www.pdwc.org Vol: 28 Issue 7 22 June 2014 BEDDGELERT via Caernarfon Coaches leave Beddgelert at 5.30pm FUTURE WALKS COACH WALKS 8.00am start : 5.30pm return Sunday 20 July KESWICK & BORROWDALE A: Colin Manning B+: Dave Thornton B: Jim Wilson C: Tony Ingham Sunday 17 August CHURCH STRETTON A: Stella Wadsworth B+: Leader required B: Tony Ingham C: Bill Manning THURSDAY CAR WALKS 10.30am start Thursday 10 July HASLINGDEN B Walk with Dennis Barnish Meet at Clough Head, Grane Road Parking at Clough Head Café / Information Centre on B6232 Grane Road. An 8 mile /12.9km walk climbing 500ft / 152m The walk follows a permissive path to Heap Clough, Holden Hall & into Helmshore. We leave Helmshore by way of Carr Lane & follow Musbury Brook, climbing onto Musbury Heights to join the Rossendale Way. We return to the start via Calf Hey Reservoir Thursday 8 August WHITE COPPICE B Walk with Dave Tilleray Meet at the Cricket Ground SUNDAY CAR WALKS 10.30am start Sunday 3 August SLAIDBURN B Walk with Tony Ingham Meet at the village Pay & Display car park An 8 mile / 12.9km walk climbing 750ft / 229m From Slaidburn we go north past Hammerton Hall to the dam at the south end of Stocks Reservoir. We walk along the dam and turn south past Myttons, Parrock Head, Pain Hill and Crawshaw to reach the village of Newton. The last leg of the walk is northwards following the River Hodder back to Slaidburn, passing Dunnow Hall on the way . Sunday 3 August GARSTANG C Walk with Bill Manning Meet at the Pay & Display car park STROLLERS 10.30am start Wednesday 20 August Wycoller Country Park Leader: Bill Meet at the car park before the village, (GR SD926395) then afterwards at the Wycoller Country Park Café Urgent Pete is having a knee replacement in July so will not be able to lead the B+ at Church Stretton. He has so far been unable to find an alternative leader. If you are able to do this, a route has been planned and Bill Manning, the B leader, is willing to give a lift. Today’s Walks Today’s starting points: 1: A: Rhyd-Ddu 2: B+: Beddgelert 3: B &C: Llyn Gwynant Nantlle Ridge with Dave Colbert Grade A Distance 8½ miles / 14km Climbing 4100ft / 1250m The Nantlle Ridge is one of Snowdonia’s finest. Narrow, twisty and undulating it extends for around 8km between the dramatic pass of Drws-y-coed to the north and the pastoral charms of Cwm Pennant to the south. The traverse involves some easy scrambling in places and parts are moderately exposed; however, most is avoidable if desired. So good is this ridge we intend to return along it, so although relatively short for an ‘A’ walk there is a significant amount of ascent and descent. Starting from Rhyd-Ddu a steep climb is necessary to gain the easternmost top of Y Garn (2077ft/633m). Heading west, the ridge narrows and rears up into the sharp and rocky arête of Mynydd Drws-y-coed (2280ft/695m). The traverse continues to Trum y Ddysgl (2326ft/709m) and Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd (653m) with its huge, chimney-like cairn, a conspicuous landmark for miles around. We then descend steeply to Bwlch Dros-bern, from where the direct approach to the highest summit on the ridge, Craig Cwm Silyn (2408ft/734m), involves about 50m of moderate scrambling; there is a much easier route to the right, which is used in descent. If clear, views are excellent, particularly westward down Penrhyn Llyn on the outward leg and eastward back along the ridge to Yr Wyddfa and the high mountains of Eryri on the return. Mwynhau! Moel Hebog with Val Walmsley Grade B+ Distance 9 miles / 14.5km Climbing 2500ft / 762m From Beddgelert we take a track through the forest following a river until we reach the route up Moel Hebog which is deep in bracken. Climbing steeply through rocky scree, the slope relents & finally after 2 false summits we reach the top. Following a wall to Bwlch Mellionen, we find a cleft in the rocks of Moel yr Ogof where Owen Glyndwr hid from English. Crossing the col we ascend to reach a small tarn & the summit of Moel yr Ogof. We now descend to reach a grass path which leads up to Moel Llefn where the extensive views are unfamiliar. Veering right for an easier grassy descent, we contour around towards the forest, with a quarry on right. We now follow a col into another forest passing Llyn Llewelyn to reach the Forestry campsite & return either by road or forest tracks. Llyn Dinas and Cwm Bychan with Roy Smith Grade B Distance 7¼ miles / 11.7km Climbing 1080ft / 329m . We start our walk on the A498 between Llyn Gwynant and Llyn Dinas (toilets are available). A short walk along the A498 takes us to a narrow country lane, which we follow until we are able to pick up a public footpath. The path takes us across farmland and moorland, offering us fine views of Llyn Dinas and the surrounding countryside. We descend through woodland to the shores of the lake. 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. Whilst climbing we will have the 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 the 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. Beddgelert Rholio with Lesley and Pete Grade C Distance 5¾ miles / 9.25km Climbing 492 ft / 150 m Today we have a pleasant walk of contrasts from forest to moorland to a lakeside amble. There is a climb at the beginning, but with plenty of time on hand, we can take as much time as required with plenty of stops on the way up. Once we are up, its downhill all the way, with magnificent views of the Snowdon Horseshoe most of the way. Today we begin our walk from the side of Llyn (Lake) Gywnant on the A498. We start with a slow steep climb south to Nant Gywnant. At the top, we take the path through the woods and then continue on until we meet the road. On a fine day we should have beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Taking a right turn onto the road we begin our descent, staying on the road for approximately a mile before turning south west. Taking the lower lakeside path into Beddgelert, we will pass Llyn (Lake) Dinas on our right and the Sygun Copper mine on our left before crossing the bridge over the river into Beddgelert centre. 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. .