Light the Beacons!

Just got back from the Air Balloon Hill in Gloucester. They were lighting the beacons across the county to celebrate the jubilee.

You could supposedly see six from the hill, but it was hard to distinguish for the amount of city lights. They were originally lit as a warning of invasion, like the Brecon Beacons:

Over twenty hill-forts were established in the area during the Iron Age. The largest, and indeed the largest in south Wales, were the pair of forts atop Y Garn Goch near Bethlehem - Y Gaer Fawr and Y Gaer Fach - literally 'the big fort' and 'the little fort'. The forts are thought to have once been trading and political centres.

When the Romans came to Wales in 43AD, they stationed more than 600 soldiers in the area. Y Gaer, near the town of Brecon was their main base. During the Norman Conquest many castles were erected throughout the park. One of the most famous is Carreg Cennen Castle but there are many more.

Some lovely photos though, looking down over Gloucester (click to enlarge):

We think that last one is Devil's Chimney.

A huge blood moon on the drive up the hill.

There was also an interesting piece on the Beeb about the history of the river pageants: Pomp and pageantry on the Thames