The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.3 - Review Raffle - Jayne's Task: Trails of Wales

With both of my reviews last season covering distinctly Welsh books, and the Spring challenge starting on St. David’s Day, it only feels right to highlight some of the best long-distance trails in my adoptive home country. Lace up your walking boots and let’s go!

Choose an option and read a book for that option.
Required: state the option you chose.

Option 1: St. Illtyd’s Walk

St. Illtyd’s Walk is said to be the route taken by St. Illtyd, the abbot of Llantwit Major, while preaching in South Wales during the 5th and 6th centuries. Starting in Carmarthenshire and ending just south of Port Talbot, the route travels 64 miles through the Vale of Neath, also known as Waterfall Country. While St Illtyd’s Walk is too far south to cover the majority of the region’s falls, it does pass by Melincourt Falls – a spectacular 80ft cascade that was immortalised on canvas by J. M. W. Turner.

Read a book which features a waterfall on the cover.
Required: Post the cover.

Option 2: Glyndŵr’s Way

Up in the county of Powys, Glyndŵr’s Way is a 135-mile National Trail that boasts incredible views of Cadair Idris, Wales’ second-highest peak. Despite being named after Owain Glyndŵr, the last native-born Prince of Wales, the trail itself doesn’t follow any particular historical journey. Instead, it links various places in the region that have a connection to Glyndŵr and his legendary rebellion against the English King Henry IV.

Read a book with a word in the title of 4 or more letters than can be made from OWAIN GLYNDŴR. Letters may be used only as often as they appear.
Required: State the word.

Option 3: Sarn Helen

Technically referring to multiple stretches of Roman road, Sarn Helen spans 160 miles from Aberconwy in the north down to Carmarthen in the west. The route takes its name from Saint Elen of Caernarfon, a Celtic saint whose story appears in the Mabinogion, the most well-known collection of Welsh mythology.

Read a book with an MPG of Religion and/or Mythology.

Option 4: Offa’s Dyke Path

The Offa’s Dyke Path is named for the 8th century earthwork that once separated Wales from England on the orders of King Offa of Mercia. The current route from Chepstow in the south to Prestatyn in the north still closely follows the current Wales/England border. Opened in the summer of 1971, the trail has been drawing visitors for over 50 years – mainly between April and October, when the Welsh weather is at its best!

Read a book that was first published between April and October of a year since 1971 (inclusive).
Required: State the date of first publication.

Option 5: Cambrian Way

The Cambrian Way is arguably the most strenuous trail in Wales. Starting in Cardiff and heading north to Conwy, the route traverses some of the highest upland terrain in the country, including all three mountains that comprise the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge: Pen y Fan, Cadair Idris and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), making the highest point of the trail a whopping 3560ft above sea level.

Read a book whose page count is comprised of the following digits: 3, 5, 6, 0. Each digit may be used only once.

Option 6: Wales Coast Path

The first dedicated coast path to cover the entire length of a national coastline, the Wales Coast Path runs for 870 miles and links with the Offa’s Dyke Path, forming a continuous walking route around the whole of the country. It’s also the only one of these trails that I’ve managed to tackle part of! Last summer my partner and I walked a section of the trail from Dunraven Bay towards Ogmore-by-Sea, being treated to phenomenal views of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast while sand martins wheeled overhead.

Read a book whose cover shows the coastline. Both water and land should be visible.
Required: Post the cover.

These books work:

Option 6 -

Reserved

Just for my own clarification, April and October count for option 4. So a book published April 2025 would work?

JennRenee wrote: "Just for my own clarification, April and October count for option 4. So a book published April 2025 would work?"

Yes, absolutely. :)

- work for coastline?

Dee wrote: " - work for coastline?"

Yes, this works!

Morning

Just a quick one. Are two Ws available for Option 2? I'm only asking as one of them is accented in the target phrase.

Cheers.

Trish wrote: "Morning

Just a quick one. Are two Ws available for Option 2? I'm only asking as one of them is accented in the target phrase.

Cheers."

Yes, you can use two Ws. Default rules say that you can ignore accents and diacritics, so you don't have to worry about the to bach in Glyndŵr.

Jayne wrote: "Trish wrote: "Morning

Just a quick one. Are two Ws available for Option 2? I'm only asking as one of them is accented in the target phrase.

Cheers."

Yes, you can use two Ws. Default rules say th..."

For anyone confused, "to bach" , literally "little roof" is the circumflex over the W.

Cool. Thank you.

Robin P wrote: "For anyone confused, "to bach" , literally "little roof" is the circumflex over the W."

I genuinely had no idea what that accent was called in English until just now, I've only ever had to describe it in Welsh. Thanks Robin!

Jayne wrote: "Robin P wrote: "For anyone confused, "to bach" , literally "little roof" is the circumflex over the W."

I genuinely had no idea what that accent was called in English until just now, I've only eve..."

I know a beginner's amount of Welsh, but I had to look that up to be sure. That accent also exists in French and other languages.

Does this work for coastline?

Katrisa wrote: "Does this work for coastline?
"

Going to say yes for that, it's coastal cliffs and water. Might want to link back here so the reviewing mod knows it got the thumbs up though.

Jayne wrote: "Katrisa wrote: "Does this work for coastline?
"

Going to say yes for that, it's coastal cliffs and water. Might want to link back here so the r..."

Thanks! I'll do that :)

does this book The Spellshop work for option 4? Is was published July 9, 2024

Cindie wrote: "does this book The Spellshop work for option 4? Is was published July 9, 2024"

Yes, that works.

I have a question about option 6: coastland

Some of us come from landlocked areas, so identifying "coastland" can be trickier. I have many books with covers showing both land and water, but I can't tell if that water is necessarily ocean/sea, a lake, or a river. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it: "The meaning of COASTLAND is land bordering the sea."

So do we simply limit covers to locations we KNOW border the sea? I know this might seem trivial to some, but I really can't tell how large a body of water I'm seeing on some of my possible covers. One example might be a cover showing the coast of one of the Great Lakes in North America. Is that "coastland"?

Kathy KS wrote: "I have a question about option 6: coastland

Some of us come from landlocked areas, so identifying "coastland" can be trickier. I have many books with covers showing both land and water, but I can'..."

To be honest, this is a tough one to answer - if I were reviewing mod, I probably wouldn't be able to determine if it was coastal or the shore of one of the Great Lakes, because I simply don't know what the Great Lakes look like.

It's probably simplest to define it as water and land (be that sand, rock or cliff), and no other shore visible on the far side. I know that's not strictly accurate since there are some cases where you can see a distant landmass from the coastline, but it's probably going to be the easiest to moderate.

Thanks, Jayne, that will certainly help me. I think it will clarify a few of my possibles... Kathy

Would an MPG of Christianity work for option 3 or does it need to be 'Religion' ?

Many thanks,

Paul wrote: "Would an MPG of Christianity work for option 3 or does it need to be 'Religion' ?

Many thanks,"

It needs to be Religion.

Jayne wrote: "Paul wrote: "Would an MPG of Christianity work for option 3 or does it need to be 'Religion' ?

Many thanks,"

It needs to be Religion."

ok, thanks.