WOODLAND WALK coast and Dwyfor estuary. route also takes you to the Ellis of Portmeirion fame. The designed by Clough Williams- above the river in an enclosure he is buried under a boulder George’s childhood home and village was David Lloyd thrive here. A cottage in the and other spring flowers also mass of snowdrops. Bluebells when the central section is a in February and early March time of year but especially delightful to walk at any beside the River Dwyfor are 1

metres the River Dwyfor. Waterside by From the car park, go R on Start km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0

The ancient woods HAMILTON DOROTHY CHOSEN BY… 23 u Distance: 2

5½ miles/9km miles/9km 5½ 4

LLANYSTUMDWY GWYNEDD

6 R beside a wall to a lane. path which eventually veers following a rougher section of on beside the river into a wood, scattered with trees, and walk Enter a flowery meadow, dense with flowers in season. in the river, through a wood kissing-gates and, at a bend through trees, passing through to the river and continue George’s grave. Descend foopath on L, passing Lloyd R on a lane and soon take over the River Dwyfor, bear on R. Just before the bridge George’s home and museum the road and pass Lloyd with farm buildings R. Trace the bungalow on L, go L track, 2 GR ADIENT PROFILE Turn R and, after a 1½ miles/2.4km

u Time: 3 hours u 3 hours Time: 8 10

Grade: Grade:

12

Moderate DOROTHY HAMILTON DOROTHY PHOTO: a lane. Turn L and, at entrance over a lawn and follow drive to the second kissing-gate, bear R R side of two fields and, after 14 Landranger123 Maps OS Explorer 254; Cricccieth, 1 mile off-route TrainsPwllheli. to from Porthmadog and transportPublic Bus No.3 Llanystumdwy toiletsPublic More options Criccieth only evenings, Thurs-Sat. Inn, Llanystumdwy but Refreshments Feathers Nearest town Criccieth PLANNING Stiles 3 muddy in places tracks and lane. Could be field and coastal path, Is it for me? Woodland, SH476383 park LL52 0SF, grid ref Llanystumdwy village car Start/parking ROUTE PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN 16

18 20 ➥

WALES ✁ 18th-century Montagu Bridge. built in 1702, and the striking Dalkeith Palace, which was also visits the magnificent Esk and River South Esk. It banks of both the River North woodland and follows the travels through gorgeous welcomed. This lovely route walkers are very much criss-cross the park and Buccleuch, but many paths owned by the Duke of acres. It is a working estate, covering an area of over 1000 is a fantastic place for walking, 1 metres There is car parking at the Start km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0

Park, near Edinburgh, Dalkeith Country KEITH FERGUS CHOSEN BY… 24 u Distance: 2 2¾ miles/4.25km 4

DALKEITH COUNTRY PARK MIDLOTHIAN 6 path to reach banks of river. before bridge, bear R, descend At junction keep L then, just that spans the River North Esk. single-arch Montagu Bridge follow this towards impressive fork, go L onto stony track and Victoria in 1842. Keep on to visited in 1822 and Queen Dalkeith Palace. King George IV R, follow road past fabulous splits and continue to fork. Go kiosk keep L when access road children are free. Beyond ticket estate (£1 day pass), although a small charge to enter the Dalkeith Country Park and Town Gate entrance to woodland. After short steep through attractive beech 2 GR ADIENT PROFILE Good path heads north Good path heads north ½ mile/0.75km 8

u Time: 1-1½ hours u hours 1-1½ Time: Dalkeith Palace. 10 The striking The striking

12

Grade: Grade:

KEITH FERGUS KEITH PHOTO: views. In a while it splits so woodland with expansive where path skirts birch and oak reaches junction. Go L from another gradual climb, path fast flowing water. After back down to walk alongside continue on before dropping climb rises high above river, 14 ROUTE Landranger 66 Maps OS Explorer 345; Gorebridge to Dalkeith from Edinburgh and Public Street, Dalkeith Public (Tel: 0131 660 4815) Buccleuch, Dalkeith Refreshments The Nearest PLANNING Stiles 1 parkland & riverside paths Is it for me? Woodland, grid ref NT334677 Country Park, EH22 2NA, Start/parking Dalkeith PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN Easy buses transport buses toilets Eskdaill 16 town Dalkeith 18

20 ➥

SCOTLAND DATE WALKED TIME TAKEN YOUR RATING

© Country Walking April 2018

APRIL 2018 3 2 4 IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS lfto.com/cwroutes OS MAPS ONLINE: VIEW ON THE WALK turn L to pass the farmhouse. the farmhouse. pass turn L to a road, to the drive Follow track and take a gate to cross bearing Llanystumdwy, into start. R to START

1

3½ miles/5.7km above R on the path Turn

the beach, ignoring a track R. It the beach, ignoring a track the River reaches eventually a boardwalk and takes Dwyfor a After a boggy area. through with it continues kissing-gate, field. Turn the next L to fence that a track R, to R, with fence line and the railway crosses Aberkin Farm. heads towards near a small gate Go through grass cross wall, the garden and and small gate steps to 4 ©CROWN COPYRIGHT 2018 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA 007/18 MEDIA SURVEY. ORDNANCE 2018 COPYRIGHT ©CROWN Buy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop

GWYNEDD LLANYSTUMDWY birds on the birds Dwyfor, River Look out for Look DON’T MISS... DON’T Turn R for 300m along R for Turn 3 miles/4.7km especially near the there where estuary herons be swans, may and cormorants. OS Explorer map 254 u

to fisheries L, go R through fisheries L, go R through to lodge L. Follow passing gate, near a junction to the track the pass house R, and bear R to brick wall. house and a high red Eifion Bron for drive at Arrive road. and go R to Hotel 3 the pavement then cross the then cross the pavement signpost. a footpath to road towards the track Follow Bach and, when Ynysgain the track bends R, keep ahead bends R, keep the track path The wall. stone a low over and under the railway passes which as a track continues path. join the coast R to veers u

23 DOROTHY HAMILTON DOROTHY PHOTO:

WALES ✁ DATE WALKED TIME TAKEN YOUR RATING

© Country Walking April 2018 APRIL 2018 3 IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS lfto.com/cwroutes OS MAPS ONLINE: 4 VIEW ON THE WALK

START 1 2

full view of Dalkeith Palace, Palace, of Dalkeith full view the start. back to go R, and make your way way your go R, and make in along the main drive, up to the road. Turn L here, L here, Turn the road. up to junction the nect then at the path that rises gently that the path head straight across onto onto across head straight ©CROWN COPYRIGHT 2018 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA 007/18 MEDIA SURVEY. ORDNANCE 2018 COPYRIGHT ©CROWN

Buy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop

MIDLOTHIAN PARK COUNTRY DALKEITH Bridge. The Bridge. bridge was Montagu DON’T MISS... DON’T 2¼ miles/3.5km the Upon reaching 1¼ miles/2km pillars stone R (two Turn previously more more previously but the stags ornate, which supported of arms, the coat the horses frightened the bridge, crossing removed. so were OS Explorer map 345 u stableyard access road, road, access stableyard u Esk meet. keep L, continue northeast L, continue keep impressive very several past stile, crossing After oak trees. to back down drops path past North Esk. Once River on L, the River footbridge North South Esk and River 3 4 while path widens to track track widens to while path beside gate. and culminates it, instead Don’t go through its L. to path fenced take river high above Continue woodland more through are all that remain of bridge remain all that are spanned the South once that along southeast Esk), walk River above upstream path more South Esk through In a woodland. pleasant Go R from gain junction. to above passes path where old stableyard which is in the old stableyard of being restored. process 24

SCOTLAND