UK ~ Portmeirion Village - Gwynedd - Wales ~

... Beautiful view of a little piece of Italy tucked into a coastal hillside of North Wales... a unique Italianate style coastal resort with hotels, cafes, shops, and holiday cottages sitting directly in front of a giant, snow-capped Snowdon... designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis... with lovely letter from the "Urdd Gobaith Cymru" a National Voluntary Youth Organisation... the organisation is promoting the Welsh language through social activities like summer camps and sports events... since 1922 (same day as today, 18 May) they sent messages to young people around the world... with the words 'Wales calling' a message of goodwill"... my letter was translated from Welsh to Dutch or Flemish👍... Thanks a lot Paul!(✿◠‿◠) As asked I waited until today to open the envelope!😉

Urdd Gobaith Cymru is a National Voluntary Youth Organisation with over 55,000 members between the ages of 8 – 25 yrs old. Since 1922, we've provided opportunities through the medium of Welsh for children and young people in Wales to enable them to make positive contributions to their communities.

This year, the Urdd’s Message of Peace and Goodwill focuses on Minority Languages.  Its aim is to educate people around the world about these languages and to encourage them to value, learn, and use them. In doing so, the Message opens up a wider conversation about the role of language in empathy, equality, and our understanding of the world around us.

Cymraeg (Welsh) is the native Celtic language of Wales and is one of the oldest living languages in Europe. Alongside English, it is an official language in Wales and is actively spoken by around 650,000 people.

 

Stamps:

Paddington 

(Issued 05-09-2023)

Aardman Classics 

(Issued 19-10-2022)

UK ~Carreg Cennen Castle - Llansteffan - Brecon Beacons National Park - Wales ~

... Beautiful autumn🍂 view showing an impressive castle ruin against a backdrop of the changing Carmarthenshire landscape, which turns brilliant reds, browns, and yellows in fall... a striking fortress perched on a limestone cliff top that dominates the skyline for miles around with stunning views over the countryside... there isn’t a huge amount to see inside the castle... but the ruins are enough intact to imagine what life was like there... a few interesting features still remain, including parts of the inner ward, a small walkway and the remains of a few towers to explore... the cave underneath is a real treat... these ruins in south Wales have a rich history, bound up in power struggles between the Welsh and English and the Wars of the Roses... located within the Brecon Beacons National Park...Thanks Paul!(✿◠‿◠) What a wonderful area to live in!😊

©Dave Newbould
Carreg Cennen was originally the site of a native Welsh castle, possibly constructed by The Lord Rhys (d. 1197), although any remains of this castle have been subsumed by later English work. The current stone structure was built by the English baron John Giffard for Edward I in the late 13th century, and it served as a key stronghold during the conquest of Wales. The castle was damaged during Owain Glyndŵr's rebellion and was later slighted in 1462 during the Wars of the Roses to prevent further use.

Stamps: 

The 75th Anniversary of Windrush 

(Issued 22-06-2023)

Country Definitives - Wales

(Issued 11-08-2022)

UK ~ Pontcysyllte Aqueduct -The Llangollen Canal - Wales - UNESCO ~

... Stunning view of a marvel of engineering... the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is 307 metres long and 38 metres high, making it the longest aqueduct in Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world... known as "the stream in the sky"... walking across this very narrow aqueduct is a unique experience... on one side, you have the serene canal, and on the other, there's the very deep valley and river below, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside... the views of the Dee Valley are truly spectacular... or you can take a canal boat ride over the aqueduct... that feels almost surreal, as if you’re floating on air... a warning: don’t go if you’re scared of heights😁😉... Thanks a lot Paul for another great new addition to my UNESCO collection! (✿◠‿◠)

Photo: © Sheila Halsall
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop in 1805 over the River Dee in northeast Wales. It forms part of the Llangollen Canal, which is itself just a branch of the much larger Shropshire Union Canal.  Innovative metal (cast iron) was used for the trough, while the pillars are made of brick. It was constructed  to transport coal, iron, and other goods needed in the early days of the Industrial Revolution.

 

Stamps:

Country Definitives - King Charles III Silhouette 

(Issued 14-11-2024)  

Definitives - King Charles III 

(Issued 04-04-2023)

UK ~ Moel Cynghorion - Snowdonia National Park - Wales~

... Amazing nature view with the Snowdon Mountain Railway making it's way up to Snowdon peak with Moel Cynghorion in the background... described as one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world... experienced by some 12 million travellers since 1896... with stunning scenery and awe-inspiring views it’s all part of a great day out in North Wales... there's a hiking trail leading to the summit of Moel Cynghorion that is situated on a wide plateau, marked by a pile of stone and offers wonderful views of Snowdon... the southern slopes are gentle, while the northern part is steep... Thanks a lot Paul!【ツ】

Photo: Jeremy Moore
Moel Cynghorion (the Hill of the Councillors) is a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales. It lies two miles north-west of Snowdon, and forms part of the Moel Eilio Horseshoe walk.

Situated on the west coast of Britain, Snowdonia National park covering 2,130 km2 of diverse landscapes, this National Park is a living, working area, and is home to over 26,000 people. As well as being the largest National Park in Wales, Snowdonia boasts the highest mountain in England and Wales. Snowdonia features nine mountain ranges, fifteen peaks above 915m and 23km of sweeping coastline.

Stamp: 

Definitives - Thistle (Regional Definitives Scotland)

(Issued 11-08-2022)

UK ~ Blaenavon Industrial Landscape - Wales - UNESCO ~

... Great postcard with an eye catching design... using a strong illustrative style... a testament to the human endeavour of miners and ironworkers of the past... the working people who drove the industrial revolution... Blaenavon WHS site is a mix of industrial landscape and natural beauty... home to one of the best preserved 18thC ironworks in Europe... complete with furnaces, cast houses, a magnificent water balance tower, cupola furnace and ironworkers cottages... including a coal mine, churches, chapels, a school and a workmen’s hall... but the main attraction is the Big Pit with the associated National Coal Museum, which was a working coal mine from the mid-19th to the late 20thC... nowadays, there are interesting underground tours guided by former miners... the complex includes several exhibitions about the mines and the often miserable lives of the miners... all set in a landscape that is also favoured by walkers, cyclists and mountain bikers... Thanks a lot Paul! ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

Blaenavon is a small, industrial mining town nestled among the Brecon Beacons mountains of South Wales. The hills to the west of the town contain the source of the Afon Lwyd, the main river running through the county borough of Torfaen, South Wales’s easternmost valley.

The name Blaenavon literally means ‘front of the river’ or, loosely, ‘river's source’.

The two key sites of Blaenavon Industrial Landscape (33 km²) are the Blaenavon Ironworks, managed by Cadw, and Big Pit, managed by Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

In 2000, UNESCO inscribed the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape as a World Heritage Site.

Stamp:

Definitives - Daffodil (Wales Regional Issues)

(Issued 17-03-2020)

UK ~ Brecon Beacons National Park - Wales ~

...  Another great surprise and new National Park💚... a postcard by Richard O'Neill, a talented digital artist with an eye for creating stunning travel poster inspired art... the Brecon Beacons National Park is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in Wales, full of grassy moorland, tranquil reservoirs, stunning waterfalls and high mountain plateaus... the perfect location if you love the outdoors, with an array of different trails for walkers, runners and cyclists... horse riding, canoeing and fishing, rock climbing, camping and caving... this entire national park achieved the status of being an International Dark Sky Reserve with an outstanding quality of night sky⭐✨⭐... and last, but not least… the Batcave entrance👍 from "The Dark Knight Rises" is located at Henrhyd Falls, the tallest waterfall in the Brecon Beacons National Park... Thanks a lot Paul! (must be a wonderful place to live)¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and also for your kind words😊...it's always a pleasure to read that people enjoy visiting my blog!!!

                                                                     ©Richard O'Neill

The Brecon Beacons National Park covers an incredible 1346.700km² of South and Mid Wales, with two thirds of this area being comprised of old red sandstone rocks.The National Park was established in 1957  and was one of the first ten area’s in Britain to be given such status. 

The highest point in the Brecon Beacons National Park is Pen y Fan; which is also the highest peak in South Britain at 886m and home to Llyn Cwm Llwch – the best preserved glacial lake in South Wales. 

Stamp:

Pride 

(Issued 01-08-2022)

UK ~ Harlech's castle - Gwynedd - Wales - UNESCO ~

... Amazing view from the beach of the mighty castle that dominates the Harlech skyline... perched on the edge of the cliff with spectacular views both the Irish Sea and Snowdonia mountain range.... the mountainous scenery is bound to be one of the main reasons Edward I decided to build another of his impressive fortresses here over 700 years ago, offering some incredible views out to the surrounding hills and valleys... structurally complete and an excellent example of an almost complete gatehouse and amazing battlement walk... it offers a good insight into what life might have been like inside the castle years ago... one of the best preserved castles in Wales despite some historical attempts to destroy it... with lovely National Parks stamps👍... Thanks a lot Barry!! (✿◠‿◠) I'm glad to hear from you after such a long time... hope you achieve your goal to complete walking the whole path💪... must be a great outdoor adventure!

Harlech Castle is a 13thC castle, constructed on the orders of England’s King Edward I. It was built as part of a defensive ring of castles designed to help strengthen English control over Wales.

The castle is a good example of a concentric castle. It had an outer and inner wall for extra protection, and was also almost symmetrical in shape. It is protected by 4 huge round towers, as well as a strong gatehouse, or entrance. The castle walls are 12 metres high and several metres thick in places.

Harlech Castle played an important role during the Wars of the Roses in the 15thC. During the Wars of the Roses, the castle came under siege in 1461, and withstood for seven years. Supplies came by water from Ireland. This is the longest siege in British history and is probably the origin of the song Men of Harlech. 

Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd became a UNESCO WHS site in 1986.

 

Stamps:

National Parks 

(Issued 14-01-2021)

WALES ~Cardiff - Castle Coch ~

...Great view of the long ramp up to the main entrance of this beautiful  castle... its picturesque location and stunning architecture mean that it is often used as a film location (it is also the setting for some iconic Dr Who scenes)...Thanks a lot Emily!!

Castell Coch (Red Castle) is a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle built on the remains of a genuine 13th-century fortification. It is situated on a steep hillside high above the village of Tongwynlais, to the north of Cardiff in Wales. It was designed by William Burges, with an impressively medieval appearance, working portcullis and drawbridge, and with sumptuous interiors.

Cardiff is the capital and largest city in Wales and the ninth largest city in the United Kingdom.


Stamp:
Machin definitives -Queen Elizabeth II
(Issued 30-03-2010)

WALES

....Thanks to this two great cards I learned something new... By searching for information about the cards I find out that Wales is a sovereign nation with its own language, a National Assembly and flag!
I really thought it was part of England and that seems to be the quickest way to upset the Wales... :)

Wales is often called the "Land of Castles" and is home to some of Europe's most beautiful examples of medieval castles.
Top Row: Beaumaris Castle,Caernafon Castle, Caerphilly Castle
Middle Row: Cardif Castle,Conwy Castle, Harlech Castle.
Bottom Row: Kidwelly Castle,Laugharne Castle,Pembroke Castle.


Cardigan Bay in Ceredigion is one of the most rural counties in Wales. Its a glorious coastline home to the bottlenose dolphin, Peregrine falcon, Choug and the Grey seal.

UK ~Wales-Llyn Idwal~

UK ~Wales-Llyn Idwal~
Originally uploaded by gerda_dager

Llyn Idwal is a small lake in the Glyderau mountains of Snowdonia. Its named after the son of one of ancient Princes of Wales, legend stating that the unfortunate offspring was murdered by being drowned in the lake...
The Snowdonia National Park, which has the evocative Welsh name of 'Eryri' meaning ' the place of the eagles', is an area of outstanding natural beauty covering 838 square miles and containing some of the most magnificent scenery in Wales.