Wednesday 25 August 2021 - Capel Curig, Crimpiau, Crafnant and Geirionydd

Lovely weather today for a walk that started with a 5km circuit of Capel Curig.

By the time we got to Clogwyn Mawr, we would have enjoyed wide ranging views over Snowdonia had many of the summits not been engulfed in cloud.

However, nearby Moel Siabod was free of the cloud.

We ascended steadily past banks of heather to the head of the valley to the east of Crimpiau, a 475 metre summit.

We enjoyed a dogleg from our planned route, to visit the summit of Crimpiau, from where we gained our first sight of Llyn Crafnant.

There were also views to the 3000ft summits of Snowdonia, with Tryfan distinctive in the foreground. 

Back at the pass, lots of backpackers on some sort of training course were passing through. We descended, with improving views to Llyn Crafnant. 

 

From a convenient bench on the good lakeside path, we gazed up at the summit we'd been sitting on a little earlier. 

At the head of the lake is a monument to the landowner who donated it together with 19 acres of his precious land.

We took a while to navigate our way along Trefriw Trail paths, overgrown with bracken, reaching Llyn Geirionydd at a monument to the bard, Taliesin - some of whose Welsh poems survive from the 6th century. 

The lake is used for water sports that were much in evidence today on the eastern side of the lake. We enjoyed a quiet path on the other side.

The next few km were along forestry tracks more suited to mountain biking, the highlight being pretty Llyn Bychan. 

Eventually we turned down a delightful woodland path and enjoyed afternoon tea at a pretty bridge over Afon Abraham.

Now on the excellent paths of the Snowdonia Slate Trail, we rose steadily before exiting the forest for the last time. The Snowdonian summits were now clear of cloud, if a little hazy.

We made our way back to Capel Curig along fine paths, to conclude a 22km walk, with about 900 metres ascent. It took us about 7 hours. The route is shown below in dark blue - click on the image for a better version.

Tuesday 24 August 2021 - The New Precipice Walk

We visited the Precipice Walk earlier this year. The 'New Precipice Walk' is nearby and a walk that incorporated it was today's choice.

After parking in the Cymer Abbey car park near Llanelltyd, we strolled through the village and up some steps that led quickly into a dense forest, pictured above.

Soon we reached the pretty waters of Llyn Tan-y-graig, a reservoir that used to supply drinking water to Llanelltyd. 

Beyond this, the path rose again, leaving the forest near some ruined buildings. 

We were then on the New Precipice Walk, which turns out to be a few hundred metres of a disused tramway that used to service the Voel gold mine - one of many such mines in this area, the last of which closed in 1998.

The views from the contouring tramway are superb.

After pausing for elevenses and collecting some tasty looking puffballs, we continued a little way before climbing steeply through a mixture of Ling and Bell Heather to reach the 328 metre summit of Foel Ispri, below which Sue posed at a trig point.

The walk continued through fine countryside with a break for lunch and hardly anyone around until we chatted at length with a resident at Cesailgwm-mawr.  We mused in disbelief regarding reports of queues of 45 minutes to reach the summit of Snowdon!

After a while another delightful forest path led through the RSPB reserve of Coed Garth Gell, a rare area of Celtic Rainforest. 

Then we enjoyed an episode whereby we were befriended by a lovely young dog with huge ears, Bindra. 

We finally escaped her attentions and took a wrong turn in the forest, passing a mine entrance that looked enticing.

However, we decided to keep our feet dry, fought our way up a steep gully to join our outward route where it left the forest, and descended back to Llyn Tan-y-graig, now bathed in sunshine.

Some of the trees are now laden with berries, and we admired a selection of 'relics'.

We were back at the car before 4pm, after taking over five hours to walk 14 km with about 600 metres ascent. Our route is shown in the picture below, the start and finish being at the car park in the right hand bottom corner.

Monday 23 August 2021 - Portmeirion

An early start (thanks Isabella, the insomniac child) found us wandering gently around South Snowdon Wharf on a lovely cloudless morning.

Then we visited the Italianate excesses of Portmeirion.

 

Burgers and ice creams just about satisfied our appetites.

Then Mike, Sarah and Isabella had to return home for Mike to honour a work commitment. 

Sue and I enjoyed a 6km stroll to Tremadog, and back through lovely woodland, via Tesco's to source some feta cheese for a Greek salad.

Near home, Cnicht had lost its halo of cloud. We'll get up there again, one day soon.

It was a lovely evening. I'll finish with a couple of pictures taken from/on our deck.

Who needs to go to Italy!

Sunday 22 August 2021 - Isabella Loves Porthmadog

We enjoyed a leisurely day here in Porthmadog. Isabella does seem to like it here.

Baa baa black sheep - rock version!