Geographical Magazine UK Gold: The hunt for the precious metal has returned Written by Laura Cole The view from Cadair Idris, a mountain at the southern end of Snowdonia National Park near the town of Dolgellau, which sits in the crook of a belt of gold-bearing rock 05 Mar 2021 In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, miners are looking to the hills and mountains for viable gold deposits. Laura Cole asks why the hunt for the yellow metal has returned to the United Kingdom
Pubs are a good place to overhear tales about gold in the valley. Roger Marr runs the Cross Keys Inn in the former slate town of Dolgellau, north Wales, and every so often, an amateur gold panner shows up at his bar, raising a hand and tilting it so as to show off a ring between sips of beer. ‘They’ll make one from melted-down pieces they find in the rivers,’ Marr says, ‘but it can take years to find enough of the stuff.’
2. Achieve towering ambitions in Snowdonia
Those medieval castle-builders knew a thing or two about deterring uninvited visitors: nothing says ‘stay out’ like massive wooden doors, solid stone walls and crenelated towers. The 19th-century architects of Brynkir Tower incorporated those features into this Grade II-listed faux-Gothic folly, now a fairytale retreat for four in the north-western reaches of Snowdonia National Park. Arched windows frame vistas of crags and ridges, while the spiral staircase links a well-equipped kitchen with two bedrooms, a cosy wood-burner-warmed living room and a fifth-floor bathroom boasting quite the loo with a view.
From £696 for seven nights. Book at Sykes Cottages (01244356666; sykescottages.co.uk). Available in April and May, and for seven nights from July 16.
A Wales Air Ambulance volunteer has challenged herself to do 20 beach cleans as part of her My20 fundraiser for the Charity. The Wales Air Ambulance is celebrating its 20th anniversary and to acknowledge the milestone, the charity has created a new fundraising event called My20. My20 allows participants to pick an activity, challenge or task that relates to the number ‘20’. Rosie Hemsley, from Llandysul, will be doing the twenty beach cleans at locations close to her home during March and sees the challenge as a ‘personal motivator at this stage of lockdown’. Reflecting on why she has chosen this challenge, Rosie said: “I decided to do this activity because it is doing something positive for the local environment, as well as hopefully raising some much-needed funds for the Wales Air Ambulance. I have always been passionate about the marine environment, having been a scuba diver, and currently volunteering with Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay.
A PAIR of Cardigan mums who set up a new local estate agency have spoken of their astonishment after being contacted by the founder of a charity offering to kit out an entire Aberporth school with new tablets. Helen Worrall, from Glynarthen, and Tania Dutnell, from Betws Ifan, set up Cardigan Bay Properties after braving some testing personal challenges. They were spurred to establish a home-based virtual business through their own personal and family health challenges. Tania’s daughter Sophie suffers from a complex set of medical conditions that require round-the-clock care, while Helen’s earlier career in horse racing left her with a catalogue of ongoing injuries.
Win a Sailing Bag With Early Bird Entry To Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
2nd March 2021
All fully paid entries received by 31st March will be automatically entered into a draw for a Helly Hansen Performance Sailing bag
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta s Early Bird entry will close on 31st March. All fully paid entries received by 31st March will be automatically entered into a draw for a Helly Hansen Performance Sailing bag or a VDLR voucher to the value of €100.
Ireland s biggest regatta held every second year on Dublin Bay has been split in two this year as a means of reducing numbers. The regatta is working extremely hard to ensure a Covid-19 compliant regatta shall be run over the two weekends in July.