Walks in and around Blaenau Ffestiniog Guidebook

by: Michael Burnett
The twenty walks in this book are aimed at those who arrive in the area by train, bus or car, intending to spend a few hours on a walk, rather than a whole day. The walks vary between 1.5 and 4.5 miles in length, and introduce visitors they would otherwise be unlikely to find during a short visit: minor paths in the town leading to unexpected viewpoints; rights of way past magnificent waterfalls; tracks which follow old tramways past mountain lakes; historic settlements, including one high on Manod Mawr; the precipitous gorges of the Cynfal and Teigl rivers.

Information is provided on getting to Blaenau Ffestiniog by bus and train, and the neighbouring villages of Tanygrisiau and Llan Ffestiniog by connecting buses. For car drivers, details of parking places convenient for the starting points of the walks is provided. Each walk entry begins with a panel giving an overview description of the route, the starting point with grid reference and how to get there, plus bus and train services. Detailed navigation instructions follow in numbered paragraphs supported by a sketch map referencing the paragraph numbers.

Today, evidence of Blaenau Ffestiniog's historic involvement in the slate industry is inescapable: the awe-inspiring spoil-heaps, decaying inclines, drum houses and tramways, the derelict quarry buildings and the old tracks and paths used by workers. The Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Quarry have been reborn as attractions to suit the needs of modern visitors. All of which, together with the wonderful mountain scenery, makes Blaenau Ffestiniog and its neighbourhood a fascinating place to visit.

The walk locationa are:
Llyn Dubach and Cae Clyd - 4.5 miles
Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Ffestiniog Railway - 3 miles
Cwm Bowydd and Neuadd Ddu - 2.5 miles
Llyn y Drum-Boeth and Llyn Bowydd - 4 miles
St David's Church and Pen Carreg Defaid - 2 miles
Afon Dubach and Tan y Bryn - 3 miles
Cwm Bowydd Farm - 2.5 miles
Ty Uncorn and Pant yr Ynn Mill - 2 miles
Pen Carreg Defaid and Bryn Egryn - 2 miles
Tan y bryn and Cefn Trwsgl - 3 miles
Bron Manod and Cae Du - 1.5 miles
Cae Clyd and Neuadd Ddu - 1.5 miles
Dolrhedyn and Afon Barlwyd - 2 miles
Afon Cwmorthin - 1.5 miles
Tanygrisiau Reservoir and Moelwyn Quarry - 3 miles
The Cwmorthin Valley - 3 miles
The Cynfal Waterfalls and Valley - 2.5 miles
Pantllwyd and The Cynfal Gorge - 3.5 miles
Teiliau Isaf and Caecanol Mawr - 4 miles
The Teigl River and Coed Pengwern - 3 miles

ISBN 9781908748461 Pages 45 (2017) 148mm x 210mm