Craflwyn and Cwmy Bleiddiaid; days out weekend walk.Byline: By Alan James, N.Wales Ramblers Association Ynys Mon group Where is it? The walk starts from the car park at Pont Bethania in Nant Gwynant Nant Gwynant is a valley in Snowdonia, north Wales. The A498 road descends 600 feet into the valley in about two miles from Pen-y-Gwryd; it follows the Nant Cynnyd, the Afon Glaslyn and alongside Llyn Gwynant, then beside the Nant Gwynant river to Llyn Dinas and passing below Dinas (grid ref: SH 627 506), on the A498 from Capel Curig Capel Curig (Welsh: Curig's chapel) is a village in Conwy county borough, in North Wales. It lies in the heart of Snowdonia, on the River Llugwy. It is at the junction of the A5 road from Bangor and Bethesda to Betws-y-Coed with the A4086 from Caernarfon, Llanberis, to Beddgelert - the Snowdon Sherpa Bus services this area What's the attraction? Some excellent and unusual views of Beddgelert, Dinas Emrys Dinas Emrys (Welsh for "fortress of Ambrosius") is a rocky and wooded hillock near Beddgelert in North Wales. Rising some 76m above the floor of the Glaslyn river valley, it overlooks the southern end of Llyn Dinas. , Moel Siabod Moel Siabod is a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales, which sits isolated above the villages of Betws-y-Coed and Capel Curig. The UK National Mountain Centre, Plas-y-Brenin, is located at the foot of Moel Siabod. and Moel Hebog How long will it take? It takes about four hours to cover the 9.6km Difficulty rating? This is a moderately demanding walk. There are some boggy bits, but generally paths are in good condition. You will need good boots, waterproof clothing and refreshments. You will climb and descend around 530m. As ever on Snowdon, take the right equipment and check the forecast before you set out, as the weather can change quickly. Some of the walk is along a permissive path, and it can be difficult to follow your route on the map at times Let's go... Cross the A498 and make your way up through the woodland following the Watkin path. The path joins a stony track after about 500m, and you should stay on this until you reach a grassy path marked Craflwyn, your left in about another 1km This is just before you reach a gate and an old quarry incline. Turn left onto this path as it rises towards Bwlchiau Terfyn, keeping the wall on your right until you reach a wall style. Cross here, and with the wall now on your left the Bwlch path levels for a stretch and then rises gently, following the easily located black directional waymarks Follow these until you reach another wall style on higher ground, cross and continue to follow waymarks until you reach some derelict mine buildings below Cwm See Meta Data Coalition. Bleiddiaid (Cwm of the Wolves - you won't see any!) Turn left before the ruins and join a rough, stony track downhill. Stay on this until you go through a gate/style and then cross the stream to your right, taking care on the stepping stones Continue following the waymarks up over the hill and across more broken ground until you clearly see Dinas Emrys below you. This is a steep iron age hill fort, which is where Myrddin Emrys (Merlin of Arthurian legend) lived and to which he gave his name Head for a gate next to a derelict building (note that the waymarks are now red). Follow the path through the gate and then turn sharp right over a broken wall to drop onto another grassy path, indicated with green waymarks After a few hundred metres, you will reach a rocky viewpoint, with grand views of Dinas Emrys, Beddgelert, Moel Hebog and Moel yr Ogof Drop down around the outcrop, keeping the wall on your right initially, and follow the green signs into a wooded area after a gap in the wall. Turn right and follow an obvious path down through the wood to the Craflwyn information centre Turn left to go past Craflwyn Hall and then cross the main road to join a riverside path to the Sygun mine. After you cross the river, turn left and follow obvious paths and tracks upstream Go around Llyn Dinas to cross fields and scrubland to a metal road just after Llyndy Isaf. Recross Re`cross´ v. t. 1. To cross a second time. the river and turn right to reach the car park in 200m CAPTION(S): Enjoy views of Moel Hebog on this week's walk, which takes you past Craflwyn Hall (inset) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion