In Bradley's and Arthur's Footprints
In Bradley’s and Arthur’s Footprints
aka ‘How can I admit I think about him all the time’
(part one of three)
I started this trip not knowing what to expect or how I would feel when standing at/in the various locations. I was very concerned that I would visit a location and not realise what episode was filmed there but I was armed with a folder full of Mrs Leary’s info on the sites, three cheers for all her work. I also had my trusty IPod which has all 26 episodes recorded on it, oh and Mr P came with me as well - he was going to do geocaching (our hobby) at some of the sites. As this short break was for me to visit the locations I chose to do the driving - which meant I was in charge of where we went, so as they say - as a woman I could change my mind about where to go at any time.
Time to confess that I watched S1EP1 and hated it and vowed never to watch the programme again because to me it seemed to 'mock' my King Arthur whose idyll I didn't want crushed. (Ooooooops turned out to be a bad mistake). We had S2 on during our evening meal and sort of half heartedly dipped in and out of it. But I was totally glued to S2E8 even shouted at the TV when Arthur was going to be ‘beheaded’. When E8 finished I was totally hooked and I haven’t looked back since. This episode has had a major effect on me not just on Arthur.
Tuesday May 4th 2010
We arrived at the booked Travelodge at Raglan too early to register, so decision time - where to go. It seemed very appropriate to start with a location whose episode made such an impact on me, so off to
‘What is the nature of the challenge you wish to set me?’
As we walked to the castle it certainly had a ‘wow’ factor. So big and although a ruin it’s still standing, made me wonder what the castle had seen over the years and if the walls could talk what they'd tell us they'd heard. We looked down to the moaty bit on the far side of the castle where we’d been told they filmed. I looked but I knew I had to get down there for the sheer experience, looking wasn't good enough
Looking down
Standing down in the (dry) moaty bit, I guessed where they’d ridden, but something in me wasn’t satisfied with that. I wanted to experience the place, then I realised that I had my IPod in my pocket with all of the episodes on. So stopping Sins of the Father at the right place I was able to locate the exact place and stand where the camera had probably been. WONDERFUL. Arthur and Colin's 'ghosts' rode round the corner towards me
I did note that they had covered the sign and its post on the right up with a bush - oh the art of filming.
I turned and identified the steps by which our boys entered Morgause’s castle
Then we walked up the same steps into The Solar Room - I’d walked in Bradley's footprints. Certainly a creepy ‘wow I’m here’’ factor crept over me. To think I was actually in the location where Arthur proved himself 'to truly be a man of his word'. Then a huge huge wow factor took over!!! Didn't Howard Overman write a fantastic script.
Again I watched the relevant part of the episode and lined myself up as the camera would’ve been, just to have the experience as if I was there watching it actually happen.
Looking towards the entrance on the left our boys used.
Looking towards the steps Morgause came down
The room seemed much smaller than on the film, needless to say I had my photo taken as if I had an axe and pretended to be Morgause on the steps.
We kinda scrambled over the rest of the castle and thoroughly enjoyed this part of our location trip.
Back to theTravelodge. Registered. Unpacked. Zoomed out - this time on to
It doesn’t make sense, we are in love
Well I arrived at the right car park more by instinct than knowledge (I’d failed to read Mrs Leary’s instructions again before we left because I was too excited). In the car park a couple of dog walkers gave us directions to the lake and she told us how she’d stood on the bridge at the lake and watched the filming (gnash gnaw !!!). Oh to be in the right place at the right time.
We glanced the lake through the trees. I wondered how I would feel, I knew Mrs Leary’s comments about the lake and I wondered if I would be mega disappointed with this location. I stood on the bank and in front of me were the saplings Mrs Leary’s told us about and stretching away was the rather greeny, tree lined lake. It was eerie standing in the stillness thinking about how the lake scene had been filmed, the lake with crew and cameras in it and of course our boys. In my mind I went through Mrs Leary’s breakdown of how the scene was filmed. Today it was a cold and lonely place; I needed to make this place personal for me to enjoy it. Out with the IPod again. This time I stopped when Aulfric is on the bank and the camera is filming from behind him. Guess what, in the film there are trees either side of him, so I stepped back, and back until I had the trees lined up, and it was then that the location really came alive for me. I was actually watching Aulfric in front of me.
trees all lined up
I did the same regarding Colin looking round a tree to watch Aulfric -I think got the right tree but not too sure, the ivy looks very similar but ........
The pattern of the ivy looked almost the same but no tree over on the left, so............
I certainly did get the tree Colin hid behind - the trees all lined up again for me.
peekabo Colin
I then reluctantly left the bank and walked round to where a slightly bored Mr P was photographing ducks with their ducklings - ah well, I guess I’d taken a very long time. I took a photo from the second pontoon as Mrs Leary has mentioned and we left.
I will certainly go back as I've a bit more investigating to do.
Wednesday 5th May 2010
A woman is allowed to change her mind. We were heading for Abergaveny when I decided to for a quick visit of half hour, or so I thought, to
It’s your knees knocking together
Another fantastic castle to ‘crawl’ all over.
I found the angle on the entrance that Arthur came in by with his knight and these are the photos. Then over I went to it, so I can truly say ‘I walked in Arthur’s footprints’.
gateway Arthur and his knights enter through
...... the knights follow Arthur further in
It took me a long time to identify where Colin had walked after he appeared to enter the castle from the boat; in fact those locations are not very close together. I did find the pointy archway and lined myself up as per filming. I can say I walked exactly where Colin walked and walked up the steps he ran up from the boat on his second visit.
Colin faces Nimueh from here
steps Colin ran up
Myself and Mr P walked round the shallow water and weed filled lake and identified the Sally Port that Merlin had sailed to (drawn by frogmen standing in the moat).
When Colin first arrives at the Isle of The Blessed there's a very misty shot of him in the boat with a bridge in the upper background.
not too much water today
Again it was good to experience the ‘reality’ of the locations - oh how the camera can lie and makes us believe what it wants us to.
The lady in the ticket office met Bradley while they were filming there and said ‘he is a rather nice young man’. Please note she didn’t meet Colin.
PS We can recommend The Castle Cafe which is just over the car park wall
Then we resumed our journey to
As I’m slightly bored thought I’d try out the remote control setting for my camera, this is where I get really clever...........or not.
Two people have just turned up and seen me rolling about on the floor.
What can I say about Abergaveny Station except that Mr P didn’t really believe I wanted to go on a ‘pilgrimage’ there, but as I was driving ........... we stopped! I did feel a tad stupid sitting with my camera in my lap waiting for the few shoppers to get on the train
aged 25 never been on a station ...... ??? We all have to take this shot don't we.
- yes Bradley there was a train, I saw it and by the way the gents was open. Perhaps the best advice to Bradley is don’t get dropped off at a station at night.
Next stop ......
I feel G r e a t !!!!!!!
Arrived about 16.00 and the car park was full of kids taking off caving type suits and empting wellie boots of water. I only had walking trainers on ... would they get wet, ah well anything for Arthur.
Looking at the cave opening first of all it seemed a bit flat no immediate ‘wow’ factor for me but as people left and we were on our own the place became awesome !!!!!!! Looking at all of the large boulders I wondered how Arthur had come out of the cave without falling over any of them. But secret revealed, there is a narrow flatish path that he used and with the help of my IPod I identified the rock he leant on as he exited, yes I went and touched it. Ohhhhhh !!!!!
While I was drooling at this location Mr P was busy finding a geocache very close to the cave entrance, which thankfully gave me a lot of 'my' time.
Oh and I did sit where Colin sat - just had to do that.
I also got the angle on the shot of where Balinor stood outside the cave. Three cheers for trees that you can line up with !!!
Can you feel the ghost of Balinor ??
I did stop on the steps back up to the car park and spared a thought for the crew who had to lug the equipment up and down the steep steps, well done to them.
Now for a walk ........
Sgwd yr Eira
It was 17.00 and we decided to walk to Sgwd yr Eira. Cavers told us it would take half an hour to walk to. An hour later we were at the top of a LOT of steps down to the river. The last few were very very muddy so I went down on my bottom - all for the love of Merlinlocations.
We didn’t have the willpower or the need to go and walk behind the falls - we would’ve got too wet although it may have washed my mud off.
We took a different route back to the car park and arrived at 19.30 ish. totally exhausted.
Off to try to find Mrs Leary’s stream but no luck with the river that I thought was in this area. Oh dear try again.
Thursday May 6th 2010 - oh dear no voting for us
Today was meant to be Puzzlewood and Clearwell caves but I laid in bed and my heart was telling me to go to
***** Two Locations here ******
It’s alright
Yes the very log that our boys hid behind when they were in Cenred's kingdom well actually they were at the side of the car park at Castle Coch. How do I know - I was shown the log then I verified it by referring to the episode and identifying the small tree on the left that Arthur held on to when he felt very unwell. Natuarally I had to go and have a hold as well.
My precious tree and log
A wider shot of the rear of the log
This really is the log they hid behind - from the other side of it.
The spell
The photo below is where where Morgause put a spell on Morgana. Lining up the trees came in useful again. As it was daylight the glade was lit by one strong light which was meant to be a beam of moonlight.
This location is just round to the right of the Castle.
Then onto a short drive away
Forest Fawr
They’ re infested with ......giant ....... baby rats
- Perhaps you prefer to be eaten alive?
Found them - Three Bears Cave - hooray !!!!!
I again lined up the photo as per the episode and seeing is believing.
The following photograph show trees and shrubbery on top of the caves compare this with the greatly altered photo from the episode. Check out the CGI.
Where do most of the trees go ........
............... gone to CGI everyone of them.
This location site is not identified by any notices and has a wire fence all the way round it.
We chose to go through the fence as it had been pushed down in one place, which made it easy to get through. First of all the caves were not visible and I was beginning to doubt if they were there. Then the path fell away and down in front of us there were the three caves. I had a wow moment in silent disbelief that we’d actually found it for Mrs Leary.
As this site has the fence round it I wonder if our boys actually went there or was it green screened onto the film. Seriously, I’d like to think that again I’d stood in Bradley’s footprints.
Directions:
Make for Castle Coch. Do not go up the castle entrance drive but go past and keep going until you see a very large Forest Fawr sign on your left. Turn into the drive and park in the designated area (you can’t go any further). A wide track leaves from the gated path, take it and keep walking until the track bends left past two large pieces of wood forming an arch and called Lost and Found. Keep going a short way further on and on your right you will see the fenced area I have mentioned above.
Good Luck and enjoy the thrill of seeing the caves and perhaps a Wildren or two.
Full of hope and hesitant belief that we'd find the stream
we then set out on a journey
M I S K I N
(Welsh - Meisgyn)
Found it - The Stream - hooray !!!!!
In fact it’s the River Ely (Welsh - Afon Elai)
How can I admit that I think about her all the time?
Or that, I care about her more than anyone?
How can I admit that I don’t know what I’ll do if any harm comes to her?
It’s all talk, and that’s all it can ever be.
I was so so excited about getting to this location as the words spoken by Arthur are so sensitive, and I imagined a very romantic setting. Myself and Mr P were walking along a wide track alongside a rather small mucky stream towards the location, which I so didn’t think would lead to my beautiful imagined location. After a short time of walking I was ready to give up but Mr P kept me going, he knew how much this location means to me. Then he pointed ‘there it is’. I just stared at a somewhat untidy bit of river. In total disbelief I looked downstream and up. No, please let him be wrong, then I saw the overhanging dead tree and I knew he was right.
This tree appears in scenes between Arthur and Merlin and also when Morgana bathes and then fights.
As I stood between two locations on this stream/river’s bank I realised the deceit I felt that this part of the episode gave to me, but maybe it's just the film makers cleverness that conjured up my expectations.
By lining up trees with those on my Ipod from the episode I’m able to say,
Arthur and Merlins scenes
I was so so disappointed that such lovely words written by Howard Overman could be spoken by Arthur in such an ordinary place (think I've a lot to learn about locations, well, this is my first trip). As I stood pondering a train went by, yes it’s that close to a railway line. It made me wonder if that proved difficult during filming or did they have a timetable?
My romantic dream was totally shattered!
View upstream (towards Miskin) including both location sites - beach on the left and the pebbles further up on the right.
I then went and stood just beyond the trees on the right.
Downstream I saw
Beyond downstream - note the building they managed not to film.
Now the photo realigned,
Bradley and Colin are on the sandy/pebbly bit downstream on the opposite bank. They squat down as though to wash their faces. This is also the place they leave the scene from. Place identified by the position of the trees, they missed filming the boulders on the left.
Upstream I saw the pebbly bit where Arthur and Merlin have that wonderful conversation.
and below is the view behind Merlin as he speaks to Arthur
I have uploaded a short video of this stream onto YouTube.
You search for it as
Merlin S2E4
and it's title is
Merlin S2E4 stream location w/o actors
Morgana and Gwen scenes
Below is where Morgana went to bathe and where she and Gwen fought Kendrick and his men because again the trees all match from the film.
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As Mrs Leary thought there is a wide accessible track next to the river/stream so there was no distance for the crew to transport their equipment.
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At the moment I do not like this location, I prefer my imagined location, but I'm returning return next week to look again and see if I feel any different, hopefully I will.
Directions:
Miskin is 2 miles south of Llantrisit.
M4 West exit junction 34. Onto A470 towards 2nd set of traffic lights turn left. 1st exit at the roundabout.
Park by the Church and go down the narrow path next to it. Keep walking through the estate, downhill and keep going do not turn off. This road goes in a wide track. Keep going with the stream on your right. Keep going until you see some in the distance some cricket practice nets on your left and this is where you look at the river on your right and you ought to be at the location site. Enjoy.
On the way back to the Travelodge I got done for speeding - 37 mph in a 30 mph limit - oh dear !!! Whatever the fine, for the Love of Camelot it will be well worth every penny for the fun I've had. Or maybe they'll invite me to take a 'drivers course' or whatever they call it, which will mean no points on my licence I would rush (not too fast) to take the course as it will mean I get to the locations area again.
Friday May 7th 2010 - happy birthday.
Time to leave this trip but not until we’ve whizzed up to
I bought this curse upon Camelot,
I’m going to be the one to lift it or I’ll die trying.
Once we entered the Hedge Puzzle office I felt that I’d entered a surreal world. We were greeted by a man (one of the owners) who was wearing a straw boater, a red bow tie, stripped jacket and sneakers. If anyone’s ever watched the original cult series of ‘The Prisoner’ starring Patrick McGoohan it was like walking into his world. The owner gave me a metal puzzle to solve but he started talking about Bradley and there was no way I could multi-task, I just wanted to hear about Bradley. He said what a great person he is and that he has a confident swagger. He thought that Bradley could become James Bond and that Colin could become Dr Who, wow. Anyway he took us across the road and started us into the maze with the promise that when we got out he’d take us back again and show us where they filmed. We laughed our way through the maze then we were taken back in. He explained that prior to the filming they had to remove all of the protective posts and ropes, let the hedges grow so they appeared rough, shaggy and with the smoke (that blew away on the day) the film company thought it would have a mystical look. It took 8 days approx to put the posts back into place after filming. He also said that they were the most expensive location ’Merlin’ has used - his words not mine.
Myself and Mr P stood on the balcony where Bradley and Colin were interviewed, again I was in Bradley’s footprints, yeah !!!!
Then he showed us:
The actual maze exit was where Bradley entered and exited (and Colin of course) with a blue screen behind them. He also showed us where Anhora stood and where Merlin was entwined also where Merlin hesitated about which way to go.
In the episode Arthur does glance left and right at the paths
Where Anhora stood
and where Merlin was entwined
Did Merlin go this way or that way ?
He also showed us to a place in the maze down the back where Bradley was filmed running. We followed him into the middle and then when we turned to speak to him he’d left us and we had to find our way out again, all rather magical just as Anhora would have wanted it. For me the visit was thoroughly worth it.
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On my very first location trip I’ve learnt that for me some of locations are ‘cold’ characterless places but with the input of actors and their beautifully written words these places are transformed.
Trip one was very very successful and a very very happy time location hunting, thank you Mrs Leary for all of your hard work to make it so good and to others that have helped you.