Llantysilio Green, Snowdrops Eliseg’s Pillar and More 25th February 2026

The Horseshoe Falls from the car park.

The Horseshoe Falls.

Daffodils next to the path leading to Llantysilio Church.

Llantysilio Church and its Snowdrops.

Snowdrops in churchyard.

Snowdrops.

Inside Llantysilio Church.

Mike shows the Snowdrop flower,

The path to the moorland and Pen-y-bryn.

More of the path to the moorland and Pen-y-bryn.

Distant views of Dinas Bran.

Panorama of looking towards the Eglwyseg Escarpment and Dinas Bran.

Mike retracing his steps.

Information about Eliseg's Pillar.

Eliseg's Pillar.

Eliseg's Pillar.

The Clwydian Way that leads to our lunch spot.

Our lunch spot.

The remains of Valle Crucis Abbey seen from our lunch spot.

One the first lambs seen on our walks this year.

Mike tries the new gate on the way to Dinas Bran.

A recently painted narrow boat(part of the horse drawn fleet)

A Grey heron in the canal.

A splash of Snowdrops in the wooded area between the canal and the River Dee,

Distance: 7.6 miles.
Climb: 1368’. 
Time: 4 hour 47 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: 10.5 Celsius to 17.8 Celsius at lunch sitting in the Sun.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 3, often no wind at all, but occasionally we could feel a Light breeze and once it gusted to a Gentle breeze.
Group: Martyn, and Mike.
The weather forecast for today was looking good, good enough to tempt me to wear my shorts for the first time this year.
However, drizzle was on the forecast for the afternoon – they were right, but it was more of dampness in the air, than real drizzle.
The first surprise of the day was on arriving at the Llantysilio Green / Horseshoe Falls Car Park. The car park had been revamped, it now has a good surface and there is a good PC.  It was even open!
However, the car park is no longer free to National Trust Members. It is Pay and Display for everyone £6 for all day parking.
Just for a change, we decided to complete the walk in clockwise direction, leaving the two-mile canal towpath to the end of the walk.
Llantysilio Church was the first port of call to see the Snowdrops, they were pretty good, but perhaps a week earlier they may have been better.
Doing it in reverse, we thought would be straight forward, but we still managed to miss the lower path across Peny-bryn that we wanted. This meant we climbed a little more than planned until we realised and retraced our steps. However, it did mean we had some good views that we would have missed had we taken the lower path earlier.
Arriving at the Britannia (up for sale), we decided to change the route slightly and visit Eliseg’s Pillar and join the Clwydian Way (our normal path) near Abbey Cottage.
Lunch was taken at the usual pic-nic area created by “Korsakud” and friends.
Just as we finished our lunch, the drizzle / dampness in the air started, but it was never enough to make us put on our waterproofs.
Arriving at the canal, the boats were being prepared for the tourists, with the smell of paint still evident.
Just before the Motor Museum, we noticed a pink door in the hedge, it turned out that it was the entrance to a new canalside café. It wasn’t open today!
Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Common blackbird, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Wood nuthatch, Common pheasant, House sparrow, Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie, Mallard, Dunnock, Common buzzard, Song thrush, Mistle thrush, Blue tit, Great tit and Grey heron.
Overall, an enjoyable walk, and one we thought seemed easier going in the clockwise direction.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Sun at Trevor, where Mike sampled Purle Moose’s Madog and I had an excellent pot of tea that came with another pot of hot water. I only just managed to drink it all! Once again, home in time to clean my boots outside before the light faded.

Llyn Geirionydd and Llanrhychwyn Church from Trefriw 21st February 2026

War Memoria in Trefriw, the start of our walk.

The lower Fairy Falls, Trefriw.

The Fairy Falls, Trefriw.

Another view of the Fairy Falls.

On the path through Coed y Wern.

Mike strids out to catch up after stopping to remove one of his garments.

Rainbow over Crafnant Valley.

Ed about to cross stone bridge.

Heading for Llyn Geirionydd.

The Llyn Geirionydd Monument.

The end of Llyn Geirionydd in mist.

It's not much better that way either!

At least someone is getting something from this Moderate breeze.

The boggy terrain that is our way to Llanrhychwyn Church.

The view from our lunch spot at the lychgate of Llanrhychwyn church.

Daffodils and Snowdrops at Llanrhychwyn Church.

I hope the Snowdrops will be better at Llantysilio Green next Wednesday.

Impressive moss on the wall at Llanrhychwyn.

The Grey Mare's Tail waterfalls.

"Smoke" rising from the trees.

The Gower Bridge, Llanrwst, but we won't be crossing it today.

This is the shortest way back to the start when it's lashing down with rain.

Distance: 7.2 miles.
Climb: 1312’. Wind assisted GPS reading)
Time: 4 hour 32 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: 10.5 Celsius. 11.5 Celsius at lunch next to Llanrhychwyn church.
Beaufort Wind Force: Mainly 3, just a Gentle breeze, but occasionally gusting to 4, a Moderate breeze Moderate breeze.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
The weather forecast for today wasn’t very good, but Ed was on holiday in Llandudno so we were committed to walk whatever the weather.
Until lunch time, the weather wasn’t too bad, although there was dampness in the air as we approached Llyn Geirionydd. In fact, the end of the lake was in cloud!
Distant views were none existent, and even Moel Siabod was out of view. Ed thought he may have just glimpsed a little of it.
Lunch was taken in the shelter of the lychgate at Llanrhychwyn Church.
With all of the recent rain, there was plenty of water coming down the streams and rivers, making the Fairy Falls and The Grey Mare’s Tail pretty impressive.
Not as many birds around today, but the birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Common blackbird, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Great cormorant, House sparrow, Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie, Goosander, Mallard, Dunnock, Blue tit, Great tit and Grey heron.
Overall, an enjoyable walk, despite being in torrential rain for the last hour.  It's the wettest I have finished a walk for a long time, but at least our boots were clean!
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Albion Inn in Conwy, where Ed was happy with his couple pints of Hafod’s Plum Porter and Mike enjoyed is Purple Moose’s Snowdonia Ale.
I had Coco cola, as a pot of tea wasn’t an option.

The Little Orme and on to Rhos-on-Sea 18th February 2026

Setting off to the Little Orme.

Only sheep in the field today, the donkeys must be on holiday!

At the trig point on Little Orme Head.

Llandudno Bay and the Great Orme from the Little Orme.

Distant views of the northern Carneddau.

Penrhyn Bay from the Little Orme.

Looking at the Grey seals in Porth Dyniewaid ( Angel Bay).

Grey seals in Porth Dyniewaid on our first visit.

One Grey seal in the sea at Porth Dyniewaid.

Walking on the beach at Penrhyn Bay.

The waves crashing on the shore in Penrhyn Bay.

A Common welk egg sack washed upon the pebbles in Penrhyn Bay.

A Turnstone roosting on the rocks in Penrhyn Bay.

Discarded Christmas trees get everywhere!

Heading back to the Little Orme after lunch.

Grey seals on the Port Dyniewaid beach in the afternoon.

Grey seals playing at the water edge.

Grey seals again.

Heading to Craig-y-don on the path past the Craigside Inn.

One of several roosting Eurasian curlews in the field opposite Craig-y-don paddling pool.

Distance: 7.3 miles.
Climb: 1214’. Wind assisted GPS reading) . Would be nearer 700' on a calm day!
Time: 4 hour 28 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: 4.2 – 6.8 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 2-5. Maximum 21.9 m.p.h. Fresh breeze, but mainly a Gentle to Moderate breeze.
Group: Martyn, Mike, Nigel and Ed.
The weather forecast for today wasn’t very good, but Ed was on holiday in Llandudno so we were committed to walk whatever the weather. Thankfully it was better than expected, although it was very windy, felt cold and it didn’t rain.
Distant views from Little Orme Head were not very clear, walking in the Carneddau today wouldn’t have been a good choice.

It was good to se that the PC at Craig-y-don had been refurbished, but futer visits would cost 50p!
Despite the high tide being around 11-15, around 17 Grey seals were on the beach in Porth Dyniewaid (Angel Bay) on our first visit in the morning, with a few more on our return visit in the afternoon.
Lunch was taken at Rhos-on-Sea, where we took advantage of the shelters next to the paddling pool and play area.
As I was quite some time since Ed last joined on a walk, fortified fruit cake was provided to mark the6 occasion.
Not as many birds around today, but the birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Common blackbird, Oystercatcher, Eurasian curlew, Turnstone, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Great cormorant, House sparrow, Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie and Great crested grebe.
Overall, an enjoyable walk as we caught up with the latest news from Ed.
As Nigel needed to pick up his car from the garage, we didn’t stop for a drink at the Albion in Conwy but headed homeward. We did however, call in at the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn, for a quick pint of Lees bitter that was much appreciated!