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Barmouth Walking Festival 2018
  • RickSails

Barmouth Walking Festival 2018

A 7-day adventure by RickSails Read more
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    September 15, 2018
    RickSailsBarmouth Walking Festival 2018Traveler
    Maentwrog dam on Trawsfynydd reservoir
    Waterfall on Afon PrysorZip wire from Afon Prysor waterfallZip wire grom waterfall on Afon PeysorIvy bridge ovwr Afon Peysor

    Barmouth walking festival day 1

    September 15, 2018 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Saturday.
    Met walking festival at Dragon Theatre because storm Helene from the Atlantic had curtailed my walk through Wales on the Cambrian Way. Discovered festival comprised 4 walks per day for 10 days. This is its 15th year. Well organised with registration forms, disclaimers, safety briefing, complimentary tea and coffee. Option to buy breakfast rolls, and for lunch - fruit, tiffen, oat cakes, water, also hiking equipment to replace forgotton or failed equipment.

    After allocating me to a car we drove to Trawsfynydd reservoir to walk 6 miles around hills to its west. Made lots of friends both local and visitors, many from Midlands and a large party from Yorkshire organised by philanthropic 23 year old Chloe who set up a walking page initially for friends and has taken 300 people on walks.

    After walk we drank in the Last Inn back in Barmouth. I was told it is named after a cobblers Last rather than because it is the final pub before leaving the south end of town. In here I met a chap you had worked in the Old Pheasant Inn, New Street, Worcester in the 1980s, where I had lived 1959 - 1967 - small world.

    Suppered a short distance along the High Street at Saffron Indian restaurant. Food was so - so, somewhat lacking in flavour.

    Photographs are from walk    Read more

  • RickSailsBarmouth Walking Festival 2018Traveler

    Barmouth walking festival day 2

    September 16, 2018 in Wales

    Sunday
    2nd day of festival. More rain and strong winds forecast for today. I joined the shortest walk which was a history tour of Barmouth - 6 miles. First stop the lifeboat station containing two RIBs and a large GRP lifeboat.

    Various other sites visited included old jail, site of National Trust's first property, Maganese mine workings, Iron age fort and an Ancient church.

    Ate Meza in Café run by a Turk at end of promenade near campsite. Friendly welcome and good food. Then Cider in Min-y-Mor pub slightly further from campsite.    Read more

  • RickSailsBarmouth Walking Festival 2018Traveler

    Barmouth walking festival day 3

    September 17, 2018 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Monday.
    Another poor weather day. Low cloud so I choose a walk to stay out of them. The falls of Ffestiniog - Ceunant, Cynfal and Afon Teigi - 5.26 miles. Met some people from last two days walks as well as more new friends.

    Ate Pizza in Café run by a Turk at end of promenade near campsite. Friendly welcome and good food. Then Cider in Min-y-Mor pub slightly further from campsite.    Read more

  • RickSailsBarmouth Walking Festival 2018Traveler
    Splendid array of mushrooms passed on the route

    Barmouth walking festival day 4

    September 18, 2018 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Tuesday
    More rain forecast and gale force winds so again felt it best to choose a route to keep off the highest mountains. Pity because the two highest routes went through areas I would like to have seen as they are next on my Cambrian Way walk. Organisers felt the same and replaced the two high level walks with one at lower level. Parked 8 miles east of Barmouth near Llanelltyd. Walked north towards Rhinogs and Craig-y-Cae, west through forest, south through Cwm Mynach then East along a splendid old tram track at high level with speldid views over the estuary, edged with old pieces of rail - new precipice walk before returning to cars.

    For the evening the Barmouth walking festival had organised a social event of a curry at Min-y-Mor pub.    Read more

  • RickSailsBarmouth Walking Festival 2018Traveler

    Barmouth walking festival day 5

    September 19, 2018 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    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

  • RickSailsBarmouth Walking Festival 2018Traveler
    Slate quarry incline winding drum with fellow ramblers
    Slate quarry incline tracksView of Aberdovey estuary from TarrenhendreNant Gwernol waterfall

    Barmouth walking festival day 7

    September 21, 2018 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Friday
    Spent first part of yesterday (Thursday) morning helping Barmouth walking festival organisers set up dining room in Dragon Theatre for the evening social, then studied books on Barmouth history in the library, followed by laundry. As forecast, it rained heavily all day so taking a day off turned out to be a good choice.

    Forecast for today was improved with a little rain, some sun but storm force winds. I signed up for 'The summit of Diffwys from Bontddu'. As I suspected, on the morning it was felt (quite rightly in my view) to be too windy for Diffwys - a mountain north east of Barmouth. Instead we drove south to park at Abergwnolwyn station on Talyllan narrow gauge railway.

    Walk took us south east up Nant Gwernol valley passed old slate mine workings including a steep incline complete with tracks and winding drum. Stream side path gave way to forest, then up very steep path to a saddle. Out of shelter of valley and forest we were hit here by full force of 35-45 mph wind. The next 600 foot ascent up Tarrenhendre alongside fence was challenging with the strong wind battering us on our right side.

    Once over the top, in the lee of Tarrenhendre, wind abated significantly. We turned left / east, desended 450 feet to Pant Gwyn ridge, continuing into forest on Foel y Geifr where we stopped for lunch. Turned left / north west up 450 feet alongside another fence and battering by full force of the wind to a 666 metre trig point. Left / west back down to Nant Gwernol valley passing dramatic waterfalls on the way back to Abergwnolwyn station.

    This will be my final day of Cambrian Way blog this year. Weather is still too poor for the four days I need for next section across the Rhinogs to Ffestiniog. I return home tomorrow (Saturday) as am committed elsewhere all of next week. Autumn equinox has passed, so days are now too short for wild camping, even if weather improves the folllowing week as forecast. Oh well, until next year.

    11.5 miles completed at end on seventh day of festival. Weather strong wind all day, rain showers at first gradually clearing to sunshine late afternoon.    Read more

    Trip end
    September 21, 2018
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