This tour consists of a series of linked pages, each with a photograph. They are not presented in a simple 'linear' format, rather there is flexibility for you to take your own route through the valley. There are three distinct routes from one end of Abertridwr to the other, and there are two major separate 'loops' in Senghenydd with several minor detours.
On each page there is a short description of the picture, and a list of 'exits'. Think of it as if you're playing an adventure game - it is possible to make a map of the locations. In fact, if you've got the time, this is a brilliant way to get to know the valley. However, I have produced two maps to help (see below).
The exits are presented as compass directions, and I've taken a couple of liberties with the actual layout of the valley to make mapping easier.
I have tried to keep the size of images down. The details are below, but at the moment the largest single picture is 51k (most are 30k - 40k), which shouldn't take more than 20 seconds to download at 28k8. It is possible to take the tour (except the maps!) without loading the images, but you'll have to put up with my dodgy descriptions.
So, without further ado, why not make a start? You can
Most pages have just one photograph. Except where noted, all the 'modern' ones have been taken from a photo CD at 768 x 512 pixels in 16 million colours, reduced to 576 x 384, and JPEG compressed. With a constant Q-rating of 80, this results in pictures which vary in size between 21k and 49k, which is, I hope, not too much of a burden for your 'phone bill. At the present time (Jan '98) there are also three photographs in the Abertridwr section not taken by me. Please see the Contributors Page for details.
In my case, the camera equipment was the same as for most other photographs on this site; my dad's Olympus OM1n. The configuration most often used was with a 28mm Tamron lens and polarising filter, but a few pictures were taken using a 70 - 210mm zoom lens or the standard Olympus 50mm. Films used were Fuji and Agfa 200ASA on the whole, although I think a couple may have been taken on Kodacolor Gold.
Some pages also have 'archive' photographs. These are presented to contrast with the modern scene, or (in the case of the extremely bad one on the page about the Universal disaster) to highlight a point made in the text. All photographs that were not taken by yours truly are credited where the owner is known, and permission is being sought to use 'em.
As of the 23rd of August 1997, there are two maps to help you navigate around the valley. If you really can't get your head around mapping it yourself, or just want to go straight to a particular location, or have got hopelessley lost, click on the link at the bottom of each page, and that will take you to one of the two maps.
Each location is numbered, and bears a little tag name by which I know it. I have no intention of producing anything more elaborate! The HTML name of each page is based on the same numbering system, so if you can remember where you came from, you can find yourself quite easily. So long as your browser supports client-side image maps, you can also click on the locations to take you straight there.
Right. That's all. Use the list above to make your start!
Sorry about this, but I'm collecting info. This counter does not appear on any subsequent tour pages. It shows the number of people to have visited this page since 10 p.m. on the 28th of April
