The weather forecast for Snowdonia on Monday wasn't very good and when we arrived in Capel Curig to do the Moel Siabod walk it was absolutely horrendous! So we reverted to plan B, go to the Pinnacles Cafe and have a nice warm coffee.
As we had come all that way we then decided on an easy riverside walk from the Ugly House to the Miners Bridge and return through the Forest. We parked our cars in the Ugly House car park (making a donation to the Trust) and then walked along the riverbank. Even there you have to be careful how you walk as the tree roots are on the surface of the ground and the rocks can be quite slippy because of the damp conditions. The recent spell of wet weather has provided ideal conditions for the moss and funghi to grow and this was evident all along the bank of the river. Along the river the Dippers were flying past all the time and a Merganser followed us for about half a mile before returning back.
Soon we had reached the opposite side to the Swallow Falls and this side has definitely got the best view of the falls and what's more it is free.
It'll be even better in the Winter when the leaves have gone and the volume of water increases. Not much further along and we reach the miners bridge and then make our way upwards to the Forest road and return along it to our cars.
It's not the walk we wanted but at least we enjoyed it and the day wasn't wasted. Another coffee in Betws Y Coed followed and then we came home.