Some sports fans might claim ‘Cymru am byth’ – the motto of the Welsh Guards, formed in 1915 – for their own, come match day. But nowhere is this phrase – meaning ‘Wales forever’ or occasionally ‘long live Wales’ – more powerful or apt than within the context of the land itself. Rocky outcrops in Anglesey have been dated back to the Precambrian Era, the earliest part of Earth’s history. The Latin word for Wales (Cambria) is even used internationally to describe the Cambrian Era of geology, some 500 million years ago. From the Black Mountains in the south to the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) massif itself, there’s a reason these mountains feel almost timeless.
South-westerlies and westerlies blow in from the Atlantic Ocean, and the Welsh maritime climate creates a mood and an interplay of often watery sunlight and cloud like no other. For hillwalkers like us, it means the memorable days are hard won – and likely wet. Perhaps this is why the welcome is always warm in the walkers’ pubs up and down this country, with its own lyrical language and diverse regional identities. To know Wales is to delight in its mythologies, culture of song and storytelling, and to hear its histories. Here, we hear from six residents of Cymru about homecoming in these hills.
WHERE THE LIGHT GETS IN
Lena Drapella travels the world photographing athletes climbing in spots of global significance and renown. Here, she recalls a particularly special day outdoors in the shadow of Llechog in Eryri (Snowdonia) – the home of adventure to which she always chooses to return.
It wasn’t an unusual day. The morning had been spent working at home, accompanied by a quiet yet steady ‘tac tac tac’ on the roof. The sound had become so familiar over the last few months.
