Walking

[hollins]

Action man Mr Hollins set off up the Snowdon Ranger Path today.  Just over halfway up to Snowdon they diverted off the main path to go and climb up the Llechog cliff.
They had a fantastic clear view of the summit of Snowdon all day and he says there were hundreds of people going up there today all taking advantage of this beautiful weather.

[Hugo]

We couldn't have picked a better day to visit Llanddwyn Island at Newborough   Anglesey.     The weather was hot and sunny and visibility was good, although there was a heat haze hovering around the coasts of Gwynedd.
The area has been mentioned  on here a number of times  so it doesn't need any commentary from me other than to say that this time we started our walk from the car park by Llyn Rhos Ddu and we followed the track along the edge of the forest until we came to the soft sandy beach.
There were a number of horses grazing on the Warren and even more when we returned the same way.
When we arrived on the beach we headed straight to Llanddwyn Island and had our refreshments there and then had a little tour around the island.  One thing we found funny was a Seal who was making one heck of a racket as someone in a boat had obviously intruded into his territory. It lasted for a while until the boat moved on and then the Seal got on with  hunting for his food.
Before long it was time to head home but it was nice to see so many people out and enjoying themselves and this beautiful area.


 

[Hugo]

Llanddwyn Island

[SteveH]

The creation of a new 85-mile trail through Snowdonia has been boosted by a £53,000 grant.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the funding to Cwm Community Action Group of Betws-y-Coed to help create the Snowdonia Slate Trail.

The pathway, which will use existing rights of way, will also gather stories about the area's rich history.
The Snowdonia Slate Trail will start at Porth Penrhyn, near Bangor, and pass through a number of villages including Bethesda, Ffestiniog, Penmachno, Capel Curig and Betws-y-Coed.
A Snowdonia National Park Authority spokesman said: "This new route will be of benefit not only to walkers who wish to walk short distances, but also for long distance walkers, encouraging them to stay in the area over several days which in turn will be of great benefit to the local economy."
The total cost of the project is £85,000, and funding has also come from Magnox, Ffestiniog and Bethesda town councils, the Snowdonia National Park Authority's Cae Fund and the community fund in Wales.
The walkway is due to be completed in October 2017.  refBBC

[hollins]

Action man Mr Hollins has been up Tryfan today but not walking as you can see. They went up via a rock scramble above the Milestone buttress.

[Fester]

Fabulous quality pictures H !

[Hugo]

Rather him than me Hollins, that looks scary.         

[Hugo]

Yesterday we drove down to Abergynolwyn to do a circular walk that was shown on Weatherman Walking some time ago and when we turned off the A470   we  drove through an area of outstanding beauty.     Deep high sided valleys with fast flowing rivers and all dominated by the impressive sight of Cadair Idris  towering above us, so we knew that we were in for one special walk.
We started the walk in the centre of the village and walked along the road until we came to Capel Jerusalem where we turned left and crossed the river and followed the path high above the valley.  At a rocky outcrop we came across the spot where small iron rings have been embedded into the rock.    This is where the local farm women tethered their cows and placed food for the cows in the hollows that had been carved out near the rings.  We followed the path and had spectacular views down the valley to Castell Y Bere and then had a steep descent passing a lovely stone wall of a cottage by the river. After crossing the bridge we then went through the farmyard of the very impressive Caerberllan.   This amazing building was built in 1590 and has an infamous history of murder and family feuds!
We followed the footpath until we came to Castell Y Bere and then made our way up to the ruins of the castle.   It didn’t look impressive from the road but once inside it tells a different story and has commanding views over the valley.     We had our lunch in a sheltered spot in the castle before we moved on to our next spot which was the Church in Llanfihangel Y Pennant, known as the Mary Jones’ Church on account of the young Mary Jones who walked about 26 miles to Bala in her bare feet just to get her copy of a Welsh bible.   The Church is very plain inside and has a small room inside the building which has leaflets describing Mary’s journey to Bala.    We took some photos and then followed part of the route that Mary would have taken, the path itself was steep, muddy and stony in places and passed a number of waterfalls on the way up.    The hill was densely covered in bracken for most of the walk but higher up we met a tramway and then the walking became easier.    We must have been chatting away because we  took a wrong turning and ended up a bit further up a main road than we had meant to do and ended up with a longer walk back to the village and our car.    It was a nine and a half mile circular walk which we all thoroughly enjoyed and one I’d like to do again soon

[Hugo]

Abergynolwyn Walk

[Hugo]

Yesterday, Tellytubby and I enjoyed a short but very enjoyable two and a half mile circular walk in Llangefni.     The walk started at the old Railway Station in Llangefni and went through the Dingle/ Nant Y Pandy Nature Reserve.    It’s a delightful woodland setting rich in wildlife and history with  superb boardwalks that make it easy for anyone to walk along.  These wooden boardwalks wind their way along the River Cefni and the path then goes through to Nant Y Pandy  ( Brook of the Fulling Mill)  and then on to the Cefni Reservoir.
It had started to rain as we approached the reservoir so we took shelter on the leeward side at the top of the dam and then continued on our way when the rain eased a bit.    The reservoir is quite big and an  embankment for the disused railway track to Amlwch goes straight across the lake.     We crossed over the embankment and although the railway track was overgrown the rails and sleepers remain intact.
The lake is a haven for bird life and we could see dozens of Swans in the distance but that was as far as we were going so we turned back and retraced our steps taking a different boardwalk when we reached Nant Y Pandy and arrived back at the old railway station.

[Hugo]

Dingle/ Nant Y Pandy walk in Llangefni

[Hugo]

Yesterday, I drove down to Beddgelert to meet a couple of friends for a walk in the Beddgelert Forest.  It was a nice warm day but the clouds were quite low on the mountains but the views were still spectacular.    I met my friends in the free car park in the village and we had a good chat before we set off.
It's an easy linear walk through the forest but you do need two cars for it, so we drove up the A4085 and parked the car in the forestry car park not far from Pont Cae'r Gors.
We walked along the forest tracks and crossed the Welsh Highland Railway which gave us clear views up to Yr Aran.       Then we walked passed Llyn Llewelyn which is a small mountain lake just below Moel Yr Ogof  and carried on the walk downhill to Beddgelert.    With forest walks, the views are often hidden but occasionally we did see some of the spectacular scenery that is around Beddgelert but most of the higher peaks were still covered by  the clouds.  The walk linked up with the Lon Gwyrfai trail and  came out by Beddgelert  railway station.
A short walk to a nearby cafe where we enjoyed a nice drink and then it was time to go home after dropping my friend off at the forestry car park 

[Hugo]

Beddgelert  Forest walk

[Hugo]

Yesterday, we travelled to Morfa Bychan to meet a friend and have a walk up Moel Y Gest.   It's a small stony and bracken covered hill, just 863 feet high but it offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
We set off along the main road towards Porthmadog and then made our way through the attractive Tyddyn Llwyn Caravan Park.    It was a nice sunny morning and the temperature was in the low 20C's and rising and we certainly felt it as we puffed and panted our way to the top.  The path was clear but rocky and slippy following the recent rain in the area.
It wasn't long before we reached the summit and by then we were ready for a break and our refreshments. The views from the top are far reaching and you could see the Llŷn Peninsula and the Snowdonia mountain range and the Cnicht stood out in particular.   The only downside, and it was a big one were the midges.  Millions of the little blighters and all hovering around our heads as we were trying to have our food and drink.
We didn't stop too long there and made our way down the steep and slippy slopes to where the Lidl store is, The journey down was tricky and we all had a few slides on the mud but nothing too bad.
From there we made our way to the packed harbour and enjoyed a delicious Parisella's ice cream before returning back to Morfa Bychan along the shoreline and the pretty village of Borth Y Gest.   A nice cup of tea and wedge of cake in Uncle Albert's house and then we were off in our car back home.

[Hugo]

Moel Y Gest,  Porthmadog and Borth Y Gest