A treasure hunt in southern Snowdonia

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We’re going on a treasure hunt. We’re going to find a big one. What a beautiful day. We’re not scared.

A walk in the woods at Coed y Brenin Forest Park near Dolgellau could inspire a Michael Rosen story.

It was a couple of days away, some quality-time bonding for Maya and I after the recent storms. But, in the great storytelling tradition, it also was far more than that.

On the geocache trail, hand in hand in the spring sunshine, we feel into an easy rhythm.

Mossy treestumps stood to attention as we passed. Spring birdlife called to us overhead.

When we stopped at the viewpoint to consult the map, Maya delivered an impromptu weather forecast (see it here SANY0005) – grey clouds clearing at last.

As we tramped, searching for the first geocache, the tiny plastic box with its logbook and secret treasures, the conversation drifted with the breeze.

  • What is a good age to get married?
  • Of potential career paths between a doctor, a teacher and a writer, then doctor earns the most money, but who has the most fun?
  • If I was a character in hit TV show Miranda, which character would I be (decision: I’d be Garry’s helper in the restaurant, not Mike the Knight.)

Later that day we would drive onto Graig Wen, spending the night in the new eco-cabin (pictured above).

It was dusk and she set off to explore, taking my camera to capture images of the site, the B&B, camping and yurts set just off the Mawddach Way long-distance trail around the Mawddach estuary.

That night the stars were amazing. As we walked up the path to our cabin after dinner, we looked up to the night sky, illuminated with a thousand tiny tealights, for comfort and reassurance.

“That’s nana,” said Maya, pointing to the brightest star I the sky. “I know she’s looking after us.”

We never did find the treasure in the geocahe at Coed y Brenin. But it didn’t matter. We had space and time to just be together.

And that was something to truly treasure.

* The accompanying commission to this will be published on greentraveller.co.uk – check back for updates.

GAZETTEER

Coed y Brenin Forest Park

Graig Wen’s Caban in the Glade

The Mawddach Way

Discover Dolgellau

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