The Three Rivers (day 4)

Even stronger winds were forecast for today, so once again plan B (or it could have been plan C) was decided on. To avoid the winds the route today would keep us mainly within river valleys and the chance to see more waterfalls.

Route

We parked in Ganllwyd and walked up north alongside the Afon Mawddach and through Coed Y Brenin.

There are a number of bike trails through the woods with some interesting names.

You will note from the route map a property shown as "Ferndale", which is now on sale but looked like it had been set up as accommodation to take advantage of the popular mountain bike trade, but it is in the middle of nowhere. We had a coffee break near here.

Continuing on the path we came to the junction of the Afon Gain and Afon Mawddach, both with large waterfalls.

There is a bridge here and if you look carefully underneath, the original bridge structure is steadily collapsing.

After some photos we continued up the Afon Mawddach where we came across what appeared to be a disbanded mine. There were a number of unwelcoming signs here which suggested that one should not enter.  However as the public footpath goes through here and no diversions  we continued on. The land does need care but once through the area a typical upland path appears and at the end there is a public footpath sign pointing back down.

We were  now back on a minor road which would make for some interesting motoring. We stayed on the road and then took the National Cycle Trail number 8 which headed south.  It had now began to snow so we took shelter in the woods to have lunch.

We were now back near the Afon Gain. The bike route switches back and fore a bit and then takes you alongside the Afon Eden, the third of today's rivers.

We were unlucky for the last quarter of a mile as the rain had began to fall and we were glad of our rain wear.

Rhobell Fawr (Day 3)

Today's forecast was for clearer weather but high winds especially near the coast. The high tops were again off limits but The Navigator thought a good compromise would be Rhobell Fawr,  a top I had often glimpsed on the way to Bala.

Route

We parked the car in the woodlands near Fridd Carmel and walked east to the junction of the green dotted lane.

We stayed on this path all the way until we cut uphill following a wall near Graig Fach. The contour lines tell their own  tale!

At the trig point it was difficult to stand up in the strong wind and we realised that  the "bigger hills" would have been impossible.  Well done to The Navigator".

We followed the wall which leads south west past Ffynnon Shon and onto another green dotted lane back to the car.

This area looks ripe for exploration when longer daylight hours are available with Rhobell Ganol and Rhobell-y- Big to be walked.

We had an interesting scenic route back to Trawsfynydd, which I am sure The Navigator meant us to take and took in the well known bustling hamlet of Abergeirw. Despite there being about only two farms there is a community centre!

Waterfalls and Moorlands (Day 2)

Sunday's weather was not looking inviting and definitely not one for the tops. My bedroom overlooked Llyn Trawsfynydd and if the map is to believed the hills beyond, but nothing but mist.

However The navigator had plan B and we set off for Llan Festiniog and the waterfalls of the Cwm Cynfal.

Route

We walked down to the Ceunant Cynfal Nature Reserve and the deep gorge made for some spectacular waterfalls.

A coffee break was had under the old archways of the disbanded railway before we carried on upstream to Cwm Farm.

The scenery gave way to a narrow gorge with no way through.

 The footpath then took us uphill around Bryn Llech and onto a view point overlooking yet another waterfall.

The path met the B4391 and although there was an opportunity to walk back down to the car on this road we decided to carry on with Plan B. Just before Llyn Dubach we struck onto the moorland and around the south of Llyn Morwynion and onto Carreglwyd.  From here we headed for the minor road and the old chapel and our route back to the start.

Cwm Cynfal is certainly worth exploring for the waterfalls.

Dolgellau and New Precipice Walk Area (Day 1)

Wherever possible we try to factor in a half day walk on our route to base camp and today was no exception.

Route

We met up with Andy who had travelled down from Chester , at the car park near the junction of the A470 and A493 just west of Dolgellau.

We walked along the Mawddach Trail and crossed the Afon Mawddach at the toll bridge paying the princely sum of 20 pence each.

If you refer to the link of the route you will see we headed north and then east to Foel Ispri and then onto part of the New Precipice Walk.  There were excellent views on this route north to the Rhinogydd range, south to Cadair Idris, west to the sea at Barmouth and east to the Arrans.

We wandered back via Llyn Tan-y-Graig and Llanelltyd.

A Week in North Wales - based at Trawsfynydd

For this week's walking break, The Navigator and I decided on North Wales based in a cottage in the village of Trawsfynydd. We were joined for four days by my brother-in-law, Andy.

The week had what you may describe as "mixed weather" but missing the sunshine bit, just glimpses. Overall the word 'dull' would best describe it and hence fairly flat photographs.

However as hardy souls we walked every day and enjoyed the whole week - well I know I did.

Anyway reader details follow with mainly pictures and route maps - the one which takes in Cwm Bychan area should be taken with a large amount of salt!

National Botanic Garden of Wales

If only you could trust weather forecasts, life would be much easier. There was a loose plan to walk on Friday as the forecast looked reasonable. Then it changed and Wednesday was forecast as "broken cloud" and Friday as rain. A quick phone call and arrangements changed. However I had not realised that "broken cloud" was Innuit for "deluge of snow"!! Other than a walk to fetch daily papers the walking plan was abandoned.

Thursday is usually my day for volunteering in the National Botanic Garden of Wales (NBGW), but clearly with snow still laying across the countryside I cried off work but decided instead to have a local walk which would include the NBGW and take some some snowy pictures.

Route

I walked from Llanddarog to Porthyrhyd and then onto the NBGW.

 It was indeed a snowy scene and I walked on through the gardens  and spotted some local wild life

The NBGW have always recognised Alfred Wallace on equal terms with Darwin and from recent stories on the news Wallace's relevance with the theory of evolution is spreading.

My volunteering work includes with my colleague, John, the maintenance of the Willow Play Area.

.I then walked into the wooded area known as Pont Felin Gat.  I returned via the minor road and then onto the traffic free section of the bike route 47.

It was here I saw a rather wiggly cycle track and thought the rider may have had a slippery time.

But then I met the said cyclist coming back and we had a chat.  He regularly cycles from the village of Llanarthne to the post office in Porthyrhyd.  Whilst talking I noticed that the bike did not have the usual chain drive but a drive shaft.  I had not seen this before but the chap explained he had two such bikes and they needed little maintenance and no need for cycle clips! Such an arrangement is however very expensive.

A little further on I came across some animal prints which I assume belonged to a fox or the local yeti.

My wife met me as I neared Llanddarog and treated me to soup and a half of Felinfoel ale in the Butchers Arms where a roaring log fire soon warmed us up.  A good end to a walk - I wonder if "the navigator" could arrange similar endings to our walks.

Llangain

With The Navigator and his better half sunning themselves in Madeira and Paul otherwise engaged I went off for a walk by myself.

Just before Christmas I had bought the second volume of Alan Richards "Great Walks in Carmarthenshire" and decided on the Llangain walk.

If you have not heard of these books I highly recommend them whether you live locally or are just visiting. The routes are interesting and so well described a map is almost not needed. For the history buffs Alan adds some pages about the past times of the areas walked.  There were a surprising number of murders in this county.

Route

The weather was somewhat misty not to mention my camera was playing up and hence only a few pictures. I will walk the route again and insert more photos in due course.

That part of the route which takes in Green Castle Woods I know well but the rest was all new to me despite being fairly local to this area.

There is some minor road walking but most is on green lanes and footpaths.  Those areas in the woods and across fields was somewhat squelchy not surprising bearing in mind the rain in recent weeks.

A lot of farms in Carmarthenshire and no doubt elsewhere rarely have their names displayed, but on occasions there are some  with attractive name plates.

As I walked under some power lines I could hear a conversation taking place but there did not appear to be anyone around until I looked up and two linesmen were halfway up a pylon carrying out maintenance work - rather them than me.

As i walked up the minor road from Brook towards Llangain I was suddenly joined by a boisterous brown labrador who seemed keen on walking with me. I had remembered passing a bungalow and holding on to his collar walked him back.  Thankfully it was his home.  The owner said he frequently escapes when someone is walking by!

I frequently pass by Llangain on the way to Llansteffan and had never been into the village and seen the local church, but Alan's route takes you past this old building before eventually leading you back through Green Castle Woods and the car.

I now look forward to walking more of Alan's routes.