An Incredible Walk to Blaenau Ffestiniog Through the Historic Slate
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Time 2 hours walking Distance 5 miles Mostly good paths but steep inclines, sometimes wet Terrain underfoot and a short scramble Get ready for an epic adventure - making good use of public transport to explore fascinating historic slate mines. You will also take a train through the UK's longest single-track tunnel. This walk is challenging in places and we recommend taking refreshments, wearing good walking boots and a walking jacket. An During the pandemic, we advise you to do only the first part of this incredible walk. The Covid-19 rail timetable makes the train journey impossible. walk to fflecsi Bus Train fflecsi Bus Penmachno to Cwm Walk Blaenau Ffestiniog Betws-y-Coed Lunch Penmachno (2hrs) to Betws-y-Coed to Penmachno Blaenau fflecsi Dep Dep Arr fflecsi Back ~08:45 11:35 12:02 to Benar Ffestiniog or ~11:15 *14:57 *15:24 whenever you choose bus bus through the See the Welcome Folder for information about how to book your bus Visit www.traveline.cymru to check rail running times before leaving Benar historic Walk to the main gate in good time to catch your fflecsi bus to Cwm Penmachno and enjoy the scenic bus ride. The road is a dead-end but you are aiming to get off the bus slate mines when you see a hillside ahead covered in slate spoils, a 90-degree bend in the road, a metal gate, a bench and littler bin. above Cwm The walk starts at the metal gate. Follow the path ahead, which leads up to the historic slate mines. When you reach an old incline, keep left. Eventually, you will come to a Penmachno ladder stile, a rusty gate and a section of fence made from a mine-worker's bedstead. Cross the ladder stile and continue along the path, over the next stile, following the path through the forest. The vast slate mine beneath you now is on three levels. Inside the mountain are forgotten deep blue lakes, lofty caverns and ancient mining machinery lying abandoned in the darkness. Manod Quarry is where art treasures from the National Gallery in London were safely stored during the second world war. Continuing on the same path you will leave the forest and pass the ruins of quarrymen's barracks on the left. Down to the right, you will see a vast mine entrance (The Cathedral Entrance) - keep left here. Walk through the old mine buildings and over a ladder stile. When you reach a very steep, grassy incline, climb it and take in the views from the top. You have climbed a total of 309 metres reaching this, the highest point, at an altitude of 518 metres. The path is now flat, a little wet, and bears to the right. When you see a gate on the left, go straight on. When the path divides at a slag heap, keep left. At the National Park boundary (marked yellow on the map), you will see the lake ahead. Cross the ladder stile and follow the path past the lake (Llyn Bowydd), keeping it to your right. Eventually, you will get to a red metal gate. Climb the slate steps to the left and continue along the path to the top of the steep incline. Walk down the incline towards the disused dressing sheds at the bottom. Bear right, under the old railway track, and continue to the end of the path keeping the slag heap to the left and the old wall to the right. At the end of the path, please take care: there is a short scramble to reach the track at the top. Turn right onto the wide track following it as it bends around the ridge of the hill and descends. Turn left at a small lake. You will pass a Zip World platform up on the right and another small lake on the left. Take a sharp left turn down the hill and bear right at a smaller track further down the hill. Keep right and follow the track through a metal kissing gate to Blaenau Ffestiniog. You may wish to stop in the town for food and drinks at one of the cafes, pubs or hotels. There are also plenty of shops and a Co-op supermarket. At the railway station, you can look at the beautiful steam trains before boarding the 14:57 Llandudno train to Betws-y-Coed. The train journey on the Conwy Valley Line takes you through the UK's longest single-track tunnel and then past some beautiful scenery to Betws- y-Coed where you can stop for a late lunch. You will receive a notification from fflecsi just before your bus arrives with a reminder of where the driver will collect you before bringing you back to Benar Cottages. Holiday over too soon? See the latest availability and book again: www.benarcottages.com or by phone: 01690 760551 .