Ramblers Routes Ramblers Routes Britain’s best walks from the experts Britain’s best walks from the experts Wales Wales 08/05/2015 16:39 05 Nantlle Ridge, Gwynedd 06 Cardigan & Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion l Distance 12km/7½ miles l Time 5hrs l Type Mountain l Distance 10km/6 miles l Time 3-4hrs l Type Country NAVIGATION LEVEL FITNESS LEVEL NAVIGATION LEVEL FITNESS LEVEL walk magazine summer 2015 summer magazine walk walk magazine summer 2015 summer magazine walk Plan your walk Plan your walk Bangor l Caernarfonl Aberystwyth NANTLLE RIDGE l P TRO LL GWYNNED L CARDIGAN HA l Fishguard CEREDIGION ART U Swansea T l HY: FIONA BAR HY: HY: S HY: l P Aberystwyth P WHERE: Out-and-back route WHERE: Circular walk from via Craig Cwm Silyn to Cardigan via Teifi Marshes PHOTOGRA Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd. Nature Reserve. PHOTOGRA START/END: Parking area at START/END: Quay Street car The traverse of the Nantlle Ridge road end (SH496511). 1. START To find the start of this park, Cardigan (SN176460). Situated just south of Cardigan, on town of Cardigan (Aberteifi in is one of the classic high-level TERRAIN: Grassy and stony walk, drive to Llanllyfni, just south TERRAIN: Surfaced cycle/ the banks of the River Teifi, is the Welsh) was, in the past, one of the ridge walks in Snowdonia, rated tracks and paths; steep of Penygroes, and turn east along footpath and well Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve – one most important ports in Wales. The as second only to the Snowdon ascents and descents, the lane that goes to Tanyrallt. waymarked trails around of the best wetland reserves in 12th-century castle – the venue for Horseshoe but a lot quieter. The rough in places. After around 1km turn R along a Nature Reserve, including Wales. It covers some 265 acres the first National Eisteddfod in ridge runs from northeast to MAPS: OS Explorer OL17; lane called Lon Tyddyn Agnes and stretches along boardwalks and includes many different types 1176 – has been undergoing southwest with seven summits Landranger 115. follow this all the way up to its and woodland paths, with of habitat that can be explored restoration work and is expected exceeding 2,000ft (609.6m), ranging GETTING THERE: Nearest end, parking on the other side of some town pavements. following specially marked to open this year. From the car from Y Garn at the former end to public transport goes to the farm gate (SH496511). There’s MAPS: OS Explorer 198; themed trails. There are also park (SN176460), walk up Quay Mynydd Graig Goch at the other. Penygroes, where bus service a good view from here north Landranger 145. several named hides, which are Street to the High Street and turn Walking the ridge from end to end 1F stops from Caernarfon, or to Newborough Warren (and GETTING THERE: Bus signed from the trails. It’s well R down to the river, passing the is an exhilarating experience, but IC/1N from Caernarfon to adjoining forest) and Llanddwyn services (Mon–Sat): 412 worth allowing time for some castle on your L. Cross the involves some exposed scrambling, Nantlle. Mainline trains stop Island in the southwest corner of between Cardigan and leisurely bird viewing – binoculars pedestrian bridge over the Afon steep ascents and descents and at Bangor (✆ 0871 200 2233, Anglesey. Follow the vehicle track Haverfordwest (where can be hired from the Welsh Teifi. Just past the first building on rough walking. It’s also necessary www.traveline-cymru.info). eastwards, ascending gently. As there’s a railway station); Wildlife Centre. This striking the L, on the far side, turn L to have two cars or use a taxi to EATING & DRINKING: Nothing you begin to descend, you’ll reach 460 between Cardigan and building (pictured), built in 1993, (signed ‘River Walk’). Follow the return to the start, though tough on route itself. Nearby is café a gate and stile over the wall on Carmarthen (also on the rail won an award for innovative paved path alongside the river, walkers can turn around and do a at the Pant Du vineyard & your R. There’s a splendid view network); and T5/X50/554 design. From the top floor, where soon going under the main road. double crossing. Although starting orchard, Penygroes (✆ 01286 ahead of the twin lakes called between Cardigan the Glasshouse Café is located, A short distance further on you’ll at the eastern end from Rhyd Ddu 880806/881819, www.pantdu. Llynnau Cwm Silyn, cradled beneath and Aberystwyth there are panoramic views right come to an information panel tends to be most popular, a higher co.uk); or Happy Valley the cliff face of Craig Cwm Silyn – (✆ 0871 200 2233, www. across the reserve – sit in or out on about the Teifi Marshes Nature and easier start can be had from Takeaway (opposite Co-op), a favourite with climbers. traveline-cymru.info). the covered balcony. Although this Reserve with a map showing the the west. This route does just that Penygroes (✆ 01286 880979). EATING & DRINKING: Good walk starts from Cardigan, those different trails. The red-marked and takes you via Craig Cwm More choice in Caernarfon. 2. Cross the stile and bear R over to choice of cafés, restaurants with young children might prefer Wetland Trail turns off to the R. Silyn, the highest point of the SLEEPING: Branwen House the fence. Follow the fence line and pubs in Cardigan. a shorter walk from the car park This will be your return route, but ridge, to the summit of Mynydd (ref 2138A) and Pwyll uphill, maintaining your direction Glasshouse Café at the close to the Welsh Wildlife Centre. for now continue along the cycle/ Tal-y-mignedd. This avoids the at the top corner of the fence. An footpath. This originated as a Bungalow (ref 2135A) offer Welsh Wildlife Centre ▲ ▲ exposed scrambling further east. obvious path climbs the western ▼ 1. START The bustling market ▼ causeway built of furnace waste P55-56_WALK47_RR_WALES.FINAL.indd 1 P55-56_WALK47_RR_WALES.FINAL.indd 2 Ordnance Surveymap Ordnance Surveymap Continued... START (✆ 01239 621600, www. FINISH welshwildlife.org/visitor- 1 5 centres/the-welsh-wildlife- ping ©Crowncopyright2015OrdnanceSurveyMedia048/15 ping ©Crowncopyright2015OrdnanceSurveyMedia048/15 centre). 1 2 SLEEPING: Choice of B&Bs and self-catering in Cardigan START FINISH (contact TIC below), including: Llainfran House B&B (✆ 01545 561243, www.llainfran.co.uk); Awel y Mor self-catering 2 (✆ 01545 560733, www. 4 westwales-cottages.com/ awel_y_mor.htm). 3 VISITOR INFORMATION: Cardigan TIC, Bath House ✆ Map not to scale. Road ( 01239 613230, 6 Representation of www.discoverceredigion. OS Landranger co.uk). MAP 115 1:50,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk GUIDEBOOKS: Walks on the Cardigan Bay Coast by Liz Allan (£4.95, Kittiwake, ISBN 978 1908748003); Pathfi nder Continued... To download this route and hundreds of others, Guide – Ceredigion visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes Walks by Terry Marsh Map not to scale. Representation of superb views of Nantlle Ridge (£10.95, Crimson, OS Landranger 3 (✆ 01766 513829, www. rim of Cwm Silyn, providing Nantlle valley to the north are MAP 145 1:50,000 ISBN 978 0711749931). sts-holidays.co.uk); Llwyndu dramatic views over the lakes. former slate mining villages and LOCAL RAMBLERS GROUP: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk Mawr Farmhouse B&B, Assuming conditions are heaps of slate waste on the slopes, Cardigan & District Ramblers Penygroes (✆ 01286 880419, clear, Snowdon is visible in with Anglesey beyond. ✆ ( 01239 710544, www. www.llwyndufarmbandb. the far distance. ceredigionramblers.org.uk/ To download this route and hundreds of others, co.uk). 5. Retrace your steps to the stile cardigangroup). visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes VISITOR INFORMATION: 3. At the top, cross a stile and (at point 3) and carry on alongside Caernarfon TIC, Oriel continue northeast along the wide the wall from here to the stony in 1885 to carry the Whitland marker) through the trees. In turning L again through a kissing Pendeitsh, Castle Street grassy ridge to the stony summit summit of Garnedd Goch and its and Cardigan Railway over the spring, there are carpets of wood gate. The path heads north across (✆ 01286 672232, www. and its cairn. At 734m/2,408ft, decapitated trig point. Mynydd marshes. En route you’ll pass turn- anemones, celandines and a fi eld and into pine woods. Down visitsnowdonia.info). Craig Cwm Silyn is the highest Graig Goch to the southwest was offs to the Curlew, Mallard, Creek bluebells. You’ll pass a turning on below, you can spot the gorge of GUIDEBOOKS: Hillwalking in point on the Nantlle Ridge. previously excluded from lists of and Kingfi sher Hides. the L to another hide (Tree Tops). the Afon Teifi . After passing an Wales Volume 2: Festiniog – the Welsh 2,000ft hills due to Continue along the Explorer Trail, information panel about the Tarrens by Peter Hermon 4. Follow the stony path steeply a spot height of 609m on OS 2. Once at the car park, you’ve ignoring a couple of R turns, to Coedmor National Nature Reserve, (£12.95, Cicerone, ISBN 978 down to the grassy col, Bwlch maps. However, this changed crossed the county border into reach a kissing gate. Here, you you’ll reach a junction. Follow the 1852844684); The Mountains Dros-bern, and continue steeply up in 2008 following a survey that Pembrokeshire. From here, the leave the Nature Reserve and carry route signed for the Welsh Wildlife of England and Wales Volume the narrow ridge. The gradient measured the absolute height as Afon Teifi forms the border on along the public footpath Centre via the Gorge Trail. The Trail 1: Wales by John and Anne eases and the grassy ridge widens 609.75m/2,000.49ft.