Wild Camp, first of the year. Llynau Diwaunedd, Snowdonia. May 2015

Distance to camp site - approx. 2.5 Miles

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.

Melynllyn and Dulin Circuler

Length aprox. 5.6 Miles

Start and End point - SH732663

A long and windy steep drive up from the village of Tal-Y-Bont in the Conwy valley eventually levels off and leads to a small car park at the end of the lane. Ideal parking to explore the close by LLyn Eigiau reservoir to the S.W. by climbing over a style and following down.

Our destination today though is the two reservoirs below the mighty peaks of Foel Frach (976m) and Carnedd Gwenllian (926m), formerly known as Carnedd Uchaf. The first and smallest of the two is Melynllyn, a place where I Wild Camped back in the late Summer of 2012. The second is Dulyn reservoir, an other place I have Wild Camped, this time with my brother back in the Summer of 2013.

To start, climb over the style to the North of the car park and follow the stony track straight ahead to the next style at the base of the Glogwynreryr spur. Climb over the style and follow the track to the right, up and around the spur, bearing sharp left with a few more turns until you come to a more gradual climb just below the ridge to the left. The track is very easy to follow as it is made for vehicle access to Melynllyn. The views across the valley are immense. Looking down you will see Avon Dulyn winding its way down the valley being joined by other brooks and streams which you will be crossing on the way back. To the West you will see a small stand of Pine trees, note the path above them. This is the path you will be leading out on. To the North East you will see the peaks of Pen y Castell, Penygadair and the old fort of Pen-Y-Gaer, above the small village of Llanbedr-Y-Cennin.

Continue along this track and eventually you will get a glimps of the Dulyn reservoir across the valley, shadowed by the great Craig-Y-Dulyn. Continue along and you come to an old ruined Mill  as the track turns to the right. Nothing left but an old stone ruin with some old rusty machinery in the middle.

If you look to the South, West and North you will see the ridge of the Carneddai range. On a clear day you will most likely see people walking on the tops. Directly above the ruin you will see a crag in the rocks. Walk across some boggy ground, then climb up to get some nice views of Melynllyn, and also see the beautiful greens of grass, moss and ferns within the crag itself. Great photo opportunities on boulders here of the whole valley to the North East below.

Back down to the old ruin and back onto the track, continue a short distance to the so far elusive Melynllyn. Here is where we planned to have our break, a picnic of sorts on the concrete overflow structures of the reservoir. Time to sit back and relax, take in the sights, look for the silhouettes of walkers on the ridge high above, enjoying the mirror like reflections of Craig Fawr on the reservoirs surface, watching the girls explore the shoreline boulders and the dogs enjoying there swim.

Food and drink consumed, time to move on, heading North East over a couple of planks across the reservoirs outlet follow the track down towards the Dulyn reservoir. Caution is needed here as this narrow track is steep as it winds its way down to the reservoir. Climb over the concrete structures, across the wide overflow back on to the grassy edge and to the hut situated on the edge of the reservoir. Looking into the water you can see the propeller remains from an old aircraft that crashed here many years ago. We walked up the grassy bank to the sight where my brother and I Wild Camped two years before and took advantage of some great photo opportunities with the cliffs of Craig Y Dulyn in the background.

Theres a different feel to this reservoir than there is to Melynllyn. Its darker, moody, more menacing than the other. The water of the lake itself seems black. I remember when we camped here waking up in the morning, opening the tent door to be greeted by a shield of white. The cloud was low and to walk in it would of been foolish, so with no alternative we went back to sleep until the cloud lifted.

From here its a short walk down to the small 'Bothy' The hut was locked, windows smashed. What can you say. Head up hill from here until you come to the track you would of seen on the decent to Melynllyn. From here on the way gets very boggy, especially on the lower slopes alongside the small stream. Follow the track above the small stand of pines, we stopped here for a little rest and some water. An unusual place this. The ten or so pine trees look so out of place, marooned here in the grassy boggy valley. Would be a nice place to set up the Hammock for a night out in the Summer. Back on up the track which weaves and winds its way along. Its easy to lose the path here and wonder on into the bogs as we found our, so keep high and away from the stream below. Step across the first stream, onto the second named 'Afon Garreg-Wen' which has a convenient wooden bridge crossing it. Take in the beauty of the the stream as it crashes down the valley side towards the Afon Dulyn. From here find the path that strikes West towards a newish building and wooden bridge you can see ahead. Once there the boggy stretch is over. Climb onto the narrow bridge and find the  track which will lead you out. Its not too difficult to find as its another one made for 4WD vehicles. Follow this around the spur, steadily climbing, back to the style onto the track you first took on this trip. Turn left and follow back to the car park.

This was a lovely walk to take my girls on and hopefully

 

get them into this walking malarkey. The dogs loved the exercise and freedom to do what is natural for them. Burning off energy. With the sun shining and a slight haze, it was a wonderful way to spend the day.

 

 

SORREL WOOD

With Spring finally upon us it would have been rude not to of ventured out on the brightest day of the year so far. With my brother up to visit it was time to get out into nature for a brunch in the woods with the dogs.

We first discovered this quiet bit of woodland on Boxing day, 2013 whilst out for a Hobo breakfast  in the woods.

It has since become a favourite place of mine to disappear to and Wild Camped here last Easter with my brother.

Back to today, we left the house with some eggs, bacon, sausages and baps ready to be cooked on the Hobo stove. A short drive later, boots on and we're off, down about 3/4 mile of a muddy track and into a large meadow.

This is ideal for the dogs to run and let steam off, plenty of space, plenty of smells and no sheep. Next we enter the woods, this bit looks like it has come from Tolkien imagination, more so in summer when the foliage blocks out the sun.

Fifteen minutes or so, following the river upstream we come to a stony beach as the river bends to the left. High banks on the other side seem to defy gravity with the trees above just seeming to be waiting to crash down into the water. Would love to witness that !!

Time to sit back and enjoy the spot

and let the dogs explore.

Then light the Hobo and cook us up some baps before exploring the woods a little more

and retracing our steps back to the car.

We were out for a good few hours on this walk, nothing to strenuous as tomorrow is the big one. One to tick off the Bucket list.....Crib Goch. The dogs loved the freedom and slept the rest of the day and most of the next. A tired dog is a happy dog !!!! 

SEARCHING FOR THE HERMIT IN VAIN

I asked the boy beneath the pines,

He said, ''The master's gone alone

Herb-picking somewhere on the mount,

Cloud-hidden, whereabouts unknown.''

Chia Tao (777-841)

Trans. Lin Yutang