Top Locations in Wales - A Landscape Photography Paradise
Welcome to Wales. Land of myth, legend, and folklore. A land that has been inspiring artists, writers and poets for generations, and I’m one of the latest in a long line of messengers waxing lyrical about its’ natural beauty. Having explored this enchanted land for years now, it is easy to see why so many people seek out this charming landscape for inspiration. The trees speak softly, the mountains stand guard like watchmen, and the rivers and lakes house fairies that will bring healing to your soul.
I’ve been a lover of The Lord of the Rings books and movies since I was a child, and now, having explored so much of this beautiful country, I see why Wales is credited with providing inspiration in so many different ways for Tolkien as he created his imaginary world. Even his Elvish language was inspired by the Welsh tongue.
Wales is a dream for any landscape photographer and, though relatively small in size, it offers something for every one who shows interest in landscape and nature photography. It has provided me with a constant source of inspiration over the past half a decade that I have been creating photographs, and these very lands have helped to heal many of my own wounds and brought a sense of peace to my soul. I still have so much ground to explore, so many photographs to create, and stories of my own to tell. Despite countless adventures to Eryri/ Snowdonia and seemingly walking every inch of my local mid Wales landscape, I sometimes feel as though I am only just scratching the surface of what this glorious country has to offer.
In this article, I want to introduce you to some of my favourite locations in Wales for landscape and nature photography that I have discovered so far. These are places that have, and still do, provide me with an incredible amount of inspiration for creativity and storytelling, and now I hope that I can inspire you to go out and unleash your creativity and tell your own stories of these wonderful places.
The Great Wood, Gregynog Hall - Mid Wales
I walked innocently into one of Wales’ most beautiful ancient woodlands, yielding my flask filled with coffee, books and camera. As I closed The Fellowship of the Ring for the last time, mounted my flask back into the side pocket of my bag and withdrew my camera, my hands rose to the heavens as beams of soft, golden light shone down on me through the canopy. It was an enlightening moment in my photography journey so far.
I credit this beautiful woodland in the heart of Montgomeryshire for changing the way that I do photography forever. In my initial years behind the camera, I could often be found running around from place to place, gathering photographs like a bee does honey. Finding these trees back in 2021 forced me to slow down and connect on a deeper level to the landscape that I found myself in. There was something very special about this patch of oak woodland and it made me feel emotions that I hadn’t experienced before. These trees played more than their part in inspiring my 2021 photobook titled, ‘A Year Amongst Trees’.
Some of the trees were planted back in the 18th century, and one of them was even standing when Henry VIII was reigning over the country. Walking between these gigantic trees for the first time was a rather special experience. I looked up in wonder as I marvelled at the sheer size of the ancient oaks that stand here on this ground, and felt an overpowering sense of insignificance at species that have been standing since the days of my great, great grandfather.
The woodland itself was used as hunting ground back in the day but now it’s left relatively untouched, bar a few sheep that sometimes wander the land, and the footsteps of myself and a few others that like to roam aimlessly amongst the ancient oak trees.
Autumn is, of course, the best time to visit most woodlands, in my opinion, and this one is no different. The bed of bracken and ferns is good enough to sleep on, and with fog and mist regularly filling the valley, you might just be treated to some of the best photography conditions that you remember, as I was on this magical autumn morning in 2021.
The sun rises quite lowly over the Montgomeryshire hills, and the light can be truly special if you care to be out early enough to capture it. Two or three of my favourite photographs have been produced here in this woodland after months of scouting and mornings spent walking meditatively between the old oak trees. I’m an advocate of the Japanese art of ‘shinrin yoku’ or ‘forest bathing’ to clear my busy mind and gain some clarity in my life, and there is no better place to take in the wonders of the woodland than right here in Montgomeryshire, in my opinion.
Photography Tip:
Try photographing with the camera pointing into, or at a 45 degree angle to the sunlight. Using mist in your photographs can be a perfect way to diffuse the sun and avoid blowing out those all important ‘highlights’ which will cause you to lose lots of detail in your imagery. Using the beautiful and soft morning light can provide some wonderful opportunities for photographs and maximise your chances of getting some of that all important fog or mist needed to create those beautifully atmospheric stories with your camera.
What I love most about this woodland is that every season brings with it plenty of new and exciting opportunities for photography. Just as you might be beginning to think that you have seen it all and expended all possible compositions, a change in temperature may make you think again before moving on to your next location. This woodland has kept me busy for two years already, and I’m sure that there are many more still to go.
Photography Tip:
If you are someone who bounces around from location to location in search of the next photograph, why not change your approach and try photographing one location for a while. You might be surprised to see how your vision evolves as you force yourself to look deeper into the landscape to find your next image.
For more tips on how to improve your woodland photography, click here.
Rhiwargor & Lake Vyrnwy - Berwyn Mountains, Mid Wales
I stood alone in the heart of the Berwyn mountains. Overnight, a sprinkling of snow had fallen, peppering the tops of the mountains that surround Lake Vyrnwy. As the water gushed down from Rhiwargor, past the ancient silver birch trees and along the grassy banks, I approached excitedly with my rucksack in tow.
I had one of those feelings that something special was going to happen that morning. The forecast looked good for some atmosphere and breaks in the cloud for light to enter the landscape. The scene had already stood out to me as one with a lot of potential during the autumn months that preceded. I knew that the snow-capped mountains behind were going to look special with the beautiful stream carrying the eye along the tree-lined embankment and out into the distance. What happened next, and for only a matter of seconds, could never have been predicted, and probably wont be seen again in my lifetime. A fleeting rain and snowstorm passed over my head. As it swept beyond and into the distant mountains, beneath which Lake Vyrnwy lies silently, a brief break in the clouds allowed the most gorgeous golden light to flood in from the east, backlighting the drizzle and sleet beautifully. The flash of burning embers brought to attention the silhouetted old guard of ancient silver birch trees that appear to be charging over the hill and away into the light.
You might be able to tell from this short piece of writing that this little corner of Lake Vyrnwy is up there amongst my favourite places to photograph out of all of them on this list. There really is something for everyone around this glorious part of the country. Whether you’re a tree lover like myself, or mountains and waterfalls are your thing, you aren’t going to be disappointed when you take a walk around Rhiwargor and Lake Vyrnwy.
Photo Tip:
Don’t be afraid to be a little curious whilst outdoors exploring, especially around Lake Vyrnwy, where some of the best photographs appear once you have veered away from the well-known footpaths. There is nothing quite like making your own tracks in this life, and photography has provided me with the perfect opportunity to do just that. I allow the camera to lead me, rather than me lead it, and the great outdoors will always provide opportunity for further exploration.
This part of the world is another of those that looks glorious throughout the seasons and offers plenty of variation when it comes to landscape photography. The area is a woodland paradise, and there are trees growing out of every nook and cranny on the hillsides that surround the lake and waterfall. There is an abundance of silver birch trees that line the slopes of the waterfall, and the colours that are on display throughout the autumn months are truly magnificent.
If you like photographing reflections then you may want to make a stop off at one of the small beaches or picnic areas around Lake Vyrnwy, where you’ll be presented with some truly remarkable compositional opportunities. First thing in the morning, the lake is often completely still and the reflections are perfectly mirror-like.
The Victorian water tower on Lake Vyrnwy makes for an interesting subject, appearing to be almost fairy-tale like; perfect for the stories of old witches and wizards like in Welsh folklore tales. There are many compositional opportunities for photographs of the tower. The main bridge at the south-eastern point makes for the more common angle, but I prefer to be a little more creative and make my own compositions these days. Sunset provides some incredible light, and sets beyond the Berwyn mountains that stand watch behind the tower. On a side note; you might want to look out for one of many walking routes that will lead you out onto the tops of the mountains surrounding Lake Vyrnwy. There are some terrific hikes to be found here and you could easily spend a few days in the area.
If you care to slow down and open your eyes widely enough as you make your way around the 12 mile stretch of road that runs around the lake, you might notice that there are some beautiful patches of native, deciduous woodland just waiting to be explored. This one, towards the easternmost point of the lake, holds promise for photographers and storytellers who are brave enough to ascend the steep banks and venture into the unknown. Some of the ancient oaks will make you feel as though you have been transported back in time; perhaps to a time when the Celts gathered around oak trees as part of their rituals and rites, sometimes even offering worship to a goddess of the oak tree, named Daron.
Photography Tip:
I like to look for a main protagonist in my woodland photographs occasionally. Characterful trees, like the one above, can help to tell a story, and every woodland seems to have at least one that stands out from the crowd like the ugly duckling.
Llyn Dinas & DINAS EMRYS | Eryri/ Snowdonia National Park
If wild swimming is your thing, be sure to watch out for a sharp pointy thing floating around in Llyn Dinas. Rumour has it that Excalibur, weapon of choice for King Arthur, might have been thrown into here back in the 6th century. Providing you don’t find that and make yourself a millionaire, you’ll want to wander the waters here on the lookout for photographs as it’s one of the most underrated places in Snowdonia for photography.
The light rises in the morning over the Moelwynion mountains; of which Moel Siabod is the tallest and can be seen at the northernmost point of the lake. It is just viewable, off centre to the right, in the photograph above. There are plenty of loose rocks and stones that make for some interesting features in photographs, and a few species of trees line the shores of the lake which can be added to your imagery to create the complete landscape photograph that will combine all of the elements.
If you managed to find the sword, you might want to keep it wielded as you cross the busy road to Craflwyn Hall, from which a footpath runs behind that will lead you to Dinas Emrys; birthplace of the red dragon.
It is rumoured that King Vortigern was building a castle on Dinas Emrys back in the 5th century which kept collapsing overnight because of tremors throughout the landscape.
Having queried it with his men, and failing to come to an answer to explain what was happening, King Vortigern was advised to seek the help of a boy that was born of a virgin mother. Vortigern sent his men out to search for such a boy and they eventually found Myrddin (Merlin) the wizard.
King Vortigern was going to offer Merlin’s life as a sacrifice but Merlin quickly advised him that the reason he couldn’t get his castle to stand was because two dragons were living inside of the hill, beneath the pool of water that, to this day, can still be found on Dinas Emrys.
The two dragons were awoken from their slumber and coaxed out from under the water. One was red and the other, white. They began to fight in the air above the hilltop. Eventually the white dragon fled, leaving the red dragon victorious, giving King Vortigern a new emblem for his flag, and a sign of the impending victory against the Anglo-Saxons.
Let thoughts of dragons, kings and wizards inspire you as your imagination runs wild atop this beautiful hilltop in north Wales. Sunrise makes for a beautiful time to visit, as the view towards the Moelwynions and over Llyn Dinas is one of the best in the area. Lining the western face of the hill as you walk to the summit is an enchanted oak forest, through which the winds blow and bring voices of Welsh baritones from afar.
If you’re a woodland photographer, then you’re likely to have a field day on Dinas Emrys; the trees are some of the gnarliest and most wicked in the national park, and there are many stories to be told of them.
Rhaeadr DDu & Ganllwyd - Eryri/ Snowdonia National Park
Rhaeadr Ddu, the beautifully quaint little waterfall in the southern region of Snowdonia translates as ‘Black Falls’ due to the appearance of the black stone over which the two-tiered waterfall descends. The short walk from Ganllwyd will lead you along a path next to which the Afon Gamlan runs through the Coed Ganllwyd National Nature Reserve. You’ll walk for no more than a mile, at which point you’ll be transported into a real life fairy-tale, surrounded by ancient, twisting oak trees, with the sound of the ever-changing waterfall for company. Visiting through different seasons will bring with it new conditions, as the water levels can change rapidly depending on rainfall in the area and surrounding mountains.
One of my favourite times to visit this fantastic and somewhat, underrated location has to be throughout the spring. I was lucky enough to capture the photographs below during the peak spring weeks in 2022 when the colours were at their vibrant best.
Waterfalls tend to look at their most spectacular after a few days of heavy rain, which does make for some great photographs. However, I prefer to shoot them when the conditions are a little calmer due to the look and feel that I tend to like in my photographs. My style reflects the more calming and peaceful moments as opposed to any chaos and drama. Perhaps this is how I feel when I’m outdoors in nature and therefore that is how I like my viewer to feel when looking through my portfolio.
I think that it’s very important to try to gain an understanding of yourself and some level of self-awareness as you progress through your photography journey. Spending time in beautiful places like this should make self-reflection incredibly easy, giving you plenty of time to think about the stories that you’d like to tell through your photography.
Photography Tip:
When photographing waterfalls, it might be worth attaching a circular polarising filter (CPL) to your lens. There are many places that CPL’s will work wonders for your photography but none will be transformed quite like a colourful autumnal or spring waterfall scene, where the effects of twisting the filter to your likening will bring out those beautifully vibrant orange, yellow and red colour tones and reduce the glare on the surface of the water, helping to add depth and mood to your image.
For more tips, I have a blog containing Ten Top Tips for Landscape Photography.
Waterfalls have to be up there among my favourite things to photograph. There is nothing quite like the feeling of excitement building as you hear the sound of the crashing water gradually getting louder as you approach. This little gem in Ganllwyd provides some really special ancient woodland with moss covered trunks and dry stone walls too, all of those will make for some fantastic subjects to photograph aside from the waterfall itself.
Photography Tip:
I like to keep my eye out for natural frames in the scene when photographing waterfalls like Rhaeadr Ddu. In the first image, you can see that I have been sure to include those twisting tree branches in the top of my frame, which help to keep the viewers eye pinned on my subject; the stunning waterfall. In the second photograph, I got down low to find a subtle leading line and natural path through the rocks to lead the viewer towards the waterfall, also making sure that I included those lime green spring leaves to add to the overall balance and story of the image.
If you cross the road after you have made your way back along the footpath from Rhaeadr Ddu, you’ll find yourself the most beautiful stretch of river that is lined with trees and peppered with rocky boulders. It might appear to you, as it does to me, to be yet another one of the pictures from Tolkien’s imagination, and it would be easy to sit and picture a herd of horses charging up the valley. You might want to break out your camera and tripod to grab a quick photograph before they do though. There are opportunities to attach your wide angle lens and get closer to some of the rocks, or use a mid range telephoto as I did here to scope out a segment of the river.
This stretch of river is best viewed in the morning, as the sun will rise over the hill to the east. My intuition tells me that late autumn and early spring could be a wonderful time to visit, as the sun will rise a little further round the hillside, providing you with some lower and, therefore, softer light for your photographs. This will also mean that the leaves are beautifully backlit, adding to that sense of dreamlike magic that Wales often provides.
A little further along the A470 in Ganllwyd is something of a hidden gem here in Wales. The Coed y Brenin forest boasts a number of waterfalls and if you’re willing to become a little bit more curious, then you might just discover something special like I did when I stumbled upon Pistyll Cain one winters’ afternoon. The waterfall is hiding away somewhere around a mile or so upriver from the Afon Mawddach. Here you can see a photograph from one wet and wild afternoon on which the wind was blowing the waterfall back up the gorge into which it falls.
St. Mary’s Vale & Sugar loaf - Abergavenny, Black Mountains
Tucked away in a quiet corner beneath the distinctive summit of the Sugarloaf, is a hidden world of twisting oaks and forgotten silver birch trees. The unforgettable St. Mary’s Vale is nestled away somewhere between the ridges of the Llanwenarth and Rholben hills. On one side of the valley, ancient oaks hang onto its’ steep sides, and silver birch pepper the ground too. On the other side of the Nant (stream) Iago, an ancient beech forest stands elegantly on the banks of the valley, and one step into here might make you feel like you have wandered into Lothlorien.
Maps of this small area around the Black Mountains show promise of plenty more native, deciduous woodland, and this is one part of the country that I am dying to explore more often. If photographing trees is your thing, then you can’t look far past the beautiful St. Mary’s Vale and surrounding areas in the south of Wales.
Once the morning mist has dissipated, be sure to wander along the footpath that winds between the ancient trees, which will lead you to the top of the unmistakeable Sugar Loaf; a 596m hill that is the southernmost of the summits making up the Black Mountains. From this hilltop, you’ll be treated to one of the finest views in south Wales, looking right out over the River Usk to the south, and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) to the west.
With this being Wales, you’re almost guaranteed to face some dynamic weather conditions, no matter when you visit, so be prepared with a variety of clothing choices, and also ensure that you have your camera at the ready because you might just witness a passing snow and hailstorm, and glorious, lateral light like I did in the photograph down below.
Moel Y Golfa - Mid Wales
Standing at 403m, it would be very easy to bypass this humble hilltop as you cross the England/Wales border to make your way towards some of the more popular spots in mid Wales, such as Lake Vyrnwy and Elan Valley. Many locals even often overlook this hilltop in favour of its’ neighbour; Rodney’s Pillar, of which, due to decades of quarrying, stands out in the landscape like a sore thumb from the west. Moel Y Golfa has been left relatively untouched by humans, bar the monument known by us from around the local area as ‘Gypsy’s Monument’. Atop the hill, you’ll be treated to some spectacular views of the Berwyn Mountains and even as far as Eryri/ Snowdonia out to the west. From experience, sunset is by far the best time to explore this landscape, and lateral light interacts beautifully with the unique rock formations on the summit. In summer, splashes of pink and purple paint the ground, in the form of heather which flourishes up here overlooking the mid Wales savannah.
Photography Tip:
Attach your wide angle lens and point it towards the ground up here to create some beautiful depth in your photographs. The rock formations on the ground are far too interesting and captivating to leave out. Look out for the lateral light at sunrise or sunset to add depth and natural contrast to your images.
You’ll want to come equipped with your telephoto lens if you are hiking to the summit of Moel Y Golfa as there is a terrific meander in the river Severn down below, which beautifully demonstrates how the river has formed over millenia and eroded through the landscape. Here in mid Wales, if you didn’t already know, we have an abundance of glorious oak trees that stand proudly in the fields and meadows. With a long enough lens, you’ll be perfectly placed to scope some of them out for those lone tree photographs that every photographer loves. Happy sniping folks.
Cors Bodgynydd & Llyn Bodgynydd - Eryri/ Snowdonia National Park
There are no fun stories of myths and legends around here, and that’s great because it means that it’s one of the lesser known spots here in Eryri/ Snowdonia. Maybe it will give you an opportunity to write your own story for the history books. The tree-line pathway below certainly looks as though it belongs in a fantasy story, don’t you think? I’ve had many relaxing mornings around this beautiful area over the past few years.
The sun sets beyond the Carneddau mountain range that provides the perfect backdrop for any landscape photographer. I love this location because it offers something different to your usual Snowdonia landscape. It isn’t exactly grand or epic like you might expect from the area, and instead offers plenty of poetic charm, similar to what you might see in a 19th century oil painting. The colours throughout the autumn months are truly spectacular, with an abundance of silver birch trees lining the outskirts of the lake, and colourful grasses and plants emerging from the water.
There is plenty of diversity to photograph in many different styles, with the mountainous backdrops allowing you to shoot wide and capture the whole scene, and the variety of tree species and plants giving you the option to break out a long lens and capture something a little more intimate.
Follow the footpath around the edge of Cors Bodgynydd and you’ll uncover something of a hidden gem called Llyn Bodgynydd, which provides this sensational view of Moel Siabod. Mornings are by far the best time to photograph this glorious location, with mists regularly shrouding the lake through the spring and autumn months.
Cnicht & Croesor - Eryri/ Snowdonia National Park
Standing proudly in isolation among the Moelwynion mountains, is Cnicht, often known as ‘The Welsh Matterhorn’, for its’ beautifully formed pyramidal structure when viewed from certain angles. Its’ name, Anglo-Saxon for ‘knight’ was given to it by medieval sailors who likened it to the shape of a 14th century knights helmet after they viewed it from the sea to the west, similar to the view that I had when creating the photograph down below in the summer of 2021.
Cnicht is one of the lesser photographed mountains in Snowdonia, and that’s absolutely fine with me. I love the challenge of finding unique and interesting photographs of the national park, and this area around Croesor and Nantmor offers plenty. To my eye, there aren’t many more perfectly shaped mountains in Snowdonia and I am very much looking forward to including it in my photography portfolio moving forwards. There are some spectacular patches of woodland around here, and I recommend that you lace up your walking boots and follow your nose on the hunt for your own unique compositions.
That is all for now in my latest photography location guide to Wales. I hope you have taken something away with you, and are feeling inspired to get out there in the landscape; to connect and create. Wales is a land that holds plenty of promise for photographs and stories and I hope that you enjoy creating yours. As you can tell by reading this, Wales has provided me with enough inspiration to last a lifetime, and I am sure that it will offer plenty more for me yet. As always; stay connected and creative, be curious, and go wherever your heart is leading you. It won’t often lead you wrong.
If you like the locations in this guide, and are feeling inspired, then perhaps you might like to purchase my top 40 photography locations in Wales bundle down below, which will grant you access to my Google Maps saved pins, as well as a short eBook guide and some of my favourite hiking routes that are downloadable on the OS Maps app.
Get access to the locations of my top 40 favourite photography spots in Wales, mainly covering Eryri/ Snowdonia national park and mid Wales.
This download includes:
Access to a PDF eBook guide that contains a detailed description of many of the locations
Access to the KML Map data for all locations and instructions on how to install onto your Google Maps.
GPX file download containing routes for some of my favourite hikes in Wales, and instructions on how to install to OS maps mobile app.
Lifetime access, meaning I’ll email you whenever I update the map or eBook with new locations.
Please note that these downloads and links are for you personal use only. Please do not share as I have spent a lot of time and effort creating them.
The Best of 2021: My Year in Photographs
Photos and short stories from some memorable photography trips. An entire years worth of photographs broken down into 7 categories.
There is no doubt that 2021 will go down in history in my life as a landscape photographer. I walked innocently into some of Wales’ most beautiful and ancient woodlands, yielding my Stanley flask filled with coffee, the Lord of the Rings trilogy and my Canon 5D IV. As I closed The Fellowship of the Ring for the last time, mounted my flask back into the side pocket of my bag and withdrew my camera, my hands rose to the heavens as beams of soft, golden light shone down on me through the canopy. It was an enlightening moment in my photography journey so far.
‘Awaken the Great Oaks’
1. Winter Woodland, Powis Castle, Welshpool
Local lockdown forced me to look deeper in to my home land for photos once again as I could no longer travel out to my favourite National Park; Snowdonia. What followed, was a project that probably played the biggest role so far in changing and evolving the way that I do photography. The following is from a short article that I wrote for the Welsh Country Magazine which went alongside some of my photographs from the area that I call home:
‘How a recent conversation with my Nan may have changed the way I do photography.
As much as I love spending my time photographing some of the well-known beauty spots here in Wales, I have been finding a great deal of happiness looking for photographs that are completely unique while outdoors in nature.
I was challenged by my Nan recently (it didn’t get physical, don’t worry) as I showed her some of my travel photographs from Scotland. She was not drawn to the photographs because of their pretty colours or recognisable landmarks or pleasing compositions, as I usually am. Instead, she drew attention to some of the things that she saw within each photograph that were personal to her. My Nan saw faces where I saw rocks. She talked of stories and memories of her past which I found quite beautiful.
This got me thinking about the photographs that I have been taking over the past couple of years or so and inspired me to use my own imagination a little more when I have a camera in my hand outdoors in the landscape. I feel like the modern world has a way of taking this child-like way of thinking away from us. We are perhaps encouraged to think more practically instead of imaginatively – something that I am working hard on to rediscover.
I never thought I would be the man to stand alone in a field in the middle of the snowfall, pointing my camera at a tree but hey, life can throw curveballs every now and then. There I was, in the grounds of Powis Castle and on the hills that surround my home here in Welshpool capturing this series of winter woodland photographs that, I feel, hold some great stories within them.
All of the following photographs were taken in the grounds of Powis Castle, Welshpool unless stated otherwise.’
‘Royalty’
‘Ocean of Red’
‘The Orchestra’
‘The Enchanted Woodland’
The following tree caught my watchful eye as I took a hike onto The Golfa hill which stands between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion. In my mind, this tree was breaking rank and escaping order and it reminded me very much of myself as I made my escape from the rat race and typical 9-5 office job, or 7.30-5.30 in my case which meant that I missed every single sunrise and sunset during the winter months and in place of those, views of a computer screen and spreadsheets. At times, it felt like I was a child staring longingly out of the window for play time.
‘Breaking Free’
There is some potential for more photography on this hill and surrounding areas, with plenty of lone-standing trees and rolling, gentle hills that make for a picturesque backdrop, as shown in the photograph below.
I couldn’t believe my luck when I reached the summit of The Golfa and this snow-covered path left me with the perfect leading line into the distant rolling hills of Mid Wales and Shropshire. In my opinion, it’s one of the best ‘wide vista’ style photographs that I have captured of my homeland, timed perfectly as the last of the light sweeps across the tops of these winter trees and kisses the hills. The farthest hill to the right is Cornden Hill wearing its’ winter coat. I summited Cornden just a few weeks later for my first photo trip out into the famous Shropshire Hills. Probably a trip I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for the lockdown measures in place here in Wales. Not a part of this series, but I will share the image below as I think it is a keeper from a special year of photography.
Picturesque view of Cornden Hill from the summit of The Golfa; a hill located between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion.
Layers of rolling Shropshire Hills as seen from just below the summit of Cornden Hill.
2. Bluebell season, Mid Wales
I just couldn’t resist heading outdoors during the spring months to photograph every UK photographers favourite wildflower; the bluebell. Hayfever aside, I absolutely love spring after a very long and dark winter. This year I really knuckled down and extensively scouted a couple of areas of beautiful and elegant beech and oak woodland here in Mid Wales.
My reward? Two of the best photographs from the year, both very different in styles. The first, a high contrast photograph that’s full of emotion and concentrates on that soft, golden glow of delicate sunlight and deep, dark shadows. The second, a soft, painterly, transient photograph that focuses on composition and a blend of perfectly complimentary colours. The blue/ indigo and lime green/ yellow are complete opposites on the colour wheel and the splash of brown/ orange on the fallen branch helps to amalgamate them flawlessly.
Twenty minutes: the time it took me to tiptoe my way through the beautiful bluebells to make this photograph possible.
‘Ethereal’ - A word that people often use to describe my photography seemed fitting for this almost cinematic woodland scene.
Bluebells as far as the eye can see. I wanted to shoot something a little different to the kinds of bluebell images that I had seen plastered across social media and this scene became apparent when I’d perched up against one of my favourite great oaks to read a book and clocked a young fawn hopping through the bluebells in the distance. Sadly, the fawn was obviously camera-shy and never returned to add a touch more magic to this composition but, as stated above, I think the colours in this photograph hold enough of that on their own.
‘Springtime Beauty’
3. The Great Oaks, Powys, Mid Wales
As you can probably tell by the colours in the first image, this photograph was created in the early autumn of this year and I had to wait patiently for it. The beam of delicious, golden light burning through the delicate morning for seemed fitting to illustrate the introductory paragraph describing the enlightening moment when I discovered a love for woodland photography.
I eventually went on the hunt for this specific beautiful old oak woodland here in Mid Wales after many conversations with my ex boss, who couldn’t stop singing the praises of his favourite location. A first visit to this area in the early spring months led to the ultimate disappointment as I didn’t manage to find the woodland in which these elegant trees reside. Instead, I spent hours wandering around some boring and very mucky farmland thinking about how the journey over here was a complete waste of time. This ‘failed’ visit served as another reminder for me that no trip outdoors is a wasted one just a few weeks later when I went searching once again and wandered into this forgotten land with feelings of complete wonder on a glorious summers evening; think of Sam & Pippin entering Fangorn Forest…
Fast forward a couple more months, after many mornings, a lot of words from J.R.R Tolkien and gallons of coffee, this morning was my reward for my efforts and zen-like meditation beneath these fantastic oak trees. I had scouted this scene weeks before and had progressed to photographing it at intervals over the following visits to document changes within a woodland throughout the year. It was obvious after a few visits that a panorama was going to be needed to really get the best out of it, as there were a host of trees I wanted to include within the photograph.
Weeks and weeks of practicing, nights spent observing weather forecasts, and making minor adjustments to fine-tune the composition and finally I got my shot. I’d have been happy if this was the only image that I gathered from the morning but it was when I looked within the scene, that my jaw hit the floor and I managed to capture two other very special photographs in this series.
The photograph:
‘Awaken the Great Oaks’
The photograph within the photograph:
‘The Breaking of Morning’
The photograph within the photograph that was within the photograph:
‘Radiance’
Snowdonia National Park
You didn’t think I could leave it out did you? The place where this whole dream was born produced some mind-blowing conditions for me this year and some of the resulting photographs will live on in my memories and portfolio for a very long time. I didn’t manage to make as many trips as I would have liked to, mainly because fuel gets expensive when you’re paying for it all yourself and not using a company car! Plus, of course, I found solace in some of the woodland that is close to home and realised that I don’t need to travel an hour and a half every time I wanted to take a photograph. This only comes through evolving as a photographer, however, and I think that travelling to some popular spots to take the ‘obvious’ photographs is essential as you go through your learning process. For me, I became very frustrated as I observed myself struggling to think too far outside of the box. I desired to be somewhat original and I believe that some of the following photographs are very much that. I’m sure that I’ll look back at this series of images one day and say ‘yeah, those are the ones that made me and helped to form my vision’.
I managed to find some beautiful hidden corners of Snowdonia thanks to a recommendation from a follower on Instagram (thanks, Elen!) who told me that the Trefriw area and the Gwydir Forest was a treasure island waiting to be explored. I finally left my comfort zone of the Ogwen Valley and plotted an 8 mile hike through the Gwydir forest and around Llyn Geirionydd. The lake itself was a haven for tourists and paddle boarders in the summer but they seemed put off by the cold weather that followed and I’ve enjoyed my visits there in recent months. Some of the surrounding areas are truly special, however, and this is where I created these photographs.
4. Out of the Morning Mist
Some of these photographs will be featuring in Outdoor Photography magazine in late January as I have written an article containing some of the best photography locations in Snowdonia. The first photograph is one that I can’t think of a name for just yet. It just screams ‘WILDERNESS’ and means an awful lot to myself in what has been a tough first year freelancing and year in general in fact, as I couldn’t help but pay attention to some of the things that have been going on in this world. My visits to this lake grounded me, reminded me of what’s important in life and provided something of a safe haven from lots of things that I can only describe as nonsense.
A gorgeous congregation of wild looking silver birch trees beside this misty lake in Snowdonia.
‘A Hiding Place’
‘Unwavered’
‘Enlightened’
5. A Timeless Welsh Woodland Scene - ‘Eden’ & Others
This is a scene that I’ll be returning to time and time and time again. There isn’t a trace of human here and it feels like something of a sanctuary in this modern, forever evolving and increasingly digital world. I’ve never felt more at peace anywhere than I do in here. I would say that this woodland probably looked very similar a couple of hundred years ago. Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to document some of the minor changes over my own lifetime. I have had a little dream to photograph it every morning through the course of a year and create a time-lapse of the seasonal changes. At the moment, I’m managing one photograph every few weeks and here is the series of images that I have been able to produce so far.
There is one photo of the scene that I just can’t stop imagining; a cold, frosty and foggy late autumn morning with a delicate sprinkling of snow on the branches and golden light burning through the fog behind the ancient silver birch trees. It might take me a lifetime, but I’m determined to capture it. Maybe this is why people get into painting instead!
6. On the Periphery - Snowdonias’ Mountains
It’s not been a year of great heights, physically speaking. I can count the number of mountains summited on one hand, instead I’ve preferred to spend my year amongst the trees and enjoying the views of mountains from lower ground. The views from the tops of mountains are wonderful of course and I follow some great photographers that tell their own stories from the summits but the challenge of engaging an audiences imagination is what interested me this year and I hoped to invoke feelings of awe and wonder in my viewers. Here are two of the standout mountain photographs from 2021 from low ground and one different view of the infamous Tryfan from a rare hike up to some higher ground.
7. Mystical Morning in The Black Mountains, South Wales
Beautiful. Magical. Mystical. Enchanting are just some of the words that I use to describe a special day in the Black Mountain region of South Wales. Situated just on the periphery of the Brecon Beacons, it’s an area that I very rarely venture to. That will be changing in the future. This trip pretty much rounded off 2021 and what a way to do so!
I had only visited the woodland once previously and that was two weeks earlier where I finally met up with a fellow photographer @nutsnath after many conversations about photography and life online. We cooked sausages, egg and mushrooms on my portable stove, hiked through some of these gnarly and twisted oak trees, silver birch and beeches to summit Sugarloaf on which we were battered by a snowstorm, 40+mph winds and rain for what was a memorable adventure.
Photo-wise, that trip didn’t produce many rewards for myself but it gave me a glimpse of what this magnificent area had to offer. Only when I returned two weeks later, after keeping an eye on the weather forecast avidly, did the woodland bear it fruits. I blasted some music and made the hour and a half drive south, through patches of heavy fog. With the full moon escorting me, I just had the feeling that everything was aligning for me. It almost felt as though my whole year spent practicing woodland photography had equipped me with the skills to make the most of this one day on which the fog just didn’t seem to go away. Maybe this was my final reward for a year of hard work, patience, persistency and consistency…
Medusas’ Gathering - a composition that I’d scouted two weeks prior. This meant that I was in prime position to take advantage of the conditions when they struck. Preparation in photography is crucial.
As I explored the first area of woodland during the initial hour of the morning, I noticed that there was very little potential for photos as most of the more interesting trees were higher up the hill. The fog was staying low in this part of the valley and my intuition told me to make a move over to the other side of the valley. I’ll say one thing on this… Always trust your gut!
After the short drive, I tightened up my walking boots, climbed a small hill and, finally, waded into some thick fog which lifted occasionally and very briefly while I gathered myself, only for it to drift back in over the rolling hills to engulf me and the trees once again.
‘Marching Orders’
The sun circled in its’ low, winter arc and its’ golden rays were diffused by the fog to produce this gorgeous, ethereal light. It was a photographers dream day and I’m not sure I’ll have many better ones for quite some time.
‘Ephemeral’
‘A Light in the Darkness’
Woodlands hold many stories if you allow your imagination to wander off. I spent a while with this congregation of beeches which appeared to me like a scene from Game of Thrones!
Photographically, it’s been a real year to remember and has produced so many images that will live on in my portfolio for a long time. If you liked this, maybe you would enjoy reading A Year Amongst Trees; a blog containing some of my thoughts and feelings about this year and my journey into photography in general.
If you would like to purchase any of my work as a print, many of these have been added to this years fine art print collection.
Thank you for showing interest in my work and the support that you have offered over the past year. I’ve had many great conversations with people in my emails, Instagram messages and many other platforms that I use. On some occasions, I’ve found that the conversations have kept me going through difficult times. It really helps to feel like what I do is for a bigger purpose than simply for my own gain. I’m looking forward to taking you all along with me as I continue this journey in 2022.
Brad
A YEAR AMONGST TREES
Snowdonia, North Wales: A Magical Place For Landscape Photography
Photography, mountains, legendary giants and Excalibur are just a few topics that I discuss in this blog post.
Brad Carr taking a photograph of the Glyderau mountains at sunrise from Pen yr Ole Wen.
Introduction
Have I reached heaven? Not quite, it’s Snowdonia National Park in north Wales and it’s an absolute paradise for landscape photography.
An 827 square mile area that attracted 4.48 million people in 2018. It contains 9 mountain ranges, 1,497 miles of footpaths, 250 lakes, 23 miles of beautiful coastline, numerous spectacular waterfalls and whatever else you care to imagine. That’s not to mention the many stories and legends that are tied to the area. Rumour has it that one of 3 of Snowdonia’s lakes; Llyn Dinas, Llyn Llydaw or Llyn Ogwen contains King Arthur’s Excalibur.
A view from the Snowdon summit; sunrise paints the landscape in Snowdonia National Park
The name ‘Snowdonia’ derives from the tallest mountain in the park and the highest point in the United Kingdom, outside of the Scottish highlands; the great mountain of Snowdon. In Welsh, the area translates as ‘Eryri’ (Eh-ruh-ri) which, as some recent evidence suggests, is related to the Latin ‘oriri’ (to rise). Talking of which, while standing on top of Snowdon, you will have risen a whopping 1,085m.
You certainly won’t struggle for things to do around Snowdonia. A popular place for hikers, climbers, wild swimmers, cyclists, stand up paddle boarders, you name it and Snowdonia will probably have it. It is one of three national parks in Wales and has been like a second home for me and my camera over the last 3 years. I have spent many a weekend wandering around its’ lakes (‘lake’ reads ‘llyn’ in Welsh) and over the countless mountains that the park has to offer, sometimes forgetting that I actually have a life outside of my walking boots too.
Once you’ve visited this magnificent part of north Wales enough times, those famous roadside signs that you’ll see dotted around the country as you enter into this area of tranquil beauty, will begin to hold a new power. Every time you pass, a new memory of ‘that time wild camping’ will bring with it a special feeling of nostalgia or the Welsh word ‘hiraeth’ as is commonly quoted across social media pages within Welsh communities. It’s a feeling that can’t quite be explained except by the words on Wikipedia, ‘a deep and irrational bond felt with a time, era, place or person.’ Whatever it is, I’m certainly missing it as I write this while heading towards the 3 month mark on our lockdown here in Wales.
Always remember that if you do decide to visit, the locations that I write about come with many dangers of their own and they are not to be taken lightly. Humans are nothing when matched against the sheer power of nature and we must respect it at all times. Snowdonia is home to some of the wettest spots in the country, so be sure to pack sensibly, especially if you’re planning to hike into the mountains. The weather is unpredictable, to say the least and can change in an instant around the park. I’ve been on top of mountains where the visibility has been perfect one minute, only for me to blink and find myself surrounded by fog or being pummelled with a sudden downpour of torrential rain.
The following list has been compiled with the aim of inspiring you to visit a part of the world that has become a second home to me over the past few years. I often run out of words to describe the possibilities and magic that Snowdonia holds, which is why it is much easier to let photographs do the talking. Hopefully a combination of my attempt at both in what follows will do it justice.
Llyn Ogwen
This fantastic ribbon lake is situated alongside the A5 in the Ogwen valley between two of Snowdonia’s finest mountain ranges; the Carneddau, where you’ll find the mountains of Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Llewelyn and Yr Elen, and the Glyderau, containing the famous mountains of Tryfan, Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach, the two latter being from where the name ‘Glyderau’ derives. The 78 acre lake offers some of the finest mountain views in the whole of Wales. It is the view on the west side of the lake, closest to Pont Pen-y-Benglog, which is probably the most famous. It’s from here that you can’t help but marvel in the beauty of Snowdonia as you cast your eye beyond the Llyn Ogwen boathouse towards the north face of Tryfan and away from the Ogwen valley. This is an absolute must on your Snowdonia itinerary.
You’ll want to have a good pair of walking boots with you because from Llyn Ogwen, you’re spoilt for choice for with hiking routes taking you in any which way you desire. There is a fantastic little circular walk that I discovered last year which will take you north from the boathouse on the path that runs alongside the A5 towards Bangor. You’ll cross Pont Pen-y-Benglog and walk for a couple of miles at the foot of Pen yr Ole Wen until you reach the Ogwen bunkhouse, at which point there is a footpath that crosses some vast and rugged farmland to the other side of the Nant Ffrancon valley. If you’re lucky, you might even see some of the magical and wild Carneddau ponies that have wandered the landscape for hundreds of years as you cross this land. If you’re unlucky, it might be rain season and you’ll find yourself battling through knee deep mud!
A beautiful old stone wall and narrow, uneven lane that is just oozing history will guide you for part of the way back along your return journey as you make your way up the valley. I’m always left wondering just how many other people have walked along this lane, marvelling at the natural beauty that surrounds them. What was life like here once upon a time and how long have these man-made features been a part of this landscape? The mountains would laugh of course and scoff, ‘no where near the length of time that we have been here!’ These lanes around Snowdonia make for some fantastic photography opportunities. There is just something very magical about a road that leads into some distant mountains.
Talking of mountains, you’ll be walking beneath some giants on your return journey, with Carnedd y Filiast, Mynydd Perfedd and Foel Goch forming the mountainous wall alongside which you’ll hike. Why not stop at Pont Pen-y-Benglog at the end of your journey to grab yourself a photograph of the wonderful Rhaeadr Ogwen, the point at which the Afon Ogwen falls into the lower part of the Ogwen valley; Nant Ffrancon.
The elements all combine to give plenty of photographic opportunities here, with lots of features providing you with an array of interesting focal points. You’ll have trees, mountains, moving water, varying seasonal colour and, on the right day, changing light, which should ensure that you have maximum opportunity to capture something unique from this special part of north Wales. You can try to use the landscape to your advantage to look for subtle frames and leading lines, this environment will provide you with plenty of both.
2. Llyn Idwal
I couldn’t write a guide about landscape photography in Snowdonia without including this wonderful lake that is situated beneath the Glyderau mountain range. I have spent many a day just wandering around the calming waters of Llyn Idwal with no real direction or purpose in mind, except maybe the purpose of getting lost beneath a formation of rock that is commonly known as ‘The Devil’s Kitchen,’ which you will find at the south side of this small but mighty 28 acre lake. This legendary and unmistakeable dark black crack is a feature that is simply known as ‘Twll Du’ which translates as ‘Black Hole’ and splits the rock of Clogwyn y Geifr (Cliff of the Goat) between Y Garn and Glyder Fawr.
The lake itself is synonymous with medieval folklore legend. It is named after Prince Idwal Foel. As legend has it, Idwal was the son of the 12th century prince Owain Gwynedd. Idwal was a bright and beautiful child but didn’t have the makings of a warrior like his father, and so was sent away to the safe haven of his uncle Nefydd’s home, while Owain was at war. Nefydd was a jealous man and didn’t appreciate how his own son, Rhun, appeared witless, dull and without charm in comparison to his nephew. Unable to live with the bitterness that consumed him, he took the boys for a walk around the lake. From the paths around the very Llyn Idwal that we see today, Nefydd pushed Idwal into the waters. Without the physical abilities to match up to his intellect, Idwal drowned while his uncle and nephew stood beside the lake laughing. Owain, when returning from war was, of course, devastated and proceeded to banish Nefydd from his lands before naming the lake after his son in order to carry on his memory. The largest glacial moraine within Cwm Idwal is known as Bedd y Cawr (Giant's Grave). It is in here that Idwal was supposedly buried, with his spirit guarding the lake from any further tragedies.
You’ll probably want to keep one eye over your shoulder as you approach the lake from the visitor centre at the magnificent mountain, Tryfan, who’s ridge-like east face looks both spectacular and a little intimidating at the same time. Check out the photo below which was taken during a summers day in Snowdonia, where the small figure of a human provides some fantastic scale in this epic and dramatic landscape.
On the north of Llyn Idwal lies the seventh highest mountain in Wales; Pen yr Ole Wen, which belongs to the Carneddau mountain range and at 978m, it measures the same height as Scafell Pike, the highest point in England. Following the path to the south side of the lake as you approach along the main path from the Ogwen Visitor Centre will carry you above the lake for a fantastic view of Llyn Idwal and Pen yr Ole Wen, a scene which wouldn’t look out of place in a fantasy film.
While hiking along this route you will pass the unmistakeable Idwal slabs, a paradise for climbers containing many routes, one of which is known in the climbing world as ‘Suicide Wall’. The slabs can make for some great photographs that show the impressive geology in Snowdonia. In places like this, I often find that it’s important to show the sheer scale of the landscape too, something that I feel the photograph below does very well.
Research shows that the igneous rocks at Cwm Idwal were formed during the Ordovician period, around 450 million years ago. In 1831, Charles Darwin visited the area to carry out a study on the scattered rocks and boulders at Llyn Idwal which he determined contained marine seashells and fossils of sea creatures and plant life. He then came to the conclusion that the rocks must have formed within an ancient ocean and were therefore, the rocks that lay on the bed of the lapetus Ocean. This study went on to become a part of his famous publication, ‘On the Origin of Species’, a piece of work that is widely acknowledged to be the foundation of evolutionary biology.
Can you spot the trio of climbers ascending the Idwal Slabs in Snowdonia?
Follow the path on the south side of Llyn Idwal and you’ll eventually be faced with two choices; play it safe and stay low to continue your walk around the lake, or choose the adventurous route and navigate your way over rocks, clamber over boulders and manipulate yourself through cracks while attempting to follow a loosely identifiable path up into the Devil’s Kitchen, for what could be one of your most memorable hikes to the summit of my next location.
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3. Y Garn
Forming a part of the Glyderau mountain range in Snowdonia is the impressive peak of Y Garn which stands just shy of the 1,000m mark at 947m, making it the tenth highest mountain in Wales. Still, it’s tall enough to be classed among the Welsh 3000’s, meaning that it’s one of 15 summits in Wales measuring over 3,000ft.
Y Garn is difficult to miss as you drive along the A5 through the Ogwen valley from Capel Curig. It is the fearsome wall-like structure that takes the shape of an arm chair straight ahead as you approach the Ogwen visitor centre. It is from the summit of this mountain that I have enjoyed some of my finest days of landscape photography so far. On a clear day, you’ll see miles upon miles of the fabulous north Wales landscape. The view to the east from up here has to be among the best in the area on a clear day and makes for a truly spectacular sunrise photograph, as you’ll have golden sunlight just pouring into the Ogwen valley. In the opposite direction, breath-taking views of the Irish sea and Anglesey await.
I like to try to find some interesting foreground elements in my photography, in order to give my images that extra depth and perhaps try to provide the eye with something to follow. Ideally, I’d arrive at my location a little while before the sunrises in order to scout out potential photographic opportunities. On this occasion, I was running a little late and didn’t have time to set up properly. However, I still managed to take this handheld photo with some interesting rocks that catch some of the first light of the morning in the foreground.
There are no end to potential compositions on the summit of, and on the routes up to Y Garn. Keep an eye out for any natural elements that could help to tell more of a story of the landscape and get to know what recognisable features need to be included in your photograph. This is where your research and location scouting will come in handy. In the photograph above, I’ve been sure to include Pen yr Ole Wen, Tryfan, Llyn Ogwen and Llyn Idwal.
The summit of the mountain can be accessed via many different paths, the route via the Devil’s Kitchen and the east facing ascent will require a reasonable level of fitness to complete. They both form the circular route that I highly recommend and ascending the mountain in either direction will probably take you between 1-2 hours, depending on your experience and general fitness levels. There are, of course, some fantastic places to stop for a brew along your route.
As I specified earlier in this post, make sure that you have done your research about the weather conditions in the area and up high on the mountain tops. They can change very quickly. It’s vital that you know just what to expect and always be prepared that what you expect, might not even be what Mother Nature has in store for you. Winds can, and probably will, be stronger up high. Rain can, and probably will, be much heavier up high. And guess what.. If it’s cold down low, it’s probably a whole lot colder up there. Pack sensibly, tell somebody where you are going (especially if you’re going solo) and know both your route and your limits.
4. GANLLWYD & Rhaeadr Ddu
This beautifully quaint little waterfall in the southern region of Snowdonia translates as ‘Black Falls’ due to the appearance of the black stone over which the two-tiered waterfall descends. The short walk from Ganllwyd will lead you along a path next to which the Afon Gamlan runs through the Coed Ganllwyd National Nature Reserve. You’ll walk for no more than a mile, at which point you’ll be transported into a real life fairy-tale, surrounded by some ancient oak trees, with the sound of the ever-changing waterfall for company. Visiting through different seasons will bring with it new conditions, as the water levels can change rapidly depending on rainfall in the area and surrounding mountains.
My favourite time to visit this fantastic and somewhat, underrated location has to be through the autumn. I was lucky enough to capture the photographs below during the peak autumn weeks in 2020 when the colours were at their vibrant best.
Waterfalls tend to look at their most spectacular after a few days of heavy rain, which does make for some great photographs. However, I prefer to shoot them when the conditions are a little calmer due to the look and feel that I tend to like in my photographs. My style reflects the more calming and peaceful moments as opposed to any chaos and drama. Perhaps this is how I feel when I’m outdoors in nature and therefore that is how I like my viewer to feel when looking through my portfolio.
I think that it’s very important to try to gain an understanding of yourself and some level of self-awareness as you progress through your photography journey. Spending time in beautiful places like this should make self-reflection incredibly easy, giving you plenty of time to think about the stories that you’d like to tell through your photography.
When photographing waterfalls, it might be worth attaching a circular polarising filter (CPL) to your lens. There are many places that CPL’s will work wonders for your photography but none will be transformed quite like an autumnal waterfall scene, where the effects of twisting the filter to your likening will bring out those beautifully vibrant orange, yellow and red colour tones and reduce the glare on the surface of the water, helping to add depth and mood to your image.
I have another blog containing Ten Top Tips for Landscape Photography.
I like to keep my eye out for natural frames in the scene when photographing waterfalls like Rhaeadr Ddu. In the first image, you can see that I have been sure to include those twisting tree branches in the top of my frame, which help to keep the viewers eye pinned on my subject; the stunning waterfall.. In the second photograph, I got down low to find a subtle leading line and natural path through the rocks to lead the viewer towards the waterfall, also making sure that I included those lime green spring leaves to add to the overall balance and story of the image.
Waterfalls have to be up there among my favourite things to photograph. There is nothing quite like the feelings of your excitement building as you hear the sound of the crashing water gradually getting louder as you approach. This little gem in Ganllwyd provides some really special ancient woodland with moss covered trunks and dry stone walls too, all of those will make for some fantastic subjects to photograph aside from the waterfall itself.
You’ll probably want to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife while you’re here too. The distinctive Welsh woodland migrant, the pied flycatcher makes these ancient trees home and throughout the summer it can be seen along with a host of other woodland birds. While I was photographing away, one passer-by told me to keep my eyes peeled for the unique diving and underwater swimming bird; the dipper.
5. Snowdon
Last but certainly not least in my list of the best places for landscape photography in Snowdonia, a place that simply could not be left off any such list just has to go to the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom, outside of the Scottish highlands; Snowdon. After all, over 600,000 people flock to Snowdonia to take on this fantastic mountain and hike along one of its’ 6 unique and interesting routes every single year hoping to enjoy some of the most spectacular views in the whole country. On a clear day, you can see England, the Isle of Man, Ireland and apparently, even Scotland (if you believe some stories on the Internet). From the summit, some of the things you’ll see include; 24 counties, 29 lakes and 17 islands, while also catching views of the mountains in the Peak District and south Pennines. Binoculars would be a great idea if you are planning on heading up.
The routes range in difficulty with the easiest being the long and gradual climb from the village of Llanberis which will take you alongside the train track on the west face of the mountain. The most difficult route up to the summit, is along the legendary ridge of Crib Goch. Though climbing it is an exhilarating experience, it’s probably a little risky to be setting up your tripod for photographs along the ridge where several people have fatally fallen over the years. My favourite path for photography would have to be the miners track which begins in the Pen-y-Pass car park and proceeds to lead you up to the summit via the two beautiful lakes beneath Snowdon; Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn, the latter of which you can see in my photograph below as the last light of the day kissed the south face of Y Lliwedd.
The English name for Snowdon derives from the Saxon ‘snow dune’, which means snow hill. Snow is not uncommon on the mountain and has even been seen as late as June in previous years. The two lakes named ‘Llynnau Mymbyr’ that you’ll see in the Dyffryn Mymbyr, the valley as you leave Capel Curig en route to Snowdon, provide the perfect place to photograph the mountain range that is commonly known as the Snowdon Massif. The range is made up of Garnedd Ugain (right), Crib Goch (central), Snowdon (left) and Y Lliwedd, out of shot to the left in the photograph below. A circular polarising filter (CPL) could, again, be a great addition to your arsenal of gear as you photograph lakes and clouds, with the effects proving to have great results for me over the years.
The Welsh name for Snowdon is Yr Wyddfa, meaning burial mound, or grave in English. It is believed that the legendary giant Rhita Gawr was buried on the summit of mountain beneath the rocks and falling snow after being slain by King Arthur. Rhita Gawr had a reputation for killing men and claiming their beards in order to fashion himself a cloak. King Arthur was the next name on Gawr’s hitlist in yet another fantastic story of Welsh folklore. Arthur himself is rumoured to have died later on Bwlch y Saethau (Pass of the Arrows), where a cairn marks the place of his own grave. Isn’t it fantastic to imagine a great medieval battle happening in the scene below?
In Conclusion
I hope that I have done enough with my words and photographs to inspire you to visit this beautiful little corner of the world that is just steeped with history, interesting landscape and beautiful walks. There is so much more that Snowdonia has to offer and I feel as though I have only just scratched the surface myself over the 3 years that I’ve been exploring this land. As I wrote earlier in this blog, Snowdonia National Park contains nearly 1,500 miles of footpaths and I’ve probably only covered around 3% of those here.
I’ll also urge you to do some more reading and undergo some of your own research about some of these fantastic places that we are lucky enough to be able to visit during our lifetimes here on Earth. The stories that I have shared have added a whole new meaning to this wonderful place for me and I’ll feel like I’m entering a new land once again when I return.
Now, it’s probably wise that you grab yourself a map and get out there to write your own stories about the magical land of giants, kings and dragons.
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Sources used throughout this article include:
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/GeositesCwmIdwal
https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/ogwen/cwm-idwal/the-making-of-cwm-idwal#:~:text=The%20deposits%20and%20igneous%20rocks,of%20dust%2C%20ash%20and%20lava.
https://www.thecrag.com/en/climbing/united-kingdom/snowdonia/idwal-slabs-and-walls
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carneddau-and-glyderau/features/tales-of-cwm-idwal
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carneddau-and-glyderau/features/darwin-discoveries-at-cwm-idwal
https://www.visitwales.com/en-us/attraction/nature-or-wildlife/coed-ganllwyd-nature-reserve-928248
https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/myths-and-legends
Winter Woodland Photography in Mid Wales
A recent series of winter woodland photographs that I submitted to feature in the Welsh Country Magazine.
How a recent conversation with my Nan may have changed the way I do photography.
As much as I love spending my time photographing some of the well-known beauty spots here in Wales, I have been finding a great deal of happiness looking for photographs that are completely unique while outdoors in nature.
I was challenged by my Nan recently (it didn’t get physical, don’t worry) as I showed her some of my travel photographs from Scotland. She was not drawn to the photographs because of their pretty colours or recognisable landmarks or pleasing compositions, as I usually am. Instead, she drew attention to some of the things that she saw within each photograph that were personal to her. My Nan saw faces where I saw rocks. She talked of stories and memories of her past which I found quite beautiful.
This got me thinking about the photographs that I have been taking over the past couple of years or so and inspired me to use my own imagination a little more when I have a camera in my hand outdoors in the landscape. I feel like the modern world has a way of taking this child-like way of thinking away from us, we are perhaps encouraged to think more practically instead of imaginatively – something that I am working hard on to rediscover.
I never thought I would be the man to stand alone in a field in the middle of the snowfall, pointing my camera at a tree but hey, life can throw curveballs every now and then. There I was, in the grounds of Powis Castle and on the hills that surround my home here in Welshpool capturing this series of winter woodland photographs that, I feel, hold some great stories within them.
All of the following photographs were taken in the grounds of Powis Castle, Welshpool unless stated otherwise.
10 Places to Visit in Wales for Landscape Photography
Are you looking for new places to explore and take photographs in Wales?
Well, look no further..
I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 places to photograph in Wales here…
Having spent the last 8 (it feels like 800) weeks in lockdown, my little brain can’t help but wander off in one of its regular photography daydreams. I’ve been thinking about all of the beautiful places in Wales that I am going to visit for landscape photography when this wretched coronavirus eventually surrenders in the battle against us human beings.
I wanted to share them with you so I’m going to run you through a list of my top 10 places to visit in Wales along with some of my favourite photographs from each location.
The 10 beauty spots I cover:
Point of Ayr Lighthouse, Talacre, North Wales
Llyn Nantlle Uchaf, Snowdonia, North Wales
Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia, North Wales
Snowdon, North Wales
Llyn y Fan Fach, Brecon Beacons, South Wales
Pen y Fan & Corn Du, Brecon Beacons, South Wales
Hafren Forest, Llanidloes, Mid Wales
Pistyll Rhaeadr, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Mid Wales
Lake Vyrnwy, Mid Wales
Fairy Glen Gorge, Snowdonia, North Wales
Plus one bonus location which I felt the need to share with you after spending 90% of my time there over the last few months. Read through to the end to find out more.
Important
Before travelling, please see the latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government here.
THE LOCATIONS
Point of Ayr Lighthouse, Talacre, North Wales
First up, a place that has produced some of my favourite photographs in my landscape photography journey so far. A beach that I think is underrated when it comes to locations on the Welsh coastline and places to visit in Wales in general. If history is your thing, then you may want to spend some time exploring the dunes as the area was used by the armed forces as an aircraft firing range during the Second World War. If you’re more interested in the supernatural world, then you’ll probably enjoy the numerous stories of ghostly sightings around the beach, with some people claiming to have seen a figure wearing old fashioned lighthouse keeper clothes standing in front of the abandoned lighthouse.
What can you expect?
Golden sands
Boardwalks and impressive sand dunes
Long stretches of coastline to walk
High tides making the beach inaccessible
Beautiful sunsets
Be sure to do your tide time research as you can very quickly run out of beach to sunbathe on!
2. Llyn Nantlle Uchaf, Snowdonia, North Wales
Fishing boats floating on Llyn Nantlle Uchaf, Snowdonia with Nantlle Ridge visible in the background.
After visiting the beautiful Talacre, I highly doubt that you’ll be in the mood to head home. Why not follow the A55 along the North Wales coast which would take you within a few turnings of one of Wales’ most idyllic mountain lakes, Llyn Nantlle Uchaf? Pick the right day and you will be greeted by some serene conditions and reflections, like these that I experienced towards the end of 2019.
Snowdonia mountains reflected in the waters of Llyn Nantlle Uchaf.
What can you expect?
Incredible mountain roads and views to and from Llyn Nantlle Uchaf.
Peace & quiet - a perfect chance to take some time to reflect.
Potentially some very fast changing weather conditions so make sure that you’re suitably prepared.
3. Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia, North Wales
Next on your list could be a trip through the Ogwen Valley, just a stones throw from the mountain peaks of Snowdon, Moel Siabod and Crimpau. Set right in the heart of the Ogwen Valley and protected by some truly breathtaking mountains, such as Tryfan, Y Garn and Pen Yr Ole Wen, lies Llyn Idwal. The lake, or ‘Llyn’ as it reads in Welsh was named after Prince Idwal Foel who was a grandson of Rhodri Mawr, an ancient King of Wales. Legend has it that the Prince died when he was drowned in the lake, after an unsuccessful revolt against the English. Though an interesting story, this is just the stuff of legend after all and The Chronicle of the Princes of Wales records that "Idwal son of Rhodri, and his brother Elised were killed by the Saxons" in 941, which could suggest some kind of battle took place, though it doesn’t completely rule out the initial story.
Small figure of a man provides a sense of scale standing before Llyn Idwal and Devil’s Kitchen.
What can you expect?
Hiking routes in every direction. Check out the circular hike up through the Devil’s Kitchen on the south side of the lake, walk north to the summit of Y Garn where you can descend and finish your day at the south side of Llyn Idwal before heading back to the Ogwen Cafe for refreshments.
Extremely dangerous hiking conditions. Check out the storm that nearly blew the couple away in the slideshow above.
Carneddau ponies (below) sometimes wander the land. These guys are normally very friendly however, one did try to take a bite out on my friends leg once so it’s best to approach with caution, especially when they are guarding their young.
Large crowds of people. It is one of Wales’ more popular lakes and for good reason. I have been there midweek once and it was bliss.
A Carneddau pony suckling from its mother on the path to Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia.
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4. Snowdon, North Wales
Hiking to the summit of Snowdon for a sunrise is something that I think everybody should experience at least once in their lives. Just look at that for a beautiful view of a distant Moel Siabod from just beneath the summit of Snowdon (pictured above). The 360 degree views from the top of the mountain are just incredible. From here to Merrick in Southern Scotland is the longest theoretical line of sight on the British Isles at 144 miles but the chances are, you’d be doing well to see 144 metres as my experiences on Snowdon remind me.
Changing weather conditions up here sometimes call for patience in order to get the photograph that you dream of. This was my third visit to the summit, all three previous visits offered little visibility and I came back with hardly any photographs. Third time lucky don’t they say? But even on this visit, me and my friend were actually close to leaving the mountain before the cloud dispersed and the light broke through to give us that vibrant sunrise.
You’ll want to leave yourself enough time to relax and enjoy some of the beautiful views on the way down from the summit too. Around the point where the Miners Track joins the Pyg Track, you’ll be able to sit overlooking Snowdon’s higher of the two lakes, Glaslyn. This makes for a great opportunity to take photographs, with some incredible views of Glaslyn, Y Lliwedd and out across Snowdonia.
Snowdonia mountain road leading to the famous Snowdon Horseshoe.
What can you expect?
Some of the best views in the UK, maybe even the world.
Roads like the above that you’ll struggle to keep your eyes on!
Various routes to the summit. Llanberis path being the easier, steadier route and then Crib Goch for the more experienced.
Unpredictable weather conditions. You should always be prepared for the worst on hikes around Snowdonia. When you’re packing, pack with the possibility in mind that you might be stuck high up on a wet, cold mountain top for hours.
A couple of beautiful and, usually, calm lakes so take your Speedos if wild swimming is your thing.
Some of the above series of photos were taken on a weekend of camping in Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons, which leads me nicely onto my next location.
5. Llyn y Fan Fach, Brecon Beacons
View from Picws Du of the sunset, west of Llyn y Fan Fach in the Brecon Beacons.
As tourists flock in their droves to the more popular Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Corn Du, you could head west and skip over a few more of the many reservoirs in the Brecon Beacons to the Black Mountains. Here you’ll find the elegant slopes of Fan Brycheiniog and Picws Du (pictured centrally below). At the foot of Picws Du lies one of the most beautiful natural lakes that you’re likely to find here in Wales, Llyn y Fan Fach.
You’ll experience an incredible sunrise and sunset (above photograph is a spring sunset) on the right day and you can see for miles if you look over the lake from the summit of Picws Du. You’ll want to have your camera at the ready as soon as you reach the car park as the walk up to the lake provides plenty of photograph opportunities too, with a pathway and a neighbouring stream providing you with some perfect leading lines to the mountains. I have a shot in mind that gives me another reason to return to this beautiful part of the country.
Looking across Llyn y Fan Fach towards Picws Du in the Brecon Beacons.
Spectacular views over Llyn y Fan Fach of the surrounding Brecon Beacons landscape. In the distance, a golden spring sunset fades beyond the horizon.
What can you expect?
Very strong winds from the south-west on occasions.
Lack of shade meaning lots of fluids and suncream are a must.
Peace and quiet. From experience, the crowds gather at Pen y Fan so you can enjoy some alone time here.
Open views above the lake so there’s photograph opportunities in every direction.
Interested in taking better landscape photos??
You might like my recent blog post where I give away 10 top tips.
6. Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons
A snow covered Cribyn viewed from the summit of Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.
If you don’t mind the busy crowds, the 6.9 mile circular walk covering Corn Du and Pen y Fan is a spectacular one that will give you plenty of photographic opportunities. I’ve walked this route twice now and I was hoping to visit a lot more this year now I have Canon’s 70-200mm f/4 in my arsenal, as I think there is plenty of distant objects to photograph that would look great through this lens in the right weather conditions. If you want to read a little more about the camera and gear that I use when out taking photographs, you click the link below:
What can you expect?
A mostly steady hike, with only one or two steeper sections towards the top.
Great views from the top & lots of distant areas to zoom in to with a long lens.
Little shade from the sun.
It can get very windy on the summit, I had sideways snow hitting me hard in the face on one trip.
7. Hafren Forest, Llanidloes, Mid Wales
A small fern growing from the forest floor in Hafren Forest, Mid Wales.
Making our way back up north on our journey through Wales, we take a trip to one of my most photographed locations, Hafren Forest. Walk far enough through here and you’ll reach the source of the longest river in the UK, the River Severn, located on Plynlimon in the Cambrian Mountains. From the main car park at Hafren Forest, the path to the source is 7 miles long. You could get plenty of photos taken in the time taken to cover that amount of ground.
If it’s the smaller details that you like to photograph, then you’re going to want to break out the 50mm f/1.8 lens here to get in close to the details that interest you and really create those pleasing out-of-focus areas in your picture as shown above.
I’ve walked my dog here many times and she loves it. With the freedom to roam, there’s plenty of off-track places to explore and get lost. Photograph opportunities are every where you look. On sunny days you can spot breaks of sunlight falling through the pine and spruce trees.
Sunlight shines through the Hafren Forest trees.
On rainy days, soft pitter-patters will greet you as you enter the forest. You’ll be able to get close to the pines to see raindrops just moments before they make their way back to the ground. The photograph below was captured with the Canon 50mm f/1.8. If you missed my link above, you can click here to view my blog post in which I describe the gear I use.
Raindrop hangs on to the tip of a pine tree branch in Hafren Forest, Mid Wales.
If you keep an eye out in the sky, you’ll often see some Red Kite circling above. They’re not after your camera gear though so you don’t need worry. Take out the long lens here as these birds make for some awesome photographs.
Hafren Forest trees disappearing into the mist.
What can you expect?
Plenty of small details to test out your macro photography. You’ll have to think a little differently if you want to come away with some interesting and different shots. I like to regularly explore the area on my own as I find myself in a better creative zone when photographing solo.
A variety of wildlife to keep you busy. I crossed paths with Mr Fox when I was last there but didn’t have a telephoto lens then. Missing out on that photograph is what forced me hit purchase on my 70-200mm lens just a few weeks later!
Some of the most beautiful walks in nature that Wales has to offer. This place really covers it all- wildlife, trees, rivers, waterfalls, it really is hard to get bored here if you’re a photographer.
8. Pistyll Rhaeadr, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Mid Wales
Low, wide angle view of Pistyll Rhaeadr during a sunrise in Mid Wales.
Bringing me a little closer to my neck of the woods in Mid Wales now is a place often referred to as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. A waterfall that falls over 240 feet in three different stages, Pistyll Rhaeadr. The tallest section, as seen in this photograph measures a drop of 40 metres and looks so impressive after a week of heavy rainfall. Though, getting virtually in the stream, as shown above, would not be recommended during this time.
This photograph was taken just as the sun rose above the hills behind me. That can be a little later than normal here at the waterfall, I think this was a couple of hours after the sun had risen on some lower ground. I’d recommend doing some research of the area before visiting for the first time to make sure you have the best chance of getting the conditions that you want. There are some good apps out there that can really help you to predict how a landscape will look during certain times of the day. The Photographers Ephemeris comes in very handy for working out sunrise and sunset paths and played a big part in the creation of the photo above.
You’ll want to bring your hiking boots along for this one. The view from the top of the waterfall is outstanding. Be careful though, you will be stood directly above the 240 foot drop with no fence to protect you!
What can you expect?
Midges. Lots of them.
Amazing sunrises. Sunsets tend to hide behind the Berwyn mountains which is why I prefer the mornings, even if it does mean a 5am alarm clock!
Lots of wildlife. Birds, squirrels and rabbits are especially popular.
9. Lake Vyrnwy, Llanwddyn, Mid Wales
Stone straining tower overlooking Lake Vyrnwy, Mid Wales.
If you talk to any of us from Mid Wales about Lake Vyrnwy, we each probably sound like Columbus, talking like we discovered the place ourselves. It’s so easy to see why ‘The Lake’ holds such a special place in all of our hearts though, Visit Mid Wales describe it as ‘reminiscent of the Alps’. They’re not wrong are they? Surrounded by dense forests and engulfed by the hills & mountains of Mid Wales, it’s easy to let your imagination run wild here and you’ll quickly start pinching yourself to wake up. This is one of the beautiful views that awaits you at Lake Vyrnwy. See if you can find it en route to the waterfall that hides just a short walk away from the lake itself.
Photography is always extremely popular here. You can pretty much guarantee that you’ll pass a few people snapping photos as you cross the bridge upon usual entry to the lake. Did you even go to Lake Vyrnwy if you didn’t get a picture like this?
One of my favourite days out at Lake Vyrnwy was in summer 2019. Me and a friend hired a canoe from the boathouse that you can see above and spent three hours rowing around the lake, exploring some of the hidden coves that you wouldn’t normally be able to see from the road. We both came away from there with some of our favourite photographs of the year which I’ll share below.
What can you expect?
A hidden waterfall. I’d be interested to know if you manage to find it. Let me know in the comments, or message me on Instagram.
Busy crowds through the summer.
Plenty of new places to explore, with lots of walking routes around Lake Vyrnwy.
Beautiful colours - autumn is pretty special around the lake.
10. Fairy Glen Gorge, Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia
River Conwy flowing through the Fairy Glen Gorge.
For my tenth and final location in my list of places to photograph in Wales after coronavirus, I take you back to the heart of Snowdonia, just a stones throw from the popular tourist town of Betws-y-Coed, to a land where mythical spirits are said to live, The Fairy Glen Gorge.
Landscape image of the River Conwy flowing through the Fairy Glen Gorge
It’s easy to see why artists have visited this spot for centuries. As I was scouring the Internet doing my photography research about this spot in Wales, I found a painting for sale, dating back to the mid-1800’s. I don’t know what the artist did while waiting for the right light, it’s not like they could scroll through Instagram is it? You’ll probably want to do your own research in order to find the best time of day and conditions that suit the kind of photograph that you want to produce. This picture was taken in the morning, so the soft light entered through the gorge at the end of the photo and gives it some interest back there.
If you do decide to visit the Fairy Glen Gorge for some photography, beware when parking your car because the land owner is on the ball if you don’t put the right amount of money in the box upon entry. It’s £1 per person with £1 per vehicle on top. I made the mistake of thinking that it was £1 in total and she was quick to come and intercept me before I had the chance to drive away!
What can you expect?
Sadly, not fairies!
A parking charge AND a charge for entering the gorge… £2 in total.
Slippery steps when walking the final part of the route to the gorge and very slippery rocks when trying to find your vantage point for a photograph.
A variety of birds paying you a visit and keeping you company while you take your photo.
You thought that was it, right?
Well, it’s now 2021 and since I’ve been forced to explore locally for pretty much the whole of the last year. Here is a bonus location for you.
But you have to promise me that you’ll keep it between me and you.
OK?!
11. Powis Castle, Welshpool, Mid Wales
Though they are absolutely beautiful in their own right, the following photographs that I’m sharing of Powis Castle itself, aren’t the reason that I’m advising you to visit this wonderful location in my hometown of Welshpool in Mid Wales. This is of course, a landscape photography blog after all. Read on to find out the real reason that I’ve included this bonus location.
Winter 2020. The season that I’m giving all credit for me discovering my great love for taking photographs of woodland and trees. Being more specific, it is through my wanderings around the stunning grounds of Powis Castle that I discovered just how much I enjoy being alone in a field, with my camera pointed at a group of trees. I guess you could say that this is where I found myself!
Below, I’ll share with you some of my favourite woodland compositions.
Frozen trees after a night of snowfall here in Mid Wales.
‘Frozen’ is soon to be available as a limited edition fine art print. Subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page to receive an email when it’s released.
Summary
There we have it folks, a list of my ‘10 Places to Visit in Wales for Photography After Lockdown 2021’. If you’ve made it this far then I’d just like to say a massive thank you for caring about what I have to write about. Photography is something that I’ve lived and breathed for the last two and a half years so I’m really glad that you’re interested in the stories that I have to share with you from my trips around Wales.
I’d love to hear from you!
Did you have a favourite photograph from those that I’ve shared above? Are you going to visit any of the 10 places that I’ve showed you? Feel free to let me know in the comments or you can head over to Facebook and Instagram and drop me a direct message over there - I tend to be very active on Instagram which is probably the best place if you need instant communication.
If you know somebody that is looking to visit Wales then please feel free to hit the share button down below and tag them into your social media posts or send them a direct link by copying the website address and sharing it with them.
If you’re interested in my photography that has been included throughout the blog, then the next place for you to visit is linked below.
Get access to the locations of my top 40 favourite photography spots in Wales, mainly covering Eryri/ Snowdonia national park and mid Wales.
This download includes:
Access to a PDF eBook guide that contains a detailed description of many of the locations
Access to the KML Map data for all locations and instructions on how to install onto your Google Maps.
GPX file download containing routes for some of my favourite hikes in Wales, and instructions on how to install to OS maps mobile app.
Lifetime access, meaning I’ll email you whenever I update the map or eBook with new locations.
Please note that these downloads and links are for you personal use only. Please do not share as I have spent a lot of time and effort creating them.