Barmouth walking festival day 5

Wednesday.
Weather improved slightly. Little rain but wind forecast to be gales force as tail end of storm Helene passed through. Choose 9.5 mile A grade walk 'Tarren, Pant Perthog Forestry to Rhyd Yr Onnen' lead by Peter Rutherford - Access officer for Snowdonia National Park.

We drove 20 miles south to the village of Bryncrug, parked cars, transferred to minibuses and drove 12 miles east to just north of Machynlleth.

In view of the strong winds our leader decided to keep us off the tops of ridges, instead choosing a more low lying route westward. Ascended then entered forest on Foel Gôch. From here the sound of racing engines could be heard getting gradually louder as we walked down a forest track. We eventually encountered a Marshall for the Citroen team who were practicing for the next stage of world rally championship.

Then followed Wales coast path through more forest then farm land to village of Cwrt. After a short section on A493 we turned right / south west onto an unclassified road which we followed for a mile of steady ascent. At Pant-yr-on turned right / due west onto an old road used as a public path. This continued upwards to Bryn Dinas. On the way Peter stopped and explained that this, like many roads in British Isles, had been built after WWI when there was a push to increase agricultural production. It was probably on route of an old drover road. Such roads have never been declassified and, while clearly too rough for cars, are often used by Land Rovers etc. Including visitors from Netherlands, Germany and so on. He explained he had had some success persuading the off roaders to drive materials up the track and effect repairs.

Track continued down Nant Braich-yr-rhiw eventually becoming a tarmaced unclassified road. Half aile further it crossed the Tal-y-llyn narrow gauge railway at Rhyd-yr-onen. Walk finished 3/4 further on.

Heavy rain forecast for all of tomorrow so I shall have a rest day to do laundry and read about Barmouth history in the library.

11.2 miles / 2000 feet of ascent completed at end of day of walking. Weather light rain showers at first, dry for remainder of day. Strong winds all day.Read more