Walking

[Hugo]

Dolwyddelan to Pont Y Pant riverside walk

[Hugo]

Glad you are back in action again. Lovely photos.

Thanks very much Hollins, it was really good to get out again, even if my joints are still aching after the walk

[SteveH]

Another excellent travelogue, glad you had a good time.

[BrianP]

Fine weather and lovely pictures. Thank you for sharing.

[Hugo]

On Friday Tellytubby drove down to the Oakley Arms in Tan Y Bwlch to meet old Uncle Albert. After picking him up we then went to the Hydro Electricity building in Maentwrog to start  a walk that we hadn't done before.     It's a walk through ancient woodland and is in three sections, the first being the red circular route, which at one point joins the yellow route, the Llennyrch trail,  which in turn joins a blue route that takes you all the way to Trawsfynydd.
On Friday we chose to do the red circular route which was described as a short circular walk in Snowdonia's tropical forest.   It may be a short walk but we found out that it wasn't easy and I still have aching joints to prove it
The walk starts just past the Hydro Electricity plant and is well signposted throughout.   We had only walked about 200 yards when we came across the Ivy Bridge, a beautiful packhorse bridge with Ivy trailing from it and nearly dangling into the clear waters of the Afon Prysor that flowed underneath the bridge.  We couldn't resist walking over the grassy top of the old bridge before moving on along the footpath which started to climb steeply until we reached the top of the ravine and the pathe levelled off for a short while anyway!
A short while later at 4 on the linked map is a gate that takes you on to the Llennyrch trail  but we just had a look at the stepping stones nearby and then returned to follow the red route for the remainder of our walk.   The moss and lichen growing on the trees and stones was an incredible sight and Tellytubby couldn't resist showing  us how thick the growth was.
There are always lots to see on these walks but we came across an old cottage with a large paddock and pond at the bottom of it.    In the paddock we noticed a few newly planted trees with large round labels attached to them and on close inspection we could see the names of an animal on them  so obviously the owners of the cottage must be animal lovers.
Then it was downhill all the way back to our car and we finished off our walk in Tan Y Bwlch railway station where we enjoyed a nice coffee just before the steam train arrived from Porthmadog
It was nice just getting out and having a lovely walk in the company of good friends
https://www.discoveringbritain.org/activities/wales/trails/coed-felenrhyd-and-llennyrch.html

[Hugo]

Maentwrog Woodland walk

[Hugo]

Maentwrog Woodland walk

[SteveH]

Great photos, I especially like the before and after shots of the cottage..... 

[SteveH]

Police have warned visitors to one of Wales' most popular beauty spots that illegal parking over the Bank Holiday weekend will be punished.

North Wales Police said inconsiderate parking at Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, puts lives at risk and would result in vehicles being towed away.

Over Easter, officers closed the A5 because of drivers parking illegally.

Highways teams were also seen taking away cars on the road near the boundary between Gwynedd and Conwy.

Traffic Wales said North Wales Police shut the road near Ogwen Cottage outdoor pursuits centre in Eryri because of "inconsiderate parking" over Easter.

At least five tow trucks were seen despite calls for sensible parking.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65432366

[Hugo]

Campers parking on memorial area for Gwynedd slate quarry workers sparks anger
There are fears the scenes could be repeated this bank holiday weekend



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/campers-parking-memorial-area-gwynedd-26779869

[SteveH]

Eryri: Public heed parking warning but criticise facilities

Bank Holiday weekend visitors to one of Wales' most popular beauty spots have heeded parking warnings but criticised the lack of facilities.

Over Easter, police closed the A5 because of drivers parking illegally on Eryri, also known as Snowdonia.

They said inconsiderate parking puts lives at risk and would result in vehicles being towed away.

Although there were no major problems with people illegally parking on Saturday, facilities were jam-packed.

"Today has been a nightmare," said Paul Doherty whose family travelled in two cars from London to climb up Tryfan.

"Over the last 15 years, the amount of people that have been turning up here has exponentially increased and it certainly needs something done."

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65437607

[Hugo]

On Thursday we met up with old Uncle Albert to do the Cadair Ifan Goch walk in Maenan.  It's a walk that we have done several times before but we always start it from the National Trust car park in upper Maenan.   From the A470 and opposite to Maenan Abbey is the lane that takes you to the car park and it's a steep single track lane that has many bends in it and not many passing places.    Unfortunately I met a car coming the other way and had to reverse carefully and find a passing place which wasn't too far away thank goodness.
Anyway we continued on our way and reached the car park and started the walk from there.    We were hoping to see the masses of Bluebells that are there but unfortunately they were past their best but still a pleasant sight to see.  Before long we came to Cadair Ifan Goch which is a viewpoint giving superb views of the Conwy Valley and the Carneddau.  The place is named after the legendry giant Ifan Goch who was alleged to have sat there and dangled his feet in the cooling waters of the River Conwy
We then carried on walking downhill through some delightful woodland, it was so peaceful and quiet there yet we could still see the A470 and the numerous cars competing in wacky races below us.  What a different world and just a short distance apart.
We then turned right at the footpath sign and went over a stream before stopping to have some luch, then we crossed over open farm land before eventually getting back to the car park
We had had enough walking for the day so I made a short diversion to show Uncle Albert the old Maenan Corn Mill.     It is now a beautiful privare residence and is set in a lovely wooded location with a stream flowing quite fast on the other side of the road.. 
Christopher Draper in his book said that at the end of the 19th century John Vaughan, a monoglot Welshman from Llanefydd was the millar here
I remember setting a quiz with the photo of the mill thinking that no one would know where it was  but DVT got it straight away as the millar was his granddad so it's a small world
It was a nice walk but more importantly getting out in the open air with friends and enjoying their company   

[Hugo]

Maenan walk

[DVT]

Christopher Draper in his book said that at the end of the 19th century John Vaughan, a monoglot Welshman from Llanefydd was the millar here
I remember setting a quiz with the photo of the mill thinking that no one would know where it was  but DVT got it straight away as the millar was his granddad so it's a small world
It was a nice walk but more importantly getting out in the open air with friends and enjoying their company   

I remember you setting that question, and thanks for the info.  John Vaughan was my great-grandfather (my father's maternal grandfather), he later was miller at Pontwgan mill (between Caerhun and Rowen) and died in 1930.  He, along with others in the family, is buried in Caerhun Chrchyard, to the right of the entrance.

Following on from your quiz I e-mailed an enquiry to the estate agents (well known one) giving some of the above info and asking if they could add anything ... did not even get an acknowledgement, although I did say I was not in the market to buy so they probably weren't interested!

[Hugo]

   

Following on from your quiz I e-mailed an enquiry to the estate agents (well known one) giving some of the above info and asking if they could add anything ... did not even get an acknowledgement, although I did say I was not in the market to buy so they probably weren't interested!
[/quote]
 
That's not a good way to attract a possible customer for the future.   A courtesy reply should be the least a business could do.

I also sent off a request to a well known landowner asking for some information but they didn't extend the courtesy of a reply to me either.  It seems that they are more interested in getting your money than any type of customer relationship