Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff
A snowy trip back to Wales
(Photos © urban75, 24/25 December 2009)
I always try to get back to Wales for the festive season - and this year it was particularly delightful thanks to a covering of snow on the ground.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-01.jpg)
Some braindead moron in Slough thought it would be a whizzo idea to drop a large brick from a bridge onto a passing train.
The window was smashed and the driver badly shaken up. The damage was deemed too dangerous for the train to continue, so we were decanted onto a snowy Slough station.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-02.jpg)
This wasn't the best start to a Christmas Eve journey home. We hung about on Slough's snowy platforms while the station staff barked out a series of conflicting instructions.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-03.jpg)
To their credit, we were back on another train after around an hour, and the views of the snow covered fields drifting by from the window were delightful - a proper Christmas homecoming!
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-04.jpg)
Cardiff Central station, waiting for the Coryton branch line train.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-05.jpg)
Arriving at an incredibly icy Rhiwbina Halt. The ramp out of the platform was covered in black ice, so much comedy slipping ensued.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-06.jpg)
Christmas Day. Welsh snowman (who'd lost his carrot nose).
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-07.jpg)
Climbing Graig Llanishen, looking east towards Newport (Casnewydd).
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-08.jpg)
A snowy Wenallt, an area of ancient woodland located on the ridge overlooking Cardiff, with its large transmitter aerial mast just visible to the right.
This is used to boost television and radio signals from Cardiff across to the South Wales Valleys.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-09.jpg)
Looking south towards the centre of Cardiff, with the A469 reflecting the winter sun.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-10.jpg)
Climbing Graig Llanishen.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-11.jpg)
Snowy scene on Graig Llanishen. Not far from here is the mysterious Castell Morgraig.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-12.jpg)
Heading over Cefncarnau.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-13.jpg)
Frozen pond.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-14.jpg)
Ice flakes.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-15.jpg)
Machen in the distance.
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-16.jpg)
![Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in north Cardiff, south Wales UK - walks around Graig Llanishen](images/christmas-wales-2009-17.jpg)
Lovely snowy scene before we walked back down the mountain and headed for our veggie Christmas dinner!
« Wales photos home Winter Wonderland »
|
|