Walking

[Hugo]

On Friday Tellytubby and I went to Betws Y Coed to meet up with old Uncle Albert and Airport Mike.    We met up on the road behind St Mary's Church and parked there and it must be the only place in Betws that doesn't charge the motorist for parking their cars.     It was also handy because it's at the start of the walk that we planned to do, that was the walk to Llyn Elsi and around the lake.
 The walk climbs steeply  up a forest track through the woods and a lot of erosion has occurred so you have to be careful when you are walking up it.    We huffed and puffed our way up to the top of the track which is about 700 feet above sea level but often stopping for breathers on the way.     At the top of the track we turned left and followed the forest track around the lake.  This idyllic mountain lake is hidden amidst the mixed fir and broadleaf woodlands of the Gwydyr Forest so there is little of the lake to see on that stretch of the walk.   Towards the north west part of the walk you are able to see large parts of the lake and are rewarded with stunning views of the Carneddau mountain range. On Friday though the visibility was poor but the rain showers didn't dampen our enthusiasm.    It was just good to get out together and the banter flowed thick and fast.     Towards the end of the lake we came to the dam and we could see that the water level was low despite all the rain that we have had this year.    Years ago when the water level was low model iron canons were found in the water.  These canons had previously been securely displayed next to the Rest and Be Thankful Cafe on the Orme but thieves cut the chains securing the canons and the soldiers and stole them all.     They were such a well known feature of North Wales so they must have been too hot for the thieves to sell so they dumped them by the dam.   Sadly they must have been local thieves to know this isolated location.
Anyway we continued along the walk and stopped at the Ancaster Memorial for some refreshments and to admire the lake.
Then it was time to head back down the steep track to our cars.  It was a good walk and a great catchup but we all seemed to be walking like John Wayne in the end, well we are OAP's after all
We finished of a nice day in the Royal Oak Hotel where we enjoyed a nice hot coffee.  The place was packed and it was good to see that trade was busy there.

[Hugo]

Llyn Elsi walk  12th July 2024

[SteveH]

Eryri walker gets hypothermia in July and has to be rescued from mountain
They were part of a group undertaking the 15 peaks challenge when the weather worsened

They called for help, and a team turned up with food and warm drinks and clothing, before escorting them to a place where they could warm up. Despite it being the summer, the incident highlighted how the weather can differ at different levels of altitude.

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/eryri-walker-gets-hypothermia-july-29611348?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

More than 600,000 people travel to Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park every year to climb arguably the most famous mountain in Wales - Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

It gets so busy during the summer months and in the holidays there are queues to get up to the summit.

Snowdon - which is the tallest mountain in England and Wales at 1,085 metres (3,560 feet) - has a number of picturesque trails in which you can climb that will take you to the lofty summit.

One if them - the Miners' and Pyg track circular route - was even named the most popular walking trail in the UK in 2023 by AllTrails, which is one of the most trusted and used outdoor platforms/apps in the world and was last year named Apple's iPhone App of the Year.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24489653.alltrails-experts-share-tips-climbing-snowdon/

[SteveH]

A woman climbed to the top of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) only to discover there’s a more sedate way of getting to the mountain’s summit. Hettie, known on TikTok as “Hettie’s Holidays”, left people in stitches when she described her ordeal on social media.

Each year around half-a-million people climb the 1,085-metre peak in Eryri (Snowdonia). More than 140,000 visitors instead opt to travel up using the UK’s only public rack-and-pinion railway to enjoy spectacular views without aching limbs

Hettie said it was annoying they got to enjoy a nice day-out with little effort. Her video has since gone viral, racking up more than 100,000 likes, reports WalesOnline.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/tiktoker-left-fuming-after-realising-29670132

[SteveH]

North Wales mountain rescuers are seeing an increase in people needing help, with social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, a possible reason, one team said. Chris Lloyd of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation says they have seen a big rise this year, as people look to emulate what they've seen of videos of walkers in the area, which also includes on Youtube.

However they can soon find themselves in trouble, by setting off into the mountains, without a proper plan, or without the right equipment. Commenting about the rise of social media videos and posts, Mr Lloyd said: "It's opened up the mountains to more people and there are certain podcasts by people about the more interesting or dangerous routes.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/instagram-tiktok-drive-jump-north-29699577?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Tourists 'flooding' Eryri and surge in hikers stretching mountain rescue resources to the limit
Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team is urging visitors to ensure they are prepared as it has 'one of its busiest summers on record'

Mountain rescuers are concerned "tourism flooding into the area" and more hikers on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), is stretching their resources, amid one if its busiest summers on record.

Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team has urged hikers in Eryri (Snowdonia),to make sure they are prepared for walking in the mountains, with nearly 250 call-outs this summer, as concerns over the number of tourists coming to the area continue.

A statement on the team's Facebook site said: "The team has hit one of its busiest summers on record. 246 call outs so far and counting.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/tourists-flooding-eryri-surge-hikers-29928291

[Hugo]

Yesterday Tellytubby and I drove to the pretty village of Tremeirchion to have a few short walks and revisit places of interest that we had seen some years ago.
First stop was St Beuno's Jesuit Spirituality Centre wherte we walked through the groundsand across open farmland until we came to the Rock Chapel which is a Grade II listed building perched high on a rock with stunning views over the vale of Clwyd.    The Chapel was locked so we just took photos of the building but luckily for us as we were leaving the site someone came in with a key to the Chapel so we went in and had a good look around.  It's quite simple inside but has an immediate warm atmosphere about it.
We then got in the car and drove to Llanerch Bridge which once spanned the River Clwyd until nearly four years ago the bridge was destroyed in a storm. It was a sad sight to see and there are no immediate plans to rebuild it much to the annoyance of the people of Tremeirchion.      Then it was back in the car to the Salisbury Arms which was once a very popular place for food and drink.    It's now a community run pub but doesn't serve food any more.     Next door is the pretty church so we had a look inside it and also the grounds.   We had driven past a cottage called Bryn Hyfryd which was once a pub and we both has happy memories of drinking there until the early hours of the following day!
Back in the car to Ffynnon Beuno which is a house with the Holy Well of St Beuno's attached to it.   After looking at the well we took the footpath next to the house and headed up hill passing three Alpacas en route and stopping to look at St Beuno's cave before continuing on to a quarry where we stopped and had our refreshments and a good chat about the day.   Soon it was time to return home  so we headed back to the car and then home.    It was a short walk but one with plenty of interests and it's just nice to get out and about

[Hugo]

Tremeirchion

[Hugo]

Tremeirchion

[Hugo]

The once abandoned underground tunnels that link two Welsh communities again
Two tunnels link up a path between Bangor and Bethesda
The Lon Las Ogwen is a lovely walk to do on a nice Winter's day, it follows the disused railway track of the old main line railway and also the narrow gauge quarry railway.    It is a good solid path and on route you can see these tunnels as well as three great viaducts.    The linear walk is best tackled from Bethesda to Porth Penrhyn as it is downhill all the way.       


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/once-abandoned-underground-tunnels-link-30630776

[Hugo]

Boxing Day walk in Eryri with stunning waterfalls, a quarry and an old chapel
Prime Minister William Gladstone officially opened the route that runs from Nant Gwynant to the summit of Yr Wyddfa

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/boxing-day-walk-takes-stunning-17351691

[Hugo]

Here are some more photos of the stunning Eryri valley with tunnels, pits and rope swings across unbelievably beautiful pools
You don't need to hike all the way up Yr Wyddfa to enjoy Wales' highest mountain

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/stunning-eryri-valley-tunnels-pits-30626430