Devil's Bridge

WYesterday, the girls went to spend time with our friend, Hannah, while Jean, Sam and I took the short drive to Devil's Bridge. 

Inserting our £2 each into the turnstile, we entered a trail which went down, down, down through the damp, cold, moss-covered bush in search of a waterfall.  Jean said she'd never been down this trail before, and it proved to be an arduous but interesting descent into the ravine below.  Along the way, we passed many a rhododendron, apparently native originally to the British Isles but which died out a few thousand years ago, only to be re-introduced a few centuries ago.  Needless to say, the rhododendrons were in their winter state.  Many trees outside the trail were also wintery, leafless and bleak, but the moss was apparently thriving.

The trail floor consisted of cold hard ground, or stone steps made of slate.  As we descended, I knew we would have to climb up again.  Conscious of Jean's bad knee, I urged her not to continue down.  Soon, she rested at a wooden 'hut', while Sam and I continued the descent.  One steep flight of steps alone consisted of 90 steps.  

Eventually, Sam and I reached Robbers Cave, where we had a closer view of the waterfall.  At Devil's Bridge, the river Mynach drops 90 metres into the deep ravine and later flows into the river Rheidol.  At the Cave, we noticed several small icicles just hanging there, testament to the cold temperature, which was hovering a little above zero.

The trail which led to the waterfall at Devil's Bridge

The waterfall

The bleak, wintery scenery

Moss covered trees, ground and rocks.

The river Mynach drops 90 metres into the ravine and later flows into the river Rheidol.  The latter reaches its mouth at Aberystwyth.

Some icicles

The mossy, rhododendron-covered trail near the surface of the ravine

Devil's Bridge itself - the 11th century foot bridge is at bottom.  A stone bridge for horse and cart was built above it in 1753.  Higher still, the iron bridge was constructed in 1901, used by the modern motor car.