North Wales Rambler Llanfair TH Missing Bridge Saga HE LAST MONTHS OF Tbrought massive amounts of rainfall to North Wales. At Llanfair Talhaiarn the Afon Elwy and its tributaries fl ooded parts of the village, causing a lot of human misery. Another casualty of that winter was a footbridge over the Elwy about . kms west of Llanfair TH village, which was either swept away or damaged beyond repair. e bridge is (was) at grid refer- ence SH and is known as Pont Coed Cochion, a er a nearby farm of that name. e path over the bridge (FP) links a minor road south of the Elwy with the main A on the north bank, and with a continuation footpath, FP, going north of the main road. Conwy Council placed a temporary closure order on the path. A succession of temporary orders followed, keeping the route closed, but there was no sign of a replacement bridge. Today, six years on from the winter of / the bridge is still missing. Taking Look, no bridge! Rather too far to leap and too wet to ford. (Photo John Buckley) a diversion via Llanfair TH adds . kms of walking, and the section along the it is a statutory duty which the council is court in order to force the council to take A is highly dangerous for pedestrians, obliged to fulfi l, and patience has worn appropriate action. is course of action being a narrow fast road with no pave- very thin in this case. was recently approved by North Wales ment or verge. John Buckley has served formal Area Council and we only need confi r- e matter was taken up by our notice on Conwy Council under section mation from Ramblers’ Cardiff offi ce of Conwy county committee in . In Highways Act regarding mainte- the necessary fi nancial backing to take January they were informed that the nance of the path, including the bridge. the matter to court. council intended to have a replacement e council has replied accepting that it Watch this space! bridge in place by the end of May, but has the responsibility for maintenance. it didn’t happen. In / it appears We understand that a business case for John Buckley is looking for people that the council budgeted , for a replacement of the bridge is being put to join his Conwy band of volun- replacement bridge, but again nothing forward as part of the council’s budget teers. They look after footpaths and happened on the ground. e Commu- process for the next fi nancial year, bridleways over a large area of North nity Council have subsequently got their /. Wales. It involves making site inspec- MP involved but still no progress. If proper funding for a new bridge tions, reporting path problems, Ramblers are reasonable people and makes it into the council’s budget for looking at planning applications we know that all councils have a diffi cult next year, all well and good: it has still which might aff ect the path network job balancing competing demands for to go through the democratic process. and liaison with the local authority. resources. However, keeping the network If no funding becomes available, the John’s details are in the walks pro- of minor highways, including footpaths, intention is to commence proceedings gramme. Give him a ring or send him open for use by the public is not optional, under section in the local magistrates an email.
Annual Report of Ramblers North Wales Area December 2018 www.ramblersnorthwales.org.uk Area Annual Report
UR Area has had a busy year as three lovely walks and acting as tellers, Williams who are both vice-presidents Owe hosted the Ramblers General timekeepers and scrutineers during the and Stan Winstanley and John Elwyn Council; ran our own summer walking meeting” Williams from North Wales who were festival as well as our usual two full walk One resolution at General Council elected to Welsh Council Executive Com- programmes and dealt with footpath and expressed concern that during the cur- mittee. Contact any of these if you have other issues. Many thanks go to all of rent period of financial constraints being questions or issues you want to raise. you who took part in an event and to our placed on local authorities some may be (Max Grant was also elected to WCEC volunteers who helped in so many ways. unable to meet their statutory obliga- but for the time being is not able to play Our Area AGM took place in January tions to keep public rights of way free of a role) with the election of officers and a very obstruction and properly maintained by Our Area Council consists of Area interesting talk from the Red Squirrel landowners or themselves. is requires officers and representatives from all Trust. ere were no resolutions this year. ongoing work at national and local levels. Groups and County Committees. We Last year we had requested the produc- ere was also a resolution sup- have three meetings per year which are tion of a bilingual business-style card. porting the ‘Donate-a-Gate’ scheme held at the Tyn-y-Coed Hotel in Capel North Wales Area has now produced its (which, aer considerable lobbying by Curig. e meetings include an opportu- own. Conwy Valley group, Conwy Council has nity for Groups and County Committees We hope you will give them out taken up), and one on the importance of to give a report and share experiences to friends; family; other walkers; leave continuing to press for signage of Public as well as discussing national and local them in outdoor shops; libraries; visitors Rights of Way from all roads. issues as they crop up. e more Groups centres- anywhere you think suitable. Aer being postponed due to snow and County Committees represented the Ramblers General Council the Welsh Council took place at the end better. was held in Bangor, where Kate Ashbrook of April at Gregynog Hall, Powys. ere e Summer Walks Festival (see was elected as chair of Ramblers GB. e was time for most of us to go on one of separate report) was organised through minutes record: the walks around the grounds as well as the Area Council and included many “A huge thank you to all of the listen to speakers and take part in the enjoyable walks and new collaborations. wonderful North Wales area volunteers business of the weekend. A new presi- has also seen the merger of Bangor/ who helped to make general council so dent, Will Renwick, was elected and he Bethesda group with Caernarfon/Dwyfor. successful this year. e area volunteers will be the guest speaker at our AGM. were crucial to council’s success by greeting From North Wales we have Denis Joanna Slattery everyone at the registration desk, leading McAteer (retiring president) and Ron Chair, North Wales Area Wales Coast Path
Wales Coast Path is celebrating the 7th anniversary of its and end at the same place and ideally have good transport launch next May with a festival from North to South Wales. links and a local café/pub/bar etc for refreshments. Walks Ramblers Cymru will run the festival which will consist of 7 should reference the Visit Wales theme for 2019 which is ‘The walks in 7 locations over 7 days. The festival will move from NE Year of Discovery’ (e.g. a spectacular view / a talk about wildlife to SE Wales with three locations in the North over the 4th-6th / local history / foraging / easy path maintenance / others I’m May B/H, ending with Llanelli and Cardiff/Penarth on the 19th sure you can think up). May. Visit Wales will help promote Wales as a walking desti- Denis McAteer nation and attract visitors to the path. Keep Wales Tidy have For the latest on the path see - been invited to partner the Ramblers in holding a litter pick in www.walescoastpath.gov.uk/plan-your-trip/wales-coast- each of the locations. A PR company will manage the publicity path-maps/?lang=en for the festival, and there will also be promotion by Ramblers Cymru and Keep Wales Tidy. An additional attraction in some of the locations will be the installation of ‘Augmented Reality’ where visitors can A dispute regarding part of the Coast Path at Rhoscolyn download an app and see marine life or history appear where on Anglesey will be going to a public inquiry on Wed they point their phones. Provisional locations in our Area are 6 Feb next. The Council made an order in 2015 with the the Great Orme, Menai Bridge and Porthmadog – these cor- aim of bringing the Definitive Map in line with the route respond to the Augmented Reality sites. The local Groups which people had been walking, but nothing is ever involved are being consulted about leading seven walks in simple! A landowner has objected to the modification, each location. I know it is too late to include any walks in the and the history seems to be a bit convoluted. current Combined Walks Programme but other Groups may If you are interested in seeing what a public inquiry is like to consider putting on their own coastal walks during like, the venue is St. Gwenfaen’s Church Hall, Rhoscolyn, this period to ‘piggy-back’ on the raised profile that Ramblers Holyhead, LL65 2NJ. It starts at 10:00 am. More informa- Cymru should achieve - the key thing is to use your local tion from Ron Williams, Pete Bland or Andria Massey. knowledge and passion for your area. All walks should start
Area Footpath Secretary’s Report
Road Improvements Report it! e A was upgraded by a series of by- motorised and non-vehicular, and most passes. is process took place between importantly the land owners whose land The most common complaint I get the s and s. Before construction is going to be compulsory purchased. from members and the public begins a series of Public Inquiries took place. e latter have a much better bargaining something like this “Do you know e Ramblers took part in all of these. position than the others. e result is that missing stile on the path from ey pointed out the need for the rights that any roads that now become redun- Cwm Llan to Llan y Cwm? It still hasn’t been dealt with”. I usually reply “No. of way to be protected and for safe dant can be turned into private roads. Have you reported it?” It usually turns crossings to be provided for pedestrians. One such road is affected by the out that they haven’t. Although some of our concerns were Caernarfon and Bontnewydd route. is The Councils can only deal with taken into consideration, most were is the access to the Hill Fort at Caerlan problems if they know about them. ignored. Tibot. e Side Roads Orders show that So please report them, even if its Part of the process are the Side Road the road will now become private. e only a broken step! I therefore urge Orders. ese decide how existing high- Ramblers do not have a quarrel about Walk Leaders and members to report ways—including footpaths—crossing this but we would like to have rights of problems to the appropriate author- the new route are to be dealt with. Many access to the Hill Fort protected. Gwyn- ity. paths and lanes were simply stopped up, edd County Council are also concerned It is particularly important that others were downgraded to private roads with this omission. Walk Leaders put in reports about and some were not dealt with at all! e On the positive side we have been path problems. Most North Wales result is that there are many footpaths, involved in two consultations concern- councils will try and deal with path bridleways and lanes that have been ing the A. e first are the proposals to problems in advance of a planned severed by the new road. Ramblers have solve the problems between Abergwyn- walk, providing that they have ade- campaigned for these to be made safe or gregin and Talybont. We are concerned quate notice of it beforehand. Please linked up. We have had some progress that not all the crossings are being dealt allow at least three weeks. but this has been limited and slow. with. is though is offset by the overall e attitude of Government to safe improvement in walking and cycling Possible Legal Action crossing points has changed during opportunities that are being created. Section of the Highways Act recent years. Now, “at grade” crossings When these works are carried out it will gives individuals the right to serve notice (those that go directly across the road) largely solve the issues in Gwynedd and on the Highways Authorities (County are not allowed. Parallel with this the Conwy. Councils) to maintain rights of way that Welsh Government has introduced Denbighshire and Flintshire have have fallen into disrepair. is largely legislation to promote non-motorised many more such issues. Denbighshire means footbridges. e bridge over travel. e effect has been that the road has been more pro-active in tackling River Elwy at Llanfair TH was washed designers have to take into account them than Flintshire. e Ramblers away by a flood. During the last six years existing rights of way and look to how were approached in September to attend Conwy CBC has failed to replace it. We pedestrian and cycling routes can be a Consultation. Its title is the A/ have been approached by local residents accommodated and improved. A Network Resilience Study. and the Community Council for help e effect has been that the designers e whole emphasis appeared to be a in getting Conwy CBC to take action. John Buckley our Footpath Secretary for now consult widely whilst designing the proposal to stop up and delete the paths Conwy has now issued a Section . e new route. We have had three of these in that cross the road. e initial meeting initial response from the County has not during the last couple of years. e first was held in September and our repre- been very positive. John has therefore was the Caernarfon and Bontnewydd sentatives Pete Bland and Howard White requested support from the Ramblers to by-pass. e Ramblers, together with made it perfectly clear that this would take legal action against the Council. cycling interests, have been active at not be acceptable. is was followed up all stages in the process. We have also by a Workshop which they attended. It Deganwy Level Crossing had the support of Gwynedd County was at this meeting that it became appar- As we go to press we have been given Council. ent that there were wider issues than the the date for the public inquiry into the e Side Road Orders were finally crossing points. status of the former level crossing at the produced during the Summer. By and e Ramblers believe that most of foot of Pentywyn Hill, which was closed large our concerns have been addressed. the problems could be solved by the by Network Rail in . It starts at . a.m. on Wed May at Conwy Busi- ere are three groups affected by a new existing infrastructure. We also believe ness Centre, Junction Way, Llandudno road that need to be satisfied. ere that where there is no sensible solution, Junction, Conwy LL XX are the householders who will live that we should consider not objecting to close to the new road. e users, both their deletion. Ron Williams Walking the Snowdonia Slate Trail
HE SLATE TRAIL was officially Day ree Again we parked in y Coed and caught the bus to Blaenau Topened in November . Together Caernarfon and caught the bus back Ffestiniog and walked to Congl y Wal with a few friends I decided to try it out. to Waunfawr. e country we walked to retrace our steps to Cwm Teigl. e Both my Grandfathers were Quarrymen. through was familiar . ere are a few walk took us past the still active Manod I don’t believe though they ever worked small quarries one of which is still active Quarry to the remains of Rhiw Bach in Slate Quarries. Both were also miners. at Moel Tryfan above Y Fron where the Quarry. is is a truly amazing place. One a Collier and Lead Miner and the recently closed school has been converted e community surrounding this quarry other only the latter. Where they worked into community centre and hostel. had its own village complete with school. have all but disappeared. ere is only It was on the route down to the Dor- e walk continued down to Cwm one quarry that is accessible and this is othea Quarry at Nantlle that we got a hint Penmachno and then Penmachno where now a car park. Of my companions one of how hard the working conditions were. we caught the bus back to Betws y Coed. of their fathers had worked in the Slate e weather, even though it was middle is was another thought provoking and Quarries of Snowdonia. of a hot summer, was quite cold. e memorable day. We decided to do the walk “a day at a thought of working here, with very little Day Eight Back to Betws y Coed time”. is was when we were able to get protection both from weather and safety to catch the bus to Pemachno. is together. We used the buses to access the point of view, in the winter was brought was for us a very early start! e walk walks. ese with a little careful planning into sharp focus. goes to Conwy Falls where it joins the worked well. Even though it meant from We duly caught the bus back to Afon Conwy. ere is a new permissive Flintshire some early starts! Caernarfon. footpath from here to link up with the This is how we did it Day Four For the third time we footpath through Fairy Glen. From Betws parked in Caernarfon and caught the bus y Coed the route follows footpaths via Day One is was very easy to to Nantlle. is section takes the walker Ugly House to Capel Curig. From here access. We simply parked the car at the through an area were the quarries were we caught the bus back to Betws y Coed. Coast Car Park at Bangor and set out again much smaller. ey were though Day Nine e route through Ogwen for Port Penrhyn. e walk then took more exposed to weather. e route goes Valley down to Bethesda is on paper the us via Shakey Bridge to Halfway Bridge. through Bwlch y Moch to Rhyd Ddu. easiest and most straightforward. Unfor- Here we encountered one of the very few From here to Beddgelert the route goes tunately the day we chose was wet and waymarking problems. We missed the through the forest where we had refresh- windy. Decidedly unpleasant! We had Footpath Sign because it was hidden by ments before catching the bus back to caught the bus from Llandudno Junction leaves and branches. Once we found it Caernarfon. which connected with the bus to Capel there were no problems through to Llanl- Day Five is was the most difficult Curig. e walk along Llugwy to the lechid and then Bethesda. to access. We parked at Betws y Coed and watershed was uneventful and actually We were now in Slate Country. caught the bus to Penypass. Here we had quite sheltered. Evidence of Slate Quarrying is every- time to have a coffee in the Youth Hostel e problems started when we where. e paths we were walking along while waiting for the bus to Beddgelert. crossed over the A at Glan Dena. We were probably created for the men to e walk via Aberglaslyn to Croesor was were now much more exposed. e path get to and from work. We had arrived uneventful. Here we had hoped to get alongside Llyn Ogwen is not easy and at Bethesda earlier than expected. So, refreshments at the Community Cafe but the necessary short scramble at the end we decided to continue to Deiniolen it was closed. e walk through to the particularly difficult in the conditions. where we hoped to catch the bus back to Croesor, Rhosydd and Cwmorthin Quar- We did though get to the Visitor Centre Bangor. is we did with time to spare ries was a steady climb. Up until now the at Ogwen where we purchased hot drinks for refreshments in the Community Cafe. quarries had been close to the villages. and sheltered for lunch. Day Two is time we parked in Here they are quite a distance away. e e walk down the old road through Caernarfon and caught the bus to Dei- workers either had to live in the barracks Nant Ffrancon was done in brilliant niolen. We picked up the route slightly or walk a great and distance every day sunshine! is is largely tarmac but away from where we le it on the first to or from work. Again we were struck nonetheless a good walk. As Penrhyn day. e route took us through Llyn by how hard life must have been. We Quarry is approached the walk leaves the Padarn Country Park passing the Quarry caught a bus from Tanygrisiau to Blaenau tarmac and goes under the new Zip Wire. Hospital on the way. Again we were in Ffestiniog. We returned to Betws y Coed We finished our walk in Bethesda Slate Country but it was familiar as all of by another bus. Postscript is is an excellent route us had walked through this area many Day Six We decided to leave out the which takes the walker through some of times. section from Tanygrisiau to Blaenau and the most popular areas in Snowdonia. It e walk out of Llanberis took us past do the circuit around Llan Ffestiniog. also goes through some wonderfully wild Glyn Rhonwy to Waunfawr. We looked ere is very little evidence of quarrying country. back at the remains of the Dinorwic on this part of the trail. It is though a Congratulations to Aled Owen Quarry the scale of which is still very high quality walk and was one the high- for devising the route. anks and impressive. ere are a few smaller lights. We le the trail at Cwm Teigl to go congratulations are also due to Tîm Taclo quarries between here and Waunfawr. to Congl y Wal where we caught the bus Llwybrau – e Ramblers Gwynedd From here we caught the bus back to back to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Footpath Team. Caernarfon. Day Seven Today we parked in Betws Ron Williams
Promoting Walking North Wales Walking Festival North Wales Walking Festival members in our Area (the second biggest Area in Wales aer Glamorgan) and I’m HIS IS an opportunity for me to sure each of us uses our copy as our refer- July/ August 2018 thank all of you who participated T ence for upcoming walks but how good one way or another in the North Wales are we as individuals about handing out LL GROUPS and walk leaders Summer Walking Festival. Based on the the additional copies to non-members to deserve to be congratulated again on returns received the results of your efforts A encourage them to join us? I feel that our putting a fantastic range of walks for the are summarised below: festival and at the same time producing Group Numbers Walks Average Date Numbers Walks Average our normal walk programme. Walkers Walkers ere were walks in total with BW 11 3 3.7 28/7 82 11 7.4 average of . walkers. e heat wave BA/BE 14 3 4.7 29/7 17 5 3.4 ended just before the festival so we had a CV 85 13 6.5 30/7 29 5 5.8 mixed bag of weather. CL 94 8 11.7 31/7 49 8 6.1 Lots of people have said how much DE 56 4 14 1/8 112 8 14 they enjoyed one or more of the festival ME 36 4 9 2/8 46 4 11.5 walks. I know I did from the wind-swept VC 24 3 8 3/8 31 4 7.7 top of Drum to the family walk on the CA/DW 35 4 8.7 4/8 53 4 13.2 Orme with my Grandchildren and others W 22 1 22 5/8 83 5 16.6 in between. Good company and great YM 125 11 11.4 places are always a winner. Total 502 54 9.3 502 54 9.3 e best attended walks had an objective/ theme e.g. Buckley Heritage Trail; Clogaenog Forest with Red Squirrel ere were walks in total with an booklet could be a much more effective Ranger. It was great to have an opportu- average of . individuals on each walk. marketing tool and I would like to hear nity to work with other organisations on e walk to Bettisfield on / has been any views about what might be done some of these walks. ignored as it was organised by Wrexham to ‘improve’ it. Please pass any ideas to Any future festival will try to learn Council and no numbers are available. your representative on the North Wales from what we did. Many people felt that Bad weather on the day or the forecast Executive so that we can pull your ideas we had too many walks overall leading of bad weather resulted in some poor together. to low numbers on some walks. Maybe a attendances. e best attended day Membership long weekend would be better as well? for the numbers on walks was the final Sunday (/) at . average participants e Ramblers have in post a Director but no conclusion can be drawn from of Membership and Fundraising (Sarah Breaking News this as the average attendance per walk Marfleet) and I understand that she has We have been asked by Visit Wales to on the first Sunday (/) was only .!!! been working on a new membership help celebrate seven years of the Coast e best attended walks were advertised drive which at the time of writing is Path. is will involve events in seven as: Craig Fechan (), Buckley Heritage being considered by the Board of Trus- locations, two or three in North Wales, Trail (), Clogaenog Forest with Red tees. I have no information on this new near the start of May. For more details Squirrel Ranger () and Bryn Alyn and initiative but by the time you read this see the Area website and page of this Moel Findeg (). ese walks seem to the details might have been published newsletter. indicate some objective whereas walks and I hope we can all play our part in Joanna Slattery with an ‘A to B’ description seemed to do increasing our North Wales membership less well. numbers. As the results of your efforts we had My Role Mobile Weather individuals applying for membership using the discount code for the Festival I have informed Joanna (our Chair) Forecast – new members and returning that because I have an ongoing role with member. the Welsh Council Executive Committee If you have ever used the excellent Combined Walks Programme (WCEC) I shall relinquish the position mountain weather forecast service for promoting walking on the North provided by Geoff Monk & Assooci- With this Newsletter you will have Wales Area. I know that there are many ates, better known as MWIS received a copy of our latest walks of you reading this who are perfectly http://www.mwis.org.uk programme for the forthcoming month capable of filling this position and if you —you may not know that there is a period. e purpose of this programme feel you have the time please let myself or mobile app for your phone, at least if is to “promote walking” in accordance Joanna know of your interest. your device runs on Android. I only with our charitable objectives. I’m not just found out about this and I’m sure how successful we are in reaching Denis McAteer quite impressed at the ease of use. the general population of North Wales Nothing for the iPhone yet. Ed. with this publication. We have ,
Membership report Treasurer’s Group Membership of North Wales Area as at 30 September 2018 Report 2018
Joint Pay’t Group Life Single Joint Reduced Total Income Reduced Pending Our income for the year was ,. Clwydian 9 64 50 32 12 167 4 made up from Central office grants of Conwy Valley 9 124 80 47 22 282 14 ,, advertising sales of , publica- Ynys Mon 4 66 38 23 10 141 4 tion sales of (Ron’s book produced Wrexham 5 35 24 15 21 100 3 on behalf of the area) and ,. from Bangor-Bethesda 3 33 12 13 14 75 1 the Wat’s Dyke Way association that was Meirionnydd 4 54 21 32 14 125 1 dissolved this year. Berwyn 5 28 10 10 6 59 2 Vale of Clwyd 2 52 38 27 19 138 3 Expenditure Deeside - 29 51 27 10 117 3 Our total expenditure for the year was Caernarfon/Dwyfor 2 46 41 22 13 124 - ,., the bulk of which was, as 96 1 22 0 6 - 29 - usual, spent on the production and deliv- 98 (unattached) - 1 0 - 1 - ery of the Combined Walks Programmes 99 (Affiliated Clubs) - 7 - - - 7 1 and newsletters. For the two editions’ Area Total 44 560 366 254 141 1365 36 this year the cost was just over ,, about more than last year. e The numbers listed above are for Active Members. cost of printing the Summer – Winter Payment Pending Members are shown in the last column programme increased by over , but this is the first real increase in a couple of years. (the cost of the CWP comes VERALL the National RA Member- Bethesda in with Eifion Williams as to approximately . each, including ship at October st was , as Secretary. It generally had over members O postage) compared with for October st but in recent years it experienced difficul- Group funding was . Meetings, and with , for October st . So ties in recruiting officers and it became travelling and admin costs came to there has been a . reduction over the the only group in North Wales to become ,. last twelve months compared with the . a flexigroup, three years ago. Even this reduction in North Wales Area member- was not been sustainable and in October Summary ship. all the members were tranferred to Financially the area remains in a healthy Note that the concessionary rates Caernarfon/Dwyfor Group. e last walk position. We ended the year with a are by and large being phased out, so the was led by Helen Bradley on November balance of ,., although we have reduction here partly refers to members , along the North Wales Path from to deduct from that the ,. from who have been members for a considerable Aber. I would like to pay tribute to Hugh the Wat’s Dyke Way association as that number of years and who no longer are able and Margaret Griffiths for all the work they money is protected for years, and it to manage the walks. did for Bangor/Bethesda over many years. can only be spent on e Wat’s Dyke ere are currently substantial changes e Affiliated Clubs are still missing Way. e actual available balance we start being made to the way London manage from the statistics supplied by London (I the year with is ,.. the monthly Membership Lists. Member- have included them in the above Table) so Having started with a balance of ship Secretaries will be expected to log in the figures quoted there differ a bit from the ,., this means we spent , to a new Insight Hub. is will contain London figures (I get Lw lists separately, more than our income. is was largely up-to-date csv lists of all the members in a along with the full membership lists so we due to a mix up with the budget bid, particular group and Membership Secretar- are up-to-date with the Affiliated Clubs which meant one group’s request for extra ies will be able to download the lists from membership). funds (,.) did not reach HQ and was there. e only downside I can see is it With regard to Group , I surmise funded by Area. is will hopefully be will require Membership Secretaries to be London has introduced this group to recouped in this year’s budget round. more computer literate than hitherto, Dave conform with the General Data Protection Finally, once again, a big thank you to Collins and myself have been involved in Rules. Group does not fit very well all the group treasurers for their help and trialling the new procedures. No date has with the ethos of the RA but nobody has cooperation in getting the various returns yet been set for the general introduction to yet been able to manage the members in completed and sent to me on time, it the membership but it should be a matter of accordance with the existing group struc- makes my life a lot easier. months rather than years. ture of the North Wales Area. Jeff Nagle Bangor/Bethesda Group So far, I have had no adverse reports Area Treasurer I regret having to report the demise of regarding the new ways of communicating Bangor/Bethesda aer years as a North with London. If anyone has any queries Wales Group. I actually did a stint as Group regarding any membership issues please let Secretary from to . e Group me know. was founded as Bethesda Group by Jane Neville Fernley Beddows in and this became Bangor/ Area Membership Secretary
Ramblers Associa�on - North Wales Area Year ending 30th September 2018 Receipts and Payments at 30 September 2018 Receipts 2017/18 2016/17 Payments 2017/18 2016/17 Central Office 8,800.00 8,800.00 Groups Grants 3,572.00 2,219.00 Credit Interest 20114798 Walks Programme 5,351.64 5,071.00 Newsle�ers/Publicity 1,217.38 1,255.53 Publica�on Sales 172.00 550.80 Book Sale Expenses Adver�sing Sales 420.00 485.00 Footpaths 430.42 287.87 Miscellaneous Income 1,580.18 100.00 Countryside Protec�on 36.00 - Access 173.35 36.00 Mee�ngs (inc AGM) 1,030.78 760.84 Admin 15.00 2,772.99 Flexi Groups -
Total Receipts 10,972.18 9,935.80 Total Payments 11,826.57 12,403.23 Surplus(+)/deficit(-) -854.39
Bank Reconcilia�on at 30 September 2018 2017/18 2016/17 Unity Trust Bank 20114798 7,769.90 7,841.90 - Uncleared - (72.00) Cash Balance 7,769.90 7,769.90
Balance Sheet at 30 september 2018 Assets 2017/18 2016/17 Liabili�es 2017/18 2016/17 Current Account 7,769.90 7,769.90 Wat’s Dyke Way - restricted 1200.18 - - un�l Feb 2028 Total 7,769.90 7,769.90
Represented by 2017/18 2016/17 B/Fwd 1 Oct 20114798 7,769.90 7,769.90 Surplus(+)/deficit(-) -854.39 Wat’s Dyke Way -1,200.18
Closing Balance at 30 Sept 5,715.33 7,769.90
Signed: Honorary Treasurer: Jeff Nagle Signed: Independent Examiner: Barry John Li�ler
Your Area What are The Ramblers for? Needs You! Len Banister
THE AREA COUNCIL for North Wales RECENTLY had a conversation with hate, the idea of walking with groups. A meets three times a year and coordi- Isome new recruits. Aer two or three large proportion of the country's walk- nates local groups and their funds. It is years of cajoling I had managed to get ers are dog walkers, a class which are involved in many of the activities and this family (in their forties with two frowned on by 'active' Ramblers. campaigning work that Ramblers do. young kids) to join the Ramblers. e A glance at the national Ramblers It is an important connection between delay in recruitment had been the result website provides a search for group group volunteers, staff and trustees of two difficulties; aversion to the image walks, details of walk festivals, and helping us all to work together. of group walking and lack of understand- encouragement to use Pathwatch. In Our work includes: Footpath protec- ing of what the organisation stands for. I other words, the casual enquirer is led tion; building links with and working have to admit that I haven't managed to straight into the notion of walking with with local organisations with shared overcome their reservations - if anything, groups. Of course the website, when you interests; events like this summer’s they have converted me to their view. delve further, does provide information walking festival; Area training activities; Take a couple of charities which about other walks (Ramblers Routes) but keeping the CWP up to date. probably recruit from the same broad the main emphasis is on something that The Area Council can only function population as the Ramblers. We know most walkers don't want to do. You have if we have volunteers to keep it running exactly what the National Trust and the to go into the 'Volunteer Zone' before and at the moment we need more help. Woodland Trust do (the latter, which is you encounter anything to do with the If you feel you could help please years younger than the Ramblers, has five objective of keeping Public Rights of Way come to the AGM in January(12.1.19) or times as many members). Neither of these (PRoW) open. contact the Area Chair: organisations require anything from My proposal is that we, e Ram- Joanna Slattery 01492 874563 their members except that they pay their blers, should regard group-walking, [email protected] membership fee: coach trips, quizzes, and most of our Current Area roles. Those roles Family membership is currently other current activities, as what they shown in bold are either vacant, filled · National Trust - are —the very popular social side of temporarily or filled by someone look- · Woodland Trust - membership. ing to stand down at the AGM. Other Ramblers — doesn't have a family mem- When we enter National Trust Areas officers may welcome the opportunity bership, its joint membership is and or woods owned by the Woodland to pass on their role or to work with a couples may bring children on walks. Trust, we are reminded constantly of the shadow/ deputy to share the work. e National Trust has all the volun- organisation which owns the surround- teers it needs and is quite snooty about ing. Of course, we don't 'own' PRoW but Secretary (Could be Minutes Secretary its selection procedures, the Woodland we can proclaim our work to those who and an Area Secretary) Trust runs crowd planting activities but, benefit from it. Treasurer per head of membership, Ramblers has Our emphasis should be on the work Chair far more volunteers. Most of these volun- our volunteers do on PRoW. We should Vice Chair teers are members who lead walks. not only advertise this work on our web- Membership Secretary e majority of the members which site, we should advertise it on the works Access Secretary Ramblers refer to as 'active' are those we do - on the waymarkers, bridges, steps Footpath Secretary who turn up reasonably regularly to and gates we build. We should ensure Countryside Secretary group walks. Based on this definition, the that our workers clearing paths are visibly Publicity and Promoting Walking percentage of 'active' Ramblers across the associated with our organisation. Our Secretary country is about . [is is a country- publicity should focus on this work so wide average - I realise that there are that fewer walkers have to ask, ‘what are Newsletter Editor small niche groups which would claim the Ramblers for’? Webmaster activity rate at up to ]. Even at , Walks Programme Co-ordinator Ramblers far out-performs the Woodland Len Banister is Area Rights of Way Individual Members Secretary Trust, the comparison with the National Liaison Officer in Essex and has served Affiliated Clubs Secretary Trust is more difficult; is someone who on the Board of Trustees. He has given visits a country house an active member? permission to reproduce this thought- Gerald Moss is looking for someone to So, the Ramblers is cheaper, has more provoking article, originally written for help him with the mailing and distri- volunteers, and more active members. Essex Area. bution of the walks programme and Yet its membership has been falling over Views, ideas and comments may be sent the last ten years whilst that of the other to the Editor: newsletter, and eventually take over the organisations has grown steadily. role—he’s been doing it for a long time. newsletter@ Walking for pleasure in this country ramblersnorthwales.org.uk Gerald has got the process quite stream- is more popular than it has ever been Copies will be sent on to Len, as well as lined and it takes about 3 days’ work before. Here I want to advance a contro- versial hypothesis: the majority of this being made available to North Wales twice a year. Speak to him or Joanna at Area Council. the Area AGM or email Joanna. increasing number of walkers dislike, nay, Chair’s bits and pieces
Book Review Chair’s bits
ARREG GWALCH have sent two author includes and I suspect that like me and pieces Cbooks, both by Des Marshall. he has an interest in the area’s industrial Dates for 2019 ey share the same format—both are past. For instance there is quite a lot of paperback, size A approx which will fit information about the Cwmorthin, Rho- • Area AGM. Sat 12th January 2019 into a walking jacket pocket. e text sydd and Wrysgan mines in the descrip- • Welsh Council. Sat 23 March and Sun is a decent size which is easy to read tion of walk from Tanygrisiau. 24 March 2019 in Nant Gwrtheyrn. and colour photos and sketch maps are e idea of persuading walkers to use • General Council 2019. Sat 13 and included throughout. Both contain a public transport rather than their cars is Sun14 April in Manchester. caution about the need to check weather a good one, although some will still want • Wales Coast Path celebration May forecasts and to take an OS map as well to do the circular walks which start and 2019 as the book. I would have added “take end at the same place, if the train times Ramblers have new phone numbers:- a compass” as well, as some of the walks are not convenient. London is now 0203 961 3300 Cardiff Office is now 0203 961 3310 do venture into high places, even though Great Walks from a compass would be superfluous for the If you are looking to take part in shorter low level walks.e prices are Llanberis £8.00 any training next year (walk leading; similar but not identical, both under a navigation; first aid…) hunt out for your tenner. emailed October member newsletter which contains a short training survey Walks from Snowdonia’s to let Ramblers know what we want or Heritage Railways £8.50 let your group know so they can pass the information on. We continue to miss Max’s hard work and expertise but he is at home and gradually improving and we wish him and Margaret all the best. Please read the appeal for volunteers to help with running the Area and get in touch if you want to know more. Joanna Slattery Bangor & Bethesda —End of Era
I am sad to announce that the Bangor & Bethesda Group has ceased to exist as a group. ree years ago we took the step to reorganised from a traditional group to a flexi-group and this did make run- e book has walks in its pages. ning the group easier. More recently the Although the author includes the lack of walk leaders made us look again obligatory ascent of Snowdon via the at the group’s viability. We decided that Llanberis path there is much else to inter- it was time to call it a day and combine est walkers who think are already quite our membership with Caernarfon e pages contain descriptions of familiar with the village and some of its and Dwyfor, who have made us most walks, all starting and ending at a station walks. So many of us have just done the welcome. We need to agree on a name on one of Snowdonia’s heritage railways. well-known routes, but there is more to for the combined group and this will be ey range from a short stroll of 1⁄2 discover. discussed at the AGM in November and miles (Dolgoch Waterfalls) but include How about walk “To Dinorwig, a announced when it is decided. mountain walks of about miles and less slate quarrying village”which takes in ose of you who have led walks for demanding walks up to 1⁄2 miles. the Vivian quarry and a lot more from the group over the years are due a big e Snowdon Mountain Railway our industrial past. Alternatively, try the thank you for your time and effort in pro- features only once and the walk suggested ascent of Cefn Du (walk ), miles / viding many enjoyable hours taking us is the descent from the top, Yr Wyddfa hours? I’ve not been there, and I expect hither and thither around North Wales. by the Llanberis path, aer getting the lot of you haven’t either. To those previous committee members train up. I think the author should have Conclusion thank you for all you time and support. warned readers that you need good knees Whilst the closure of the group is dis- for that. You can of course only do this Both books are well worth the price and a appointing I am sure the new combined walk outside of winter because the trains place on your bookshelf or, better, in your group will prosper. don’t run when there is snow about. walking jacket pocket. Take your pick. Simon Longman I like the historical snippets which the Pete B ex Group Co-ordinator BA/BE Making paths more accessible
S A VOLUNTEER for our footpath maintenance team on AYnys Môn, I thought I would comment on the query raised by Chris Yarrow, printed in the “Ask the Experts” article on page of the Autumn Edition of Walk Magazine. Ynys Môn County Council has a Least Restrictive Access Policy, which states that when Landowners replace fences or walls or barriers across the public right of way they are encouraged to erect a less restrictive type of structure. e law (Section ZA Highways Act ) allows the council to con- tribute towards the cost of this work. is policy is included in the dra of the latest Rights of Way Improvement Programme . All the standards are in place so County Councils and Land Managers need to be pressured to do more, it’s been on the radar for so long. We are very aware of the increasing age of the population and therefore try to install furniture allowing access for the less abled walker, although we do have to obtain agreement from landowners which is not always forthcoming. ey sometimes put up resistance to the replacement of stiles with more easily New bridge with handrail and anti-slip strips used gates: they are perceived to be less stock-proof, although this is actually not the case. So, wherever possible, we install metal wicket and kissing gates which are light to open and are self- closing. Where we Annual General have to install ladder stiles, we try to add platforms across the top together with handrails which we also try to add to the Meeting old stone stiles and bridges. We build many boardwalks, all of Ramblers’ North Wales Area which have anti-slip strips added across the treads, these strips are also attached to bridges we build. Small amounts of fencing When: Saturday 12 January 2019 at 2:00 pm. are attached to gates to ensure that barbed wire is nowhere near Where: Craig y Don Community Centre, Queens Rd, the installation posts. Maybe your council can be persuaded to follow the Ynys Môn example? Llandudno. See sketch map opposite. Andria Massey, Footpath Secretary and Access Officer SatNav: Try postcode LL30 1TH, which should take Ynys Môn Ramblers Group you just past the entrance. Grid Ref: SH 793 816 ����� ���� ��������� ��� Guest speaker: Will Renwick, President of Ramblers Cymru, former Ramblers ‘Champion for Young ��������� Walkers’ and long distance walker. ��� ��� ������� ������ �� Walks: 10 am from the Centre. Little Orme (grade C4) ����� led by Margaret , Tel. 01492 584738
���� Refreshments will be provided (donation requested) in the interval
������ Agenda etc: - Please check the Area website for advance copies of the Agenda, details of any ���� ������� Motions to be debated and for draft minutes of the ���� 2018 AGM.: ��������� http://www.ramblersnorthwales.org.uk/ �������� Printed copies will be available at the AGM. Any queries meanwhile should be addressed to the chair, Joanna Slattery: [email protected]
Published for North Wales Ramblers, LL24 0DH. Layout by Scrooge Graphics 12/2018 Views expressed in this publication by individual authors do not necessarily represent the official view of Ramblers Cymru. The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW Printed by: W O Jones Printers, Ltd, Llangefni, LL77 7JA. Tel. 01248 750253