Walking

[Hugo]

On Friday when Tellytubby picked me up in Colwyn Bay it was raining very heavily and we were heading for Blaenau Ffestiniog to do a walk!
It's a good job that we didn't cancel the walk because all along the A470 it was dry and sunny.     We met old Uncle Albert in Blaenau Ffestiniog and it was there that I realised that I hadn't brought my camera with me, but luckily I had brought an old pocket camera which I had in my rucksack.
Uncle Albert was equally forgetful and hadn't remembered to bring his phone/camera with him
The walk we planned was from Llan Ffestiniog to the Cynfal gorge and waterfalls It's a two car job so we took one car and parked it on the A470 near the old disused railway viaduct at the end of the walk and drove the other car to Llan Ffestiniog.
We parked the car near St Michael's Church and started the walk from there.    It's a must to see the graveyard there as the views of the Snowdonia mountains are breath taking with the Stwlan Dam clearly visible on the side of the mountains.   
The start of the walk is across the road and is clearly marked.  The first part of the walk is down a steep path across open farmland until you come to a very attractive metal gate that signifies the start of the Cynfal Gorge and waterfalls.   Almost immediately afterwards are very steep metal steps that take you down to a viewing platform to see the first of many waterfalls.    Pictures and words cannot describe just how nice this area is, it's a bit like a tropical rain forest with thick layers of moss and lichen growing everywhere, on trees, on walls and everywhere it can.    If anyone is moderately fit then it's a walk I would recommend to anyone.   Towards the end of the gorge is a disused railway viaduct that once carried trains on the Blaenau to Trawsfynydd railway.   We were curious about the rail track so once we got on to the tarmac road at the end of the gorge walk we turned right and walked along the road until we came to a bridge that crossed over the railway line.  Access was easy from there and we followed the track back to the viaduct.  The track is intact with rails and sleepers still  there, we didn't walk any further than the viaduct but perhaps that may be a walk for another day?
After a good look around we returned to the car and then returned home after having had a great walk and good weather too.     

[Hugo]

Llan Ffestiniog Cynfal Gorge walk

[Hugo]

Llan Ffestiniog Cynfal Gorge walk

[Hugo]

Llan Ffestiniog Cynfal Gorge walk

[Hugo]

Yesterday Tellytubby and I left a sunny Colwyn Bay and met old Uncle Albert in Dolwyddelan.    It was dark and gloomy when we arrived there and the clouds hung  low in Cwm Penamnen and that was where we were heading for.     The walk was the longer circular walk of Cwm Penamnen but we wanted to add a bit on so we could see the impressive waterfall at the head of the valley.
It's an easy walk to follow after going over the railway track, all you have to do is tuen left then then passing Glan Gors Street turn right and follow the forestry track all the way to the head of the valley.     It's a gradual climb up the slopes and a certain level of fitness is required and on a clear days the views down to the valley are stunning with a river flowing down the other side of the valley and the Roman Road of Sarn Helen just beyond the river.    Yesterday was different and before long we were walking in the clouds and mist.
We saw a climber at the top of  Carreg Alltwen but we had no desire to join him up there so we carried on on the forestry track until we reached the head of the valley.    At point 5 in the official map the directions are to turn right and go down the footpath to reach the valley floor and Sarn Helen but we carried on as we wanted to see the impressive waterfalls
I had been to see the waterfall about 20 years ago with a friend and colleague Ian Robinson and was very impressed by it so we all wanted to see it.    Sadly Ian died last week aged just 63 and we will be at his funeral on Tuesday next.   Anyway we followed the track for a good distance but the track came to an abrupt end and we had to turn back and go to point 5 not having seen the waterfalls The path down to the valley was steep and wet and it wasn't long before I had a very heavy fall after treading on  a large piece of flat slate.     Tellytubby and old Uncle Albert had to give me a hand to get up and I don't know which hurt the most, my knees or my pride.    Anyway we carefully got down to the valley floor and went through the gardens of a holiday home before getting to Sarn Helen.
This is part of the Roman Road that connects the Roman forts in Caerhun in the Conwy Valley and Tomen Y Mur by Trawsfynydd.   The road then leads down to Dolwyddelan  and on its way passes the Penamnen Houses Dating back to the early 15th century, Penamnen Houses are believed to be the seat of Maredudd ap Ieuan, Head of the Royal House of Cunedda. Maredudd originally occupied nearby Dolwyddelan Castle before abandoning it in favour of Penamnen Houses
It wasn't long before we reached the village and our cars, but we'll be back!   You have to do what you can, when you can because life is too short,     Anyway today my legs feel like lead and the bruises are starting to come out but I really enjoyed the walk, the company and the banter 

[Hugo]

Dolwyddelan    Cwm Penamnen circular walk  ( long )

[SteveH]

A climber was winched onboard a rescue helicopter, before being taken to hospital by ambulance, after a fall during a "Christmas curry" climb, in Eryri (Snowdonia). The incident happened on Sunday afternoon in the Grotto area of Craig Bwlch y Moch.

Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team and the Coastguard rescue helicopter were called to assist the casualty. A statement by the mountain rescue team said: "Early on Sunday afternoon there was a call about a climber in the Grotto area of Craig Bwlch y Moch who had fallen while leading a climb called Christmas Curry and had been injured in the fall. It is possible they had wandered a little off the route, a situation that has led to a number of calls to this spot in the past.

"Having rescued the injured climber, one of the team's rescuers was lowered again to assist the climber's partner to the top of the rock so that everyone could return safely to the base."           Ref DP

[hollins]

We had a nice walk the other day on the coast path from Pensarn to Rhyl, back on the no.12 bus! The caravan parks along the way were doing good business with families. I expect some people will be enjoying good views of the Rhyl air show from there this weekend.

[Hugo]

There's a nice cafe at the end of that walk by the new bridge, we've stopped there a few times when we've been out and about

[SteveH]

National Trust lists 7 accessible to everyone North Wales walks
There are some fantastic places to visit with easy wheelchair and pram access

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/trips-breaks/national-trust-lists-7-accessible-27589978?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589


The Welsh attractions that are opening for free during September 2023
There are over 200 Cadw sites you can visit for free in September

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/welsh-attractions-opening-free-during-27594286?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[hollins]

Yesterday we had a lovely walk on the Mawddach trail. We started from the Penmaenuchaf hotel where we had stayed the night and walked to Barmouth including the walk across the bridge.
As we were approaching the bridge we read a sign that said it would be closed to pedestrians from today so this was our first bit of luck. The second was as soon as we got the the main road on the Barmouth side a bus came along and took us back to the lane which led to the other side of the Penmaenpool toll bridge where we has started. 30p each to cross that bridge as a pedestrian!
The works are well under way for the new Barmouth viaduct project. We believe that it will also be closed to trains from 2nd September until 24 November.

[hollins]

Walk part two.

[Hugo]

Great photos Hollins and that's one of our favourite walks.    In fact we had planned to do it again in September after the tourist season but because the bridge is closes from Saturday to some time in November we will have to leave it for another day.
What we have done on our last few visits is to follow the disused railway track from Penmaenpool so far, then take a track on the right that takes us past Mawddach Terrace, a terrace of houses set in a stunning location right by the river
Then we would go over the bridge and head straight for the Mermaid Chippy before catching the bus back to Penmaenpool then have a drink in the George III Hotel before heading home
We can't do it this year but at least I've enjoyed reading about your walk and seeing those photos

[SteveH]

Update on above..........

Barmouth Bridge to close for ?30 million refurbishment

Barmouth Bridge will close for 12 weeks as the last part of its ?30 million refurbishment gets underway.

The bridge carries trains on the Cambrian Coast line over the Mawddach Estuary and is important for the tourism industry in the area.

It will be closed from 2 September until 24 November.

Bus services will be used to carry people while the 150-year-old structure is repaired.

The bridge has a Grade II listed status, but the timber elements had decayed significantly over the years. A large proportion of the metallic elements had also corroded.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66687839

[hollins]

It was a beautiful clear day today to walk around the Alwen reservoir and ending with tea and cake at Brenig.