Crimpiau and more from Llyn Crafnant 26th March 2022

1 Monument at Llyn Crafnan with the peaks we climbed in the distance.

2 Jumpers off time.

3 Shirt off time with Llyn Crafnant in background.

4 Coffee time at Crimpiau.

5 Coffee stop with superb views.

6 On top of Craig wen.

7 Our next objectives.

8 Lunch spot with superb views.

9 Who is this stick man on top of Cragiau Glesion?

10 Frog spawn on Cragiau Glesion.

11 Llyn Cowlyd and Pen Llithrig y Wrach from Cragiau Glesion's 2nd summit.

12 Back to the start and the view of our route.

Group Mike and Ed

Walk stats 8.5 miles in 6.5 hours, 2173ft gained appx.

Temperature 10 Celsius on tops to 17 Celsius in sheltered spots. Light to moderate breeze  (on tops)

Another almost perfect day for a walk with only hazy views as a downside.

We started from a cool Crafnant car park with jumpers and gilet on but by the time we reached the first up of the day by Blaen Y Nant we had taken them off.

Our first objective was Crimpiau which didn't disappoint with sweeping views of Snowdonia, the Glyders, The Carneddau, Moel Siabod and Llyn Crafnant. A coffee stop here was in order to take in all the views. We met a scout group here whom were doing a similar walk to us. After assessing the paths in the distance we headed to our next port of call Craig Wen where footpaths were better than expected but a little bit of bog avoidance was needed. After ascending Craig Wen which involved minimal scrambling we headed towards Moel Ddefaid and Craig Llwyn. Still having great vistas of Snowdonia etc.

We decided to have lunch on a sheltered spot between Craig Lwyn and Cragiau Glesion in 17 Celsius heat looking at views over Tryfan.

Next was the next accent of the day over the plateau of Craigiau Glesion, where we met the Scout group again at its summit. Here we stopped to take in the views of Llyn Cowlyd and Pen Llithrig y Wrach.

After this we continued to a second summit of Cragiau Glesion before decending through a boggy cleared woodland path and the a much nicer woodland track back to the Llyn Crafnant circular path, which we took back to the car.

Overall a great day with 5 summits bagged and easier than thought navigation.

After walk refreshments were taken at the Fairy Falls Hotel where a pint of of Doom Bar and a refreshing Berry Cider went down like a treat.

Peaks climbed, Crimpiau, Craig Wen, Moel Ddefaid, Craig Lwyn, Cragiau Glesion.

Birds Identified on walk, Canada Goose, Robin, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Great spotted woodpecker (heard).

Report and photos by Ed.

Gwydir from Llanrwst 22nd April 2017

Approaching Pont-fawr along the riverside path 

from the Glasdir car park in Llanrwst at the start of the walk.

Looking North west from Pont-fawr, Llanrwst.

Bluebells as we started the climb through the Gwydir Forest.

Llyn y Parc.

Our first view of Moel Siabod. from the forest track North of Coedmawr.

Our first view of Yr Wyddfa from the forest track North of Coedmawr.

Lunch at the Skelcey's Point trig point.

Llyn Glangors.

Tryfan and the Glyders from South West of Llyn Glangors.

The Snowdonia skyline from North of Llyn Glangors on the path to Llanrhychwyn.

Black sheep South of the Gower Suspension Footbridge.

Looking North to he Gower Suspension Footbridge from the Western bank of the Afon Conwy.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.5 miles. Climb:1340'.

Time: 5 hours 45 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike, Celia and Ed.

This was a really good day for walking, even better than the forecast. Throughout the day we had bright sunshine and only after lunch did we experience the cool Northerly wind.

 The track below Carreg y Gwalch through Gwydir Forest has changed a lot since our visit with most of the trees on the valley side having recently been felled, opening up superb views hitherto not seen.

 As expected footpaths through the forest can be a little difficult to negotiate and when we revisit this route we will probably take the easy option and use alternative forest tracks.

 After passing Coedmawr the track rises slightly and at the highest point the high peaks come into view and what a view it is, the walk is well worth doing just for this awesome view of Snowdonia, from Moel Siabod , Snowdon, the Glyder to Carnedd Dafydd.

 After Ed had pointed out a trig point, it was decided to go off route slightly to visit it. This turned out to be the Skelcey's Point trig point, a memorial to Frank a founder member of the Conwy Valley Ramblers.

 We noted plenty of perching rocks so decide to have lunch here, a good spot to rest in warm sunshine, so much so that we basked in the Sun for a little longer  than our usual lunch stop.

 After lunch we headed for Llyn Glangors where once more we had superb views of Snowdonia's high peaks.

 On the way to Llanrhychwyn, Ed pointed out a small hill that had a memorial plaque to at a Roberts couple.

 After visiting Llanrhychwyn Church, one of the oldest churches in Wales, we encountered our first unpleasant experience, first we had to get up close to a herd of heifers before having to cross a very muddy section that they had created - the end to any hope that any of us had that they wouldn't need to clean their boots after the walk.

 The final part of the descent through a forest had several fallen trees that needed to be negotiated, but Ed's local knowledge we given warning and advice on the best way round them.

 To avoid retracing our steps  we decide to return to the Gladir car park via the delightful Gower Suspension Footbridge and the fisherman's path.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Lesser black-back gull, Mallard, Barn swallow, Sand martin, Common sandpiper, Willow warbler, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Blue tit, Winter wren, Common blackbird, European robin, Common chaffinch and Goldfinch.

 Overall superb day out in the Conwy Valley

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bluebell in Halkyn where Old Rosie's Cider went down well as did Maggie's Perry.