Walking

[Hugo]

Great Orme,   Llys Helyg Drive and the Gunsite    25th January 2025

[Hugo]

Yesterday was such a beautiful day I thought that I'd get out and do a short walk in the Bodafon and Nant Y Gamar area so I started and finished the walk by Bethania Chapel in Nant Y Gamar Road.     The Chapel opened in 1886 but is now a private home that has been sympathetically converted and at present is up for sale.     Across the street is the entrance to the farm but I can remember when it was the track for the Electric Tram and enjoying rides on the Toastrack as it made its way from Colwyn Bay to Llandudno.
Walking up the hill I turned left at Bodafon Road and it wasn't long before I came to Bodafon Hall, an imposing building on the right.   This was the original farmhouse with the present farmhouse being a conversion  from the farm buildings across the road.     It was sad going past the farm now as it is neglected with just a token number of sheep in a field.    It's part of the Mostyn Estates cunning plan to make the farm unviable for farming and then it can apply for planning permission to built houses on the farmland 
Passing the farm there are a number of nice properties on the right hand side and I stopped at one, the Holland Villa to take a photo.    A friend of mine lived in the old cottage for years and then sold it on.   Since then a new part has been added with a connection between the two buildings.    A little further on is Bodafon School and the house nearby was once the Headmaster's House but is now in private hands.
I then turned right and went up the hill until I came to Pant y Wennol and stopped to have a look around there.   The old cottages have undergone nice conversions and the views from there are quite stunning.    The square shaped building on the right called Penberth was originally a Chapel for the Bodafon community.  It was opened in 1861 but ironically when Bethania Chapel opened in Craig Y Don  in 1886 most of the chapel members preferred to worship there.
 I carried on up the hill and at Pant Uchaf I followed the footpath until I came to
the tumbled ruins of a cottage called Mount Pleasant.    This was the home of Frederick and Emma Hughes and their two daughters until 1954 but now there is so little left of that home.
After looking at the ruin I headed downhill and took a footpath on the left and it eventually took me to just east of Yr Hen Dwr, the old windmill.    It's now a quite a large private house at the end of  Nant Y Gamar Road.    I sopped nearby to have a drink and something to eat while enjoying the panoramic views.    It's a while since I last came here but there are loads of stunning properties dotted along the hillside, all well looked after.
Before long it was time to head down this steep and narrow road and I was so glad that I was walking down there and not walking up it.  Before long I got back to my car and then headed home
It was a short but enjoyable walk although the public footpaths were a bit slippy  following Friday's rainfall

[Hugo]

Bodafon & Nant Y Gamar walk

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Bodafon & Nant Y Gamar walk

[Hugo]

On Wednesday,  I met old Uncle Albert in Station Road Llanrwst to have a walk over Gower Bridge and then down Gower Road to Trefriw so we could have a look around the village.     First of all we had a quick look at thre Llanrwst North railway Station before setting off.       The Rev John Gower from Trefriw had a wooden Toll bridge built across the River Conwy in 1880 to provide a direct route for horses and carts to get from Trefriw to the market in Llanrwst.   The Toll House at the Trefriw end of the bridge collected the tolls which were used to repair the road.     The wooden bridge went in to decay and was replaces by a metal suspension footbridge that cost just £1500.00 to build in 1947.      Just as a matter of interest Gower Bridge was also known locally as Lover's Bridge on account of couples that had plighted their troth here in the form of padlocks with their names inscribed on them.    A count in 2018 revealed that there were 40 padlocks!
When we walked across the bridge yesterday there were none.   Apparently the Council had removed them all on the grounds of “health and safety”
Gower Road is prone to flooding  and only this year an elderley man drowned there while walking his dog.    It is only about 0.6 miles long so we soon  arrived in Trefriw and walked up the hill past the Woolen Mill to view Fairy Falls and it was worth the effort of getting there to see the fast flowing water of the Afon Crafnant as it tumbled over the rocks.    We couldn't resist going over the high bridge over the river before turning back and heading to St Mary's Church.    The original Church on this site was built for Llewelyn the Great so that his wife Joan could worship there.    Apparently and not surprisingly Joan found the journey to the Church at Llanrychwyn tiring so Llewelyn had it built for her benefit.  Inside the Church are stained glass windows depicting Llewelyn and Joan and were put there in 1936.
After looking inside the church our next port of call, excuse the pun, was finding the old quay at Trefriw.     I had an idea where it was and we eventually found it.     This 400 year old quay has always played a part in the community but in 1847  Paddle Steamers started coming from Conwy, Deganwy and even the West Shore in Llandudno bringing day trippers from the resorts.
Not much of the original quay is apparent but we were wondering if the dilapidated building was a tearoom for the day trippers.    They wouldn't have had time to explore Trefriw as the steamers would have had to return on the ebbing tides.
After exploring around the quay we returned to the centre of the village and had our refreshments  by the Cenotaph before walking  back home along Gower Road to Llanrwst.    It had been a very interesting and enjoyable walk in the Spring sunshine but there was a chilly wind on the valley floor so we were glad when we got back to the cars

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/400-year-old-quay-always-27476221

[Hugo]

Llanrwst to Trefriw via Gower Road

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Llanrwst to Trefriw via Gower Road

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Bangor event to mark Afon Cegin river and tackle pollution
The event, named Dwr yw Bywyd! Water is Life!, will be held on April 27 and aims to educate people about how pollution affects the life of the river and where the pollution comes from.

The walk is organised by Extinction Rebellion Bangor and will start from the car park at the far end of Llandygai Industrial estate at 11am.
It's a nice walk along an old railway line that in parts follows the Afon Cegin.    I've done the walk from Bethesda a few times and really enjoyed each walk so when I read about pollution in the Afon Cegin that included soiled nappies,  I was horrified.         The walk passes the Llandegai Industrial estate, Crematorium and Gypsy camp



https://ct.moreover.com/?a=56567470154&p=14e&v=1&x=vGUtwkfOBHfY0YK7b7tD-g&u1=ND&u2=up-urn:user:PA187552270

[Hugo]

 On Wednesday,  Tellytubby, old Uncle Albert and myself travelled to The Powder Works at Penrhyndeudraeth for a walk around the Nature Reserve there.    Tellytubby who is a really keen bird watcher had heard reports of Pied Flycatchers being seen on the reserve so he was eager to see them.       The nature reserve was originally an explosives factory and was opened in 1865 and in World War 2  it produced more than 17 milllion grenades.   It closed in 1995 and in 1998  the land was donated to the North Wales Wildlife Trust
It's set in a stunning location on the banks of the Afon Dwyryd and has views over to Harlech,  Portmeirion and all the surrounding mountains.
The walk started with a lot of banter as we hadn't all been together for some time and  as we headed through the woodland and there were millions of Midges flying around  so we were glad to move on to higher ground.    We had a look around various buildings on the site before  stopping for lunch by a large pond. A Grass Snake often swims on the surface of the pond but we didn't get to see one on the day.
After lunch we headed back to the car and although Tellytubby had heard the Pied Flycatcher and other birds including a Cuckoo he never got a chance to take a photo of the elusive bird.
Not to be beaten,  we headed to Pont Croesor and spent some time looking at the Ospreys that were nesting there and we were treated to a display by the adult birds as they flew over the fields.      After  seeing the Ospreys we headed to Uncle Albert's house for a cup of tea and a cake.
It was a great end to a nice walk and good to meet up again

[Hugo]

Powder Works Penrhyndeudraeth

[Hugo]

Powder Works  Penrhyndeudraeth

[Hugo]

Ridge and scramble circular walk that beats Yr Wyddfa for one major reason
The route takes in Wales's second highest peak
It has ridges, dramatic scenery and a bit of scrambling but those aren't not the best part of this high altitude route. This walk takes in the second highest mountain in Wales - just 20 metres smaller than the famous Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) peak.

Its ridges aren't quite as terrifying as Crib Goch but there's enough edge to make it exciting and a couple of times when you need your hands on rock in Tryfan style.
But the best part of the Cwm Eigiau Horseshoe walk compared to the Yr Wyddfa range is the absolute lack of people. For the first half of the walk -


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/ridge-scramble-circular-walk-beats-31601499

[Hugo]

The nearby alternative walk to gridlocked Aber Falls
Start at the Fairy Glen Hotel in Dwygyfylchi and you'll be rewarded with incredible views
It  is a lovely walk to do with lots of interesting things to see on the way.  Perfect if you want to be away from the maddening crowds



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/nearby-alternative-walk-gridlocked-aber-31634471