343 September Walks from Trefriw

Our next walks will be from

"Trefriw - In the heart of the Conwy Valley"

A wonderful village on the foothills of Snowdonia

Saturday 14th September 2013

0800hrs prompt from the short stay car park at the back of Iceland 

Trefriw from the cob embankment

Trefriw (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈtrɛvrɨu]) is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the river Conwy in North Wales, a few miles south of the site of the Roman fort of Canovium, sited at Caerhun. At the 2001 census, the community had a population of 924.^[1]
Trefriw lies on the edge of Snowdonia, on the B5106 road to the north-west of Llanrwst, and about 4½ miles north of Betws-y-coed by road. It is located on the western slopes of the glaciated Conwy valley, below the ridge of Cefn Cyfarwydd, the village having been largely built in a semicircle at the point where the river Crafnant flows from its hanging valley to join the river Conwy. The river Crafnant still provides power for the woollen mill, and in the past provided power for a number of other industries based along its banks, such as a forge which provided quarry tools.
Most of the village lies within the Snowdonia National Park, the boundary running down the main street of the village.
Apart from its reputation as a good starting point for walks, Trefriw is today mostly known for its woollen mills, and for the nearby chalybeate spa, first known to have been used by the Romans and further developed in about 1700. Its waters were one of very few throughout Europe to have been classified as a medicine due to their high iron content..........continued here...

Back in Trefriw at the end of the walk 2008

There will be FOUR walks:

• A Walk led by: Tony McDonald
• B Walk led by: Gwyn Jones
• C Walk led by:Terry Simmons 

*NEW*

•  D Walk: Not Led. for those who might like to have a day out but find the A-C walks to hard. It is a flat walk about 3 miles. It is basically across to Llanwrst and back. A guide and a map will be provided on the day.

Steamboat Pier, pre 1939

A Walk from Trefriw

Walk Leader: Tony McDonald
Total Distance:11 miles app
Total Ascent/descent: 2600ft app

click map to enlarge

Route elevation profile (Y axis bigger than normal)

This area of Wales is very pretty with lush fields and lovely green valleys. It's so green because it has some of the highest rain fall in the UK. Our walk is circular starting in the centre of Trefriw and heading roughly due South. The walk is challenging and takes in two small lakes and a reservoir. After the first lake the route is westerly, passing the base of the second lake Llyn Grafnant. At this point the foot path routes north through a wooded hill side which is quite challenging. On the the slopes of Pen y Graig Gron and on the reservoir by the dam. There is a long feed pipe that is interesting, but spoils the view, heading is now north east! Then the route heads back into Trefriw with a view of the woods, with waterfalls and the mountains. There is a regular change of scenery from forest to mountain trails. The total distance is 11 miles maximum altitude is 498 metres. I would do it again and have already walked it once, and that in the pouring rain! Tony McDonald (walk leader)

B Walk from Trefriw

Walk Leader: Gwyn Jones
Total Distance: 8.5 miles app
Total Ascent/descent: 2060ft app

B Walk Route, click to enlarge

 It is very difficult to walk at Trefriw without doing some climbing. This walks starts with a climb up through the woods to Llyn Geirionydd. From here we drop slightly to go round the mountain shoulder to reach the second lake – Llyn Crafnant. 

 At some point we will take our lunch break with views over this lake. We then walk around the south east corner of the lake before we turn right to make our second climb up through the woods and down the other side to again reach our first lake.

 From here we make our way back down to Trefriw. Both climbs are fairly easy and any steep bits are short.

C Walk from Trefriw

Walk Leader: Terry Simmons
Total Distance: 6.5 miles app
Total Ascent/descent: 1500ft

Click on map to enlarge

THIS WALK COMMENCES FROM THE WOOLEN MILL IN TREFRIW AND THE FIRST HOUR IS A VERY PLEASANT STROLL ALONG A QUIET TARMAC LANE HEADING FOR LLYN [LAKE] CRAFNANT [GREAT VIEWS HERE] WE PASS LEFT OF THE LLANRWST MONUMENT, WE THEN PASS A CAFE ON THE RIGHT,[ JUST PAST HERE WALK ON THE LEFT OF THE ROAD AS THERE IS A STEEP HIDDEN DROP TO THE RIGHT].

AT A POST BOX WE IMMEDIATELY TURN LEFT INTO THE FOREST .THIS IS PROBABLY THE STEEPEST PART OF THE WALK AND IF TAKEN SLOWLY IS STILL VERY PLEASANT. HERE WE FOLLOW THE BLUE TOP POSTS. WHEN WE EXIT THE WOODS WE HEAD FOR THE 2ND LAKE LLYN GEIRIONYDD WHERE WE WILL STOP FOR OUR LUNCH, WE CONTINUE ALONG THE RIGHTHAND SIDE OF THE LAKE, ONCE OUT OF THE LAKE AREA WE WALK ALONGSIDE A FENCE AND HEAD OVER A COUPLE OF LADDER STILES AND THEN A VERY PLEASANT WALK ALONG A PRE-DETERMINED PATH FOR ABOUT AN HOUR REACHING OUR FINAL DESTINATION BACK IN TREFRIW, WHERE, IF THERE IS ENOUGH WATER WE CAN VIEW THE FAIRY FALLS PRIOR TO REACHING THE COACH

ESTIMATED TIME = START APPROX 11.00HRS BACK BY 15.30HRS APPROX

Photographs from the Elterwater walks 2013

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341 August walks from Elterwater

Our next walks will be from

ELTERWATER

a pretty village in the English Lake District

Saturday 10th August 2013

0800hrs prompt from the short stay car park at the back of Iceland 

 Our walk this month will be from the heart of the Lakes and is a favourite area for all keen walkers and climbers. The village is only small, but is probably most famous for the Britannia in which dominates the village green and always has customers at the outside tables enjoying the clear lakeland air and views. It is also where the Judy Boyes, an ex Formby artist, has her gallery.
More details and history of Elterwater can be viewed here 

There will be three walks:

• A Walk led by: Jenny Mathias
• B Walk led by: Beverley Kelly
• C Walk led by: John Smith

Click for Weather Forecast for Elterwater:- 

A walk from Elterwater

Walk Leader: Jenny Mathias
Total Distance: 8 miles
Total Ascent/descent: 2000ft app

A Route anticlockwise from flag

  This walk has lots of variety and is described as 'challenging' in the Country Walking magazine. We had a beautiful, hot day to do the reccie. You we see mountains, lakes, rivers, gills and eyesores! It is a very undulating walk with some narrow paths and screes to cross.

We will leave Elterwater and climb up on to Dow Bank before dropping down through a steep path in the trees towards Grasmere. A short road walk will take us to a path skirting Silver How back on to the ridge once more. As we cross the ridge the Langdale valley comes into view showing the scar of the quarry on the far side. We follow the contour of the fell, high above Chapel Stile crossing becks and waterfalls before a sharp descent brings us to the Great Langdale road. Following the road up the valley for a short distance we join a path that takes us behind Baysbrown then the road through the quarry until we find a path to to Langdale Beck which we then follow into Elterwater.  

B Walk from Elterwater

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly
Total Distance: 7.5 miles app
Total Ascent/descent: 1400ft app
 

B Walk Route anticlockwise

An easier walk this month after last months heat wave and completing most of the ascent before lunch!


Rather than racing up Ling moor we are meandering around Little Langdale taking in some real treasures.

Out of Elterwater we take the easier climb alongside Great Langdale Beck to Chapel Stile then to wards the working quarry which we pass through, pausing to take in the view of the Langdale pikes just beforehand.

As we exit the trees we view magnificent Wetherlam and Little Langdale valley. A difficult patch here due to excessive vegetation, as we hug the side of Lingmoor for ½mile, but the views are well worth it.
 
As we wonder round Little Langdale Tarn we find our lunch spot on a naturalised slate heap and watch the world go by. Nearby is one of Lakeland's little known wonders—Cathedral Cave which you just have to see to believe. We will visit the lower cavern.

We continue along pleasant path ways, past an occasional stone cottage and with great views, as we head towards Colwith Force which on the reccie was in full flow and very spectacular.

Now out of the trees again and to wards Skelwith Force which we can see just over the fancy new bridge over the River Brathay. Here we watched two youngsters shooting the rapids.

The remainder of the walk is on the flood plains alongside the Brathay, which is so peaceful and an icon of Lakeland as is the Britannia Inn which will provide our refreshments and finishing line.

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C Walk from Elterwater

Walk Leader: John Smith
Total Distance:  6 miles app
Total ascent/descent: 1000ft

C Walk Route

This is mainly a low-level walk taken from the Pathfinder Guide to the Lake District, no.7. It does have just a few modest climbs which we will take slowly and where necessary stop for a rest, but remember this is a C walk and we are not in any hurry. We will pass through a pleasant landscape of fields, woods and, in the second half two waterfalls – Colwith Force and Skelwith Force. We will aim to lunch at the latter before walking back to Elterwater beside the river Brathay at the same time enjoying the classic Lake District view across Elter Water of the distinctive outline of the Langdale Pikes. The length of this walk is 6 miles.

The Britannia pub at Elterwater is expecting us for coffee but offers nothing to eat and there is nowhere else – so bring your own snack.

The coach will probably park some 400 yards from the Britannia and toilets.