Trwyn Tal retreat

Recharge, refocus, relax

Recharge, refocus, relax in the Welsh mountains

Eleven Swans a-Swimming

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Swans? What?!! Well I was talking in the previous post about listening to good stuff. One of my favourites to listen to is David Whyte, a poet and mountain loving soul whose words and richness seep deeply into those parts of you that are seeking nourishment.

He talks on one track about the importance of having a sense of self compassion for the particular way that you’re made, the wisdom of acknowledging that some of your awkward ways of being in the world are absolutely necessary to you and provide the frontiers at which you feel most alive. This is where the swans come in:

If you’ve ever seen a swan out of the water, it certainly doesn’t carry any of the grace that we love in the swan when it’s bathing in its own immaculate white reflection. If you see a swan out of water it actually looks as if doesn’t quite belong to the world. It takes a step and the whole weight of the creature sways to one side, and it looks forever as if it’s going to fall over and hit the ground. It just catches itself and then swings back through the whole pendulum of its awkwardness and back to the other side of itself. And it really looks as if it’s about to trip over its own feet.

But the moment of transformation occurs when the swan touches the water…

All the swan does in order to effect its transformation from awkwardness to grace and belonging, is move toward the element where it belongs. That’s all it does.

And I felt it was an astonishing key, an extraordinary key to transformation. All you have to know in life are the things that you love, the things you hold in your affection. You only have to know the frontiers, where simply by being at that frontier, you come alive.

And when you think about it, you can go through your whole life to take an inventory of these frontiers: What is the work that brings you alive? What are the places that bring you alive? What are the conversations that vitalise you? In whose presence, simply by being in their presence, do you find yourself making the best of yourself, do you find yourself coming to the fore? Will you have faith in those frontiers, in those extraordinary places that effect extraordinary transformations? And will you arrange your life so you can spend more time at those frontiers?

– David Whyte, Mid Life and the Great Unknown

So, do you know your frontiers? Do you know what the element is, that simply by moving toward it, you come alive? Worth a bit of reflection, don’t you think?

Sarah x

Relaxing, inspiring, frontier-discovering Welsh Mountain Retreats

– with home-cooked meals, cosy log fire & optional Cuddling Cat

In the beautiful Llanthony valley, near Hay-on-Wye.

Ten Belief Boosters

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Strong belief in your self, your dreams and your abilities makes it one heck of a lot easier to take action and feel motivated. You’ve probably experienced that – or it’s opposite! – for yourself.

So if you think your next year might include:

  • Taking on Something Big
  • Having some flat out crapulent days, where you doubt yourself and feel like giving up
  • Getting really good at caring for your self (or continuing to do so)

… here’s ten practical ways of boosting and maintaining your self belief:

 

Listen to encouraging stuff
There’s soooo much available to download these days! There’s inspiring speakers, uplifting songs – use tracks you already know or search for key words in any music download site.

Read something positive
Have a browse in your local book shop or online for anything that makes you feel good – a story, biography or practical tips and insights, like these six books.

Draw, Paint or do a Collage
Get a goal or question in mind, and let yourself create a visual picture for it. The image is uniquely yours, packed full of what matters to you.

Take one small step
How small’s small? Can be teeeeeeeny! A step may be looking up one phone number or doing five minute’s exercise. If you can comfortably say to yourself, “Well, I can do that!” then it’s a small step.

What have you already done that’s similar?
Use your experience more broadly! Even if the focus was different, the way you went about something in the past can provide you with valuable insights for your current interests.

Find yourself a Champion
Find a friend or coach who believes in you and your goal, will be honest with you, provide genuine feedback and champion your dreams when your doubts are getting over excited.

Practise the easy way
To reduce some of the unfamiliarity with a new skill or goal, find a way to practise it. Do a pilot or dummy run in a safe environment. If you can’t do it for real, see, hear and feel how you’d like it to go in your imagination – that’ll work too.

What’s already happening?
If you have a goal that feels a long way off, a more motivating focus might be to remind yourself of all the signs that you’re already on route – some feedback, steps already taken, skills you already have…

Do something a bit adventurous for you
Do this safely, with someone you trust! The idea is to take on a stretch and succeed. And if you can take on that adventure, what else might you be able to do?

Find role models
Seek out people who build your belief in what’s possible. Could be big names, famous folk; or it could be a friend, relative, someone you work with. Ask them questions that help you, or just use them as tangible proof!

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe – Anatole France

Relaxing, inspiring, belief-restoring Welsh Mountain Retreats – with Chocolate Pudding

In beautiful Capel-y-ffin in the the famous Llanthony valley

Nine Birds a-Calling

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For years I have been challenged to distinguish between the large black birds – Ravens, Crows, Jackdaws, Rooks – plus other large birds of prey…and light aircraft.

Let’s start with the easy one: Birds with sunlight glinting off windows or making engine noise are light aircraft. Just be particularly careful with Gliders in cloudy conditions.

As for the various large black birds …

Large Black Bird sighted.. Um...

Very often a bird’s call is the first alert to their presence, and an easier way of distinguishing them if you wish to. The RSPB website has a great page for each critter – click on the Play button at the top to hear the what the bird sounds like, and there’s pictures aplenty. I’ve included the link for each bird here, like so: Kestrel.  So welcome to this the first ever More to… guide to Big Mountain Bird Identification!

Kestrel
These are the guys that hover infeasibly in one spot, often by the side of roads but also up in the hills. Lovely red, white and grey colouring, similar to a Red Kite, but they’re way smaller. Kestrel

Buzzard
Widespread, distinctive call, and the visual clues are i) They’re Big ii) They fly the easy way so you’re most likely to see them soaring on a thermal. They don’t flap. iii) You’ll see their white undercarriage, white feathers under their wings. Buzzard

Peregrine Falcon
Not so common, but you may hear one of these around a cliffy area.
Peregrine

Red Kite
Red Kites are now spreading rapidly after the most mind bogglingly successful re-introduction programme. Red Kites kindly have a very easy visual profile – their tale has a marked scoop inwards and they are, of course, rather red-looking. Plenty around the M40, Reading and spreading throughout Wales. Red Kite

Golden Eagle
Is it huge? Are you in the Scottish Highlands? Or a Bird of Prey Sanctuary? Then it could be a Golden Eagle. Our biggest bird of prey, absolutely majestic – get thyself to the Highlands to see one! There are no wild Golden Eagles in Wales or England at the time of writing. Golden Eagle

OK, now for the Big Black Birds….

Raven
I call these Flying Pigs, because frankly, that’s what they sound like. Large, black, and mostly found in mountainous areas, they’re the ones that oink at you. Visual clues – they’re Big, and if you can see their tail it’s a definite diamond shape.  Raven

Rooks

Big, black and with a very pale coloured beak and feathery coulottes. These guys hang out in groups, so a solo big black bird is unlikely to be a Rook.  Rook

Crow
Yep, large and black. Very similar to Rooks, but these prefer to be solo or maybe in a pair…usually! Sometimes they are in larger groups too though. Um. They also have less feathery legs, and a darker beak, if you’re in a position to see such details! Familiar farm field call. Less common in mountains. Crow

Jackdaw
Oh dear – also largish and black. But a totally different call and they are smaller than the others, with a grey hood which is helpful if you’re close enough to see it. Jackdaw

One last comparison for luck:
Raven Rook Crow Jackdaw

So there you go, if you want to know the name of what you’re hearing or looking at, that’s how. If you’re not that bothered, my other favourite identification method is extremely simple:

“What’s that?”

“It’s a bird.”

Relaxing, inspiring, restorative Mountain Retreats with plenty of cake.
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Eight Big Wow Walks

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What, just eight?!!! Good lord…well let’s call this the first eight then. These walks were particularly full of stunningness, an epiphany or too and a smidge of adventure…

The Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
I fancied a big walk, and this delivered in ways I hadn’t imagined! The seeds of More to… appeared on this three week trek, just walking each day and camping at night (with a slightly ludicrous degree of luxury provided by our Sherpas). The most inspiring scenery, people and peace I had encountered and a turning point for me.


Llanthony Priory, Black Mountains
Many of you will know this one…. I have been gently taking groups around this little circuit for 10 years now. The ascent is still a stunner in all kinds of unexpected ways. And the moment where Llanthony comes into view makes me smile every time.

The Nantlle Ridge and Snowdon
This was a wonderful mountain epic, guiding with my Mountain Mentor and outrageous friend Bob. The Nantlle ridge is a bristly number south of Snowdon, with six peaks and amazing views, plus some slightly tricky sections. We trotted along that, and got to the base of Snowdon at about 3pm on a summer’s day, then shinned up and over Snowdon to be picked up at Pen-y-pass. A Fabulous mountain day, concluded with a lot of food and quite a few drinks.

The Knoydart Peninsula, Highlands
My first solo wildcamping trip, taking the ferry from Mallaig to the Knoydart Peninsula and walking back through the valleys and passes. Memorable for utter freedom, exhilaration, a great deal of rain and the joy of handling everything with absolute confidence.

Maesglase, Snowdonia
This little know summit lies in the edges of the Cadair Idris range in Snowdonia. It’s one I’m particularly fond of, although I still haven’t actually stood on the official summit yet, as it has moved! I had a very excited scamper up there last August, bog hopping, gazing at the wonderful Big Hills and relishing the first trip to Snowdonia for a couple of years.

Newlands Corner, Guildford
Back to the local Surrey Hills, scenic location for our monthly More to… taster walks. For several years myself and a walking friend have enjoyed a night walk and midnight picnic around Newlands on New Years Eve, ending with a bottle of champagne and watching everyone’s fireworks. Magic, daft, and a lovely way to celebrate!


The Cwfry Arete, Cadair Idris
Another Bob induced epic, this time because I said I wanted to discover what a Grade III scramble was like (*). No photos, as I was rather focused on calmly climbing up the precipitous ridge. A Grade III scramble does not actually count as a walk (it’s effectively the easiest grade of climb, and a rope may be needed for protection on trickier moves). I recall quite a few leg trembles. But boy, was that a great feeling at the top!!!

(*) For those of you that know the cake scale I use for grading walks, this would be about a 10 Caker!

Ewyas Valley, Black Mountains
This walk is magic every time. I’m also pretty sure it’s the walk I’ve done most often. Views of the highest degree of stunningness, waterfalls, following the stream to its source, more views, more magic – it’s my walk of choice so it most definitely takes a special place in this first eight Big Wow Walks.

Happy New Year! May you discover walks this year that bring you peace, excitement, insight and fulfillment – and maybe, all four at once.

Sarah x