Writers’ wilderness haven split over Brecon Beacons phone mast plan

Edna O’Brien, Ian McEwan and Bruce Chatwin have treasured its wild beauty. But now plans for a 17.5-metre tower have divided a tranquil hamletIts monks left more than a century ago but the whitewashed stone walls of the monastery in Capel-y-ffin stand proud. Outside, a large, well-preserved statue of the Virgin Mary welcomes visitors to the venerable Victorian building, which has now been converted into self-catering apartments in great demand when the crowds flock to nearby Hay-on-Wye for its celebrated literary festival.Since the monks’ departure, little has changed in this picturesque Welsh hamlet of a few houses, a chapel and a scattering of farms. Nestling in the foothills of the Black Mountains, it is a place of moss and bracken, stone walls and brooks, and has the lingering solemnity of an untended churchyard. Continue reading…
Via: Writers’ wilderness haven split over Brecon Beacons phone mast plan