Beddgelert and Cwm Bychan 13th May 2023

Just missed the train!

A waterfall on Afon Goch in Cwm Bychan - commemtary by Ed.

The way ahead through Cwm Bychan.

Time for a rest and admire the view.

The view down Cwm Bychan all the way down to the sea.

Our first view of Yr Wyddfa as we started to descend towards Llyn Dinas.

Yes it's definitley Yr Wyddfa that we can see.

A distant Cuckoo calling Cwm Bychan.

Llyn Dinas and our lunch spot awaits!

it's all about Beddgelert!

Ed's Eagle - I didn't spot this one!

Gelert's Grave.

Ed with Gelert!

Ed's train spot - just in time.

The train on its way to Beddgelert.

The Afon Glaslyn from the Fisherman's Path.

On the Fisherman's Path heading for Nantmor.

Look - no hands!

Walk stats:
Distance: 6.6 miles. Climb: 1070’.
Time: 4 hours 57 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.2 m.p.h.
Temperature: 15.7 Celsius at the start. 25.5 Celsius at lunch by Llyn Dinas.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max - 1, occasionally reaching a pleasant (Light Air) very gentle breeze.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
It was a last minute decision encouraged by an excellent weather forecast to change the walk and head towards Yr Eryri.
After passing through Betws-y-coed and Capel Curig we realised that many more people thought the same. It wasn’t even 10-00 and cars were parked everywhere, not all of the legally, so we decided to start our walk from Nantmor where there was a National Trust Car Park.
Our walk started with a steady climb up through Cwm Bychan, and it wasn’t long when runners / walkers started to meet us. It turned out that much of our walk was on the route of an ultra-marathon event (1000k or 100 miles). One runner I spoke to had had started from Llanberis 24 hours earlier and still had some way to go.
It was very warm throughout the day and sun cream and wearing a sun hat was the order of the day. A more persistent breeze would have been very welcome.
Distant views were very good, we could see the coastal sands near Portmadog. Later on we had good views of Moel Siabod, Yr Wyddfa, Moel Hebog and part of The Nantlle Ridge.
As a change, we decided to complete the walk in a clockwise direction, leaving Coed Bell and its Bluebells towards the end of the walk.
This wasn’t a Bluebell walk, but we did see patches of Bluebells and smell them too, particularly as we descended towards Llyn Dinas.
Birds seen and heard today included: Chiffchaff, Common chaffinch, European robin, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Goldfinch, Willow warbler, Common whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Herring gull, Black billed magpie, Dunnock, Little egret, Stonechat, Mallard, Canada goose, House sparrow, Barn swallow and Cuckoo.
We were lucky enough to hear Cuckoo calling on several occasions, once with one Cuckoo calling and another Cuckoo replying.
Cwm Bychan had lots of abandoned iron work a reminder of the copper mining done it this area. Waste tips were evident too, but exactly where the mine entrances were wasn’t so obvious.
Lunch was taken sitting on the bank of Llyn Dinas where we were entertained by canoeists and swimmers in the lake. I must admit in the heat of the day, the clear water did look very tempting.
We had a very leisurely lunch before heading to Beddgelert and the riverside path back to Nantmor.
After the obligatory visit to Gelert’s grave we could look forward to challenges of the well known Fisherman’s Path.
Once again we had good views of the Snowdonia Mountain Train as it headed towards Beddgelert.
We arrived back at the cars, having completed a very leisurely walk (our slowest for a long time), but the walk today wasn’t one to be rushed!
We had problems on the way home as the main road from Betws-y-coed to Llanrwst was closed, so we had to take the more minor road on the west side of the Afon Conwy and the challenge to cross the narrow bridge into Llanrwst.

 

Part of the Felin Fawr Walk, Moel Faban, Gyrn and Llefn 17th September 2022

Crossing the Afon Ogwen bridge in Bethesda to join the CWAC walk through the Joys of Life Park.

The Afon Ogwen.

Pont Ogwen over the Afon Ogwen.

The Afon Ogwen from Pont Ogwen

The delightfu waterfall on the Afon Llafar.

Carnedd Dafydd ahead, but not for us!

Moel Faban, Llefn and Gyrnahead, but we won do them in that order.

Does that walking po;le mean something?

At the shelter on Gyrn.

The skyline fro Gyrn.

Remain of the slate quarry north west of Bwlch ym Mhwll - le.

The path throgh Bwlch ym Mhwll - le.

A bird that took us by surprise, but what is its identity? " Ed suggested it was a Mistle thrush. He was right. 

Y Soir and the Slate sculpture - now we know where we went wrong!

Walk stats:

Distance: 9.g5 miles. Climb: 2192'.

Time: 5 hours 53 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overallwalk average: 1.6 m.ph.

Temperature: 17 4 Celsius at the start. 11.4 Celsius at lunch on Moel Faban.

Beaufort Wind Force: 1 - 3 . Mainly a light breeze, but more of a gentle breeze  (12 m.p.h.P across the slopes of Moel Faban and Gyrn.

We set off from Bethesda following Ed's short cut on hat he desribed as the "cwac cwac" walk. this proved to be a very pleasant walk leading to the slate trail and Pont Ogwen.

The walk past the waterfall was superb, but the path from Ciltwllan to the foot of Moel Faban was one to be avoided in the future.

Lunch was taken at the smaller of the two wind shelters on  Moel Faban ( a little later than usual 13-15).  The views from our lunch spot were excellent, Holyhead Mountain in one direction and the high mountains of Snowdonia in the other direction.

After lunch we missed out Llefn and headed up to Gyrn, another spot with excellent all round views of coast and mountains.

On the return route we visited the top of Llefn, an easy way up, but a dreadful steep grassy descent to the track leading to that headed northward to the good track we wanted.

Once again we made a mistake taking the track / road through Rachub, but at least this time we did find the Slate Sculpture and Y Soir (Pub) mentioned in the route description. 

Hopefully the next btime we do this walk, we will get it right!

Birds see n or heard today included: Black billed magpie, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Weatear, Barn swallow,Meadow pipit  and Mistle thrush. 

Overall a very enjoyable walk, worthy of a celebration pint.

Mike forgot we were going to the Albion in Conwy, so unfortunately Ed missed out. Thankfully we called in at the Blue Bell in Halkyn and had an excellent pint f Lees Bitter.

 

Moel Faban. Llefn. Gyrn, Felin Fawr and Lon Las Ogwen 14th May 2022

The high tops of Snowdonia above the houses of Bethesda.

A row of cottages on the road to Moel Faban.

The wide track to the summit of Moel Faban.

On the summit of Moel Faban, heading for Llefn.

Wild ponies on the lower slopes Llefn.

One of man Stonechats seen today.

A head start on Gyrn.

At the summit shelter on Gyrn.

The impressive sheepfolds below Gyrn with the Carneddau on the horizin.

Looking northwards down the narow pass between Llefn and Moel Faban.

Bangr Pier and Penrhyn Cstle from the track on the north side of Moel Faban.

Another Stonechat.

The wide track, an old tramway, on the south west side of Moel Faban.

The Afon Ogwen on the way to Felin Fawr.

One of the slate quarry spoil heaps near the Felin Fawr Works.

Moel Faban, Llefn anf Gyrn from the Lon Las Ogwen Trail.

One of the waterfalls on the Afon Ogwen below Pont Ogwen.

Bluebells in Braichmelyn Woods.

On the road to Bethesda.

Walk stats:

Distance: 10.0 miles. Climb:2064.

Time: 6 hours 17 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Temperature: Max 24.2 Celsius. Min 17.2 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind force: Mainly 0 -1 Calm /light air, but briefly reached 2,a welcome light breeze.

A superb ay weatherwise, although distant views were somewhat hazy and the very high tops never seemed to clear completely.

Birds seen or heard today included: Willow warbler, Common chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Swift, Barn swallow, Stonechat, White wagtail, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Common whitethroat, House sparrow, Common blackbird, Wheatear, Cuckoo and Ring ousel.

We were surprised how many people were out walking in these outlyng hills of the Carneddau, but not everyone chose to visit the three hill summits that we did.

As we descended Gyrn towards the sheepfolds, I tripped over the remains of a gate/fencing, falling on my front - with a heavy rucksack trying to keep me prostrate, it was a challenge to get back on my feet.  No major damage done, just bruised ribs.

Lunch was taken at the end of the narrow pass between Llefn and Moel Faban. We had good hazy  views of towards Bangor Pier Penrhyn Castle and the Menai Straights.

As we had lunch we heard the approaching thunder of hooves and two fine stallion wild ponies raced past us along the track below us. Thankfully they didn't do this when we are on the track.

As we left the hills towards Bethesda, the route description wasn't as clear as it should be, and the schematic map and description didn't match (we should have followed the schematc map and turned left not right as in the riute descrition).  However we eventually found ourselves back on High Street, Bethesda, ready to embark on the Felin Fawr part of our walk.

This walk wasn't exactly the the highlight of the day, although we did come up close with slate spoil heaps, reminding us of the reasons why Bethesda was built here.

It was warm that we took the advantage of  bench in the shade near the Pont Ogwen bridge waterfall and too on board some extra liquid.

After this mid-afternoon rest, we started to see Bluebells on either side of the path as we climbed through Braichmelyn Woods. They weren't at their best, but they like me may have suffering from too little water on this very warm day.

On arriving at the road, we decided that the best option was to head straight back to the Bethseda and leave the rest of Felin Fawr Walk A to another day.

Arriving back the car, I finished off the remaing liquid i  my flask before setting off. I was now looking forward to sampling Lees Bitter at the Bluebell Inn in Halkyn.  An excellent bitter, that tasted even better as I drank soe of my take away as I watched Liverpool eventually win the penalty shoot out in the FA Cup Final match against Chelsea.

The Gyrn walk was quite varied and very enjoyable. I am sure this part of the walk will be repeated again, despite the grassy slope up Llefn being steep and challenging (Hopefully we will find a less steep slope next time, 

 

Cnicht from the Nanmor Road 1st September 2018

The start of the walk at Gelli Iago outdoor centre.

One of the  resident at Gelli Iago.

Looking over Gelli Iago towards Nant Gwynant.

Lake South west from Bwlch y Battel - genuine rain effect.

This way to Cnicht.

At last we've arrived at the Croesor to Cnicht Path.

Crags in the mist on the way to Cnicht.

Ed (centre) just emerging from one of the scrambles on Cnicht.

Evelyn and Ed -Cnicht comquered!

The view from our lunch spot next to Llyn y Adar.

Llyn Lagi, a lake we didn't expect see up close.

On the difficult descent to Llyn Llagi.

Glad to be here - at the wall on the North east side of Llyn Llagi.

Views as we started to descend towards Nant Nanmor on a path! 

Yr Aran on the skyline.

A Grey heron, one of the few birds seen today.

Walk stats: Distance: 7.4 miles. Climb: 2182'.

Time: 7 hours 31 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Ed and Evelyn.

This was perhaps not the best day for climbing Cnicht. We set off with the summits still in cloud, but at least it wasn't cold and visibility wasn't too bad. Hopefully it would improve it didn't! It wasn't long before the drizzle set in, and didn't stop until well on the way down. I fact on Cnicht itself visibility was very poor and we frequently strayed from the course of the path.

 Lunch was taken, sitting on rocks near Llyn Yr Adar, although we could only just see the lake twenty metres below us.

 After lunch e set of what seemed to be a clear path, but it soon petered out, and mistakenly we descended on a track that led to Llyn Llagi. This proved quite a difficult steep descent as we threaded our way between the rocks, heather and bilberry plants.

 No-one more than Ed was happy to arrive at the wall on the North east side of Llyn Llagi.

  Thankfully it wasn't long before we were back on the path, but once more it kept petering out, and relocating it wasn't always easy!

 Some how we managed to get back on track, and found ourselves at Llwynrhwch and the Nanmor Road.

 Our only distant views started to appear as we left Llyn Llago, but the Snowdon never came in view.

 This was Evelyn and Ed's first climb up Cnicht, and after their experience today, it may be their last!

 Birds seen or heard today included: Barn swallow, House sparrow, Meadow pipit, Stonechat, Carrion crow, Grey heron and a bird of prey - probably a Peregrine.

 Arriving back at the car, we were still smiling, it had been a good walk of sorts! We had all had a challenging walk, for some more of a challenge than they really wanted and looking forward to some liquid refreshment. Having had a walking lasting well over 7 hours that stiff drink had to wait until we got home - too late to cook a takeaway was the only answer!