Thursday September 10th, 2026. Penmachno. Nia led 14 ramblers on a circuit from Penmachno village, an area rarely visited by the Club. The forecast was not good, but the morning remained bright and dry with rain setting in only about lunch time.

The walk started from the church on the western side of the village, taking a road and field paths south-west through the pretty valley of Afon Glasgwm, a tributary of the Machno. The route crossed the river and passed Plas Glasgwm, one of several substantial houses and farms in the area, many taken over by the Penrhyn Estate in the mid-19C. At Blaen Glasgwm the route entered an extensive area of woodland and coniferous trees forming part of the Gwydir Forest Park.

A steady climb led to a network of forest tracks at about 1000ft elevation curving round the slopes on the south and east of Moel Pen y Bryn. These are used for some 30km of the Penmachno Mountain Bike Trails, overseen by Natural Resource Wales and managed and maintained by a local volunteer group (Menter Bro Machno).

After lunch, the party gradually descended a long straight track north-east, part of the Slate Trail, with open views down to the Afon Machno and the peak of Pen y Bedw looming across the valley. The approach back to Penmachno across words)lowland fields passed Hafod Dwyryd, a fine house of 17C origin.

Back at the village, across the Pont Llan, there was a chance to visit the St Tudclud, a Victorian building, but the third church on the site since at least the 12C. Its main interest now lies in an important collection of early Christian stones with Latin inscriptions dating from the 5-6th Century which suggest that Roman political and cultural structures lingered here well beyond departure of the legions. Another stone is thought to be from the grave of Iorwerth Drwyndwn, the father of Llywelyn Fawr.

Despite the damp, this was a pleasant and interesting walk in a lesser known area, covering about 5.5 miles and 1000ft of ascent in 4 hours. Noel Davey.

Thursday August 27th ,2026. Slopes of Yr Eifl. Just half a dozen walkers led by Michael and Debby gathered 900ft up at Mount Pleasant above the village of Llithfaen, most others being deterred by the promise of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Given the wet conditions, it was decided to confine the walk to the shorter ‘D’ option on the lower slopes of Yr Eifl rather than tackle the peak of Tre’r Ceiri, the original objective.

At first conditions were indeed wet, but fortunately the rain soon abated and eventually stopped, leaving cloudy conditions but quite good visibility and some dramatic views of the landscape as mist swirled around.

The main focus of the walk was the wonderful tapestry of purple heather and yellow gorse adorning the open mountain slopes at this time of year. The party learnt from Michael (a landscape specialist by profession) that this comprised mainly the short growing Western Gorse or Furze, while the heather comprised a subtle mix of the vibrant Bell Heather and the lighter purple Common Heather, depending on micro conditions of aspect and soil.

The route first took a track south-east along the ‘Wal Fawr’, pausing at a viewpoint where a granite structure has been erected identifying the panorama visible peaks and prominent outcrops. Near Caergrbin, a path led north through the heather broadly following the 1000ft contour round the southern slope of the main peak of Yr Eifl which remained in full view. This eventually converged with the main track coming up from Trefor.

The track was followed up north for a while to the col at about 1650ft where there is a (presently locked) gate giving access to the top of Garn For, the third of the trio of Eifl peaks, which has been largely hewn away by granite quarry workings.

Lunch was taken here in misty damp conditions. The return route back down the track to the Mount Pleasant carpark brought back better visibility and a stunning spectacle of the distant hills of Llyn seen through mist eddying up from the deep cleft of Nant Gwrtheyrn far below. The alarming corkscrew road and new footpath leading down to the National Welsh Language Centre came clearly into view.

This outing of just 3-4 miles over 2-3 hours proved more rewarding than the forecast conditions suggested. Noel Davey.

Sunday August 23rd , 2026. Capel Curig-Llyn Crafnant-Llyn Cowlyd. A glorious summer’s day – dry, warm but not hot, with a light breeze and good visibility – was ideal for this foray into the hilly lake country north of Capel Curig.

After some difficulty finding parking places at the popular walking centre, a group of 13 ramblers led by Eryl took the path east, then north to Llyn Crafnant. This has recently been much improved with stone paving and gravel compared with its previous often muddy state. The route climbed steadily past Crimpiau into the Cwm Glas Crafnant National Nature Reserve. There was a coffee stop at a vantage point at 1000ft elevation with a grand view of the lake nestling 500ft below in a narrow valley clothed in dark green conifers.

A good track led along the western shore; while quite popular with walkers and cyclists, the lake was tranquil and free of the noise of watercraft infesting the nearby Llyn Geirionydd. At the north of the lake, a road and then a bracken infested footpath ascended steadily, opening up wonderful views across the hills to the Conway Valley, the Denbighshire Moors and the windfarms off the Llandudno shore. Nearer to hand were the impressive ruins of the ‘Klondyke’ mill which crushed lead and zinc ore for just a few years at the beginning of the 20C and after closing was the scene of a scam built on false rumours of huge local silver deposits.

The path next led across open heather moorland, reaching 1650ft, where a late lunch was enjoyed looking down to the dam at the northern end of Llyn Cowlyd. This long, narrow and sombre lake, reportedly the deepest in Wales, is hedged between the crags of Pen Llithrig y Wrach and Creigiau Gleision. It was built originally as a reservoir, but later used to generate hydro power for the aluminium works at Dolgarrog and now, following their closure, feeds into the National Grid, at least when water levels are high enough.

After crossing the dam, the route led 2 miles along the western shore, heading into the late afternoon sun. At the end there was a final short ascent followed by a last leg down across open grassland to reach the A5 and a short step back to Capel Curig.

This was a long but most worthwhile day covering 12-13 miles over 8.5 hours on mostly easy paths through a fine and varied landscape. Noel Davey.

Thursday August 13th, 2026. Inigo Jones-Penygroes. A group of 11 ramblers, led by Kath Spencer, met at the Inigo Jones Slateworks near Groeslon for a circular walk on another warm and dry sunny day. The Slateworks was opened in 1861 to make school writing slates, but evolved into today’s popular attraction, selling domestic and craft slate products.

The walkers set out north along Lôn Eifion, one of a number of paved multipurpose amenity routes – the Lonydd Glas – which now benefit the county following the controversial 1960s rail closures. This section runs through woodland giving some welcome shade. At the old station of Groeslon the route crossed to the eastern side of the A487 bypass to the south of the main town, turning south across the characteristic landscape of cottages and small walled fields connected by narrow iron gates developed by the workers of the nearby slate quarries in the 18th and 19th centuries. There were some lovely views looking north towards Dinas Dinlle, Llanddwyn Island and Newborough Forest.

Further on the westerly Clynnog Hills and Yr Eifl were prominent. Some of the paths were overgrown or otherwise impassable, requiring a stretch along the quite busy old road between Groeslon and Penygroes. Paths then cut to the east of Penygroes, skirting the large Machpalah cemetery and leading through reached the vineyard and popular café at Pant Du.

The walkers enjoyed a leisurely picnic lunch here in the dappled shade of an apple orchard grown for cider making with a fine vista to the south across the valley to Graig Goch and the Nantlle ridge.

The afternoon leg skirted the southern side of Penygroes and regained the Lôn Eifion, making light work of the 2 miles back to Inigo Jones, much of it hugging the eastern wall and woodland belt of the Glynllifon Estate.

Icecreams at the café were a final treat after an easy and enjoyable walk on an intricate route of some 6 miles over 4 hours. Noel Davey.

Sunday August 9th, 2026 Mawddach-Llyn Gwernan. An alternative walk from Dolgellau was substituted today in place of the programmed one at Sychnant where the recent devastating wild fires had closed the footpaths. Hugh led a party of 10 on a fine, dry and sunny day with light winds.

The walk headed out from the Marian Cefn carpark directly onto the Mawddach Trail leading westwards along the broad estuary towards Barmouth. This is a popular multi-use track, today very busy with cyclists and walkers, and now apparently also a section of the east-west Cross-Britain Way – a good stretch for a chat.

There was a stop for morning coffee at Penmaenpool close to the wooden toll bridge built in 1879 and the George III pub. A memorial here records the 1967 ferry disaster when 15 lost their lives. An old signal box, under restoration, and a splendid signal were reminders of the route’s heritage as the former Barmouth-Dolgellau rail branchline closed 60 years ago.

After about 3 miles the route turned up into the pretty Abergwynant woods, where the National Park is restoring native broadleaved trees to replace conifers. A short detour was taken to a vantage point providing a superb view down the estuary to the rail bridge at Barmouth. A pleasant woodland path continued south-east, passing the impressive remains of a limekiln.

There was then a steady ascent of about 600ft on a narrow lane through the woods alongside the tumbling Afon Gwynant. Mossy walls above the river provided a good spot for lunch. At the Kings Youth Hostel a pleasant ‘green lane’ turned off, climbing steeply past Hafod Dywyll into more open countryside of small walled fields. There were fine views of the long and massive Cader ridge above, to the west the jagged peaks of Pared y Cefn Hir near Llynnau Cregennan and across the estuary to the Rhinogydd range.

Back down at Ty Nant, where the Pony Path climbs Cadair Idris, the route turned onto a country lane, part of the ancient Ffordd Du trackway. This passed the well known former hotel beside the fishing lake at Llyn Gwernan. Open upland field paths then cut east, giving more lovely views of the mountains. Eventually the path descended steeply under venerable trees looking down onto the narrow streets and fine grey stone buildings of Dolgellau.

Love Lane finally brought the party back to the start point at the Marian playing field after a most enjoyable walk of some 10.5 miles and an ascent of 1500ft over about 5 hours. Noel Davey.