2013

SN7673 : Ancient tree, Hafod estate

taken 11 years ago, near to Pont-Rhyd-y-Groes, Ceredigion/Sir Ceredigion, Wales

Ancient tree, Hafod estate
Ancient tree, Hafod estate
This beauty stands at the edge of the forest on Cefn Creigiau. There is a multitude of footpaths criss-crossing the hillside leading to various viewpoints on the north side of the Afon Ystwyth.

The Hafod estate lies on both sides of the Ystwyth valley and gorge between the villages of Cwmystwyth and Pont-rhyd-y-groes. Until the dissolution of the monasteries, the land belonged to Strata Florida abbey. Having been handed over to nobility, the land came to belong to the Johnes family. In the late 18th century, Thomas Johnes landscaped the gorge according to the principles of the Picturesque style. This means that any landscaping aims to accentuate rather than dominate the natural beauty of the landscape. Today, the land is managed by the Forestry Commission and the Hafod Trust LinkExternal link who have restored the scenic walks landscaped 200 years ago.
Remnants of some of the architectural additions from that period (amongst them a church, an ice house, a cavern and a memorial) are still present, and some are in the process of being restored by the trust, e.g. Mrs Johnes's Garden, a one-acre enclosed flower garden located in a bend of the river Ystwyth.
Although locally usually referred to as just the Hafod estate, the full name of the area is Hafod Uchtryd. A hafod is a summer dwelling and Uchtryd a mediaeval Welsh name.
The National Library of Wales provides a digitised version of an 1810 book LinkExternal link describing a 'Tour of Havod' including 15 painted pictures of the scenery at the time.

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Rudi Winter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Paths Country estates Woodland, Forest
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Afon Ystwyth [16] · Leads [7] · Cefn Creigiau [5] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
+
+
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
Grid Square
SN7673, 103 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Rudi Winter   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Tuesday, 2 April, 2013   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 30 July, 2013
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SN 763 733 [100m precision]
WGS84: 52:20.6281N 3:48.9569W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SN 763 733
View Direction
SOUTH (about 180 degrees)
Clickable map
+
NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
Image classification(about): Geograph
This page has been viewed about 51 times
You are not logged in login | register