Category Archives: hike

To Solsbury Hill at Sunset

It has been a good several weeks since we have gone on a country walk.  At first it started with choosing to go kayaking instead as the end of summer was approaching.  However, in the last few weeks we have been so busy that we have not been able to schedule in one of our favourite pastimes.  It is our favourite reason for choosing to live on the outskirts of Bath where country meets town. Being able to just walk outside of our house to go on a country walk is a simple pleasure we all enjoy.  So this Saturday, Ryan made sure we fit in a country walk even if it was getting closer to evening.  It was our goal to end up on Solsbury Hill to watch the sunset.  We saw cows, sheep, and a pair of each of the following animals: horses, deer, and rabbits.  The boys collected their first round up of conkers for the 2013 autumn season, to play against each other back at home.  Then we watched the sun go down as we made our way to to the top of Solsbury Hill, where we got to see all the twinkling lights of the towns down below.  It was our first evening hike and a great one to start off the season here in England.  I really hope then when we find our new place to live in the coming months it is close enough to the country so we can continue this favourite weekend ritual of our expat life. 

*photography by Bonnie Rose Photography © 2007 – 2013 All Rights Reserved | http://www.bonnie-rose.co.uk

Cadair Idris

True Colours

I am linking up today with Casey from True Colours for the travel series: Wanderlust.  The theme for August is Natural Wonders and I continue our recap of our trip to Wales with a sneak peek of our mountain hike. We stayed in the town of Dolgellau in Gwynedd for our 10th Wedding Anniversary.   Dolgellau is located next to the mountain Cadair Idris in the southern end of Snowdonia National park. The famous peak on Cadair Idris is a popular location with many paths from which to choose from to get there.

The day before our hike my husband and I had prepared our boys for the trek with a stop at the local sporting store in town for hiking boots.  While there we talked to the store keeper about which path to take to the top.  He told us of two ways: one easy path and one more challenging trail.  On the day of during our hike we got to the point where we had to choose either the longer easier path or the ‘shorter’ more challenging path.  Since we take our sons, six and eight, on regular country walks in England we decided we could bypass the easy way.  
Our journey took us up the grassy sides of the mountain, through a trail of rocks and boulders, pass rock formations created by the passing of a glacier, and next to crystal clear lakes and rocky streams.  All of which were frequented by sheep, which became a common sight through out our ten hour hike. 
While the path we chose was more challenging than the easy path which our trail met up with eventually, it was nothing compared to the way back down.  Imagine making your way down a steep trail where your feet constantly have to secure their footing on the loose rocks before taking your next step. However it was all worth it to make it to the top peak with my husband and sons.  To be so high up that the clouds practically touched our heads, to see the towns so small below, and see as far out as the ocean where it met the land.  

My Wanderlust for Wales has only deepened since our journey. This is Cadair Idris.  Our first mountain to climb with our boys, and the first to many more to come. Both for hikes and for upcoming photographs from our time in Wales.
*Bonnie Rose Photography © 2007 – 2013 All rights reserved | http://www.bonnieroseblog.co.uk

Memorial Day & Country Walk

The Sun is still out and I am very delighted by that fact.  So after spending the morning inside and waiting for Ryan to get back from work we decided it was time lunch.  Refueled and ready to go outside we went on a country walk near our house.  The boys had fun and though they decided it was ‘not hiking’ but ‘an adenture’ it sounds like they enjoyed themselves.  We found lots of pretty plants and flowers and even interesting bugs.  No deer sighting but we did get barked at by a very small dog. I look forward to many more hikes out with the family.  I used to go out on country walks with my dad when I was Ronan’s age, living in England .  We lived on a farm and would go out exploring the lands picking up little things we found along the way and looking for birds from our book. It is really nice reliving our life through our kids and enjoying it together.

The boys and I during our walk.  
Country walk today for a photo outing with the family.
 http://instagr.am/p/LI8Jo2okzL
 
Photo Ryan posted of us on the walk 
Something Sweet': Found these earrings in Arizona and loved them at first sight. 
They are sweet to me. 
#photoadaymay #earrings #photoadaychallenge #birds
‘iPhone or Android': I upgraded to a Galaxy S2 but still use my broken iPhone3Gs for music. 
#maycreative #photoadaychallenge #iphone #Android #Samsung 
It’s a wavy hair kind of day. 
#hair #waves


The boys and I did 2 hrs of Italian today. At dinner we reviewed. Now after a lesson of French my mouth needs a rest. 58 days till our trip.


Just returned from our nature walk.Reminded me of my walks with dad. Love photographing through the trees and using the sun as backlight.


Nature walk with my there guys and my beloved Nikon.


I love smelling like a bounty bar. Yummy scent. Although it makes me crave chocolate. #coconutoil

Instead of using hair ties that can cause breakage, use chopsticks to tie your hair back.

Instead of using hair ties that can cause breakage, use chopsticks to tie your hair back.