Walking

[Hugo]

Just to balance up my previous posts, not all tourists are selfish and thoughtless it's just the minority that give the others a bad name and it's the same in all walks of life.
Yesterday, when we were in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area walking we opted for a Plan B and that was to drive to Tanygrisiau and have a walk around Cwm Orthin and have our lunch there.    As many people may know, there is a small car park near the climb to the lake so I drove up to it.      When we got there however there were no parking spaces at all, normally there are only a few cars parked but yesterday every space was full       Having said that, all the vehicles were  parked properly and with consideration for other drivers.
It was a case of first come first served so we turned around and headed back to the cafe for Plan C   

[Hugo]

On Wednesday, Tellytubby,  Old Uncle Albert and I drove to Plas Weunydd in the Llechwedd Quarry at Blaenau Ffestiniog as we wanted to see the Secret Waterfall near there.   We walked up to the Glamping site to pick up the first sign of a public footpath and it's quite amazing to see everything that is going on in the quarry.   It's like an adventure playground and there must have been over 100 cars parked in the car park.
We followed the footpath which criss crosses the mountain bike track in many cases so normally you would have to proceed with care but we were lucky as there were no bikes on the track.   Talking of the bike track,  there is no way on earth I'd venture down there on a bike, it's only for the fool hardy.
It's interesting to see the old buildings that litter the hillside, some were obviously homes for the miners but others we couldn't work out what their purpose must have been.    Anyway after a good search of the area and using Google maps we realised that we couldn't reach the Secret Waterfall due to restricted access so we headed down a cycle track to our cars.   So the location of the Secret Waterfall remains a secret , for now anyway.
We put Plan B into operation and headed to Cwm Orthin for a walk along the lake but that was thwarted as the normally empty car park was absolutely full and fail play to all those motorists they all parked safely and with consideration for other motorists.
No option but to revert to Plan C which was lunch by the cafe and followed by a walk along part of the Tanygrisiau Lake,   While we were there the train from Blaenau to Porthmadog came past and it had at least 6 carriages full of passengers.   Unlike the main BR train to Chester that often has just two carriages.      The footpath goes behind the Power Station and goes down to the lake just after you pass the Power Station.
Unlike most lakes in the UK now this one was full and you could see Christmas trees growing in the water.    Not long afterwards we returned back along the same path and another time we may come back and do a walk around the lake.   As we walked back to the cars you can see that we are so lucky to live in an area of outstanding natural beauty

[Hugo]

Blaenau Ffestiniog & Tanygrisiau

[Hugo]

Blaenau Festiniog and Tanygrisiau

[SteveH]

 

[SteveH]

New technology could help Snowdonia cut parking chaos as tourists flock to the area this bank holiday weekend.

The national park authority and Transport for Wales have fitted a system to manage car parks in Snowdon's foothills and the Ogwen Valley.

It's hoped it will help negate visitors' environmental impact and protect the community.

More than 500 sensors at car parks will give up-to-the-minute information for visitors searching for a spot.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62691654

[SteveH]

AS part of Cadw?s Open Doors heritage festival, more than 100 landmarks across North Wales will offer visitors free entry this September.

The ever-popular festival of Wales? built heritage runs throughout September and will encourage North Wales residents and visitors alike to explore some of the country?s lesser-known sites ― several of which are usually closed to the public.

Among the sites, landmarks and hidden gems to feature in the festival are Penrhyn Castle in Bangor, Segontium Roman Fort in Caernarfon and Plas Newydd on Anglesey.

Read more  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/20894614.cadws-open-doors-heritage-festival-hits-north-wales/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Update on above .....

The North Wales attractions you can visit for free this month
More than 100 sites across the region will cost nothing to visit during September

Full list  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/north-wales-attractions-you-can-24932029?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Hugo]

On Thursday Tellytubby, old Uncle Albert and I had a nice walk around Moelfre in Anglesey.  It's a place we have been to many times and never get tired of going there as it is so beautiful
Our walk is normally a longish one but this time we combined three short walks, mainly because I still have an Achilles problem.    The first walk was a circular route starting in the village and following the coastal path until the site where the ship the Hindlea was wrecked in 1959.   Then back to our car walking back through the quaint old streets of the village
The second walk was to see the Iron Age village of Din Lligwy and the ruined Church, just a short drive from the village.
Finally the third short walk was to see the Morris Brothers Memorial near the Pilot Boat Inn
So for the the first walk we parked in the free car park behind the lovely Ann's Pantry cafe and walked along the path to the sea front.    We made a short detour so I could take a photo of my favourite cottage in the village and then returned to the beach passing the anchor that belonged to the ill fated ship the Hindlea.    Thankfully due to the brave efforts of the Coxwain Dic Evans and crew no lives were lost on the shipwreck.  This section of the coastal path has many interestingthings to see such as the old and new Lifeboat houses,  the Seawatch Centre and the monument to the Coxwain Dic Evans who was awarded the highest honour in the RNLI  for the many daring rescues he made during his career.
As you walk along the coast you pass a stretch of water between the mainland and Ynys Moelfre and it's known as the Swnt or Sound and it's just past here that the Hindlea came to grief on the notorious Moelfre rocks.    Further on is a monument to The Royal Charter that was shipwrecked in 1859 nearly exactly 100 years before the Hindlea.  Sadly the outcome was a loss of more than 400 people
We didn't visit the Royal Charter monument but returned back passing a terrace of former fishermen's cottages.   What was good to see was that many had retained their original Welsh names, one called Bwthyn Y Swnt caught our attention and it's name was quite appropriate.
We ambled through the old part of the village with it's many quirky buildings and lanes and soon came back to the car park.
A short drive then to start our second walk and on our way stopped to see the Cromlech, it's a  burial chamber with a massive cap stone estimated to weigh a staggering 25 tons.  Then it was on to see Din Lligwy but before we went there we went to see the ruins of an old Church which is set in a prominent position overlooking Dulas Bay.   Sadly the origins and name of the Church seem to be unknown,     Then it was on to see Din Lligwy which is a remarkable example of an Iron Age settlement although many Roman finds have been recorded there.   We spent some time there and took many photos and could have stayed there a lot longer but it was time to move on and see our third and final object which was the Morris Memorial near the Pilot Boat Inn.
We have passed this place many times before but it was worth the stop and short walk to see the impressive Monument that was erected in memory of the Morris Brothers who were famous for their letter writings in the 1700's
After the completion of our walks it was time for lunch so we drove to nearby Dulas Bay and had the lunch in the car as the rain started to pour down.    When the rain stopped we had a short walk in the bay but it was then time to head for home.
   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVNJaydxA4U

[Hugo]

Moelfre Walk

[Hugo]

Moelfre Walk

[Hugo]

On Thursday Tellytubby and I drove to Trawsfynydd to pick up Old Uncle Albert  and go to have a look around Llyn Celyn.      The draught this Summer had apparently revealed parts of the old village of Capel Celyn that was demolished to make way for a reservoir to supply water to Liverpool.
First of all we paid a visit to the Capel Celyn Memorial Chapel which is situated just above the lake but unfortunately it was closed so we had a look around the many grave headstones that are situated around the grounds of the Chapel.   The headstones were moved from their original place in the old Chapel Cemetery and  moved to the site of the Memorial Chapel and the inscription stone from the old Chapel can be seen in the wall behind the headstones
The headstones I saw were all in Welsh as you would have expected from this Welsh speaking community but the families  of the deceased opted to cover the original graves with concrete and leave them where they rest.
The start of this short walk was from a nearby car park so we drove there and parked in the free car park.   Tellytubby and I chose to wear wellingtons for the walk while old Uncle Albert opted for boots     It wasn't long before we could see where the village once was but little remains as all the buildings were destroyed and several mounds of rubble was piled up in places and on one particular mound the Welsh dragon flag flew defiantly in the breeze.     We soon recognised what once was the main road in the village and there was a small wall where the Chapel and graveyard where but the wall didn't appear to be original but rebuilt out of respect for the families of the original inhabitants of the village.
After spending some time looking around the old chapel grounds we then went to have a closer look at the mound with the Welsh Dragon flag on it.
The ground is deceptive as it is cracked with the draught but underneath it is soft and we didn't want to go the same way as the guy who was stuck in the mud recently and had to be rescued.      We saw some ?stepping stones?
so old Uncle Albert went across them first and entertained us with a rather ungraceful pirouette before landing on his side on the muddy bank.
Having seen this spectacle, Tellytubby and I opted for a safer crossing to the mound and took a few photos of the flag. After that it was time to return to the car park so we could have lunch.   Once we had finished lunch we got in the car and headed to the dam at the end of the lake.  The weather had been mixed and over cast but on the dam the heavens opened and the rain was torrential so the three of us returned to the car soaking wet and not having taken any photos.    Despite the weather and the mud we all enjoyed our experience there and it's just nice to get out together.

I've attached a link about the original village, the music is very sombre but I suppose it reflects the mood of the people when they were evicted from their homes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y28IwszJgog

[Hugo]

Llyn Celyn walk

[Hugo]

lLYN cELYN WALK

[Bri Roberts]

Very interesting, Hugo.

Thank you for posting.