Cambrian Safaris is a new business, we have only been up and running a few months and are working hard trying to make ourselves known both in Wales and abroad! The idea has been with us for several years, we have always enjoyed showing visitors family and friends the sights of the area, and 7 years of ownership of an old military 'Lightweight' Land Rover meant we have found our way around most of the back roads, both surfaced and unsurfaced, of north Ceredigion and the Cambrian mountains.

At first we thought we'd be using an old style Land Rover, as you might expect on safari in Africa, but we soon decided to go for something which would give our guests a more comfortable ride. The Land Rover Discovery 3 is practically as good as a Range Rover, and can carry 6 passengers. We did not chose a Land Rover because we want to drive a lot of rough tracks / 'green lanes' etc, but more for space and comfort, and the view, which turned out to be a lot better in the 'Disco' than in a conventional Land Rover.

There are 3 main areas which we cover in our tours, 1) The Rheidol and Ystwyth Valleys in land of Aberystwyth, 2) the Elan Valley Reservoirs and 3) a tour of the southern part of the Cambrian Mountains.

The UK as a whole has a greater diversity of geology, geography and different landscapes than anywhere else in the world, for such a small area. In Wales, the National parks in the North and the south seem to hog all the limelight, the Cambrian Mountains were proposed as a National Park but the plan was rejected. The Cambrian Mountains are, however, an equally special area with a very dramatic, diverse landscape, with high hills, deep valleys, tremendous views and an abundance of wildlife. In fact the management of some of the upland areas, such as around the Elan valley estate and some of the forestry plantations is gradually being managed more and more for the benefit of wildlife and for amenity value.

The northern part of Ceredigion, or Cardiganshire as it used to be known is crammed full with steep sided valleys, is very green and rich in history. The tops of the Mountains here are mostly 1,500 2,000 feet high, Plynlumon is the highest point in Mid Wales at 2,468ft. The Welsh name Pumlumon translates as 5 peaks, although it mystifies most people where they all are as there are really only 2. The name Plynlumon derives from the Roman name, Plumbilumon which means I believe lead boundary. The Romans certainly knew there was lead in them there hills, and mined in around 30 places in the area. The mining developed slowly through medieval times and right up to the second half of the 19 ^th Century when it briefly boomed and died. In most cases the mining remains are discrete, there are just a handful of notable exceptions. The mining left its marks in other ways, but unfortunately it is generally regarded as something dirty, dangerous, scary, and to be avoided... I'll write a couple of pieces about the mining in the near future and try to show a different story.

The tours in North Ceredigion feature the contrast between the gentrified estates and the scattered small holdings and farmsteads where people tried - and still do try - to eek out an existence in the hills. It features the mining remains of the old Cardiganshire Silver Lead mining industry, and is intended to surprise and delight with sudden dramatic views from steep back roads and mountain routes. Nant y Moch Dam is over 1000 feet above sea level, the hydro electric power station in Cwm Rheidol is about 800 feet below. There are remote lakes, isolated farmsteads, Red Kites over head, hanging oak woodland clinging to the steep valley sides with Redstarts and Pied flycatchers, forestry and open moorland. We follow in the footsteps of artists, poets, writers, and the aristocracy, who came to marvel at the rugged landscape and 'hunt' out the best spots for a painting. At a time when it was fashionable to take a tour of Europe, Aberystwyth was becoming a genteel seaside resort and Mid Wales was at the heart of the Picturesque movement. During the second half of the 18th century the members of the English upper classes with time on their hands took the 'Grand Tour' of Europe. Some however began to discover that places like Mid Wales had the landscape qualities they were looking for to delight and inspire.

The 'mountain road' tour passes through one of the remotest parts of Wales (or England). The mountain road is a single track former drovers route running for 20 miles between the lush grazing lands of the Teifi valley in the west and the Wye valley on route to Hereford to the East.

It climbs to 1580 feet, passes through forest and over open moorland, plunging into the deep valleys feeding the long fingers of the Llyn Brianne reservoir and passing through the upper Irfon Valley. The tour circles to the south with stunning views of the Brecon Beacons and the Llyn Brianne reservoir.

The Elan Valley tour passes alongside a sequence of 5 reservoirs and from wooded valley sides to high open moorland, this tour will take you past the dams and over 2 high upland routes with views to Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and possibly Pembrokeshire. The Elan valley is known as the 'Welsh Lake district', the 5 large reservoirs were built in the 1890's and 1950's supply water to the Midlands.

Although the distances and heights above sea level are distinctly unimpressive compared to other parts of the world, the beauty of mid Wales lies in the magical way in which the landscape can change completely every few miles, there is no need to travel vast distances, wonderful variety can be found within 20 30 miles in each direction.

Over the next few months we hope to develop a range of 'package tours with different options for accommodation, tours, visits and even airport pick ups. Watch this space! In the mean time I will describe parts of the areas the tours pass through in more detail.