St. Celynin’s Church, Maen Penddu and Tal y Fan 14th September 2024

 

Inspecting the renovated Wallace's Grave stone.

Nigel climbs the biggest stile of the day.

Mike follows.

Heading for Park Mawr.

A sign for cat lovers.

On the woodland path heading towards the North Wales Pilgrims Way.

The first wait while I get knotted up!

St. Celynin's Church from the North Wales Pilgrims Way.

St. Celynin's Church.

Inside St. Celynin's Church.

The baptism font in St. Celynin's Church.

St Celynin's Church information board.

The healing well in the grounds of St. Celynin's Church.

At Maen Penddu standing stone - looking good with all of the graffiti recently removed.

A shy meadow pipit.

Looking towards Maen Penddu from our lunch spot.

Wild ponies seen from our lunch spot.

Lunch time above Maen Penddu.

The start of the final climb to the top of Tal y Fan.

The Tal y Fan ridge leading to the summit.

At the trig point on Tal y Fan.

View from the trig point on Tal y Fan.

View from the trig point on Tal y Fan.

A new sign seen on the stiles as we descended south from the Tal y Fan ridge.

Sun bathing again!

The Maen y Bard Neolithic burial chamber located next to the ancient road leading back to Rowen.

Walk stats: 7.2 miles. Climb: 2070’.
Time: 6 hours 26 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.8 m.p.h. Overall Walk average: 1.2 m.p.h.
Temperature: 16.6 Celsius to 20.2 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: Mainly 2. Light breeze. Max 3, just a 10.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze as we descended from Tal y Fan
Group: Martyn, Nigel, Mike and Ed.
According to the MET, the forecast for today was going to be very windy and a feel-like temperature of 6 Celsius at 2000’. I believed it, and wore my Winter paramo gear. Arriving at St. Celynin’s Church, I changed into my shorts and carried my Paramo gear in my rucksack for the rest of the day. I left my sunhat in the car and had to improvise by using a knotted handkerchief to protect the top of my head!
I thought we were much slower than on 30th July 2016 when Ed joined us for the very first time. Then our “on the move walk” was only 1.7 m.p.h. We took nearly an hour longer this time, but we did have mitigating circumstances that gave most of the group time to bask in the Sun while they waited for me!
We changed the route slightly and approached St. Celynin’s Church along the North Wales Pilgrims Way and decided to go into the church.
The views in all directions were pretty good, and for much of the day we had clear blue skies.
Lunch was taken by the remains of a building above the quarry south of Maen Penddu. The summit was quite busy, so much so that we couldn’t take a team photo at the trig point.
Having descended the ridge from the summit, the best of the walk is over, and steep descent down road to Rowen is fast approaching.
Arriving back at the cars, we all knew we had had a good walk, especially for Ed as this would be his last walk with the group in the Welsh Hills before he heads to Scotland.
Birds seen or heard today were but included: Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Common buzzard, Black billed magpie Carrion crow, Barn swallow, House martin, Wood nuthatch, Raven, Red billed chough, Meadow pipit and Stonechat.
All that was needed now was to head to the Albion in Conwy, where Ed was sample Gunpowder Mild brewed by the Coach House Brewery. Purple Moose’s Snowdonia Ale was the beer that refreshed two of the group. Drive drank lemonade, knowing his sacrifice had made those not driving very happy.

Llyn Gerionydd and Llanrhychwyn Church from Trefriw 17th August 2024

The War Memorial in Trefriw - the start of our walk.

The Fairy Falls at Trefriw.

Exploring the new path through Coed Gwmannog.

More of the path through Coed y Gwmannog.

First glimpses of Eryri's high tops.

Ruins of the former Klondike Mine.

The old tramway leading to Llyn Gerionydd.

On the track to Llyn Gerionydd.

Heather and gorse in flower,

The restored monument marking the birthplace of Talisien, the a Chief Bard of the 6th Century.

Llyn Gerionydd Tan-y-llyn.

It's a good year for Water boatmen on the outflow from Llyn Gerionydd.

Heading for the monument

Bell heather and Ling together,

A better section of the path along the west side of Llyn Gerionydd.

Knapweed in flower.

Llyn Gerionydd from its northern end.

Looking down on Llyn Gerionydd, with our lunch spot in the distance.

These locals don't seem too bothered.

Moel Siabod comes into view.

Bristly Ridge comes into view.

Tryfan comes into view.

Distant views of Eryri's high tops.

The valley leading to Llanrhychwyn.

The information board at Llanrhychwyn,

Inside Llanrhychwyn Church.

Inside Llanrhychwyn Church.

Distance: 7.2 miles. Climb: 1251’

Time: 4 hours 45 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17.2 Celsius to 22.2 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 3. Mainly calm, occasionally a very pleasant Light breeze and gusting to an 8.2 Gentle breeze as we headed towards Llanrhychwyn after lunch.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed
The forecast for today was really good, dry and at 17 Celsius didn’t look like it being too hot for walking.
This was pretty well what we got, and with only intermittent sunshine it made it really pleasant conditions for walking.
Trying to keep to the walk description as best we could, meant we explored one path that was new to all of us. This path eventually joined with the path that we usually take through Coed y Gwmannog.
Arriving at Llyn Gerionydd, we took the path along the western side of the lake. I’d forgotten how bad it was in places and wished I had taken the easy option along the road on the west side.
Lunch was taken at the picnic area on the west side of the lake, a choice made by lots of people today. Quite a few people were even swimming in the lake, with canoes and paddle boarding being other popular options.
As we climbed from side of Llyn Gerionydd to Llanrhychwyn valley, we started to get good vies if Eryri, with Moel Siabod, Bristly Ridge and Tryfan coming into view.
Arriving at Llanrhychwyn, we found the church had started to fall into disrepair, with some of the roof tiles now missing and sections of the path around the church rerouted.
On this occasion we took the easy option and followed the shorter route along the road directly back to Trefriw.
Birds seen or heard today: European robin, Common buzzard, Carrion crow, European robin, Pied wagtail, Barn swallow, with Mike and Ed seeing a bird of prey in Coed Gwmannog. This was probably a Sparrowhawk.
We arrived back at the cars after 15-00, so we decided not to do the extension, and instead head directly to the Albion in Conwy or refreshments. As ever the beer selection was excellent, with beers from the Purple Moose, Conwy and Hafod breweries being sampled.
Overall, an enjoyable walk if you ignore the awkward sections along, he west side of Llyn Gerionydd.

Swallow Falls, Cyffyty Mine and More 16th March 2024

View from the footbridge at Betws-y-coed Station,

The Afon Llugwy from Pont-y-Pair.

The woodland path heading towards the Miners' Bridge.

the path from the Miners' Bridge - it seems easier going down!

I thought the Swallow Falls would be better than this!

The Swallow Falls - that's more like it!

The road bridge by the Ugly House ( Ty Hyll).

The view from our lunch spot at the Tynllwyn picnic site.

The Cyfftty Mine site - not explored today!

Heading for the leete.

I think we are on the leete now.

Rising vapour on the other side of the valley.

The deralict farm building where we went wrong!

Descending the yellow / blue path.

The train now leaving Betws-y-coed is for Llandudno.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 9.1 miles. Climb: 1414’.
Time: 5 hours 20 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: 7.8 – 12.2 Celsius
Beaufort Wind Force: 0-1, no more that the occasional Light air.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
The weather forecast today wasn’t brilliant and we had dampness in the air all day!
Ed suggested that we should try doing the walk in a clockwise direction for a change. All went well in the morning, we met a couple overlooking the Swallow Falls that were obviously celebrating a special occasion as they had a “glass” of Prosecco”.
Our first problem occurred as we approached the Ugly House, the steps up to the road were fenced off due to a partial collapse of the steps and wall. Not wanting to retrace our steps, we managed with care to climb the steps to the road.
Lunch was taken at Tynllwyn picnic site, where the views suggested the clouds were getting lower!
After lunch all went well, until we reached a known derelict farm building where we missed the path we wanted and everything from then on became a challenge and ending up with us using footpaths that I don’t particularly want to use ever again!
Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, European robin, Common blackbird, Great tit, Blue tit, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, Wood nuthatch and Pied wagtail.
Overall a very enjoyable walk that would have been much better if we had not missed a vital footpath next to a derelict building!
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell at Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter was excellent and the Ginger beer and Pipers Sweet Chilli Crisps went down well.