Tuesday 11 July 2023 - Machynlleth and Llyn Glanmerin

Our plan to complete walk 30 (14km) in Alex Kendall's Cicerone guide was revised during the downpour that accompanied us on the 40 mile drive from Porthmadog to Machynlleth, a place that I recall passing through as a child in our Austin A40 Somerset MJW 770. That took a long time as the car was broken down. 

In the event, today, once at our destination the rain stopped for the day. However, we stuck to our decision, strolled down the high street (pictured above), and visited MOMA, the museum of modern art.

By 'modern' standards, the art seemed to me more like 'Post Modern'! The pictures were mainly from an annual competition, this year's theme being 'secrets'. Here are some samples.

After coffees in the café situated in the former chapel that is now occupied by the museum/gallery (which incorporates a Laura Ashley exhibition), we set off on paths to the south of the town, skirmishing with the route for Glyndwr's Way and rising above Bryn-glas for good views over the town.

A little further on, a short dogleg took us to Llyn Glanmerin, where we enjoyed our picnic lunch whilst watching swallows and their relatives, and dragonflies, hoovering up insects from just above the surface of the pretty lake. Red kites soared high above, and a military aircraft passed by just a little higher than the kites.

Returning to a crossroads of paths, we simply headed down to the north, along a manicured path lined by tall bracken. In a section of woodland, the recent damp weather could be seen to have brought a miscellany of fungi to the surface, including this 'Blusher' specimen. 

Back at the car park, gadgets were zeroed and a screenshot was taken. We had been walking for a couple of hours and had covered 6.8km, and ascended a good 200 metres.

Back at base in Porthmadog by mid afternoon, gave Sue plenty of time to paddle around the harbour.