Start Point - SH705518 (115)
Camp Site - SH687535 (115)
Just before hitting the tourist hot spot that is Betws-Y-Coed take the left turn onto the A470 heading down the valley, passing under the stone railway bridge towards the small village of Dolwyddelan, then on to the foot of Bwlch Y Gorddian, the Crimea Pass. Here turn right for the Roman Bridge, following the narrow lane past the Railway Station, through the rock and over the bridge, veering to the left, through a farm yard until you come to parking spot just outside some small cottages. Looking up the track you will see a gate and some old forestry work signs. This is the start of the hike up to Llynau Diwaunedd.
From here its a steady zig zag climb for the first 1.25 miles along the forest track until you come to and area where the forest has been felled on the left hand side. Looking down to the left you can see the Afon Diwaunedd with its inviting banks which look from this point to hold some nice potential camp sites. Maybe in the future? A little further and you'll notice the lane forks into two. Take the left track, the right is not shown on the map but leads to an unnamed reservoir to the East. This left hand lane continues through a barren stretch where the Lumber Jacks have been before, soon levelling of to a stead walk back into the woods until you get a glimps of the lake through the trees on the left. eventually you come to a turning area at the tracks end. Head left, down a grassy bank to the lakes shore. Here you will be greeted by the ruins of an old stone building, with a handy fire place still in tact.
I arrived here at about four in the afternoon and sat down in the corner of the ruin to shelter from the breeze chilling the sweat on my back to make a cup of coffee on the Hexi stove. Read for a while before cooking up some Tomato Pasta for dinner, followed by a Yorkie bar. Read for a while longer before erecting the tent. Its an old tent, cost £20 quid with 2 roll mats, a head torch and a few other items frown in. I've camped out in Snowdonia twice before in this tent as well as in the woods around my home and never had a problem with it. But then again its not rained on those occasions. The tent has served me well and more than paid for its self but, on this trip I learned I needed a new better quality tent for camping in the wilds.
With the tent up, its time to open the first of a well earned beer, cheers!! and relax for the evening, watching the colours change and the sounds of nature. Within a few feet of the ruin is a small bubbling stream heading into the lake, natures music, never the same sound, always changing. I was blessed with about half hour of sunshine as the clouds broke before sunset. It was a joy to enjoy a beer in my T shirt marvelling the quiet isolation of this spot. No man made noise, only the sounds of four large duck like bird on the lake and a few small birds flying within a few inches of lakes surface, landing on the shore chirping and pecking amongst the stones. I did see some humans, only little specs on what looks like a ridge between Clogwyn Bwlch Y Maen and Craig Ddu. There looks to be a route along the tops as I'm sure I can just make out a fence long the top in places. A walk in the future maybe. As the sun sank so did the temperature, on came the thermals and fleece until the last beer was drunk, then into the tent with the dogs.
Half three I am rudely awoken by the sound of rain on the tent. The walls inside are soaking with the condensation from me and the two dogs, plus, I think the seams were starting to leak a little, a pool of water is at the foot of the tent, the bottom of my sleeping bag is damp, but no worries. There's no wind as was forecasted which had worried me. The rain I could handle. Back to an on, off sleep full of strange dreams until light, then chill out with a book until the rain dies off, hopefully. It does, but not completely. Up now out of the tent and take in the damp, dim drizzly morning. Down to the lakes edge for a swill then deciding not to bother with a coffee or breakfast. Down with the tent, away with the gear, rucksack on and make tracks back down to the car in the cold drizzle. I always have a change of clothing in the car. there's nothing better than putting on dry clothes on when your wet and cold, and putting the heater on full blast to warm up the old bones as you drive home.
