Ö÷²¥´óÐã

My grandad always looked forward to today - the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, because he knew that after today, the days would slowly get longer as the sun moved north again.

There was also a lunar eclipse this morning - the first in three years and few places in the UK remained cloud free, long enough for people to see it.

Hatti Woakes captured this image of the eclipse over Fishguard today.

You may be fed up with all the snow but at least everything looks brighter when covered under a blanket of snow and as Roy Noble said "It's the only time you don't have to worry about the state of your garden"

There is more snow to come tonight and tomorrow morning - most of it in the north and east of Wales, Powys and also Pembrokeshire with a risk of further significant falls.

5 to 10 cm is possible in places (2 to 4 inches) which could lead to further disruption so keep an eye on the forecast.

Wednesday afternoon should become generally drier and brighter with some sunshine and after that, we should have the seen worst of the snow for a while although it will remain very cold.

Christmas Eve will probably be dry and bright with just a few wintry showers on some Irish sea coasts.

If you put money on a white Christmas this year, I'm afraid it looks like you'll end up out of pocket because it's going to be dry, but there will definitely be snow lying on the ground.

Christmas Day will also be bright with some sunshine and light winds so ideal for a walk after your Christmas lunch but take care as it will be very icy and freezing fog patches will be slow to clear.

Expect a widespread, hard frost overnight with some extremely low temperatures possibly -15 to -20 Celsius inland.

Boxing Day should start dry and bright but there is a risk of heavy snow and strong winds spreading from the west later in the afternoon and evening, with blizzards and drifting snow. As always there is some uncertainty in the forecast so stayed tuned to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã for updates.

Thereafter it should turn less cold with a thaw and some rain in the run up to the New Year but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the cold air has another swipe at us.

Derek

Well, it looks as if we've seen the worst of the snow for the time being but we could be in for a little bit more on Wednesday.

Aside from all the chaos the snow causes; it also dramatically alters the landscape - transforming the mundane into something very dramatic.

I found myself getting repeatedly lost on Saturday morning trying to escape Cardiff and get onto the slippery M4.

As I walked to my van, I felt like I was in a disaster movie - with abandoned cars and snow everywhere I looked, but no people!

The normally busy roads were eerily quiet aside from the occasional jack-knifed delivery lorry or car skidding to escape the snow.

Once I'd dug my van out and got going, the fun really began. I've never missed so many turns in all my life but all familiarity vanished.

Everything looked completely different and with road signs covered in snow, it made navigating, let alone driving - very tricky indeed.

*If you're on an icy hill, keep a steady speed all the way up - don't brake or stop on the steepest section* Sorry, but I had to get that off my chest!

You've all been very busy, getting out and about and taking some amazing photos, so here are a few taken during the recent snow flurries:

A dramatic snow scene taken by Nigel Lewis.

Merthyr Mawr bathed in glorious sunshine at noon on Monday by Andrew Owen.

A temperature reading of -17C in an car on Monday morning in Bala town centre by Keith Humph.

Pontsticill Reservoir on Sunday, taken from the Brecon Mountain Railway Station by Tim Borman of Church Village.

A swan finds out the hard way in Roath Park lake! Photo by Jo Bird in Cardiff

That's it for now. Keep them coming - wales.nature@bbc.co.uk or add your favourite snaps to our .

Thanks

Gull

Derek is off ill today so in the meantime I thought I'd provide a quick update based on the latest information from the Met Office and Ö÷²¥´óÐã Weather.

At the time of writing it is still snowing across much of South and West Wales with snow flurries reported in Cardiff, Bridgend, Porthcawl, Swansea and Pembrokeshire.

It's still bitterly cold out there with a biting NE to ENE wind so wrap up warm if you're heading out and be careful walking on pavements etc as it's still very icy underneath the fresh layers of snow.

The Met Office have issued again today for parts of Wales so keep an eye on your area.

Temperatures will remain well below freezing in most places with maximum temperatures only reaching 0 degrees Celsius. More snow flurries are expected for South Wales this afternoon.

There will be icy conditions again on the roads tonight as temperatures drop to as low as -12 degrees Celcius in some parts of Wales as well as freezing fog patches.

Take extra care on the roads and keep a safe distance between you and the car in front as you can't always see ice/ black ice until it's too late.

Widespread disruption continues so check the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Travel website for all the latest updates.

are urging drivers to seriously consider all car journeys very carefully before setting off and to check that your vehicle is safe to drive.

Make sure you have some severe weather essentials in your car too such as additional warm clothing, food, water, a fully charged mobile phone, a torch and a shovel etc just incase you become stuck.

All flights to and from have been cancelled and the airport is closed until at least 4pm today.

Weather presenter, Sue Charles has just sent in the latest weather update and snow forecast for Wales:

The snow should ease tonight, moving into Herefordshire and Gloucestershire with further snow flurries overnight. It will be extremely cold again tonight though with - 8 degrees Celsius in Wrexham and Conwy and even colder in more rural areas.

Tomorrow is looking very cold again with freezing fog patches but expect some brightness further north. However there could still be enough cloud around to bring in a few wintry showers, especially further west but it should be generally drier than today.

Again temperatures will be struggling to get above freezing -1 degrees Celsius is the forecasted high for Cardiff and -7 degrees Celsius for Welshpool.

Further snow showers are still possible for Tuesday evening especially in the south west but things will generally turn drier later in the week with the odd wintry shower.

More northerly winds will continue to bring Arctic air, keeping things cold so we could see yet more snow.

Gull

Astronomy will be brought down to earth in a special moment of live stargazing that will motivate the nation to look up at the wonders that fill our skies every night of the year.

The three episodes on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two, stripped over the three consecutive nights of 3 - 5 January will be presented by Prof Brian Cox, Dara O Briain and One Show astronomer Mark Thompson whilst Liz Bonin is live from Hawaii.

In his own inimitable fashion, Brian shows how anyone can be an astronomer, as he encourages the audience to set off on their own journey of discovery.

This event is being planned to coincide with a series of three exciting celestial events that should be visible to amateurs and experts alike in the UK (weather permitting!).

Each of these events will provide an ideal way to theme each programme including the appearance of Jupiter in conjunction with Uranus for the first time since the 14th Century, a spectacular partial solar eclipse and the .

The presenters will answer questions, request photographs of the sky from the audience and use demonstrations and real-time astronomical images to guide the nation's amateur astronomers across the skies.

There will be plenty of resources on offer such as downloadable star charts and audio guides to get you started and plenty of events happening throughout Wales.

The big freeze is about to return with Arctic winds bringing a big drop in temperature, ice and some significant snow fall tonight and tomorrow.

The north and west and the south west are likely to be worst hit. The snow will be in the form of showers, so amounts of snow will vary from place to place. 2 to 5cm, 1 to 2 inches is expected quite widely.

Fields of snow by Dr Murray.

Some places can expect 5 to 10cm, 2 to 4 inches while the deepest snow is likely in Snowdonia with 20cm, 8 inches, of fresh snow possible by 6am on Friday.

Drifting is likely too with strong winds and blizzards on the mountains, and it will feel bitterly cold with a significant wind-chill making it feel more like -5 to -10 degrees Celsius.

On Saturday more wintry weather is expected. Low pressure will bring a spell of more general snow. 5 to 10cm, 2 to 4 inches, is expected widely, with the possibility of 20 to 25cm in places, 8 to 12 inches.

It would be worth keeping a very close eye on the forecast over the next couple of days for updates. Here is the .

Next week will continue very cold with some sunshine and a risk of snow showers at times and some very low night-time temperatures are likely too, -10 to -15 inland with severe frosts.

Follow the snow as it tracks across the UK with this

It's time to dig out the thermals and snow shoes!

Derek

Because of the cold weather, some people are saying "so much for global warming" which is understandable but this is far from the case. Climate and weather, although interlinked, are separate things.

Mark Twain, American humorist, writer and lecturer once said  "Climate is what we expect and weather is what we get!"

Weather is something which changes by the hour and from day to day, while climate is weather averaged over a long period of time - normally 30 years.

The cold weather we're experiencing now doesn't mean that that global warming has suddenly stopped or gone away.

Far from it. It's just that we're colder than normal at the moment and other parts of the world are warmer than usual which is all part of the natural variation in weather.

Normally, the jet stream, which is a ribbon of strong winds high in the atmosphere (around 30,000 feet), would steer areas of low pressure in from the Atlantic bringing us spells of wet and windy weather but sometimes the jet stream gets diverted.

High pressure forms to the north and east of Britain and instead of mild south westerly winds - we end up with winds from the north or east, drawing in very cold air from the Arctic, Scandinavia and sometimes Siberia.

These winds pick-up moisture as they cross the sea and dump it as snow. Sometimes the atmosphere can get stuck in a rut and "blocks of air" can form.

These blocks are natural and can be difficult to shift and can last from a few days to a few weeks before finally breaking down.

Depending on which side of the block you are on - it can either be very warm or exceptionally cold.

Recently it's been colder in Wales than on the south coast off Greenland because of the shape and position of the jet stream. In Russia this summer however, a blocking high led to a devastating heat wave and drought.

Since 1981 and 1982 many winters have been fairly mild in Wales until recently with little if any snow before Christmas.

Another thing to bear in mind, is that although the overall trend in Britain maybe towards a warmer climate, that does not rule out wet summers in the future or cold, snowy winters.

Indeed, some forecasters are now saying we could be entering a new phase or cycle, something which is separate from climate change.

This cycle may last several years or even decades and if right, it could mean that colder winters may be something we have to get used to.

Time will tell of course but whether you believe in climate change or not, one thing is certain, the weather will never stop being a talking point in Britain wherever you are; at the bus stop, in work or down the pub!

Derek

It was a quiet weekend - dry and not too cold so ideal for a walk or Christmas shopping but it will be a very  different story next weekend as an Arctic blast looks set to bring more snow, ice and freezing temperatures.

Over the next few days, a ridge of high pressure will keep things largely dry and settled. There'll be some sunshine and a few fog patches with just a slight frost overnight - nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year but don't be fooled...

A cold front over the Arctic will sweep south across Britain during Thursday and that will open the gates to some very cold air, direct from the North Pole.

Most of Wales will be in the firing line for and the Met Office has issued an early warning.

Very low night time temperatures are also expected with further snowfall over the weekend.

At the moment, it looks like it may turn less cold next week, so don't bank on it being a white Christmas just yet, but there could well be snow still visible on 25 December.

Derek

It's that time of year again and we're in for a treat tonight and early on Tuesday morning as the skies should be fairly clear over much of Wales.

The can be seen annually at this time of year.

Most meteor showers are linked to dust and debris from comets but the Geminids originate from an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.

3200 Phaethon has a cloud of dust trailing from it that the Earth moves through every year in mid December.

Particles of dust travelling at 80,000 mph hit our atmosphere and appear as bright pale green streaks of light, streaking across the sky at a rate of up to 80 per hour.

To see the Geminids, stand with your feet pointing North, West or Southwards and look up at an angle of about 45 degrees. I'll be cheating this time and using my iphone 'star walk' application to find them! ;)

If you know your constellations then look up towards the Castor star which forms part of Gemini.

The best time to see them will be a couple of hours after midnight so set your alarm and wrap up warm, as it will be a chilly night.

There's a nice little piece in the Guardian about the meteor showers today.

As ever I'd love to see your pics particularly with the Ö÷²¥´óÐã 'star gazing' event coming up in early January...but more on that nearer the time.

Send your pics to me at wales.nature@bbc.co.uk or submit them to our fantastic .

Well, it was a pleasant change not having to scrape ice off the car windscreen this morning!

Across much of Wales, temperatures stayed above freezing although Pembrey on the Carmarthenshire coast dipped down to -1 Celsius.

The air over us today has come from the Atlantic so it is milder & moister but as this air flows over cold ground - low cloud, mist and fog patches will form.

Another thing to bear in mind is that, although air temperatures are higher, the ground is still very cold so there is almost anywhere, particularly when there are clear skies overnight and early morning.

Some drizzle is likely today and tomorrow, mainly in the north and west; in Snowdonia and on the Cambrian Mountains. Otherwise it will be dry and if you're lucky the sun will make an appearance.

Saturday will be the mildest day with temperatures rising as high as 8 or 9 Celsius in the north and west but closer to 4 or 6 Celsius in Powys, the south and south east with light winds.

On Saturday night temperatures will fall close to freezing in places with fog patches and a slight frost.

Sunday will be colder but dry with the best of the sunshine likely in the west and the north west, from Pembrokeshire around the coast into Gwynedd and on Anglesey.

Next week will turn colder with more frost and later in the week it looks like we might see another Arctic plunge with even lower temperatures and a risk of snow.

The forecast chart for 6pm next Thursday from the American computer model (GFS) shows northerly winds across Britain.

The blue line numbered 510 is a measure of temperature and indicates very cold air from the North Pole spreading south across the UK and Ireland - providing perfect conditions for Santa's reindeer (if it stays in place for Christmas Eve).

December 1981 was the snowiest and coldest of the last century but the way things are looking, this December could turn out to be the coldest since 1894 when Queen Victoria was on the throne!

Derek

Winter is easing its icy grip on Wales and temperatures have been slowly creeping upwards.

On Thursday temperatures reached 8 Celsius on parts of the coast from the Lleyn Peninsula around to Mumbles Head in Swansea - the highest since November 24th.

And that's the story for the next couple of days. Slightly milder with a thaw of lying snow but there is still a risk of icy patches with spots of light rain and drizzle falling onto frozen ground. Some mist and fog patches are likely too.

So it's turning milder for a time but next week temperatures are set to drop again! With more frost and sunshine and perhaps a few snow showers later in the week.

Derek

With all the cold weather and heavy frosts; rivers across Wales are turning to ice.

Here is the River Ely in Penarth as you've never seen it before (or perhaps you have? Let us know and leave a comment below)

Tina Crocker sent in this amazing shot of the River Ely in Penarth - completely frozen over with snow on top.

Another shot of the frozen River Ely in Penarth.

Nicolas McDowall has also been in touch reporting ice flows on the River Wye, near Tintern - a sight he's not seen in 20+ years of living there. Check his .

Ice circles that formed just below a weir on the River Amman, Ammanford. Image by Roy Baylis

Meanwhile Neil Law reports that the River Severn is also frozen around the bridge at Worcester.

Last night there was another widespread frost with temperatures at Trawscoed in Ceredigion dipping to minus 9 Celsius!

The cold and icy weather is not everyone's cup of tea but the frost is pretty to look at. If you're fed up with the cold and scraping the frost off your car windscreen - you'll be happy to know that a change is on the way.

The cold air over us at the moment is going to move away to the east over the next few days replaced by milder air from the Atlantic.

Bob Hyett took this photo this morning at Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan, when it was -5C.

So after tonight, temperatures are going to rise by a few degrees with a thaw of lying snow but higher temperatures in the hills and mountains could lead to falling ice from frozen waterfalls.

Low cloud, mist and fog will become more likely too as the milder and moister air flows over the frozen ground.

Mind you, it looks like the change to milder weather is only a blip. Next week will turn colder again with north-easterly winds and I wouldn't be surprised if there was more snow before Christmas.

Derek

The are asking us all to lend a helping hand to our wildlife and in particular the birds, during this cold snap.

Birds use up precious energy flying away from us when spooked, so please bare that in mind next time you want to get a closer look at something.

As the ground freezes over, food becomes incredibly scarce and our feathered friends begin to move into areas that we humans also like to frequent such as parks and gardens.

Wildfowl (ducks, geese and swans) in particular will be looking for areas of open water on ponds, lakes and reserves.

Due to the more severe weather in the north and east of Britain, birds will also be flying west to areas in Wales to try and find places where they can still feed.

This little chap flew into a house looking for warmth and shelter and remained on the owners hand for about 4 minutes before flying away. I've seen robins do this before but never blue tits, which are normally very timid birds - so it just goes to show how cold and vulnerable our birds are at the moment. Image by Janjo195 on Flickr.

Remember to leave fresh warm water out whenever you can. If you leave cold water out then it freezes over very quickly, so I tend to use luke warm water and place it somewhere the birds will feel safe e.g. on top of a hedge or wall rather than on the lawn.

There were some great feeding tips from the RSPB in my last blog on this topic so take a read if you have time.

Gull

Our immediate world is under snow. Well, large tracts of the the Heads of the Valleys are anyway and, walking with Dylan one morning this week. I found the snow to be the noisiest I've ever known.

The temperature was very low - minus 8 according to one pundit I met in the closed off corrie that is Cwmdare. The sun was shining, low but brightly over the ridge that leads to Maerdy in the Rhondda Fach, and the snow was at its glistening best, hard and crunchy to the foot-fall. So crunchy in fact that everyone who had ventured out commented on it and you could hear people walk at a distance of 100 yards. All right, metres.

The snow, although not deep, has made an impression this past week. On Friday night, on a visit to Tesco to get Dylan's biscuits, it started snowing and the flakes were the biggest I have ever known. They were the size of side plates in a table setting. Quite magnificent, but not good quality, for they were very damp.However, the low temperatures meant they froze quickly on the roads and caused mayhem.

Snow for me, feeds the memory with the ghosts of snow storms past. I'm sure I remember the heavy fall of 1947, when I was only four. I could walk over my Mamgu's garden gate. No bother at all and one night there were strange lights in the sky. The aurora borealis over Brynaman, the Northern Lights dancing over the Derlwyn Arms pub and Danny "Rhiw Ddu"'s farm. No doubt about it, and to see them again remains an ambition of mine. It's a pity really that Joanna Lumley has stolen my thunder, but, no odds, I'll get there one day, be it Norway or Canada.

In 1963 I was in Cardiff Training College. It was a winter so deep and severe that Roath Lake froze for a couple of months. We could walk across it from one campus to another and, on one occasion a short game of rugby was played on it. The lake lay like concrete. I can't recall where the ducks went for solace.

My father clearing our drive in Brynaman, 1963

Up in Cwmdare this week, there was still enough unfrozen water for the Canada geese and other duck varieties to paddle about, leading to one dog walker to comment: "If there is reincarnation I don't want to come back as a duck. Not in weather like this." Mind you, when the Canada geese start their pre-flight squawking and they take off in formation, slowly rising above the lake, what a sight they make. It's beaten only when the squadron comes back in and each duck uses its wings in a full flap brake angle and its legs in cushion landing mode. Even then, not every duck has mastered the art and one or two are all over the place.

Ah, the memory too of gaining Brownie points from my son on a snowy week in 1978. He was only three and was excited by the snow. You couldn't buy plastic sledges then, but I was his hero when I went out to the garage with a chair that was surplus to requirements. I knocked the legs off, screwed some cut planks across the legs for a seat and added thick cord as the uphill towing line. Man oh man, what a cresta run vehicle it proved to be. We had years of snowy service out of it.

Braving the elements on a slope in Landare, Aberdare in the late 1970s

The magic of snow. Apparently, the Inuit have over 40 names for it... or is it more? I'm looking out of the window at it as I write. What a sight it makes. And under this covering our lawn looks just as good as any one else's.

You have to wonder about global warning don't you? At minus 8 in Cwmdare, the only thing hot around here is the argument about global warming.

Roy

Roy Noble is bringing his famous storytelling skills to a computer near you as part of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã First Click Campaign - aimed at encouraging people to take their first steps to getting online. If you know somebody who needs help to get online, call the free Ö÷²¥´óÐã First Click advice line on 08000 150950.

Last weekend, winter eased its grip with a slow thaw.

Daytime temperatures rose as high as 6 or 7 Celsius on the coast but with rain falling onto frozen ground, some roads and pavements turned into ice rinks.

Last night it turned colder again and with clear skies, temperatures fell as low as -9 Celsius inland and much of Wales woke up to hard frosts this morning.

This afternoon RAF Valley on Anglesey reached 6 Celsius with a breeze off the sea but at Tirabad in Powys, the frost persisted all day, with freezing fog keeping the temperature down to -6 Celsius.

Tonight will bring more freezing fog patches and another widespread, hoar frost. You can find out more about frosts at Ö÷²¥´óÐã Weather.

Snowdon from Pen Llyn at Brynrefail, Snowdonia by Elton Angle-Smith.

On Tuesday a weakening front will move south into Wales during the day bringing a little sleet and snow into the north and north west.

Most of Powys and the south will remain dry with some sunshine but like today - freezing fog will be slow to clear and lingering all day in a few areas.

Wednesday will be cold but generally dry with plenty of sunshine and a northerly breeze.

Thursday and Friday will be cloudier and less cold with the wind turning into the north west and at the moment, the weekend looks set to turn milder with some mist, hill fog and drizzle.

Hang on to your hats though as the cold weather looks set to return towards the end of next week with another Arctic plunge!

Derek

It's very icy again today which seems to sum up the weekend weather quite well really.

I was surprised at how heavy a frost we had on the coast during Saturday and Sunday but at least it was dry with blue sky and sunshine - in SE Wales anyway.

My windscreen wiper fluid is supposed to be good for minus 8 degrees Celsius but it was rendered useless? So it must have been cold! I'm hoping Derek will enlighten us all later...

The M4 corridor heading east was bathed in a thick blanket of fog today with snow and frost covering everything as far as the eye could see so you'll definitely need your side lights on if driving today.

Rest Bay in the sun on my chilly, Sunday afternoon walk.

It's a great time of year to wrap up warm and go for a walk though. I headed down a trail near Rest Bay yesterday afternoon and saw all sorts of bird life.

At the start of the walk I spotted a one collared dove - (once very common but no longer so) as well as some rooks, crows and starlings all busily feeding in recently ploughed fields.

A little further on where horses graze I found the local lapwing flock who seem to blitz the local fields daily, moving off in large numbers every time they're spooked by walkers. In amongst them were blackbirds, song thrushes and everyone's wintry favourite - the fieldfare.

A black headed gull perched on a railing by Mark Jones.

As I neared the beach, black headed gulls - now lacking their distinct black heads, sat on telegraph poles eagerly eyeing up any left over chips from surfers, making the most of a small, clean but powerless two foot swell.

The tide was low and the beach bathed in sunshine but the cold northerly wind was keeping it crowd free apart from the odd dog walker.

On the return leg I spotted the tell-tale skittish flight of goldfinches - again tricky to get near to without scaring off. Meanwhile a dunnock hopped along the tops of the hedgerows stalking me - no doubt hoping I'd provide some food.

Dunnocks are funny little birds. During the summer months you hardly notice them - skulking about in the undergrowth with their drab, brown plumage. But in winter they become a bit more adventurous and their colour becomes far more distinct, so they actually resemble a bird rather than a mouse.

Icicles stuck to a frozen plant by Richard Harris.

In a field to my right were two oystercatchers, busily probing bright red bills into the green grass in search of worms. It always strike me as odd, seeing them in this environment (alongside horses) as I'm so used to seeing them on rocky seashores. I must remember to take my camera with me next time and show you what I mean.

And last but not least a large buzzard swooped lazily overhead before taking up a perch on the local stable roof. I tried my best to walk stealthily around the corner and out flank him, but he'd clocked me long before I'd got within 50 feet and was gone!

It's amazing how much is still out there really. Even on the coldest of days, I'd spotted at least ten species of bird without even trying.

And don't forget - you can watch Iolo's Secret Life of Birds on Ö÷²¥´óÐã i-player currently. All the episodes so far are on there, for your viewing pleasure :)

Gull

It's still feeling bitterly cold today with a north-easterly breeze and this could well be the coldest start to December we've had since 1981.

There's been more fresh snow fall in Wales but not as much as in England and Scotland where the snow has been very deep in places.

As you'll see below, we've had some amazing photos sent in recently! So keep them coming @ wales.nature@bbc.co.uk

Tryfan Mountain in the Ogwen valley by Eric Scadding.

Tonight the biting wind will ease but with clearer skies, temperatures will drop like a stone. Typically -2 to -9 Celsius but in parts of central Wales and the north east - the thermometer could plunge as low as -15 Celsius.

The lowest temperature recorded for December in Wales was -22.7 °C at Corwen in Denbighshire on 13 December 1981.

Tomorrow will start off very cold and frosty with a risk of ice and a few freezing fog patches. During the afternoon, a band of rain and snow will gradually spread across the country.

Mt Snowdon by Mr Lyn Adams from Anglesey

This will fall mainly as rain and sleet on the coast but inland we could see more snow falling with 2-5cm of fresh snow possible, so expect more disruption and very icy roads making driving hazardous.

Over the weekend, winter will ease its grip slightly with warmer temperatures forecast - especially on the coast but it will stay cold inland.

Some rain, sleet and snow is likely on Saturday but the snow will mainly be on higher ground and in the north. There is also a high risk of ice, as rain falls onto frozen ground and roads.

Sgwd Gwladus Falls by Mike Davies in Neath.

Sunday will be cold but it should be drier and brighter with some sunshine.

Next week will bring plenty of dry weather and sunshine but temperatures will remain below average.

Frost and freezing fog patches are expected by night, as well as a risk of ice on untreated roads and surfaces.

The Carmarthenshire Vans form the western reaches of the Brecon Beacons. The wild, high, open moorland that stretches on as far as Carreg Cennen Castle is the Black Mountain.

This mountain is not as pretentious as the Black Mountains of Hay on Wye and the Welsh borderlands. Those hills gather together in the plural, but the Black Mountain that stands brooding above Brynaman is content enough to be singular. It is self confident as one.

This area came to mind this week because I'm due to visit Bethlehem to open the village Christmas Fair. This is not Bethlehem, Judea, but Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire, which lies at the foot of the northern slopes of the Black Mountain, just above the magnificent flow of the Towy and its valley, heading downwards to Llandeilo, and upwards to Llandovery.

The mountain has a dominant colour that has a clue in its name, although dark grey would be nearer the mark and, from a distance, that shade is widespread, nature having carried massive boulders and scree on an ancient ice-flow to dump them as soon as Swansea Bay was in view on the far horizon.

This land is border country of another kind, marking the impressive ridge of carboniferous limestone that separates the coal measures of old industrial south Wales from the northern Old Red Sandstone that stretches under the agrarian quilt of fields that towards mid Wales.

It's a funny thing, but fate has always decreed that I be drawn to limestone. I was born on the slopes of the Black Mountain, I had two teaching headships in Pontneddfechan and Llangattock, and I now live to the north of Aberdare, near the quarries of Penderyn and Cefn Coed. They are all on the band of limestone that circles the south Wales coalfield.

The Black Mountain is wild, an open moorland where no trees grow, and when you walk there it exudes a clearly discernable feeling of being at one with the ancients. To the west are three cairns viewing the valley of the Cennen and the dramatic limestone ridge that firmly holds the famed castle. Carreg Cennen is a good name, a strong name.

For me the mountain was a part of life. As a child I played my games there, I swam in Pwll Du Uchaf and Pwll Du Isaf, the Upper and Lower Black Pools.

When the summers were good and reliable they turned up when they were expected, and I hiked to Carreg Lwyd, the grey stone, that formed the peak, carrying my ex-army haversack stuffed with dandelion and burdock pop and condensed milk sandwiches.

In later year I did my courting there and on occasion, when sadness and loss beset the family, I walked the moorland just 'to let it'. Only the mountain saw the weeping and it allowed you your space and time to release that emotion.

Oddly enough, in those days, if a man was seen regularly walking the mountain on his own, it got around the village that he was depressed. I don't know what modern lone day hikers would make of that.

I have also been lost on the mountain. Well, not so much lost, as late, after the annual pilgrimage to Carreg Cennen Castle that was always undertaken by children on Whit Monday. I don't know where the tradition came from, but we all did it, from every village in the Amman Valley. It was our version of going to Mecca.

John Salter, Tecwyn Thomas and I left it late to leave to the castle one year and by the time we got to the ridge of the mountain, the mist and darkness was upon us.

My mother had already reported to the police that we were missing, but the good Lord proved again that he never works a three day week, for he placed a parked car on the Brynaman to Llangadog road, just where the road begins to dip towards the south.

Mind you, it must have been a shock to that courting couple to be quietly sitting there, when suddenly, out of the mist and darkness come three vagabonds desperate for a lift. Just to put the record straight, he did marry her a few months later!

The Black Mountain, my spiritual home and a place of the ancients, stretching down to Gwynfe, Bethlehem and Llyn y Fan Fach, of Lady of the Lake fame. It is a wild, rugged open moorland and the fact that it forms the Carmarthen Vans and the western reaches of the Brecon Beacons is true, but it is a place in its own right: proud, independent and quite unique.

Roy

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