North Wales - Day Walk

Another early start, up at 4am and travelled to Wales, the starting point for this weeks walk was Nant-y-Coed Nature Reserve at LLanfairflechan. Before detailing the walk -there is a few points to note about this starting point if you are in a car:

The streets are narrow on the way up to the reserve, with many parked cars, so you may need to drive on the pavement in places to avoid hitting the parked cars

• It is not well sign posted - in fact not at all, so make sure you know where you are going, just keep the river on your right hand side as you climb through the streets. If you cross the river in the built up area you have gone wrong
• The road bends round to try and take you over a bridge, don't be tempted to follow the road round and head to the car park shown on the map, the road is extremely narrow, and tight in places. It is easier to park on the verge next to the nature reserve entrance that you get to by driving straight on, there is space for about three to four cars. This is what you should see:

• Take some time to explore the Nature Reserve, as it is a rather pleasant place

Below is the walk shown on the map, the yellow mark is my route.

Walk Facts

Distance - approx 14.5 Miles

Date of walk - 17/7/2012

Visibility on day - Extremely poor until 12 noon

Weather conditions prior to going - Extreme rain

Weather conditions on day - Wind and hill mist

Difficulty - Strenuous

Mountains - Drum, Foel-fras, Pen y Castell

Skills - Map reading, Navigation not only in good visibility but also zero visibility

Dangers - Bogs (if you follow my route coming of Pen y Castell)

Wildlife - Mountain ponies, Foxes

Walk Details

From the described starting point, cross the little bridge and join the North Wales Coastal Path.

This above picture is the pretty stream as you cross the bridge.

Follow the signs for the North Wales Coastal path, as you steadily climb, there are some fantastic views of Anglessey and Puffin Island.

The above photo shows the beautiful village of  LLanfairflechan with Anglessey and Puffin Island in the background.

Continue climbing, you are heading towards pylons, the only thing that spoils this stretch, go under both, and you will see a sign post:

Head up the path in the direction it points and climb up to Drum. The below picture is the cairn at peak of Drum.

Continue your journey to Foel-fras, the summit below.

Retrace your steps, and drop to the saddle between Drum and Foel-fras, then make your way over to Pen y Castell

After you reach Pen y Castell, you want to make your way North to join up with the Roman Road. This was hard going with bogs today, following the heavy rains, but I was rewarded with the site of foxes and cubs jumping around in the grass - who moved more swiftly than me in the reeds - I hasten to add.

Once you finally get to the Roman Road, you have a couple of choices to take you back to the start, I stayed on the Roman Road, and rejoined the Sign Post and the North Wales Path, back to the start, to see the sea views that where hidden from me on my ascent by the mist.

A Wet but Excellent Day

Walk Information

The map below shows my route in yellow

Date of Walk - 9th June 2012

Time - 7 Hours (but I plod)

Visibility - poor above 1500ft

Weather - Strong rain and wind

Distance - approx 9 miles

Difficulty - Hard

Elements and skills -

Steep climbs, Moorland, Waterfalls, River, Rocks, Basic Climbing skills, Compass and Navigation skills

Dangers - Bogs,Slippy rocks, Steep climbs and drops

Wildlife - Many wild Welsh Mountain ponies

Note - This is my route, and I do not give detailed ways to get from one place to another, to try and encourage a sense of adventure, please feel free to modify the route to what you want to achieve. Most of all be safe and enjoy the hills safely.

Basic Walk Information as a Guide

I managed to get up at 4am as planned and started my drive to Wales at 4:30am, arriving at Abergwynagregn at 5:45am - at the car park for Aber Falls- after a very wet and windy journey. The forecast from the Met Office was for it to dry up with good visibility, I got neither today, it was a full waterproof day, but with the driving wind and rain, they gave up their protection after an hour.

The visibility was poor, and I have a philosphy of refusing to do mountains if I can't see a view, it's a lot of work for nothing in my opinion, so the plans changed, and I must say I am pleased, as there were some spectacular sites after the heavy rains. I was not able to take many photographs today due to the conditions

Starting out at Aber Falls car park, take the root next to the river and follow it up to Aber Falls.

The Swolen River on the way up to Aber Falls

Aber Falls

After admiring Aber Falls follow the path over the bridge, through the gate. At the second Waterfall - Rhaedr Bach, there is a Style, looking up the climb may seem daunting, but as you cross the syle you follow the faint path up to the first drop on the waterfalls, from there you are looking to make your way left over heather and rocks to the top at the left of the falls. Numerous sheep trails make the going easy at times at other times it is a case of pulling yourself up over heather and a steep climb - choose your route carefully. Note - This is the end of any paths, and how you make your way up needs carefull consideration.

Once you are at the top A) congratulate yourself B) turn left and follow the top round until you can see the river that feeds Aber Falls. Make your way down to the river, and follow it upstream. At the main head of the river, there is a mountain Bera Mawr to you right.

 It is this climb next although I did not go to the summit of Bera Mawr, as I have done this before. Start the climb, how you get up is up to yourself, it gives some nice simple climbing practice if that is the way you go up. Once again choose your route carefully.

Your next objective once you get to the top is Afon Gam, making your way back Aber falls and the carpark.

Walk Plan for Saturday 9th of June 2012

The plan is as follows:

• Up at 4am
• Drive to Wales to the jump on point - Abergwyngregyn - and park in the small car park that leads to Aber falls. This is a pay and display car park, and can get very busy with people visiting Aber Falls
• Start walking at 7am, with the first mountain on the list - Llwytmor (The last time I tried to achieve this I had to change plans as the route was covered in ice from the spray from the rather impressive Aber waterfall)
• From Llwytmor - make my way over to Drum
• From Drum - make my way over to Pen y Castell
• Then a long walk to the final mountain Tal y Fan
• Then follow the North Wales path back to the car park at Aber

With the days being long at present - there is plenty of time to enjoy the views. With this walk in Wales, I am preparing for a wet weather day, especially after the rain in the last few days

Well of to pack my bag now - ready for tomorrow.

The Start of the Blog

There are many ways to enjoy walking, for some it is about following precise routes laid out in guide books, for others it is walking with a group and following a leader. For other people it is about wearing expensive clothes.

Myself, it is about enjoying the outdoors, in suitable clothing (you don't need to spend a fortune). Personally, I like to walk alone, it gives me time to think about life and put the world to rights. I also don't follow guides or routes, but look at a map and think - "I want to go there", and plan my route, not to the Nth degree but do the following:

• Start point
• Main objectives
• Rough route
• End point

People often ask me if I am scared or worried walking alone, and what about safety, i.e. what happens if anything happens. My answer to the above is I have been walking for many years in this country and the biggest dangers I have faced is from cows and dogs, it is not full of mad men out in the hills - and you actually meet some lovely people. In respect to what happens if anything happens, because I walk alone, I do not take risks, if I am not comfortable doing something then I change my route.

OK enough waffling on, what is this blog about, it is about telling and showing people some of the great walks and views that this country has to offer. It is not about given detailed routes (so you can make up your own route if you want to do a walk). It is about trying to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors, and enjoy the adventure.

Right onto the walking bit, I was going to go camping this weekend, but the Great British weather has made me reconsider, as there are weather warnings in Wales this week. So plans have changed, this week it is a day walk on Saturday, in an attempt to do four mountains.