Mountains Archives - Trwyn Tal retreat

The Black Mountains in March

December 7, 2012 By Sarah Maliphant

I find early season walking particularly exciting … daylight gradually extending, bright sunshine on the wintered slopes and the weather can vary from deep winter to Lets Have Breakfast Outside at the drop of a bobble hat.

Last year, we enjoyed the Breakfast Outside sort of week:

I spent St. David’s Day grinning madly all over the route from Capel-y-ffin to Bal Mawr. March 1st gave of its best!

Walking along towards Twmpa aka Lord Hereford’s Knob, the mountain ponies were enjoying the early Spring warmth too.

And this chap was wonderful!

Crisp mornings continued all week, my early morning mug of tea accompanied by a mesmerizing vapour show at the farm.

The sheer exhilaration of the mountains is there whether you get sunny days or wild days or something in between. So if you know you’re going to be hungry for a fix of hills after the winter, go for it!

http://www.more-to.org
More to… Mountain Retreats
Relaxing guided walks, space to think, massage/reflexology, and a lot of lovely, local home cooked food
Season opens March 27th 2015

We support Crickhowell Walking Festival February 28th – March 8th

Choose the right path and just keep walking

September 7, 2012 By Sarah Maliphant

If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking,

eventually you’ll make progress. – Obama

Well, there’s a quote that I identify with! I have an absolute faith in our ability to know, deep down, the right path for us. And an equal faith in our ability to lose the plot, act like muppets and bury that wisdom under piles of Daily Stuff.

For me the answer to this endearing human feature lies not in Getting Brilliant at Dealing with Lots of Stuff. The answer lies in taking a walk, slowing ourselves enough so we can hear our own voice.

I love every aspect of mountains, walking and navigating, and it’s not just the literal act of walking: I find the parallels between how we walk in nature and how we find our way in life to be a very natural source of inspiration and insight. How about you?

Here’s some of the thoughts this particular quote inspired for me:

1) If you’re walking down the right path: Taking time to identify, find or create the right path is the IMPORTANT bit, make time for it! Otherwise you’ll make steady progress towards something you don’t particularly want, which is a bit of a bugger.

Web_3004 — Choose the right path for you

How you define, “right path” is also important. How much of its “rightness” is because it’s what others need from you? How much is it “right” because it’s what you feel you were born to do? How much is because it’s where you have the most fun?

2) And you’re willing to… Being willing is a good sign that you’re on the right path I reckon: you see yourself choosing to do whatever you need to do to follow the path. So if you’re not willing, what’s that about? It’s likely to be important and worth attending to.

3) … keep walking Even if you feel you’re not getting very far, every little nudge forwards is taking you along the route you’ve chosen. Be proud of the days when you whoosh. And proud of the days where you see only a teeny bit of progress: Frankly, facing forwards on those days is an achievement in itself.

4) Eventually…: Get to know the speed that you are able to move at. If it’s slower than you expected, might it be your expectation that is off, not your speed? You wouldn’t be being a teeny bit judgemental of yourself, would you??

5) … you’ll make progress: If you take even one step, you have made progress. If you keep taking the next step you will eventually reach the next place on your path that you want to reach. And it is YOU that makes progress. Others can help you, support you, bring out your strengths but the progress ultimately comes from the steps you take and your choice to keep walking your right path.

6) You’re walking, not running! Epic days are exciting and you cover a lot of ground. Attempting to make every day an Epic Day may be unwise, donut!

7) Breathers: Ok, it’s not explicitly in the quote, but remember to pause every now and again too – look around, realise how far you’ve come, refresh yourself, feed yourself, rest – nurture body, mind and soul. That’s an essential part of your progress too, or else you’ll go phut (*).

Web_4141 — Look how far you’ve come already

8 ) Company: Er, this isn’t mentioned either. Never mind. It’s your path, only you can travel it. But you can choose company that adds to your enjoyment of the path and do nice things like chat, laugh, inspire and share cake.

9) Keep Walking: Your path will always continue. It never ends. Keep walking!

So what do you identify with? What will you remind yourself to do more of?

Choose the right path for you, and keep walking!

Sarah xx

(*) Phut (technical term): To run out of steam physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Or all four, which is really not nice at all. Brought about by moving too fast, seeking too many Epic Days or ignoring your need for breathers, company and/or any other form of support.

www.more-to.org

Mountain Retreat holidays with cake, coaching, walks, massage

and plenty of space to find the right path for you.

Time for your self

Look for the easy way

January 9, 2012 By Sarah Maliphant

Do you look for the easy way? Most British Mountains have steep bits, gentler bits and bits that are something in between. Some might be pretty gentle all over, some might do the opposite and have some “seriously don’t-fall-off-here” bits with extreme risk. All mountains have a summit. That is, after all, how they are defined.

Web_1691 — Spot the "Seriously don't fall off here" bit

Splendid, so that’s squidged all the magnificence, variety, playfulness and challenge of our British mountains into a few short sentences.

The interesting question is what kind of route you look for:

If you have the skills and want a bit of excitement, you might seek out one of those steeper bits, understand the risks, be well equipped to enjoy handling them and shin straight up.

Web_0507 — A safe bit of shinning straight up

If you don’t have those skills or you find that kind of steep terrain somewhat terrifying, you might also be tempted to dismiss the entire mountain as unobtainable. After all, you’ve seen what other people have to do to get up there, and it looks impossible and dangerous.

Come to think of it, even if you could stroll up, you might dismiss the mountain because you think, “it rains lots and walking in the rain means getting wet and that stinks”. In short, getting up the mountain looks sufficiently unpleasant, scary, unsafe and just plain hard that you have no motivation even for a single step.

Bleaaargh.

Now swap the mountain for something you want but are not currently pursuing. Maybe for years you have promised yourself you’d change job, address your stress level, go self employed, get fit, find a soulmate…Have you ever wanted something, looked at what other people go through to get it and reluctantly, or fearfully, dismissed your entire mountain?

Hang around a little longer, lets look at the mountain more carefully. Some people like going up the vertical bits, fine. But there are also gentler ways. If you assume that there might be an easier way for you and you actively go and look for it, you are very likely to find it. If you’re willing to search, if you’re prepared to zig and zag a bit rather than take a direct line and if you patiently persist with taking little steps, you can get to the top in a way that suits you. Your only responsibility is to look out for the way that feels easy for you.

So whether you’re choosing your next mountain walk, or looking at something that feels challenging:

What’s the easiest way that works for you?

Web_5471 — Possible side effects: Spare energy, enjoyment

Mountain Retreats, rediscover what makes you smile

P.S Yes, there are also easy ways that you can look for the easy way…!

Twelve Peaceful Moments

January 5, 2012 By Sarah Maliphant

Literal peace is pretty rare in the mountains, and yet they always give me a beautifully peaceful feeling. Peace comes from within – yes. I think it can also be tempted to settle in, put it’s feet up and enjoy a nice cuppa with a bit of external encouragement!

If you’ve been flapping your wings pretty fast,

may you find safe moments to rest.