Yesterday we set off to Blaenau Ffestiniog to do part of the section 9 of the Snowdonia Slate Trail. The bit we decided to do was from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llan Ffestiniog and it required two cars, one at the start and one at the finish so we drove to Llan Ffestiniog and old Uncle Albert parked his car there and I drove back to Blaenau. Just driving there and back was a bit like wacky races with so many duff directions coming from the back seat passengers that it felt like we would never get to the start of the walk, but at long last we did.
Apart from the banter and the good company it is always nice to get out into the open air, even if the Blaenau weather seemed to be closing in on us. It’s a walk we have never done before so it was nice to do something different for once. The first part of it was uphill across open farmland that gave splendid views of the Moelwyns and the Stwlan Dam with the pending rain clouds hovering just above the mountains. Then we entered woodland and passed an old ruined farm building that was covered in the thick moss that thrives in these damp conditions.
We then crossed a bridge across the river and headed uphill to a large farm, on the bridge I casually asked old Uncle Albert if his trainers were back in his car in Llan Ffestinioghis, it was then that he realised that they were in my car in Blaenau and his comments to me are unprintable!. The wind had picked up by then and the rain had arrived so we took shelter behind trees and a high stone wall where we enjoyed our refreshments but soon we had to move on.
The path took us to the Pengwern pub in Llan Ffestiniog and then we followed the sign post to Cynfal Falls. It was downhill then to the falls and when we got there the place was nicer than we could ever have imagined. It was absolutely stunning and is a unique environment where luscious green mosses thrive in the moist air and carpet the river banks and trees. We went down to a viewing platform that overlooks the Cynfal Falls and the erosive power of the river has carved interesting formations in the rock. One strange rock pillar above the waterfall is known locally as “Huw Llwyd’s Pulpit after a well known local character, Huw Llwyd in the 17th century used to stand on the rock to recite poetry, preach sermons and converse with spirits!
We returned to the path and crossed a bridge and then followed the gorge upstream through woodland and each view of the river seemed to get better and better until we came to the railway viaduct and the end of our walk.
Uncle Albert did a good job driving us back to Blaenau in his large walking boots but we'll have to double check on things next time.