Abergwynant Woods 4 Miles / 6 Km Circular Walk
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Abergwynant Woods 4 miles / 6 km circular walk Distance: 4 miles / 6 km Grid Reference: SH 696 185 Time: Around 2 hours Terrain: Woodland paths and minor Grade: Moderate Leisure Walk roads/tracks. (Wear appropriate footwear). Start/Finish: Penmaenpool car park, Map: OS Explorer OL23 near Dolgellau (Cadair Idris & Llyn Tegid) How to get there?: On the A493 from Dolgellau to Tywyn, turn right for Barmouth and Penmaenpool Bridge (Toll), and Note: This map is intended as a then turn immediately right rough guide only. You should use the into the Penmaenpool car most recent version of the relevant park owned by the Snowdonia Ordnance Survey map (OL 23) when National Park Authority. The walking this route. Mawddach Trail runs through this car park. © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100022403, 2012 About this walk This walk takes in part of the beautiful Mawddach Trail which is a 9 mile (15km) walk from Dolgellau to Barmouth, and also the lovely woodland at Abergwynant. The Mawddach Trail follows the track bed of the old railway line from Barmouth to Ruabon. The line was opened in 1865 and proved to be very popular with visitors. The line was also used briefly to carry slate. As cars became more popular, the line became less cost-effective and was closed in 1965. On the northern side of the track is the river Mawddach which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation because of the salt marsh and lowland peat habitats. Viewpoint Abergwynant Woods has been an ancient woodland since at least the 17th century. During the 1960s conifer trees were planted there As the track follows the Gwynant river you will come across a great and most of the native trees were cleared. The site was acquired by example of an old lime kiln. Ships and boats would carry limestone the Snowdonia National Park Authority in 1996 and since then, work here from the Gogarth area in Llandudno, and the limestone would has been done to bring the rhododendron ponticum under control, then be burnt in the kiln to create lime to be spreaded over the land remove the conifer trees and restore the native trees like the sessile to fertilize it. oak, birch and holly. Soon after the clearing of the rhododendron began, more birds were heard in the area. www.snowdonia-npa.gov.uk Snowdonia National Park Authority, National Park Office, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd LL48 6LF Telephone: 01766 770274 Abergwynant Woods 4 miles / 6 km circular walk From the car park, follow the Mawddach After walking for about a mile from the car The path gradually leads you to the top of Trail in the direction of Barmouth passing park, you will reach a picnic table and a gate the hill. At a fork in the path, turn right to a the toilets. Cross the road that leads to the on the left hand side of the Mawddach Trail. picnic table where there is a splendid view of Toll Bridge, and walk passed George III Hotel Go through the gate and follow the zig zag the Mawddach estuary. On the other side of along the road. Soon the road becomes a track. path up through Abergwynant Woods. the Mawddach river, can you see Farchynys, Follow this track and go through the gate. another woodland which is managed by the Authority and is open for the public to enjoy? Retrace your steps back from the picnic Keep left as you join another path. Follow As the path levels out you will be walking table and walk straight ahead at the fork. The the path down through the woods and take alongside the Gwynant river. Keep an eye out path forks once again, keep left this time and care, especially when wet. You will be passing for the old lime kiln on the left by the river. follow the path which climbs up through the Abergwynant Hall on your left. woodland. After passing the lime kiln, keep right at the As the path rejoins with the track, turn right After passing the shed, follow the path fork and follow the narrow path uphill. and follow the track passing the old sawmill. to the left before reaching the gate in front of you. When the path forks, follow the path On reaching the Mawddach Trail, turn right to the left, and then turn right at the next and walk back to the car park and enjoy the fork retracing your steps back down to the lovely views around you. Mawddach Trail. www.snowdonia-npa.gov.uk Snowdonia National Park Authority, National Park Office, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd LL48 6LF Telephone: 01766 770274.