One of the National Landscape team our visitors have every chance of meeting is Simon Jones, who is host at the Shepherd’s Hut, providing a warm welcome and refreshments to the many people who climb Moel Famau from Bwlch Pen Barras. More recently, he’s also been taking his turn at the Loggerheads Visitor Centre. Views felt it was high time we got to know a little more about him. We met over coffee on a wet and gloomy morning which did nothing to diminish his usual good humour and enthusiasm. This is how our conversation went.
Tell me a little about your early years.
I was brought up in Hounslow, west London suburbia but there was plenty of opportunity to enjoy nature and open spaces, with the Thames and places like Richmond Park and Hampton Court nearby. I actually went to school in Hampton and was always interested in the outdoors – birds were a particular fascination. My interest in nature and the countryside remains strongly within me.
What happened next?
In school I was always keen on drama and theatre, particularly comedy, but was also drawn towards spiritual concepts and, after careful thought, decided to undertake a degree in theology at the London School of Theology, whose qualifications were awarded through Brunel University. I found it a very rewarding experience and, after graduating. I worked for a homeless charity in Watford called Watford New Hope Trust, which provided me with the chance to both make a contribution in a community setting, and to gain invaluable life experience, which still influences the way in which I approach things. I then had other related work and experience too but had no idea at that time that I would find myself living and working in Wales!
How did that come about?
I had met Nathalie, my wife (who is from The Netherlands) in Wales in 2010, where we both made friends with a couple who ran a bed and breakfast by Bala lake. After we got married in 2011, my work took us back to the Greater London area, but there was still an irresistible draw in us back to Wales – something about the landscape, the people and the way of life had connected with us and drawn us. Our friends had a property in Betws Gwerfil Goch, which ended up being available, and, in due course, we spent several happy years living there. We now live in Ruthin which is an ideal place for our two boys, Samuel and Stephen, aged 7 and 2 – we feel very much part of things here.
And the connection with our National Landscape?
I’m not someone who wants to devote all my working time to one role and I have many things on my agenda, so the chance to work on a part time basis in a role which combines a love of the landscape and the chance to help people enjoy and appreciate it was one I welcomed with open arms. I really enjoy the role and it also gives me the time and space to pursue my other interests.
Tell me a little more about the Shepherd’s Hut
We try to get it up to the car park at Bwlch Pen Barras every weekend when weather is favourable, and for some weekdays during late spring to early autumn. It gives me and the ranger team a perfect way to interface with visitors to our landscape, to answer their questions and to promote positive and enthusiastic engagement with the Range. I’ve met so many interesting people in the several years I’ve been involved. I’d particularly mention some of the long-distance walkers using the Offa’s Dyke path – one was even walking from John o Groats to Land’s End! – as I’m also a keen long-distance walker. Surprisingly, our busiest days are often in the new year – perhaps when getting more exercise is a key resolution for many. We certainly get plenty of trade that time of year whatever the reason and the contribution our landscape makes to people’s health and well-being is beyond price.
What about the plans to have a permanent site there.
I’ve thought it through carefully and think it will be a good thing. It will add greatly to the positive interface between the team and our visitors, will provide improved facilities, and make it easier for the team to look after the area. Just as important, the location and design will blend in with the hillside in a positive way. I’m looking forward to being involved and, if we are designated as a national park, it will be an important facility.
You mentioned that a part time commitment fits in with your many other activities.
Yes, apart from the ever-present role of parenting I run a small business providing walks in the Vale of Clwyd, which gives me enormous satisfaction. I quite often also take people on these walks in a ‘not for profit’ basis through various other things I do. I love walking and pilgrimage and to be able to share the Vale with my guests is a real pleasure. I do like to go on my own pilgrimages, wild camping on the way. Holywell to St Davids was a favourite. Then there’s my writing. I have had my first book published and I’m keen to get on with another that’s taking shape in my thoughts. I write about slowing down, being loved for who you are and accepting yourself, which has come from visiting many monasteries and remote places in my 20s before I met Nathalie. I’m also a musician and play jazz at various local venues, where I play background jazz to create an atmosphere for settings like a meal or an event.
You certainly have a very varied agenda – usual final question, what’s your favourite spot in our NL?
I think the walk from the Shepherd’s Hut to the summit of Moel Famau must be my choice as it’s so much part of me now. In contrast I also absolutely love walking in the Vale of Clwyd (definitely my happy place) looking back up to the Range, in areas that are quiet and where few people go… often you need to get to wilderness places to find walks with so few people, but the Vale of Clwyd in spring is lush and fertile and walking is pretty easy going. That’s what I like. For all the fact that I like a bit of adventure, overall, I like ‘easy going’, peaceful and calm, surrounded by great views – whether that’s the scenery I walk in, or life in general! And with a fair bit of laughter mixed in wherever possible!
Cwrdd â’r Tîm – Simon Jones
Un o’r tîm Tirwedd Genedlaethol y mae gan ein hymwelwyr bob cyfle i’w gyfarfod yw Simon Jones, sy’n groesawgar yng Nghwt y Bugail, gan roi croeso cynnes a lluniaeth i’r nifer o bobl sy’n dringo Moel Famau o Fwlch Pen Barras. Yn fwy diweddar, mae hefyd wedi bod yn cymryd ei dro yn Canolfan Ymwelwyr Loggerheads. Teimlai Views ei bod hi’n bryd i ni ddod i adnabod ychydig mwy amdano. Fe wnaethon ni gyfarfod dros goffi ar fore gwlyb a thywyll, ac ni wnaeth hynny ddim i leihau ei hiwmor da a’i frwdfrydedd arferol. Dyma sut aeth ein sgwrs.
Dywedwch ychydig wrthyf am eich blynyddoedd cynnar.
Cefais fy magu yn Hounslow, maestrefi gorllewin Llundain, ond roedd digon o gyfle i fwynhau natur a mannau agored, gyda’r Tafwys a lleoedd fel Parc Richmond a Hampton Court gerllaw. Es i’r ysgol yn Hampton mewn gwirionedd ac roeddwn i bob amser â diddordeb yn yr awyr agored – roedd adar yn swyn arbennig. Mae fy niddordeb mewn natur a chefn gwlad yn parhau’n gryf ynof.
Beth ddigwyddodd nesaf?
Yn yr ysgol roeddwn i bob amser yn hoff o ddrama a theatr, yn enwedig comedi, ond roeddwn i hefyd yn cael fy nenu at gysyniadau ysbrydol ac, ar ôl meddwl yn ofalus, penderfynais astudio am radd mewn diwinyddiaeth yn Ysgol Ddiwinyddiaeth Llundain, a ddyfarnwyd ei chymwysterau trwy Brifysgol Brunel. Roeddwn i’n ei chael yn brofiad gwerth chweil iawn ac, ar ôl graddio, gweithiais i elusen ddigartref yn Watford o’r enw Watford New Hope Trust, a roddodd gyfle i mi wneud cyfraniad mewn lleoliad cymunedol, ac i ennill profiad bywyd amhrisiadwy, sy’n dal i ddylanwadu ar y ffordd rwy’n mynd ati i bethau. Yna cefais waith a phrofiad cysylltiedig arall hefyd ond doedd gen i ddim syniad ar y pryd y byddwn i’n byw ac yn gweithio yng Nghymru!
Sut ddaeth hynny i fodolaeth?
Roeddwn i wedi cwrdd â Nathalie, fy ngwraig (sy’n dod o’r Iseldiroedd) yng Nghymru yn 2010, lle gwnaethom ni’r ddau ffrindiau gyda chwpl a oedd yn rhedeg gwely a brecwast wrth llyn y Bala. Ar ôl i ni briodi yn 2011, aeth fy ngwaith â ni yn ôl i ardal Llundain Fwyaf, ond roedd yna atyniad anorchfygol ynom o hyd yn ôl i Gymru – roedd rhywbeth am y dirwedd, y bobl a’r ffordd o fyw wedi cysylltu â ni a’n denu. Roedd gan ein ffrindiau eiddo ym Metws Gwerfil Goch, a ddaeth ar gael yn y pen draw, ac, yn y pen draw, treulion ni sawl blwyddyn hapus yn byw yno. Rydym bellach yn byw yn Rhuthun sy’n lle delfrydol i’n dau fachgen, Samuel a Stephen, 7 a 2 oed – rydym yn teimlo’n rhan fawr o bethau yma.
A’r cysylltiad â’n Tirwedd Genedlaethol?
Dydw i ddim yn rhywun sydd eisiau neilltuo fy holl amser gwaith i un rôl ac mae gen i lawer o bethau ar fy agenda, felly’r cyfle i weithio’n rhan-amser mewn rôl sy’n cyfuno cariad at y dirwedd a’r cyfle i helpu pobl i’w mwynhau a’i gwerthfawrogi oedd un a groesawais â breichiau agored. Rwy’n mwynhau’r rôl yn fawr ac mae hefyd yn rhoi’r amser a’r lle i mi ddilyn fy niddordebau eraill.
Dywedwch ychydig mwy wrthyf am Gwt y Bugail
Rydym yn ceisio ei gael i fyny i’r maes parcio ym Mwlch Pen Barras bob penwythnos pan fydd y tywydd yn ffafriol, ac am rai dyddiau’r wythnos yn ystod diwedd y gwanwyn i ddechrau’r hydref. Mae’n rhoi ffordd berffaith i mi a’r tîm ceidwad ryngweithio ag ymwelwyr â’n tirwedd, i ateb eu cwestiynau ac i hyrwyddo ymgysylltiad cadarnhaol a brwdfrydig â’r Bryniau. Rwyf wedi cwrdd â chymaint o bobl ddiddorol yn y blynyddoedd lawer rwyf wedi bod yn rhan. Byddwn yn sôn yn benodol am rai o’r cerddwyr pellter hir sy’n defnyddio llwybr Clawdd Offa – roedd un hyd yn oed yn cerdded o John o Groats i Ben y Tir! – gan fy mod innau hefyd yn gerddwr pellter hir brwd. Yn syndod, ein dyddiau prysuraf yw’r flwyddyn newydd yn aml – efallai pan fo cael mwy o ymarfer corff yn benderfyniad allweddol i lawer. Rydym yn sicr yn cael digon o fasnach yr adeg honno o’r flwyddyn beth bynnag yw’r rheswm ac mae’r cyfraniad y mae ein tirwedd yn ei wneud i iechyd a lles pobl yn amhrisiadwy.
Beth am y cynlluniau i gael safle parhaol yno?
Rwyf wedi meddwl amdano’n ofalus ac yn credu y bydd yn beth da. Bydd yn ychwanegu’n fawr at y rhyngwyneb cadarnhaol rhwng y tîm a’n hymwelwyr, bydd yn darparu cyfleusterau gwell, ac yn ei gwneud hi’n haws i’r tîm ofalu am yr ardal. Yr un mor bwysig, bydd y lleoliad a’r dyluniad yn cyd-fynd â llethr y bryn mewn ffordd gadarnhaol. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at fod yn rhan ohono ac, os cawn ein dynodi’n barc cenedlaethol, bydd yn gyfleuster pwysig.
Soniasoch fod ymrwymiad rhan-amser yn cyd-fynd â’ch gweithgareddau niferus eraill.
Ydw, ar wahân i rôl rhianta sydd bob amser yn bresennol, rwy’n rhedeg busnes bach sy’n darparu teithiau cerdded yn Nyffryn Clwyd, sy’n rhoi boddhad enfawr i mi. Yn aml iawn, rwy’n mynd â phobl ar y teithiau cerdded hyn ar sail ‘ddielw’ trwy amryw o bethau eraill rwy’n eu gwneud. Rwy’n caru cerdded a phererindod ac mae gallu rhannu’r Dyffryn gyda fy ngwesteion yn bleser gwirioneddol. Rwy’n hoffi mynd ar fy mhererindodau fy hun, gan wersylla’n wyllt ar y ffordd. Roedd Treffynnon i Dyddewi yn ffefryn. Yna mae fy ysgrifennu. Rwyf wedi cyhoeddi fy llyfr cyntaf ac rwy’n awyddus i fwrw ymlaen ag un arall sy’n cymryd siâp yn