A Llanfair Talhaiarn and Betws-yn-Rhos Round.
The new bridge over the Afon Elwy actually on our route today.
Trees in autumnal colours.
"Farmer Ed" at Ty Mawr.
Emerging from the first gorse challenge.
Looking toward Llanddulas as we headed towards Nant-y-fedw.
The surprise waterfall near Nant-y-fedw.
St., Michael's Church at Betws-yn-Rhos.
Distant views of Moel Famau.
The Elwy Bridge at Llanfair Talhaiarn .
Distance: 8.6 miles. Climb:1354'.Time: 5 hours 15 minutes. On the move walking av
erage: 2.2 m.p..h.Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
A good dry day on the forecast and feeling pretty cool as we started, so full Winter gear was put on - this was a mistake, when the Sun came out we were starting to overheat as we climbed steadily out of the Elwy valley towards Moefre Uchaf.
the route started by heading out of Llanfair Talhaiarn on the minor road eastward, so that we could use the new footbridge over the Afon Elwy and northward to Betws-yn-Rhos. Just after crossig the bridge we encountered our first problem, a felled tree across the path and later a gate tied to a post, but the post wasn't attached to anything else!
as we climbed on this track, we started to get better and better views of the surrounding countryside, but after passing Ty Mawr farm, I attempted to follow the green track through the gorse - another mistake. Ed avoided it by going in the field above the track.
Our chosen route was all on tracks and paths, clearly shown on OS maps, but on the ground it wasn't so easy.
WE had good distant views of Snowdonia as well as Moel Famau and the Clwydians Hill as we headed towards Mynydd Dir after luunch.
Before lunch we had two good nature spots, a Brown hare raced across the field infront of us as we headed to the road east of Moefre Uchaf and a Common buzzard flew towards wooded valley west Nant-y-fedw. Normaly spotting a Common buzzard, is hardly worth mentioning, but today we were actually viewing it from above.
Lunch was taken at Betws-n-Rhos, where we used a picnic table at the playground, andhappy to hear the joyful sound of youngsters at play during lunch time at the nearby primary school.
The route back to Llanfair Talhaiarn from Betws-yn-Rhos, started with a steady climb up a minor road, before the challenge of route finding from Bryn-ffynnon and around the east side of Mynydd Dir. Thankfully today, we had GPS devices with OS Mapping to help us.
The final part of our route today, tok us along the riverside path towards the Elwy Bridge, and today much more water was gushing over the weir.
Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Common chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Goldfinch, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Common blackbird, Wood nuthatch, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Raven, European robin, Black billed magpie, Meadow pipit and Fieldfare.
We arrived back at the cars, having had a good, at times challenging walk. All that was needed now was to cap it all with a good pint of real ale. Thankfully we decided to Head for the Black Swan at Llanfair Talhaiarn, where we were served with a superb pint of Purple Moose's Cwrw Eryri (Sonowdonia Ale). This is a friendly hostelry, serving some good local brews that needs to be supported by all real ale drinkers. My only regret is that this was my first visit - it won't be my last!
A sign spotted by Ed - reminds me of my days when I was working!
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