September Walk from Bala

Bala - the Friendly Little Welsh Town with a Big Heart!!

Our Walk this month will be from Bala in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales

on

Saturday 12th September

The coach will leave the car park at the back of Iceland at 8.00am. Visitors are welcome to join us by contacting a member or Holy Trinity Church Office (878913).

There will be two walks;

B walk led by Gwyn

C Walk led by Terry

Bala & Penllyn is situated in the Snowdonia National Park, Wales, in an area known as the Welsh Lake District. The area has dramatic scenery with mountains almost touching 3,000 ft high, deep valleys, fast flowing streams, rivers, waterfalls, forests and many lakes. Visitors can enjoy the Bala & Penllyn area or use it as an excellent base to explore both Mid-Wales and North-Wales including Snowdonia.

Bala is a small, historic, market town that provides all the essential services for visitors including: banks, a post office, supermarkets and shops selling local produce including two traditional butchers and delis with Welsh and international products. Both butchers have won many awards and Siop Y Gornel (the Corner Shop - bakery, deli and more) has had several complementary national reviews. There are of course cafes, restaurants, pubs and Inns, catering for a range of tastes, either in Bala or nearby.

Penllyn is the area around Bala with many small villages each with their own character and history. Officially, Penllyn comprises Bala and the villages of Llanuwchllyn, Llanycil, Llandderfel and Llangower. But there are many other villages and hamlets in the area, including Llanfor, Cefnddwysarn, Sarnau, Glanrafon, Llangwm, Cynwyn, Llandrillo, Corwen, Frongoch, Rhyduchaf and Parc. Penllyn is a mountainous, rural area with strong traditions based on the Welsh language and culture.

Bala Lake and the Aran ridge from Llanycil

The Welsh Lake District has many lakes and tarns - the main lakes include Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid), Lake Vyrnwy (Llyn Efyrnwy), Llyn Celyn and Llyn Brenig. The fast-flowing rivers Tryweryn and Dee provide opportunities for fishing, canoeing and rafting. To the east of Bala Lake is the Penllyn Forest with opportunities for walkers and mountain bikers to explore. The mountains rival those of other parts of Snowdonia but are not as crowded, enabling walkers to enjoy the mountain experience. The main mountain ranges are the Aran, Arenig and Berwyn mountain ranges, while Cader Idris and the Rhinogs (Rhinogydd) are not far away. For the motorist or “hard-core” cyclists there are several quieter roads over mountain passes, over 1,000 ft high, including Bwlch Groes (1,800ft/545m) once used to test cars.

For more information, click here; 'visit Bala'

Weather forecast for Bala

B Walk (Bala) to the hills

Walk Leader: Gwyn Jones

Distance: 9 Miles approx

Total ascent/descent:1250ft

Although approx. 9 miles this is not a difficult walk. All the climbing is done in the morning.

From the car park we walk along the river bank towards the lake head. From here (@ 162 mtrs) we commence to climb up through the woods and then across open ground – gradually making our way to the top of Bryn-bedwog @ 478 mtrs – the total ascent is just over 300 mtrs. We then make our way down and back to Bala. There are splendid views across the lake and these are with us most of the time.

C Walk (Bala)

Walk Leader: Terry Simmons
Distance: approx 6 Miles
Total Ascent/descent: 490 ft

Click on map to enlarge.

DEPART FROM THE SCHOOL HOUSE CAFE AT APPROX 11.15AM

We cross over the Car Park and then follow the course of the River Dee down to the lake and continue to follow the edge of the lake at the NW corner, then walk along the path between the lake on your left and the A494 on your right.
200 yds past the picnic site at Llanycill we cross the road and proceed up the fim track over a cattle grid. We travel through woodland over stiles to Penlan Farm where we take a track past the farm buildings. On the other side of the farm we follow a Moorland Track. Our next objective is the farm called Hendre Ddhu, crossing a meadow to reach a firm track that takes us up to the farm.
The next and most interesting objective are the caves at Craig-y-Fron overlooking the town. We can then descend down to the High St past the Bala Town FC on the right. We can break off at this point and shop or find a tea shop or Pub.

IMPORTANT: Because of all the rain that has fallen, the walk in parts is wet and boggy, and care must be taken, especially along the moorland path and beyond.

If you have gaiters, then bring them!

Photos taken on the walks at Bakewell

We had a great day for our walks - warm and sunny, enabling us to have some great views and relaxed walking and to enjoy the last hour in and around the delightful town of Bakewell, taking 'photos' and visiting the numerous places of refreshment.