Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: [email protected] Wales: Southern Snowdonia short break Dolgellau: in the shadow of Cadair Idris https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/wales-southern-snowdonia-short-break/ page 1/7 Route Summary At a glance 3 or more nights (a variety of walking options is provided, depending on your energy levels!). We recommend extra nights as there are plenty of walks to choose from and there is a huge amount to do in the local area, particularly if you bring your own car. How much walking? Full days: 10-22km, 4-8 hrs walking Using shortening options: Shortening options on some days, using local transport when necessary Max. Grade: Welcome to On Foot’s Wales; all the drama and majesty of Southern Snowdonia’s peaks combined with three or more nights in the historic town of Dolgellau. The generally accepted pronunciation is ‘Dol-geth-lee’ but ‘Dol-geth-lie’ is the more correct Welsh version… The Snowdonia National Park echoes the beauty and wilderness of the Scottish highlands, but offers a gentler landscape of trickling brooks and gushing waterfalls, craggy peaks and rippling hills, bleating sheep and hardy mountain goats. All of this is framed against a backdrop of every shade of green imaginable. Less visited than ‘Northern Snowdonia’, the trails are quieter and the villages better preserved, none more so than Dolgellau itself. Inhabited since the 11th century, the town has particular associations with Quakerism – the Pennsylvanian town and college of Bryn Mawr were named after the Dolgellau home of a 17th Century Quaker emigrant to the USA. Formerly known for its woollen, tanning and printing industries as well as mining (the Clogau mine has supplied gold for several royal wedding rings), it’s now a friendly market town serving the agricultural community and the summer visitors. After a night’s rest in an elegant townhouse hotel or luxury B&B, choose from one of our carefully designed walking options, offering a variety of grades from an easy ramble exploring the history of the Dolgellau Quakers to the medium/hard ascent of Cadair Idris. All of our routes avoid extreme hill-walking; we want you to be able to experience the glory of the scenery at your pace. Take a picnic, bring a book and bask in the beauty of the mountains. page 2/7 Route Highlights ● The summits of Cadair Idris and Diffwys – neighbouring mountains offering vastly different experiences ● Waterfalls at Rhaeadr Ddu and Arthog – these are peaceful streams in summer, but impressive torrents after rain ● Picturesque Creggenan Lakes ● The conifer forests of Coed-y-Brenin with their towering Douglas Firs ● Unbeatable views from Precipice Walk ● In late summer, dazzling amounts of Heather in luminous shades of purple ● Lucky walkers may see wild mountain goats – we did! We Recommend Allow enough time to do this incredible area justice. Drive to the route if you can, as you may wish to explore further afield when you have had your fill of walking. Is that even possible, though...? Grading Full days: 10-22km, 4-8 hrs walking Using shortening options: Shortening options on some days, using local transport when necessary A good variety of walks from easy-medium to hard. All the routes are on footpaths or bridleways and only occasional forays onto asphalt. Easy navigation using our notes, maps and GPS files. Easy-medium to hard: Average cumulative uphill stretches (CUSs) 675m (325m-935m) per day. NB: Some terrain can be marshy, particularly after prolonged periods of rain and although it's easy to deviate onto firmer ground, walking boots and walking poles are advisable for this route. GPX file available for handheld GPS or smartphone App for complete route. Important note: Times given for each day are walking times for an “average” walker and exclude stops. “CUSs” stands for “Cumulative Uphill Stretches” and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb. See “Walk Grading” for more information. page 3/7 When to go The best months to walk: May to September Other possible months: April, October The best walking is through the late spring, summer and early autumn, though in early or late season our choice of walks means there are low level routes for days when the weather might make the higher routes inadvisable. If you'd like to walk during UK school summer holidays (late July to end of August), be sure to book early to secure your preferred dates. Please note: date ranges shown are for a 'normal' year. While Covid-19 restrictions remain, please contact us to discuss your plans and availability. Note: Many restaurants close on Mondays so try and work around this if possible. Itinerary Day 1 - Arrive in Dolgellau Arrive in Dolgellau and relish the mountain air before exploring the town and deciding on somewhere for dinner. For early arrivals, consider a leg stretch with our short Quaker Circuit on the edge of the town - a perfect introduction to the Welsh countryside. Listed below is a menu of walks available and we hope to add to these as time goes by. The walks can, of course, be done in any order. Some start and end in Dolgellau, others will require you to take a local bus/taxi (or your car) to the start/end points and details are included on each walk. Day 2 - Dolgellau Circuits You have a lovely choice of walks today: Ganllwyd Circuit. A long day but not a demanding one. Leave Dolgellau and head north across the Mawddach River. A gentle ascent through trees emerges onto a balcony path above the river – in late summer this hillside is covered with vibrant heather. The path soon heads away from the river onto deserted lower slopes of Y Garn. With views across the valley to the right, the path meanders through gorse and heather, to reach a disused gold mine. Pass into the confines of the National Trust and descend the valley alongside the spectacular Rhaeadr Ddu Waterfalls which go on and on… From Ganllwyd the return journey starts in Coed-y-Brenin under its towering Douglas Fir trees, followed by a short, sharp climb onto the ominously named Precipice Walk. Take advantage of the well-placed bench at the end of the path to admire the view, before an easy descent to Llyn Cynwch and the return to Dolgellau. (7hrs walking (allow 8hrs) 21km, CUSs 730m) Arthog to Dolgellau. An easy walk starting at the Mawddach Estuary and the village of Arthog. The path climbs past a series of cascading waterfalls, soothing and harmonious after dry weather; violent and awe-inspiring after heavy rain. After a gentle ascent through the trees, the path emerges into the open, with wonderful views to Barmouth and Bardsey Island. Stop for a moment to watch the fishermen at Cregennan Lakes, before continuing through the foothills of the Cadair Idris range. After a quick dip into the next valley, join an old drover’s road back into Dolgellau. (4¾hrs walking (allow 6¼hrs) 12¼km, CUSs 490m) page 4/7 Day 3 - A day in the mountains Two fantastic peaks to choose from, both offering fantastic views... Cadair Idris. The most famous peak in southern Snowdonia and it is a reputation justly deserved. The ascent is surprisingly gentle and the views from the very start of the walk are breath-taking. A well-maintained path allows easy access to the summit so although you will not be alone (!), there are more than enough views to go around. Leave your fellow walkers behind and continue NE along the ridge to the second highest peak of the Cadair range, Mynydd Moel and from there make a steep descent down the eastern slopes. As you walk back towards Dolgellau, the looming massif of Cadair Idris rears up to the SW, evidence of the day’s significant achievements. (7hrs walking (allow 8hrs) 14km, CUSs 935m) Diffwys Circuit. Don’t discard this walk in favour of Cadair Idris; the views are equal to, if not more impressive than those from Cadair, and the mountain is wonderfully uncrowded. An easy ascent through the forest starts the day, before entering a landscape where you'll see some remains of the once-flourishing mining industry. The summit of Diffwys looms ahead at a daunting height, but the path is forgiving and there are only a few short, very steep sections. After cresting a ridge, the landscape falls away on every side and your efforts are rewarded by far-reaching views all around, with the sea tantalisingly close. The descent is gentle but the sting in the tail is the final climb past Clogau gold mine, before a quick march back to the car park. (4¾hrs walking (allow 6¼hrs) 14km, CUSs 800m) Travel Information ARRIVING BY RAIL The nearest sizeable train station is at Machynlleth from where you can take a bus on to Dolgellau (journey time 35 mins). If you have time to spare, take the train onwards as it hugs the coast from Machynlleth and across the viaduct to Barmouth. There are also train stations at Newtown and Aberystwyth. ARRIVING BY BUS There is a regular bus service from Bangor, Machynlleth and Aberystwyth to Dolgellau. Ask On Foot for the timetable. ARRIVING BY CAR Please let us know if you plan to drive to Dolgellau so that we can advise on parking arrangements. Parking is available in the town centre for £7.50 per 24 hours. Getting to the start of the walk Dolgellau town-centre is easily accessed by public transport and as Dolgellau is a small town, you will be able to walk to your accommodation in only a few minutes.