Click on the image for licensing terms
Early April in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, and with the winter snows just melted the trees have yet to put forth their summer finery.
This is a time of anticipation, of waiting for the burst of new life that the warmth of spring brings to pass every year.
It's also a great time of year for hiking in the ancient woodlands that follow the courses of the many rivers and streams that drain this rather rained on area, as the air is still crisp and cold, and you're invigorated just by breathing it in.
Which is why my wife Liz and I were out and about walking through the trees along the banks of the Afon Llugwy river as it winds its way through Capel Curig in the heart of Snowdonia.
An hour or so's hiking and we're just nicely tired and ready for a coffee and monster scone (one between two!) at the great Siabod Café, just across the road from where this image was captured.
Filename - capel curig 10
Lens - 24-105mm zoom @ 105mm
Exposure - 1/30 sec @ f8, ISO200
Filters - Polarising filter used to reduce glare and enhance colours.
Location - Capel Curig, Snowdonia, North Wales
Image enhancements - Adobe Lightroom
Comments - Raised ISO used to enable handheld exposure with image stabilisation.
All content copyright © Howard Litherland 2009-2026 unless otherwise stated.