Thursday 26 February 2026 - A Walk to Glyn Ceiriog

We set off across the field on a rainy morning.

A short walk along the old tramway brings us to a quiet road after 3km, and to the community café in Glyn Ceiriog after a further 1.5km. We went there and back on a drizzly day. The café was most hospitable. We spent over an hour there, with drinks and excellent food and chocolate cake. 

Beside the tramway is its raison d'être, the remains of an old quarry.

The path is littered with 'stuff'.

A rotted path marker

Huge amounts of moss

Scarlet Elf Cup (and below)

Catkins

Bracket fungi

Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage

Oakmoss

Hairy Curtain Crust

Heath Waxcap

Old buildings connected with the quarry

The track led us to the hamlet of Pandy.

We met the owner of this house in the café. It was flooded up to window level in storms a few years ago and has required a lot of refurbishment.

On arrival at the small town of Glyn Ceiriog, we soon found the welcoming community café.

Then we returned the same way, with a little excursion beside the frothy river.

Here's the 9km route.

Later - martiflette and salad, with yogurt for Rufus.

There had been time for a little colouring, as well as Rummikub.

Wednesday 25 February 2026 - A Circuit from Llanarmon

We chose a clockwise circuit from The Hand, from one of the books in Pen y Bont's library.

A five minute drive from Pen y Bont saw us back in Llanarmon, from where we headed up the minor road to Pentre.

Sue captured the fresh blossom of a roadside shrub.

On reaching the end of the road at Swch-cae-rhiw, a sign represents an attempt by locals to exclude trial bikes and 4x4 vehicles from the hill tracks. This  is mainly a weekend problem. We saw nobody today. It's a shame that an alternative walking route through fields has been blocked off by the local farmers.

Up at the farm, a collection of US forces vehicles - not in particularly good condition. 

We enjoyed good views back along the Ceiriog valley in the fine weather, before a persistent drizzle assumed command. 

Elevenses in the sunshine with striking views.

Sue and Paul went off with Rufus to explore some waterfalls.

Meanwhile, Jeanette and I viewed the waterfalls from afar.

Our gently rising track levelled out on a plateau and became a pleasant grassy path.

We arrived at the meeting point with the waterfall route a good half hour before Paul, Sue and Rufus came stumbling towards us across a couple of small streams.

Eventually we had met up again!

A good track led into the forest.

A beast of a caterpillar tractor was passed at the edge of the forest.

We left the good track and soon had lunch in the rain, with music provided by a Mistle Thrush.

After that a good path led past boundary stones, with intermittent views through the mirk.

After a while we reached a familiar track near Bryn Du, from where we descended easily to Llanarmon.

Sue spotted some Fool's Liquorice on the way down.

Today's stats - 14km with 380 metres ascent, taking 5 hours, including a half hour wait for the waterfall contingent. Here's the route.