reads as:
This land of my fathers is dear to me
Land of poets and singers, and people of stature
Her brave warriors, fine patriots
Shed their blood for freedomLand! Land! I am true to my land!
As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land
May the language endure for ever.Old land of the mountains, paradise of the poets,
Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards;
Through love of my country, enchanting voices will be
Her streams and rivers to me.Land! Land! I am true to my land!
As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land
May the language endure for ever.Though the enemy have trampled my country underfoot,
The old language of the Welsh knows no retreat,
The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand
Nor silenced the sweet harp of my land.Land! Land! I am true to my land!
As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land
May the language endure for ever.
Now, that’s how an anthem should sound and what one should be about imo. It fucking boils my piss that the English national anthem is about the head of state. The Queen, or Lizzie as she likes to be addressed in informal circles may be good for getting some tourists in to have a walk around Buckingham Palace, but she has no real power in this day and age. Besides, I’m sure the economy would cope without us having a head of state.
I’m kinda tempted to run the lyrics to the North Korean national anthem through Google translate as I’m pretty sure it would look something like this:
God save our gracious Kim,
long live our noble Kim…
See what I mean?
We should be celebrating the land and the people who have helped to forge it.
Instead we’re not only asking for divine intervention to save a person, but also to send her victorious. I mean, WTF?!? So, in order to really embrace our anthem, does one have to believe in God as well?
As for sending the Queen victorious, victorious to what exactly? The next war, or rumours about family members indulging in dubious lifestyle choices?
As potential anthems go, Jerusalem ticks a few boxes.
Fucking hell, apologies if this comes across as a rant.
I do sometimes wonder if that little lamb was ok, and if Tony got his furniture delivery.
- Photographer: Nick Thompson
- Location: Snowdonia, North Wales
- Camera(s): Samsung SM-N960F
- F-stop: 1.5/2.4
