Nothing quite like it

Postwoman Ali Garbutt is gearing up to deliver Christmas on one of Wales’ most remote and scenic postal routes.

A local farmer’s daughter, Ali has lived in the area her entire life. Having worked as a postwoman for 11 years, she has served the Abergynolwyn route for five of those and is a pillar of the rural and tight-knit, local community.

The mail continues to play a significant role in this area as mobile phone signals are intermittent given the remoteness of the location.

Ali’s daily delivery round gives her a view of some of the UK’s most inspirational landscapes. The 50-mile postal route covers a combination of rugged mountains and lakes and is one of the busiest parts of the UK for low flying RAF jets on practice missions.

The area, which is one of the most popular in Wales for walkers and hikers, is steeped in history and Welsh mythology. As part of her daily postal round, Ali passes through the valley of Cader Idris, the 1,990ft mountain surrounding the area, and crosses the scenic Tal y Llyn lake.

The mountain's name is typically taken to refer to the mythological giant Idris. Cader Idris is also said to be one of the hunting grounds of the mythological Welsh king, Gwyn ap Nudd and his dog, Cwn Annwn.

The delivery route also passes Castell y Bere castle, which was built by the Welsh prince, Llewelyn the Great in the 1220s, and Mach Loop, an area where RAF planes regularly fly as low as 250ft during training exercises.

‘I love being part of a small and caring community where everyone knows everyone else,’ said Ali. ‘But it’s getting out there every day and seeing the breath-taking countryside that makes my job so very special.

‘When I’m out on my route, I can enjoy the spectacular landscape while interacting with the wonderful local people who I’ve known all my life. There’s nothing else quite like it.’