
A river runs past it – the River Conwy
At the end of June 2022, I spent a few days on a birdwatching course at the Field Studies Council’s Rhyd y Creuau centre near Betws-y-Coed. On the final evening, I was determined to visit a place I’d not been to since I was a child so, despite the pouring rain, that’s what I did. After a 30-minute walk along the verge of the very fast main road – the Sappers Suspension Bridge short-cut being closed for repair – I found myself in the churchyard of St Michael’s Old Church watching a song thrush feed a plump juvenile amongst the ancient yews and old gravestones. The peace and tranquillity of that early evening in the churchyard made a strong impression on me, and I resolved to return. Fast-forward to May 2023: Eurovision is in town, delighting many thousands of people, but it’s time for this ‘bah, humbug’ individual to get out of Dodge. Where else but to Betws-y-Coed? Continue reading →