North Wales Rambler Snowdonia Slate Trail HE grand opening of the mile Snowdonia Slate TTrail, which included a celebration of years of the Snowdonia Society, took place at Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda on Friday th November . Both the big a ernoon event and evening concert were well attended and included a powerpoint presentation by Denis McAteer our President of Ramblers Welsh Council. e Snowdonia Slate Trail starts at Porth Penrhyn near Bangor, passing through the villages of Llanllechid, Bethesda, Llanberis, Waunfawr, Nantlle, Rhyd Ddu, Bed- dgelert, Croesor, Ffestiniog, Penmachno, Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed and back to Bethesda. It also connects a number of social enterprises and community run facili- ties such as Antur Waunfawr, the Coed y Brenin Café in Bethesda run for and by disadvantaged people and the com- munity Pengwern Inn in Llan Ffestiniog. In addition, for those who enjoy the Little Trains of Wales, the Trail passes Penrhyn and Padarn Railways, Snowdon Mountain Railway, as well as the Welsh Highland and the Ffestiniog Railways. All information and mapping is available by accessing the dedicated webpage: www.snowdoniaslatetrail.org is long distance path, along with the Pilgrim Way, Coastal and Four Valleys paths is now a grand opportunity to explore the vast industrial heritage of the slate villages of Snowdonia. e opening event was the culmination of months of hard work by volunteers, organisations and con- tractors who have now created this unique path. is has included a range of other exciting projects involving schools and communities. e rich heritage created during these projects is now a wonderful legacy for visitors and local people to enjoy and appreciate. is will convey to visitors what it was like to live in the slate quarrying communities. Over a year ago Tîm Taclo Llwybrau, Caernarfon & Dwyfor, and Meirionydd Ramblers Group of volunteers, in conjunction with Gwynedd County Council wardens, car- ried out a survey of the footpaths and rights of way used by the Snowdonia Slate Trail. is provided solid information from which to cost the project. is was crucial in winning the Heritage Lottery funding along with many other busi- ness contributions. e Ramblers volunteers have since completed over three hundred hours of way marking the trail, by installing posts and slate trail roundels. Vegetation clearance was also carried as necessary. We all need to encourage Communities to recognise the importance of our public rights of way footpaths for boost- ing health, wellbeing, leisure activity and the local economy. continued on page Annual Report of Ramblers North Wales Area December 2017 www.ramblersnorthwales.org.uk Area Secretary’s Report HIS annual report is on another busy Motion was --- a presentation by Van Griffiths, the new Tyear for Ramblers Cymru in North “North Wales Area notes that CTC Chief Exec of Ramblers GB, who used to Wales. anks to all of you who have (now rebranded as Cycling UK) has work for the National Trust in Wales. taken part in our activities, and work joined forces with British Cycling, Open ere was an interesting conversation on our charitable objectives; to promote MTB, and Welsh Cycling to launch their between Jane Davidson, one of our Vice walking, look aer and enhance out path campaign “Trails for Wales”. Presidents, and Rhodri Morgan, former network, protect the countryside, and to is campaign includes asking for First Minister of Welsh Government, improve access. tracks on access land to be open to which included many reminiscences of I would like to thank Gerald Moss cyclists. ey are also asking for a Scot- walks, particularly on the local Pembro- for his continuing work and assistance in tish model of open access, including keshire Coast path. the organisation and distribution of the all PRoW (including Public Footpaths) At the elections, the following from Area newsletters and walks programmes, being open to cyclists. erefore North North Wales were appointed - Joanna Slattery’s most able chairing Wales Area requests that Ramblers President: Denis McAteer, Vice-Presi- of the meetings and her work behind Cymru commences discussions with dents: Ron Williams, WCEC Members: the scenes, and Pete Bland’s continued members on short-term, responsible Stan Winstanley, Simon Longman and editorship of the Newsletter. sharing of suitable paths and tracks, and Max Grant. If you wish to raise any subsequently detailed discussions with matter with WCEC, please talk to one of AREA AGM CTC on our proposals for a real right these. to roam, so that we can work together Our Area AGM was again held at to get legislation in Wales for superior AREA COUNCIL Craig y Don Community Centre with a access for all users of our wonderful good turn out of members. We were countryside.” Area Council consists of Area officers delighted to welcome as a guest speakers, ere were many speakers on the and representatives from all Groups and the new Chief Executive of Ramblers motion, and one amendment suggested County Committees. ere are three GB, Vanessa Griffiths who is a resident of by Dave Melling, which was the addition meetings per year which are held at the Llandudno. of words in italic bold above. ese were Tyn-y-Coed Hotel in Capel Curig. So ere were no changes to our Area accepted by the proposer. that best practice can be disseminated, officers, but I regret to say that we do e motion was overwhelmingly Groups and County Committees are still have vacancies in the Area for passed with against. invited to give a report on recent hap- Countryside Secretary, and Publicity & e amended motion went forward penings to the meeting. Please could Promoting Walking Secretary, so if you to Welsh Council where it was passed. you encourage your Group and County are interested in either of these posts then Due to the WG consultation on another Committee to attend. please contact me for further informa- green paper on outdoor access (see At this year’s meeting the possibility tion. p.), this motion has been overtaken by of an Area Walking Festival was raised ere were three motions debated events. Ramblers Cymru decided that and debated. e Groups in the Area this year, two which were passed. ese shared use of public footpaths should have agreed to hold this from th July to were --- only be looked at on a path by path basis. th August . Motion was --- “is meeting believes the produc- WELSH COUNCIL 2017 THANKS tion of a bilingual business-style card with phone and web details for Ramblers is year’s Welsh Council was held at I would like to finish this report by again Cymru would be a very useful addition the National Trust’s Learning Centre at thanking you all for supporting Ramblers to our publicity. It could also advertise Stackpoles in Pembrokeshire in early Cymru in North Wales. All of you help and have a link for Let’s Walk Cymru. It April. We were blessed with glorious by being a member and paying your would be less prone to going out of date, weather, and those who went on the membership subscription. It allows us to small to carry, and easy for public places guided walks saw stunning scenery and continue with our charitable aims, be that to stock.” wildlife. protecting paths, protecting our country- is was debated with points made Before dinner on the Saturday we side, improving access, and promoting such as – were entertained by an address from walking. • ese cards could be le in public the Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire It would be good if you could all places such as libraries and possibly National Park, Tegwyn Jones, who was encourage some of your walking friends doctors’ surgeries. very complimentary about the local work to be members. Even if they do not walk • Post card sized cards had been suc- of Ramblers Cymru. with us, or volunteer with us, they will cessfully used by Caernarfon and All the business was carried out on be supporting our work, much of which Dwyfor Group. the Sunday, and included the annual is reported in the other reports in this e motion was overwhelmingly passed report presented jointly by Angela Charl- newsletter. with against. is went forward to ton (Director Ramblers Cymru) and Welsh Council where it was passed, and Chris Hodgson (Chair of Welsh Council), Max Grant is now being implemented. the financial report by our Treasurer, and Area Secretary Area Footpath Secretary’s Report HE late Countryside Council for easy to use”. However, aer rain it quickly Path and a new initiative the Snowdonia TWales once set a target that all the becomes almost impossible to walk. Even Slate Trail project in which TTL have footpaths in Wales should be “open and a minor straightforward diversion will been heavily involved. Smaller schemes easy to use” by the year . is target not solve this particular problem. have also from improving circular walks was not achieved but there has been is is the last year of the funding and waymarking. substantial improvement both before and by Welsh Government of each council’s During the year the Pont Dolybont aer the target date. e fact is that this Rights of Way Improvement Plan at Dinas Mawddwy was replaced and target of perfection is unlikely to ever (ROWIP). Each County Council had to is now part of an “Access for All” route be reached. Footpaths cross agricultural provide a ROWIP to receive this fund- around the village. e Slate Ways project land, moors, mountains and woodlands. ing. Although the funding has stopped has also been completed. is links ey are therefore subject to issues the Councils still have to produce a the Slate Heritage villages of Northern which are out of the control of even the ROWIP for the next ten years.