Welcome to the first issue of The Explorer. These newsletters are for all who enjoy exploring life's beauty, wonders and intrigues to find ideas, insights and inspiration to inform the creative journey. It's for those who wish to gain clarity or make space in their life to create. It's for those whose life feels richer for the stories that often ensue from these journeys and explorations. In each issue, we feature places of interest, curiosities, stories and inspiration to spark your interest and imagination. Thanks for being here, and do tell your friends to subscribe. The more the merrier!

Discover… The Magic of Portmeirion

If you’re looking for fresh inspiration for a creative project, then I can highly recommend a visit to Portmeirion. There is an energy about this place that is positively alchemical, and being here feels like travelling and arriving all at the same time.

Situated in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, UK, Portmeirion is a dream-like place with a distinctive Mediterranean atmosphere that sits snug on a private peninsula overseeing the Traeth Bach tidal estuary on the Snowdonia coast.

The Italian-styled village resort was created by visionary architect, Clough Williams-Ellis over a 50 year period between 1925 and 1975. In the midst of 70 acres of woodland and sub-tropical garden terraces are a range of white, ochre and pastel-coloured architectural delights - a range of elaborate and ornamental buildings that are imaginative, playful and scenic. Once you enter the resort, it feels like you are in an enchanted folly where anything can happen.

Amid the woodland terraces overlooking the breath-taking, ever-changing views across the water to the hills beyond, there is a stylish hotel on the quayside shore; colourful cottages with names such as Unicorn, Dolphin and Mermaid; a castle, a lighthouse; a boat that never leaves the shore; statues of Goddesses; a golden one-armed Buddha; a shell grotto, hidden caves, and a ghost garden. Buildings such as The Pantheon, The Roundhouse, Hercules Hall and The Campanile Bell Tower sit proudly here alongside the Central Piazza with fountain pool and giant chessboard. These are just some of the fascinating finds at Portmeirion, which engage the senses.

You possibly know Portmeirion for the 1960s surreal spy TV series, The Prisoner, which was filmed here. That’s how I first came to hear of the place. I was intrigued, however, to discover that many artists, musicians and writers have visited over the years. During his stay at Portmeirion, Noel Coward wrote Blithe Spirit in just six days. This doesn't surprise me. There is a potent creative energy here, born on the breeze and carried in by the ever ebb and flow of tidal waters. This energy rises from the bedrock and sands and, higher still, through fertile soil and dense foliage. There is something spirited about this place. Even though it is an extensive folly, curated and created with great vision and imagination, it seems to have been done with sensitivity for the surrounding nature. This bright energy seems to permeate everything here, despite its touristy overtones.

'An architect has strange pleasures,' Clough Williams-Ellis wrote in 1924. 'He will lie awake listening to the storm in the night and think how the rain is beating on his roofs, he will see the sun return and will think that it was for just such sunshine that his shadow-throwing mouldings were made.'

Clough, who aspired to beauty- ‘that strange necessity’- built the tollgate, his last offering to the village of his dreams, in his 93rd year. His motto was 'Cherish the Past, Adorn the Present, Construct for the Future.' This imaginative wizard certainly lived by his words.

Portmeirion village is a bold creation, and proof of what can be achieved in a lifetime with vision and effort. It's a place where ideas take root and dreams come alive. If you're ever in the area, it's worth a visit to immerse the senses and enjoy the playfulness that flows here.

Visit: https://portmeirion.wales

By Carol Anne Strange

Fuel for thought...

What is it about a place that makes it feel profound and special? Is it the energy that is already there or is it the energy that we bring to such a place? Are there places that you feel particularly drawn to and visit often? If so, do you know why you're compelled to go there?

Curiosities

Situated by the entrance of Lathom Chapel, in West Lancashire, UK, there's a curious boulder known as Cromwell's Stone. It's reputed to have been used for casting shot in around 1644-45 by Cromwell's army during the siege of Lathom House, once a grand hall (now private residences) that is said to have been a significant royal palace fortress back in the day. But does this particular stone have an alternative story? Could it have been part of a long lost stone circle in that area? Perhaps there is a story in this. If you have any insights, log-in to leave a comment.

What are you creating right now?

We'd love to hear about your travels, explorations and discoveries, and the creative projects that you’re working on. If you’re a member of the Creative Explorers Club and would like to share a few words and images for a future newsletter, please get in touch.

That's all for this issue.

Happy exploring and creating!

The Creative Explorers Club

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