ramblers routes ramblers routes Britain’s best walks from the experts Britain’s best walks from the experts Wales 05 Devil’s Bridge & Rheidol Valley, Ceredigion 06 Rhyd Ddu to , l Distance 12½km/8 miles l Time 4½hrs l Type Hill, forest and river gorge l Distance 14km/8¾ miles l Time 5hrs l Type Hill and valley NAViGATiON LeVeL FiTNESS LeVeL NAViGATiON LeVeL FiTNESS LeVeL walk magazine autumn 2015 walk magazine autumn 2015 plan your walk plan your walk

Harlech

l Llandudno l

RHYD DDU DEViL’S BRiDGE GWYNEDD l troP CEREDGi iON

l Cardigan l Aberystwyth

Swansea l

Where Circular walk from Where Linear walk from the village of Devil’s Bridge Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert via aUrICE KyLE M PhotograPhy: via the Rheidol Valley. Cwm Llan and . FIoNa BarL PhotograPhy: Start/end Devil’s Bridge Start Welsh Highland This highly scenic, varied walk ahead, zigzag steeply down the Surrounded by some of the finest 1. START Either enjoy a ride on station or the car park across Railway station bus stop on starts and finishes in the village of valley side on the clear path into scenery in the country – the the steam the road (A4120), (SN738769). the A4085 next to Rhyd Devil’s Bridge, famous for Mynach the forest to a stile and signboard, beautiful to the train or take the bus to the start. terraIn Grassy/stony tracks Ddu car park (SH571525). Falls, the Three Bridges, and the where a fine view opens out to the south, to the east Alternatively, for those who would and paths, surfaced roads, end Beddgelert car park terminus of the Vale of Rheidol west down the valley. Turn R here and to the north – the like a longer walk, there is a open meadow with tenuous on A4085 (SH588482) – bus narrow gauge steam railway. The to cross the river Rheidol at picturesque stone-built village of waymarked route, the Lôn paths; steep ascents/descents. stop opposite car park. walk features the upper reaches of Pontbren Plwca bridge (SN727782). Beddgelert makes an ideal base Gwyrfai, which links Beddgelert MapS OS Explorer 213; terraIn Stony tracks and the Afon Rheidol, and surrounding for walkers. Throughout the and Rhyd Ddu. This 7km/4½ mile Landranger 135. paths in mountain country; hills and valleys. There are lots of 2. Turn R on the lane, passing the spring and summer it is full of multi-use path (open to walkers, GettInG there Train from moderate ascents and steep and zigzagging paths; the filter beds of the former lead/zinc/ flowers. A short walk south of cyclists and horse riders) runs along Aberystwyth railway station descents. Easier valley route going is rough at times and will be silver mine and then a gate on the the village along the banks of the the west side of the valley through on the Vale of Rheidol can be followed from point 5 challenging for some. However, right for the rapids of the Upper is Beddgelert’s most Beddgelert Forest to Llyn y Gadair. Railway (✆ 01970 625819, back to Beddgelert to avoid the path is mostly easy to follow Rheidol Falls. Follow the ascending famous historical feature, Gelert’s The route follows the bridleway www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/ the last section, which and well marked. valley lane and at about 1km from Grave. The stone monument shown on OS maps as far as Pont timetable.htm). The T22 bus requires care navigating. the bridge, find the small grassy marks the burial site of Gelert, Cae’r Gors (on the A4085), then (runs Mon, Wed and Fri – you MapS OS Explorer OL17; 1. START from Devil’s Bridge path straight ahead. First Prince Llewelyn of Gwynedd’s keeps near the edge of the forest must prebook) or YP22 bus Landranger 115. station (SN738769). From here, descending with the forest on the faithful hound. This linear walk to Llyn y Gadair, from where a (runs on school days) from GettInG there Welsh turn R onto the main A4120 road L, then climbing gently again with begins at Rhyd Ddu, a few miles to wide, even path leads round to the Aberystwyth bus station Highland Railway from and walk towards Aberystwyth. the woodland on all sides, the path the north, and the starting point car park at Rhyd Ddu. The village (✆ 01970 633555, cptu@ to At the last cottage, turn R into the seems to peter out suddenly; at the for one of the routes up Snowdon. of Rhyd Ddu developed as a result ceredigion.gov.uk). Mainline via Beddgelert and Rhyd meadow, following the direction waymarker here, turn sharp L very It shares the same route initially, of the local slate mining industry trains from Birmingham to Ddu (✆ 01766 516024, of the waymarked arrows, bearing steeply uphill, the gradient soon but maintains direction where the at the end of the 19th century. Aberystwyth via Shrewsbury www.festrail.co.uk); S4 bus gradually round to the L. Very soon easing until you get to a stile and Rhyd Ddu path to Snowdon turns From the car park walk north past (✆ 0870 9000 773, www. service from Caernarfon to the path becomes much clearer signboard for the nature reserve. off left. The walk takes you up to the toilets and turn R through a arrivatrainswales.co.uk). Beddgelert via Rhyd Ddu, through forest, then indistinct The narrow path winds round with the pass between Snowdon and gate signed for Snowdon. Cross eatInG & drInKInG Two S97 bus from Porthmadog again towards a small glade, dramatic views of the upper Yr Aran, down Cwm Llan to Nant the railway line and follow the Hoots Tea Room (✆ 07779 railway station to Beddgelert before descending to cross the Rheidol Valley. Gwynant and back to Beddgelert track ahead, keeping R at the fork, ▲ 450735) and the Hafod Hotel ▲ (✆ 01286 881108, ▼ railway. With gorgeous views via Llyn Dinas. past the vehicle barrier. The ▼

P51-52_WALK48_RR_WALES.final.indd 1 11/08/2015 11:21 Created withMemory-Map.©Crowncopyright2015OrdnanceSurveyMedia048/15 Created withMemory-Map.©Crowncopyright2015OrdnanceSurveyMedia048/15 Continued... Continued... START 5 www.express motors.co.uk). 1 (✆ 01970 890232), both at Map not to scale. Traveline Cymru 2 Devil’s Bridge. Representation of OS Explorer (✆ 0871 200 2233, www. 3 SlEEping Hafod Hotel (see MAP 213 1:25,000 traveline-cymru.info). above); numerous hotels and www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk Eating & drinking B&Bs in Aberystwyth. ViSitor information 4 Glaslyn Ices & Café Glandwr, 2 Aberystwyth TIC, Terrace Beddgelert ✆( 01766 890339, Road (✆ 01970 612125); Vale www.glaslynices.co.uk); of Rheidol Railway bookshops ✆ Map not to scale. 4 Ty Mawr Tea Room ( 01766 Representation of at Vale of Rheidol and Devil’s 890837, www.snowdon OS Explorer Bridge stations. 3 accommodation.co.uk) and MAP OL17 1:25,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk guidEbook Railway Walks Cwellyn Arms✆ ( 01766 in the Vale of Rheidol by 890321, www.snowdoninn. Maurice Kyle (£7.99, co.uk), both in Rhyd Ddu. 5 Brodawel Publishing, Caffi Gwynant, Bethania ISBN 978 0992873004). 1 loCal ramblErS group (✆ 01766 890855, www. Cerddwyr Aberystwyth START cafesnowdon.co.uk). FINISH Ramblers (www.aberystwyth FINISH SlEEpingB&B at Ty Mawr ramblers.org.uk). 6 (as above); lots of B&Bs, guesthouses, hotels and camp sites in/near Beddgelert (www. 3. Leave the Coed Rheidol NNR beddgelerttourism.com); (SN741776) via a stile then follow good choice of self-catering the path through high rough accommodation in Beddgelert To download this route and hundreds of others, grazing pastures. This becomes a To download this route and hundreds of others, and surrounding area, eg visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes grassy track; just past the first visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes Pwyll Bungalow, Fron✆ ( 01766 farm building of Penrhiw, look out 513829, www.sts-holidays. R for a walkers’ path sign pointing path is signed to the L, keep ahead 4. Turn R alongside the main road, zigzags. When high above the then into a small wood and a co.uk, Pwyll is ref 2135A). R. Head down the hill towards the continuing along the track to the then L along a minor road crossing footbridge slightly to the R at the gorge, spot a diversion R at a continuing track. Keep straight ViSitori nformation old quarry, passing a couple of the . When the lane bottom of the field (path is very sharp L turn. Follow this rocky and ahead for 750m, eventually Beddgelert TIC, Dolfair tarns on your R. Once past the turns L turn R along a track to the faint). After the bridge, continue steep diversion, which very soon descending to a stile at the corner ✆ ( 01766 890615, www. slate waste, you’ll reach a wall NT’s Llyndy Isaf farm. Continue on upwards through a small copse, emerges from the forest. Observe of the forest ahead, leading to visitsnowdonia.info). at Bwlch Cwm Llan. footpath leading to shore of Llyn cross a stile onto a waymarked arrows to cross several Bodcoll Mill and the footbridge guidEbookS Pathfinder Dinas (pictured, previous page). tarmac lane, fields, a copse of trees with over the Afon Mynach (SN749765). Guides: – Walks by 3. The path that descends the turning R to reach Llwynteifi wooden footbridge, on towards Terry Marsh (£11.99, Crimson, other side has a lot of loose stone, 5. Turn sharp L to climb a well Uchaf farm (SN742783). a stand of pines, and eventually 6. After the river and footbridge, ISBN 978 1780590738); 50 so you may find it easier making constructed stone path that offers emerging onto the A4120. Walk ascend the path that rises to the Walks in Snowdonia (£11.99, your way down the grass over to wonderful views back over Llyn 4. After leaving the farm, find a along the grass verge for about B4574 at Gwar-Felin. Go downhill AA, ISBN 978 0749574062) the R. Continue down into Cwm Dinas as you ascend. At a junction, gate and waymarked path on the 500m, then spot a rather indistinct for 500m, then spot a stile to your loCal ramblErS group Llan. The Watkin Path, another of follow the sign for Beddgelert and R. Follow the path between some stile on the L. Again, follow L. Follow waymarkers down Caernarfon and Dwyfor the routes to Snowdon, joins from Sygun. From Bwlch y Sygyn ruined farm buildings, go over a waymarked arrows carefully to through a small copse, then walk stile on the R by a gate here Ramblers (✆ 01286 880188, the L as you reach the Afon Cwm continue south-west along the cross fields where the path is very diagonally across a meadow in the (waymarked) and bear right down www.cadramblers.co.uk). Llan. On a warm day, a dip in one ridge to Mynydd Sygyn, then turn indistinct, until a ‘Keep to the direction of the car park, across the of the river’s pools is tempting. R and descend to Beddgelert. the edge of a newish tree Footpath’ signboard is reached. road from Vale of Rheidol station. Carry on down to the A498. Route devised by Fiona Barltrop plantation. Follow waymarks on Here, fork L, traversing the hillside, Route devised by Maurice Kyle an increasingly steep descending path that culminates in a system route you are following is the old of very tight zigzags to arrive at miners’ track to the Ffridd Slate the bridge over the Rheidol gorge Quarry in Bwlch Cwm Llan, which called Pombren Ffeirad, or closed in the 1860s. Its remains can Parson’s Bridge (SN749791). still be seen today. There are splendid views looking back. 5. On the other side of the gorge, the narrow path climbs in steep 2. At a fork where the Rhyd Ddu

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