Cwm Bychan & Aberglaslyn 9-11-13

This was a short walk we did while having a relaxing weekend away at a lovely little hideaway in the Croesor Valley, just south of Beddgelert in the heart of Snowdonia. We have stayed at this place before and it has become a firm favourite of ours to forget about all what's out there in the real world and just lose ourselves in the natural rugged beauty of this area. Saturday morning's weather started with a small amount of mist as the sun tried to burn of any low cloud and made for a good feel for the day.

The sun getting to work on any low cloud

Full Autumn colours around the cottage

Here comes the sun

After a hearty breakfast and a lazy morning we drove a couple of miles towards Nantmor where we parked at the NT car park about 11.15am and headed off along the path that took us up the valley following one of the many streams where we came across a rather large seat that seems to be a memorial for someone who passed way in 2008. A fine view form here and I guess it was the persons favourite view.

Our route for the day

Off we go then

Out of the car park and under the railway bridge

Easy to follow path

The views start to open up as you gain height

Resting on the memorial bench

View all the way down to the coast at Porthmadog

After a rest and a chat to a Snowdonia Ranger it was onwards and upwards towards the old pylons, which are the remains of the ariel ropeway built in 1927 to carry ore from the upper end of Cwm Bychan down the valley where we started. The path here remains easy to follow and we had a good look at these old relics of time gone by before we veered off to the left where we climbed up to get some great views high above the Cae Ddu campsite at Beddgelert

Old Ropeway Plylons

View down to Cae Ddu Campsite and the Sygun Copper Mine

View over to Yr Aran & Y Lliwedd

From here it was up through a pass that took us to the old Llwyndu/Crib Ddu Copper Mine before dropping steeply down to Llyn Dinas

The pass goes up through the rocky outcrop

Great views all the way back towards Porthmadog

On the way up with Moel Hebog in the background

Llwyndu/Crib Ddu Copper mine abandoned in 1844

Our way down with a view of Y Lliwedd and a distant Moel Siabod

Snowdon under a moody sky with a bit of snow on Garnedd Ugain

On the easy to follow descent path

View down to Llyn Dinas

We got to Llyn Dinas where we had a rest taking in the tranquility of it before making our way into Beddgelert along the Afon Glaslyn and passing the Sygun Copper Mine below Bwlch y Sygun where we were looking down from a bit earlier in the day.

Llyn Dinas

Love by the lake :-)

Llyn Dinas

Afon Glaslyn from Llyn Dinas

Moel Hebog looms large over Beddgelert

Sygun Copper Mines below Bwlch y Sygun

Clouds rolling in

Although some clouds were rolling in from the Snowdon range it remained dry and quite warm as we made our down the Aberglaslyn Pass and back to the car. The Aberglaslyn pass is a good walk on it's own but when joined together with the Cwm Bychan as well, it makes it a good five and half mile round trip and at a gentle pace makes for a pleasant few hours in this great area with some mighty fine views

The start of the Aberglaslyn Pass

Easy going along the well paved path

Getting at bit more rocky

Looking back along the pass

Afon Glaslyn tumbling down the pass

Small wooden walkway next to the Afon Glaslyn

Are we there yet :-)

Just as we got back to the car it started to rain a bit, not much and by the time we got back to the cottage it had stopped. We got back to the car about 4pm so we were out for about five hours in good clear weather. A great little walk that is highly recommended.