Walks in RED: Gabi
We joined Gabi for a stroll through Gerddi Bro Ddyfi Gardens, a therapeutic wildlife-rich community garden in the Y Plas grounds, and the Edible Mach allotment, a town-wide initiative creating shared edible growing spaces. Tended collectively, nurturing both community wellbeing and the natural world.
Our little town is a close-knit, supportive place that really does champion small and local (you only need to look at the largely independent shops lining our high street as evidence of this!). So unsurprisingly, there’s no shortage of locals walking around in a pair of REDs…
In the second of our "Walks in RED" series, we chat to Gabi about her much loved buckle-up Shandals®, and how they’ve become part of her rhythm in the garden and beyond.
Hi Gabi! Where have your REDS taken you so far?
They’re a really well-travelled pair of shoes. Every spring, when it starts to warm up, I can’t wait to air my toes again and go walkabout in them — no more feet trapped in walking boots or trainers with barely any room to breathe!
They’ve been to Turkey to see Turtle Island (sadly no turtles that day), across volcanic terrain in Tenerife on a trip to Mount Teide, and wandering through the old quarter in Lisbon. They’ve walked countless stretches of the Wales Coast Path, including Borth to Aberystwyth both ways — one of my favourite hikes. They’ve also taken me many times around the old city in Prague, and through towns and villages in the north of the Czech Republic, where I have family and friends, and where I once owned an idyllic place in the middle of nowhere.
As a nature lover who prefers being outdoors, my shandals are also my go-to for pottering in the garden — slipping them on as I tune in with the day, noticing what’s thriving, what’s flowering, which plants are drawing in the insects, and what needs my attention.
What first drew you to a pair of RED shoes?
They encompass everything I want in a shoe: beautifully crafted and stylish in a simple way, yet incredibly comfortable. They fit like a glove and really do feel like a second skin, which is why I’ve been able to cover so much ground in them.
They also come in a fantastic variety of colours. The shape and cut create a natural yet distinct look that really stands out. People often comment when I wear them, and if they don’t already know the RED brand, they always ask me where I got them.
What made you choose a pair of buckle-up Shandals? It was the aesthetics more than anything else, I especially liked the look of the side buckle. It took me a long time to choose as there were so many colours and styles I was drawn to, but I kept coming back to these. There was something really pleasing about the design, and I liked the feel of fastening them on one side.
As a Machynlleth local, where would you send someone visiting for the first time? If it’s a nice day, I’d head slightly out of town and up into the hills for some peace and a good view. A short hike to Glanllyn Lake is perfect. It’s not far, but you feel completely immersed in nature, surrounded by wildlife and tranquillity.
For the evening, I’d recommend a local gig at the Wynnstay Pizzeria, which often coincides with the folk session in the bar. It’s always a great atmosphere - friendly, low-cost entertainment, and buzzing with people!
Thanks Gabi! Another vote from us for the Wynnstay, a brilliant place to catch some live music or have a drink in front of their open fire.
