Lake Views Upland Pastures and Around Cwm Glyn from Llangower 22nd September 2018.

First views of Llyn Tegid and the Arreniga.

Looking across Llyn Tegid towards the Arrenigs.

Pleasant green tracks on the way to Bala.

Llyn Tegid and the Arreniga.

First views of the Arans.

"Are you sure this is the path?"

One of the pleasant paths through the woods.

The summit of Arrenig Fawr finally clear as we descended towards Llangower.

The cascading Afon Glyn North west of Glyn Mawr.

Llangower Station at the end of the walk - train due at 16-40, but it didn't arrive on time, so we headed for home.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.2 miles. Climb: 1943'.

Time: 6 hours 46 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.9 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

We set off quite early from the Llangower Station Car Park and the paths seemed clearly waymarked. Some of the views over Llyn Tegid towards the Arrenigs were superb, but wisps of cloud lingered on the summit of Arrenig Fawr.

 Too early for lunch by the lake, we climbed through Ffridd fach-ddeiliog before having lunch.

 After lunch there was a dampness in the air that encouraged us to put waterproof on.

 Good views of the Arans were seen as we approached Cwm Glyn.

 Route find around Cwm Glyn between Ffridd Bach and cae'r hafotty required plenty of pondering over the map to decide the best way to go, and in places only having the GPS mapping got us out of jail!

 Probably are best view of Arrenig Mawr was seen as we descended on a green track toward Glyn Mawr.

 We reached the road near Cae-glas, and followed the road Northwards to Llangower and the start of our walk.

 We arrived back at the car having had good walk, with legs quite tired from the higher than usual climb and trekking across some quite boggy and challenging terrain.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Great tit, Carrion crow, Raven, Common buzzard, Wood nuthatch, European robin, Winter wren, Woodpigeon and Common buzzard.

By the Tryweryn 11th August 2018

The Afon Tryweryn  West of the main Visitor Centre.

A Dipper on the banks of the Afon Tryweryn.

The nearest view of the Llyn Cely Dam tyhat we had just West of the Fish Trap.

Craig y Garn from near the Fish Trap.

The track lading to Ysgubur Bwlch-graiaog.

The view from our lunch spot near Ffridd Bwlch-graianod.

The footbridge - found at last!

The path is there somewhere and we thought our close encounters with head high ferns was over for the day omce we reached the footbridge!

Escaping from wilderness into the unknown, but at least it was a genuine footpath.

The Afon Treweryn from ridge East of the upper car park.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.1 miles (8.3 miles on newest GPS). Climb: 1143'.

Time :  hours 45 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h (2.6 m.p.h. on newest GPS).Overall walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

This was a walk that I have wanted to do for a long time, but the described walk was a little short, so paths on the OS map made extending bit to head for Nant Hir and Bwlch Graianog would be a good option.

 Our walk started by following the Nature Trail as far as the Afon Treweryn Fish Trap. This was a delightful wooded footpath along the East bank of the Afon Treweryn. It wasn't long before we saw a couple of Dippers, always special treat to see.

 The start of our climb North east from Tyn-y-bont, didn't go well just after crossing a stile into boggy terrain, I got tangled in a hidden piece of wire and ended up kneeling in the mud and was helped out by kind walker following behind. I emerged, pride hurt and a bent Leki, but nothing worse. 

 The route to Nant Hir was soon none existent and we were crossing what could be very wet terrain, but thankfully not today.

 Often doubt in  mind made us stop and check that we were on the right track, but our morning difficulties were easy compared with what we were to face after lunch.

 Lunch was taken near Bwlch Graianog, where we had good views of Arrenig Fawr.

 Our descent from Bwlch Graianog wan't easy, a fairly clear path descending through Heather at first, soon disappeared in the head high Bracken. We then had a tortuous descent to he Afon Hesgyn, but thankfully we found the footbridge.

 Unfortunately more Bracken hid the way ahead again.

 Once again we were on pathless terrain, and eventually arrived at the path that the described route had used on the ascent. 

 We followed this and then took a "short cut"  that led us back to Tyn-y-bont and back to the White Water Centre.

 Rather than take the road, we crossed the footbridge over the Afon Treweryn and followed the path on the West side of the river and retraced our steps using the path through the wood back to the car.

 Overall a good and enjoyable, but more challenging walk than we had expected.

 Birds seen or heard included: Dipper, Common buzzard, Barn swallow, Common chaffinch, Pied wagtail, Meadow pipit and House sparrow.

 The weather today, was good for walking not to hot and a pleasant breeze as well. The only rain we experienced was just after arriving back at the car and on the way home.

Y Bala and Beyond Llanfor 15th October 2016

The church  of St Mor and St Deiniol t Llanfor.

Llyn Tegid from the rising path East of coed Tai-draw.

warm enough even for Mike to roll his shirt sleeves up, a little at least!

Toy cranes in the window at Ty'n-y-ffridd, but when were they last played with as a toy?

Panorama looking South east.

Panorama from our lunch spot above Ty'n-y-celyn.

The ruins of Ty'n-y-celyn.

Y Bala from the access track to Ty'n-y-celyn.

The Afon Tryweryn from Pont y Bala.

Llyn Tegid from the rugby club path.

The Craig Y Fron Quarry Caves,

The Craig Y Fron Quarry Caves,

Capel Tegid the beneficiary of the Craig Y Fron Quarry Caves, 

Walk stats: Distance: 10.6 miles. Climb: 1059'.

Time: 6 hours 1 minute. On the move walking averageL 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

Approaching Bala in rain, we wondered how long we would have to wait before we would be brave enough to put on our boots and set off.

 However as we turned into the car park the rain stopped and the weather just got better, mainly warm and sunny and nothing more that a gentle breeze.The views today were excellent, particularly to the high peaks above Bala.

 Route finding, especially around Coed Creigiau on the way to Ty'n-y-celyn was a little tricky when our way forward was blocked by a new fence. Thankfully we found a gate that enabled us to get back on track leading to Ty'n-y-celyn.

 Lunch was taken, sitting on the grass with superb views over Ty'n-y-celyn towards Bala and beyond.

After returning to Pont y Bala we set of on the path on the banks of the Afon Tryweryn and on to the road by the Southern end of Llyn Tegid.

 It was at this point that we started to see people. After the climb up to the Golf Club, the descent past the quarry caves was a very pleasant stroll, visiting Capel Tegid and returning to the car past Tomen Y Bala.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Mistle thrush, Carrion crow, Herring gull, Wood nuthatch, Black-billed magpie, House sparrow, Mallard, Mute swan, Collared dove, European robin and Raven.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Crown In at Llandegla, where Black Sheep brews were on offer and the locally produced Rosies Triple D cider went down well.

 Overall a very enjoyable day out.

Llyn Caer Euni from Llandderfel 27th August 2016

Garth Wood - where we first saw a Red kite in the sky above.

The first patching up time.

The Arans in the distance.

The location of Caer Euni hill fort.

Tyddyn Tyfod and the Lleidiog Valley- only just visible from the bracken invaded track.

The Lleidiog Valley from the moor North east of Llyn Caer-Euni.

Llyn Caer-Euni from the east.

Llyn Caer-Euni from the South.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 37'.

Time: 6 hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.9 m.p.h. Group: Martyn and Celia.

This turned out to be a good place for walking today, no rain, not too much sunshine and in the main not too humid, except when we were battling through head high bracken.

 Our normal parking area by the stream in the centre of Llandderfel was already full, so we ended up parking on the roadside next to an old chapel, in fact a better place to park.

 The walk started with a two mile road walk to Bethel, quite a pleasant walk with intermittent good views on both sides of the road to distract us. Indeed it on one such occasion that we spotted a Red kite in the sky around Garth (wood).

 Much of the hill side above Blaen Cwm had been cleared, but the work had made the path more difficult to negotiate, vegetation had encroached too.

 This was the location when brambles meant that Celia had to stop for road repairs. Soon after we had our first trial by bracken, having to push it aside to keep are position on the path.

 In fact most of the walk today was on paths that in reality couldn't be seen on the ground, but amazingly we only deviated slightly when we saw a very large bull in the field ahead.

 We were stopped by a local farmer, who reluctantly agreed the path we wanted was along the fence in the next field and crossed the fence half way down.

 The next section was a delightful path on the edge of an old woodland as far as Tyddyn Tyfod.

 The next section, on what last time was a very pleasant climb up to the moor, proved to  be a nightmare head high bracken encroaching the path for nearly half a mile. What a relief it was to emerge on to the moor and escape the bracken.

 Lunch was taken immediately, a little later than usual at about 14-00, so we were ready for it.

  After lunch we decided to head for Llyn Caer-Euni, I'd forgotten how boggy the paths in that area were, but we plodded on regardless, eventually descending down to Bethel and the road back to Llandderfel.

 We arrived back at the car with tired legs, having a a good and overall enjoyable walk with more challenges than we had at expected.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Wood nuthatch, House sparrow, Barn swallow, House martin, Blue tit, Common buzzard, Red kite, Raven, Collared dove, Wood pigeon, Common blackbird, Carrion crow, Common pheasant, Meadow pipit, European robin, Herring gull and Lesser black-backed gull.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Crown Hotel at Llandegla, where the locally produced Rosie's Cider went down well.