Tanygrisiau - Mines of Moelwyn Mawr - Stwlan Dam - Tanygrisiau

Dean Walsh

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Starting off from the beautiful village of Tanygrisiau with its fascinating mining heritage and reservoir, you will begin the walk overlooking the stunning backdrop of Moel-Y-Hydd. Heading through the village, the walk takes you uphill, passing the dramatic scenery of slate slag tips and waterfalls cascading gently downhill. You will climb to reach Llyn Cwmorthin and interesting mine workings, including the ruins of old miners' cottages and the Cwmorthin Slate Mine itself. Moving further uphill, you will pass through the huge Rhosydd Quarry, again with many interesting workings and features to explore. Further on the walk, the ground opens up and you will be able to see the opencast workings of the mine, seeing where it also collapsed around 100 years ago. The next stop will be Croesor Mine, which closed in the 1930s after over 100 years of use and was reused in the 1970s as an explosives store. From here and through most of the walk, you will enjoy panoramic views of the rugged valleys and mountains.

The next stage of the walk takes you down to a small forest whilst enjoying views of the sea and the estuary at Porthmadog. After passing through the pretty forest you will continue to walk up a wide valley to the saddle of Moelwyn Mawr, eventually taking in the stunning views overlooking the Stwlan Dam and the surrounding Vale of Ffestiniog. Working your way downhill passing the dam, you will head downstream back to the start of the walk whilst taking in the picturesque views of the Tanygrisiau Reservoir with its hydro power station and maybe catch a glimpse of the narrow-gauge steam train in action, which you can also take a ride on should time allow.

Wales - North Wales - Gwynedd - Countryside

Features

Birds, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Lake/Loch, Moor, Mountains, Public Transport, River, Sea, Tea Shop, Toilets, Waterfall, Wildlife, Woodland
18/05/2015 - Brian Foster

I did this walk on 15/5/15 and found it a hard slog, particularly the section between waymarks 33 & 34. I had digital mapping and GPS without which navigation would have been difficult due to the lack of a clear path for much of the walk. The bridge & footpath at waymark 7 is closed and fenced off. At least half a dozen fallen trees in the forestry section at waymark 32 have turned this into something of an assault course. Not a walk for the less agile or unfit walker.

23/10/2013 - Barbara Howcroft

Did this walk on the 19/10/2013. We liked the old mine ruins and the views (when the mist lifted). We agree with the other comment of the trudge from the forest to the shoulder. But what a view down the other side.It was lashing down with rain, blowing a gail.The 500yd or so long black dam wall,the 4 massive concrete water towers,the black water,and all surrounded by high black rock mountains. We felt like Frodo and Sam looking down into Mordor, with just Mount Doom missing.Very dramatic. PS the garmin GPS put the walk at 11 and a quarter miles not 9.Thank you Jeff, Barbara and Millie the dog.

15/09/2013 - JONATHAN MENDOZA

Did this walk on a fine day, 15th Sept 2013. The instructions are accurate and comprehensive, the views are stunning and the various quarry remains are interesting, but we would reinforce the authors comments about the need to take adequate navigation equipment with you and know how to use it. This did not appear to be a frequently walked route, and many of the paths are indistinct and the situation is made worse at this time of year with many of the paths being obscured and closed over by bracken and other vegetation. Parts of the route were extremely boggy, particularly the long slog between waymarks 33 and 34. We would suggest that only the fittest and most experienced walkers will complete this walk in the 5 hours allotted to it, and that 6 hours is a more realistic walking time. This is not a walk to be finishing in poor visibility or fading light.