Mistress Martha and the tourists

 
I recently received this kind letter from a fan of the series, and it reminded me of the dilemma which arises when a "quiet place" becomes rather famous.  There is no doubt in anybody's mind, in these parts, that since the publication of the first Angel Mountain novel ten years ago there has been a great increase in tourism on the mountain and in the neighbourhood -- so I have to accept some responsibility for that.  You can see that in the wear and tear on the mountain footpaths, and simply in the frequency with which I encounter others when I go up onto the mountain for my own walks.  Many of those who climb the mountain are referring to it not as "Carningli" but as "Angel Mountain" -- and many are actually looking for Martha's cave!  Good thing or bad thing?  On balance, the effect of this "literary tourism" has to be good -- and I think all of the holiday cottage owners and B+B operators would agree with this.  They are after all locals who are seeking to make a decent living.  Property prices in the Newport area are certainly astronomical -- but they were high (as compared with other places within the National Park) well before Mistress Martha appeared on the scene........  and the phenomenon of young local people being unable to afford local properties goes back a long way.  That, sadly, is a matter of supply and demand -- and it is the way the market operates.

By and large, I am personally very happy that a new generation of people -- book readers -- have discovered Carningli and have started to think of it as "their special place".  There are few enough serene places left in this world, and Carningli continues to be one of them, except, maybe, for a few weeks at the height of summer.


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 "I have just finished reading the previous five volumes for the third time, and once again have been brought to tears of both laughter and sadness in reading them. I find it hard to believe that it is all a work of fiction, brilliant!
I have holidayed in the area three times now, the first time when we visited Cilgwyn Candles where I picked up a copy of "On Angel Mountain" which after reading it and its sister volumes has resulted in me holidaying in the area twice since, all three times in holiday cottages -- the last time in a holiday cottage in the shadow of Carningli.  I have mixed feelings about this, as whilst holidaying in the area we are bringing in much needed revenue -- but I feel that by encouraging the holiday cottage industry we are out pricing the locals in the property market.  Perhaps I am following Mistress Martha's philosophy in a modern sort of way!
Anyway I now have a touring caravan so any future visits to your beautiful part of the world will be by such means."