Llanthony Priory

The little village of Llanthony, in the Welsh Black Mountains, is home to the spectacular ruins of Llanthony Priory. The scenery is breathtaking and incorporates the Offa’s Dyke long-distance path. We walked down to a village called Cwmyoy, on one side of the valley of the Afon (river) Honddu, and back climbing to a ridge to the west of Llanthony.

Llanthony Priory.

Llanthony Priory.

View from Offa's Dyke.

View from Offa’s Dyke.

Lunch overlooking Maes-y-Beran farm.

Lunch overlooking Maes-y-Beran farm.

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St Martin's church, Cwmyoy, in the Brecon Beacons.

St Martin’s church, Cwmyoy, in the Brecon Beacons.

St Martin's church, Cwmyoy. The Lord is not immune to subsidence,

St Martin’s church, Cwmyoy. The Lord is not immune to subsidence,

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Descending to Llanthony

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A pint (Sal – cider; me – beer) back at the priory ruins (there’s a pub in what was a priory – there IS a God!)

 

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A walk near Dunster, North Devon

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Horses near the Exe River, Tiverton

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Porto, on the Douro River in Portugal, seems like a great place.  After a  direct flight from Bristol, and an easy bus journey, we arrived at our apartment, conveniently situated above a patisserie, bar and restaurant.

Porto view, looking down river.

Porto view, looking down river.

Woman reading by statue, Pç Carlos Alberto.

Woman reading by statue, Pç Carlos Alberto.

Walking along south bank of Douro to Fishing Village at the sea, and San Pedro's restaurant!

Walking along south bank of Douro to Fishing Village at the sea, and San Pedro’s restaurant!

BMW in front of smoked glass.

BMW in front of smoked glass.

Street art near Luis I bridge.

Street art near Luis I bridge.

Luis I bridge from derelict window.

Luis I bridge from derelict window.

Derelict building south of River.

Derelict building south of River.

Disused wash house near Ponte do Infante.

Disused wash house near Ponte do Infante.

Disused wash house near Ponte do Infante.

Disused wash house near Ponte do Infante.

Majestic Café.

Majestic Café.

Majestic Café.

Majestic Café.

Steps in Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Steps in Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Steps in Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Steps in Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Subway station

Subway station

Grafitti near Luis I bridge

Grafitti near Luis I bridge

Solitary musician.

Solitary musician.

River view toward Serra do Pilar

River view toward Serra do Pilar

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Near the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Near the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Knocker in Jewish quarter

Knocker in Jewish quarter.

Street sculpture.

Street sculpture.

Street art.

Street art.

Port tasting in market.

Port tasting in market.

After port tasting.

After port tasting.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Photography exhibition in old gaol and courthouse building.

Photography exhibition in old gaol and courthouse building. Yes, that’s a camera.

Chairs in old gaol and courthouse building.

Chairs in old gaol and courthouse building.

Old gaol and courthouse building.

Old gaol and courthouse building.

Wine o'clock.

Wine o’clock.

Casa da Musical.

Casa da Musical.

Bad town planning?

Bad town planning?

Sculpture in Serralves Gardens.

Sculpture in Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Teahouse in Serralves Gardens.

Teahouse in Serralves Gardens.

Bird sanctuary on river

Bird sanctuary on river

Lighthouse at Foz.

Lighthouse at Foz.

Fortifications at Foz.

Fortifications at Foz.

Tram interior.

Tram interior.

Tram driver. Every boy's dream job

Tram driver. Every boy’s dream job

Tram interior

Tram interior

Street art

Street art

Church interior.

Church interior.

Igreja dos Carmelitas, Carmo.

Igreja dos Carmelitas, Carmo.

Roof garden near Cordoaria.

Roof garden near Cordoaria.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Being seranaded from below.

Being seranaded from below.

The Luis I bridge from south-west.

The Luis I bridge from south-west.

Fontainhaus district

Fontainhaus district

In the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

In the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Apartment window.

Apartment window.

View from apartment. TWO churches separated by narrowest house in Portugal. Allegedly.

View from apartment. TWO churches separated by narrowest house in Portugal. Allegedly.

Narrowest house in Porto between two churches.

Narrowest house in Porto between two churches.

Apartment staircase.

Apartment staircase.

 

Grafitti

Grafitti

Sally's painting of view.

Sally’s painting of view.

Sally's painting.

Sally’s painting.

Sally painting.

Sally painting.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Palacio de Cristal.

Palacio de Cristal.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Thirsty dog.

Thirsty dog.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Motorway bridge from the Parque da Pasteliera.

Motorway bridge from the Parque da Pasteliera.

Trams.

Trams.

Tram.

Tram.

Tram.

Tram.

Railway station.

Railway station.

Railway station.

Railway station.

Lello & Irmão Bookstore.

Lello & Irmão Bookstore.

Pc de Gomes Teixeira. Apartment out of shot on left.

Pc de Gomes Teixeira. Apartment out of shot on left.

Apartment above Primar patisserie.

Apartment above Primar patisserie. Sal pointing at favourite cake.

Luis I bridge from south.

Luis I bridge from south.

Tuk-tuk taxis.

Tuk-tuk taxis.

Street art/protection.

Street art/protection.

Serra do Pilar.

Serra do Pilar.

Old city wall, Porto.

Old city wall, Porto.

Luis I bridge, lower level.

Luis I bridge, lower level.

Near the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Near the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

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Grafitti.

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Near the River Wye

Sheep and oak tree near Fownhope in Herefordshire.

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Living wall

A colourful (for February) “living” wall at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Mostly ivy and, er, begonias, I think.

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Berkeley, on the Severn estuary

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Pause for lunch.

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Grimaldi!

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A regular visitor to Avonmouth Docks, up the Severn Estuary, passes suburban Portishead.

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Snowdrop Valley

Snowdrop Valley is a privately owned remote valley in a hidden part of Exmoor close to Wheddon Cross.

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Mardi Gras!

Well, the English version. Miles attended the pancake-tossing and red wine drinking that has become our Shrove Tuesday family tradition. The kitchen floor will never be the same. All in preparation for Lent, when we give it up. Pancakes, that is, probably not the wine.

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