| At least now when you travel through Wales you will know where you are going, and will be able to stay fed and watered. That then is my introduction to Wales. Please click on the links below to continue your journey, bearing in mind that the "introduction" link will always bring you back here. After all, you do want to sign my guest book, Dont you? |
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| Place names If you ever wonder what all those strange place names mean as you travel through Wales, this should help out. Abaty...Abbey Aber...River mouth Afon...River Bedd...Grave Bod...Dwelling Cae...Field Capel...Chapel Castell...Castle Dwr...Water Dinas...City/Fortress Drws...Door Eglwys...Church Fferm...Farm Ffordd...Road Gwern...Swamp Llyn...Lake Llech/Llechen...Slate Llys...Palace/Court Melin...Mill Maen/Carreg...Stone Mor...Sea Nant...Brook Neuadd...Hall Parc...Park Pentre...Village Porth...Port/Harbour Pwll...Pool Rhyd...Ford Rhaeadr...Waterfall Traeth...Beach/Shore Ynys...Island Ystrad...River Plain |
| Hi, and a warm welcome to my land. Firstly if you got here expecting a site written by an expert on Welsh history or culture, its myths and its legends, or even its facts and its fables, then I must be honest and disappoint you. I am just an ordinary run of the mill Welshman, with a love of my country, its mountains and streams, its castles and hero`s. I did not live in the times of castle building, nor did I have to fight with sword in hand for my right to be Welsh. That was given to the safekeeping of those long gone. This web site however, is my contribution to keeping its heritage alive. Apart from a minor attempt at one other web site on Wales this is still a learn as I go affair, so it may seem sparse in some places, and overdone in others, but if you bear with me, and come back now and then, I promise you will get a look at Wales through the love of a Welshman`s eyes. I will make no attempt at trying to unravel the intricate history of my land, I don`t believe that is within the realms of one mans capability. Although for those of you wishing to know more of the historical details I will try and put up relevant links to whichever part of Wales I am referring to. Now let me explain why I have tried to create a web site of this type. I have travelled the back roads of Wales for many years, and on my travels have come across many wonders. From the seemingly forgotten stones that mysteriously stand in in the fields, to the majestic castles that surround my everyday life, from the tales told of Dragons, knights and Wizards, to the heroic tales of Kings and Princess that have sometimes ruled, sometimes lost, the land I am now privileged to walk upon. I would be honoured if you could find a little time, and travel with me around the land I call home, the "Land of my Fathers", (which you can hear if you click the music button at the bottom of the page) There is so much to tell, so many things I would like you to see and share with me I hardly know where to begin such a journey, so maybe it would be best to start with a little history, (seen through a layman`s eyes)...... Wales is often mistaken for being just another part of England, or even missed out altogether on occasions. People either forget, or maybe not even know that Britain is made up of four parts, England Scotland, Ireland and Wales, all independent peoples with their own language, culture and histories, but you cant be blamed for that, even watching television in the evening and seeing how often the weather is given for just the first three gives you some idea of how widespread the mistake is. So, how did the people of Wales begin?, where did they come from?. The many Mesolithic or Middle stone age Monoliths that are scattered throughout Wales, plus the odd skeleton and bones from the caves in the Clwyd valley are dated from around c.180,000 BC. and then after a further ice age a later occupation dated around c.50,000 BC. Wherever you find yourself in Wales, north or south, you will never be far away from a stone age site. As you travel along the many country lanes you cannot help wondering at the lonely stone guardian standing watch in the field, who put it there? and for what purpose?. We know some mark grave sites, but others are a mystery, and in my eyes should forever remain so. At least while they remain a mystery your own imagination can take you on a journey to places and times unknown. One of my favourite pastimes is to sit alongside a stone age monument, at the break of dawn, and as the morning mist clears, and the sun comes up over the fields, you can almost feel the presence of those who built it. The Welsh people are descended from antiquity, from dark tempestuous Iberian seafarers who settled here over two thousand years before Christ, from the Bronze age Beaker folk who brought their skills in metal working and making pottery, and from tall blond Celts with their blue eyes and fair skin, who were driven northwards from Gaul by the Romans. Harried later by other invaders to English shores, the Celts held the mountains of Scotland and Wales, and the far distances of Cornwall and Brittany (France). With their dreams of fire and passion, their love of colour and vision, and their language, which made them a race apart, the Welsh, from an old Teutonic word meaning "foreigner" called themselves Cymry "the brotherhood". From this melting-pot, rich with legend and mysticism was born the land of Wales and the people now known as Welsh. All through the centuries English monarchs tried to conquer the land and put its people down, and the land was brought up in oppression, there are more castles per square mile in my country than in any other country in the world. In spite of the castles that loomed up, the bloodshed, the act of Parliament that stated Wales no longer existed, the Welsh refused to be conquered. If you cross the border, passed the great dyke built by King Offa of Mercia in the eighth century, which no Welshman could cross on pain of death, you can sense at once you are in a different land. Battles, sorrow and spilt blood cover nearly every inch of its soil, where the Cymry have fought to preserve the freedom of my land and the sovereignty of its princes. In spite of conformity and compromises, Wales remains free. And in mist covered mountains around my home, the figure of Arthur and his knights, or the spirit of Owain Glyndwr, hand on sword, wait to ride out once more to do battle for my country against the invaders. They listen for the call to once again take up arms in the cause of their people. In ancient days, the tales of battle would be sung around campfires telling of princes and chieftains, the bards would compose stories honouring them. So the history of Wales was chronicled and the exploits of men and their deeds passed on. Today we are more realistic, but....if we listen to the wind through the mountains, can we hear the harp singing, or imagine the flickering firelight and sparks from the torches throwing shadows in the trees. This is the rightful setting for any account of Wales and its people. This then is my contribution to keeping its history alive. |
| The Language Now just to get you started, an example of the Welsh language. It is said that all you need to speak Welsh in a bucket full of spit!, so get your buckets ready. Croeso...Welcome Bore da...Good morning Prynhawn da...Good afternoon Nos da...Good night Diolch yn Fawr...Thank you very much Os gwelwch yn da...Please Sut rydych chi...How are you Da...Good Da iawn...Very good lechyd da!...Good health! Panad o de...Cup of tea Panad o Goffi...Cup of coffee Llefrith...Milk Siwgr...Sugar Bara...Bread Bara Brith...Fruit loaf Cawl...Soup Gwin...Wine |
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| Hi , This is an old site that was used for learning. although it is a "full and finished" site and can be browsed you may wish to visit my new site which is located by clicking the button below. |
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