Photography by John Ball - 4 January 2004(with a Fuji FinePix S602 Zoom digital camera)

I recently decided to visit the tiny village of Bethlehem in the Carmarthenshire parish of Llangadog. The purpose of my visit was to explore the 200-year-old Bethlehem Independent Chapel and its graveyard. The route from my home to Bethlehem took me over the 616-metre (2000-foot) Black Mountain, at the western end of the Brecon Beacons mountain range. I set out in low cloud and mist, but climbed above the clouds during the ascent of the Black Mountain. This two-page Images of Wales feature combines spectacular views from near the summit of the Black Mountain with a photographic exploration of the mist-shrouded Bethlehem Chapel and its graveyard.

The first three pictures were taken during the ascent of the south side of the Black Mountain at around 9:30 in the morning. The sun had risen, but the valleys were filled with dense mist.

Image 1:

View south towards Brynamman, Cwmllynfell, and Ystalyfera [my home in 2004].

Image 2:

View to the south southwest.

Image 3:

View southwest. Mountain sheep stray onto the A4069 road from Brynamman.

The next three pictures were taken during the descent of the north side of the Black Mountain at around 9:40 am. The landscape here was in the shadow of the mountain and the mist lingered all day.

Image 4:

View north northeast to the Tywi Valley. Llandovery is hidden in the mist.

Image 5, 6: Views north showing the northern foothills of the Black Mountain.

Bethlehem Independent Chapel

The chapel is a few hundred yards south of Bethlehem village. The mist was still very much in evidence, but the atmosphere was clear enough to allow photography.

Image 7:

The south-eastern aspect of Bethlehem Chapel and the entrance to its graveyard.

Image 8:

The south corner of the chapel. This end of the chapel, possibly a vestry and/or schoolroom, appears to be a later extension.

Image 9:

Wall plaque indicating the chapel was first built in 1800 and rebuilt in 1834.

Image 10:

North corner of the chapel, viewed from the graveyard.