www.pdwc.org Vol: 24 Issue 7 13 June 2010

BEDDGELERT Coaches leave Beddgelert at 6.00pm

FUTURE WALKS

Coach Walks 8.00am start : 6.00pm return Sun 11 July Bishop’s Castle A: Dave Colbert B+: Chris Cook B: Margaret Oliver C: Bill Manning Sun 8 Aug Borrowdale A: Allan Benson B+: Pete Stevens B: Tony Ingham C: Derek Lowe

Thursday Car Walks 10.30am start Thurs 8 July Hurstwood (near Burnley) B Walk with Dennis Barnish Meet at the village car park Thurs 12 Aug Birkacre B Walk with Derek Lowe Meet at Birkacre visitor centre

Sunday Car Walks 10.30am start Sun 27June Slaidburn B Walk with Dorothy Shackleton Meet at the village car park Sun 27 June C Walk with Derek Lowe Meet at the cricket ground car park 6 miles / 9.7km with little climbing. We begin our walk going along the Goit until we reach Moor Road and pick up the footpath to lead us to Reservoir. We also go round High Bullough Reservoir before crossing over to follow the back to Moor Road and then along the Goit back to White Coppice. Sun 25 July B Walk with Dorothy Dobson Meet at duck pond behind the baths 8 miles /12.9km We leave the duck pond to make a steep but gradual climb out of Brinscall, passing Plantation and on to Moor. Here we join the path which skirts before heading down to White Coppice, a lovely hamlet of stone cottages fronted by a village green and cricket pitch. We take a path by the reservoirs, cross a disused railway line and reach the road. Now we take a wide track through the fields to Eagle Tower and Heapey Church, then on to Longworth Mill where we re-cross the disused railway line and head back to Brinscall. Sun 25 July Chipping C Walk with Derek Lowe Meet at the pay & display car park This 5 mile / 8km walk takes us through some of the cream of our rambling country. The climbing is gradual and not difficult. From the car park by the side of the church we make our way north west past the former chair factory until we reach the mill pond. Half way along we turn right, signposted Burnslack. We gradually climb up on field paths to the aptly named Windy Hill, going left over a footbridge and bearing left to reach Windy Hill Farm. Here we turn right, then left at the barn, to follow a track and field paths to High Barn, now demolished, and an undulating road to Burnslack Farm. (Lunch stop area) We go through the gate and left round the farm house which brings us to the Access Area of Saddle Fell. Our path goes to the left then left through a gate. As we pass Ward’s End climbing has now finished and we make our way down to Saddle End Farm then along field paths to Bradley’s Farm, Peacock Farm and Nan King’s to reach the road back to Chipping.

th th From Monday 5 July until Saturday 24 July Allan will not be available to take coach bookings (Bishop’s Castle and later) so book early if possible. Between these dates Dorothy Shackleton will take bookings.

Hope you ’re lucky in this month’s dra w. Don’t forget your lucky ticket. Last month’s lucky people: Dorothy Shackleton and Martin Kaye.

Please note – Walk details must be in 2 (TWO) weeks before each coach excursion.

Today’s Walks Today’s starting point: Beddgelert

Cnicht with Dave Colbert Grade A Distance 10½ miles / 17 km Climbing 2850 ft / 870m . Cnicht displays one of the most dramatic mountain profiles in Mynyddoedd Eryri (the Snowdonia Mountains), rising steeply to a sharp point when seen from the south-west. Our approach is nonetheless impressive: starting from Beddgelert, we head through the Pass of Aberglaslyn to the small village of Nantmor and the valley of the Afon Nanmor before tackling the mountain head-on. The ascent is steep and airy up a slender rocky ridge, with easy scrambling in places. From the summit, with its (hopefully) extensive views, we head north-eastwards along the well defined ridge, descending gradually to Llyn yr Adar (Lake of the Birds) and then north-westwards down to Llyn Llagi, Llwynyrhwch and the road to Nantgwynant where we await the coaches at the car park just north of Bethania. Mwynhau, but when close to llynnoedd, beware the perygl!!

Grib Dau & Clogwyn with Pete Stevens . Grade B+ Distance 8 miles / 12.9km Climbing1804 ft / 550m

Our walk today begins and ends in Beddgelert . Turning north-east over the river Glaslyn, we head for Llyn (Lake) Dinas, passing the Sygun Copper Mine on the way. At the lake, we begin a steep ascent to the summit of Grib Dau (755ft /230m), from where (if clear) we will be able to see Porthmadog on one side and Snowdon and the surrounding hills on the other. We now descend to Pont Aberglassyn, following the Cwm Bychan (valley) with its interesting remains of steel towers, once belonging to an aerial ropeway linking the copper mines to the railway. Here we find a picnic area and car park (toilet available) at the side of the Welsh Mountain Railway, built in 1863 and which has just re-opened this year. Crossing the Aberglaslyn Pass, we start our second ascent of the day, up through woodland to the summit of Clogwyn (885ft/270m), before making our final descent to Beddgelert and the coaches.

Grade B There is no walk

Llyn Dinas and Cwm Bychan with Roy S mith Grade C Distance 6 miles / 9.7km Climbing 575ft / 175m

We start our walk from Beddgelert and, although this walk is at the upper end of the ‘C’ walk guidelines, the views are amazing and varied (mountains, a lake, old copper workings, a river gorge and even a legendary dog’s grave), so it is really worth the effort. Leaving the coach park at Beddgelert we follow the Afon (River) Glaslyn, along well-marked paths, for one and a half miles until we reach Llyn (Lake) Dinas. From here we make our way slowly uphill along a well-marked track. The climbing is in two parts with an undulating stretch in between. We will be taking our time during these ascents, giving ample opportunity to take in the magnificent views. Once we have completed this stretch it is mostly all downhill or level walking for the rest of the walk. From our highest point we set off down the Cwm Bychan valley, passing the remnants of aerial ropeway and copper mine workings. Once through the woodland, at the foot of the valley, we make our way back along the river to Beddgelert, paying a visit to Gelert’s Grave on the way.

Please help to keep the coaches clean by removing muddy boots. Please check that you have all your belongings and take newspapers etc. away with you. Thank you.