Naomi's special place
Ballykelly is a small village less than 30 minutes away from the closest city which is called Londonderry. I have lived here since I was born until I moved to Belfast for university and the majority of my extended family still lives there today. I would describe it as a very close knit community; it’s the type of place where everyone knows each other.
My favourite thing about this place is its natural beauty especially the Sperrin mountains which surround the area. These green hills make up the largest mountain range in Northern Ireland but are the least explored, which makes them even more special in my opinion. There are also impressive forests, rivers and parks that you won’t find anywhere else.
As well as this, it’s near my grandparents’ house which holds lots of memorable moments for me such as learning how to cook for the first time from my granny.
It must be said, it’s probably not the most exciting place in the world but it’ll always be my favourite one!
Navaconcejo is a small village just over an hour's drive from Cáceres. The village is surrounded by mountains, as it is at the bottom of a valley. The whole county, called Jerte Valley, is popular with tourists, who like trekking and nature, as well as for the cherry blossom which many people come to watch at the beginning of each spring.
One of the most important elements in this valley landscape is the river Jerte, whose name has an Arab origin and means "pleasure". An it is really a pleasurable area, full of different species of trees and with many springs of water that come from the top of the mountains to the river.
My favourite place is a two kilometres walk from Navaconcejo to Cabezuela, the nearest village. It is a narrow path following the river bank, very close to the water. During periods when the weather is wet, the path can be really muddy an it may be difficult to follow in some parts. But at the same time, the walk is more beautiful because the river usually flows with more water.
Whenever I go to my village, I always try to do this walk. If the day is sunny you always meet people, especially after luch, so it is a good opportunity to have a chat and enjoy nature.
