Wales is already fixing itself in my memory as the place with miles and miles of sheep, sheep and more sheep. All of them surrounded by hedgerows that go on forever and ever & punctuated by enormous oak trees.

We did a  bit of a hike today, but first we picked up Lara Bernays in front of the church in Myddfai. She’s got her bachelor’s of science in herbal medicine and explained how generations of the herbalist from Myddfai practised with the very specific flora and fauna found in the little micro-climate of this valley.

She hopped on our bus that took us to the Black Mountain area where we got off to hike up to Llyn y Fan Fach. She told us the legend of the lady of the lake while standing at its edge. Lara is a great storyteller and definitely knows her plants. It was fascinating to hear some of the background to so many plants that I know we have back in British Columbia. Made me want to rush home and brew up some stinging nettle tea and get the spring tonic going.

We’ve checked in to the Lake Country House & Spa in Llangamarch Wells. It’s classic. Old and beautiful furnishings, crackling fire in the main lodge, thick carpets, fat sofas, and trails that lead off to the village down by the river.

I’d love to come back here to do some of the week or two-week walks. There’s one called the Offa’s Dyke Path that looks like the one for us. Apparently there are B&B’s at least every 12 miles. That’s very nearly perfect. Show up with a small pack and a credit card. Pub in every town, woolly socks and rain jacket and off you’d be. All you’d have to do is dodge the sheep.