Out Of The Woods

Are the Cyfannedd Woods the toughest pay and play site in the UK?

- Patrick Cruywagen

I have been off-roading on this mud island for a tad overfour years now. In that time I have never ever visited apay and play site. So whenmy goodmate Stu Pickering,the Shropshire GLASS rep, invited me to join him andthe lads at the Cyfannedd Woods 4x4 site, I jumped at the opportunity. The site lies on the west coast of Wales. Life is all about new experiences.Well that’s my philosophy anyway.

Wales is one ofmy favourite parts of theUK;well, just likeme, the locals love both rugby and singing. Plus, if you’re into your outdoor pursuits, the place is like a home away from home. Our day at the sitewas scheduled for the Sunday, so I drive up on the Saturday afternoon. Thanks to the sleet, rain, sheer volume of traffic and mileage on country roads, it is dark by the time I arrive at the Kings Hostel in Dolgellau. I straight away know that I am at the right place as there are several Land Rovers in the car park.

Sleeping in a dorm takes me back to the days of my school trips. They were memorable times. Nothing much has changed since then except for the fact that we all have less hair and bigger bellies. The banter flies about after lights out. Who is going to need a recovery in the morning? Who will snap a side shaft?Who farted? Snoring does not botherme and soon I am in la la land. No to be confused with the current musical movie.

Morning breaks cold andgrey.Weather does not reallymatter when you are in a Land Rover though. If car marques were a corps in the army, thenLandRoverswould be the infantry. They can operate anywhere and under any conditions. As the pay and play site is many amile away from the nearestMcDonald’s, I do allow myself to indulge in the great fry-up breakfast. I justify it by telling the chaps that being a photographer can be tiring work, as you have to run around to get into the best positions for the perfect pictures.