WalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWay

Thursday: Both my knees ached overnight. Enough to make it painful to roll over in my sleeping bag. They were still painful this morning. Weather was blustery with grey clouds intermittently racing past. Forecast for next few days was mixed. The contents of my rucsac were dry (I had it lined with a heavy gauge poly bag) my Jacket, waterproof trousers, trousers, socks and boots were wet. Low cloud yesterday had prevented me enjoying the views as I walked over Maesglase - views from mountains were one of the reasons I wanted to walk through Wales. The next section was over Cader Idris, a mountain I have not walked before and particularly wanted to be able to see to appreciate it. For all these reasons, but particularly because my knees did not feel like they could take another hard day of walking, I decided to return home. Decision was made easier because I discovered I was on two bus routes. No need to 'book a bus' as I had needed to a couple of days ago.

As I struck camp I was buzzed by military aircraft flying low. It seems the area is known by pilots as ‘The Mach loop’ where they practice low flying between the hills.

After leaving the campsite I walked to the main A487 to locate the bus stop, without success. Then, tempted by a roadside sandwich board for a Tea Room that promised free WiFi, I reconnoitred the Minffordd path up to Cadair Idris. After walking through a large pay and display car park I arrived at a small building which turned out to be a toilet block. Where was the Tea Room? I had almost given up finding it when I discovered it 200 yards further along the Minffordd path surrounded by trees. There were no signs to indicate it was so far from the road. I imagine a number of potential customers are lost because they are expecting it to be on the edge of the car park.

Tŷ Te Cadair Tea Room opened at 10:00, a few minutes after I arrived. I ordered breakfast, charged my device but was not able to make a WiFi connection. Apparently it often fails to connect in the morning. Staff thought the bus stop was a layby on the ‘wrong’/north east side of the road - I wanted to travel south west. There were two more very loud low fly pasts by military aircraft while I was in the Tea Room.

After breakfast I walked back to the Minffordd Hotel and asked if they could clarify the bus stop location. They assured me it was on the ‘right’ side of the road. I had to stand by the Dolgellau/Machynlleth road sign, and put my hand out when the bus appeared. This worked successfully a few minutes later. Two further buses took me the rest of the way home on the now familiar route, changing at Machynlleth and Newtown.

In Machynlleth I discovered the parliament building used by Owain Glyndwr in 1406 when Wales was a country. It seems his parliament had support from France and Scotland. It was overthrown a few years later when the King of England invaded.

In Newtown I visited the WH Smith and The Robert Owen museums. Robert Owen was a leading social reformer of the 18th century.

I shall return when the weather is better. A number of people have said they would like to join me. I would welcome the company. Most do not have the light weight rucsac, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and pillow that I bought for this trip. But some sections could be done from a car, using a bus to travel to or from the start or end point. This negates the need to carry lightweight camping equipment. I plan to start and end the Snowdon section from the same campsite (Cae Du), using the S4 bus to return.

Apologies to those following me if you have had lots of emails. I have been reviewing the whole blog. All photographs now have captions and are sorted in the geographic order that I visited them. I have also improved some of wording. I hope it is of interest.Read more