Forthcoming walks - please check the programme for time and 'E' or 'W'
W/c 9th August 2026
C Walk, Thursday August 13, Clwyds
Walk CANCELLED
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A Walk, Thursday August 13, Carnedd Dafydd & Pen yr Ole Wen from Bethesda, 8 miles / 3370 ft
The walk starts from the lay-by above the Ogwen Bank Caravan Site on the west side of the A5 about a mile south of Bethesda. A short walk down the hill takes us to a forest track. The track is followed for a short distance and then becomes a path that we exit on to moorland. The path continues for a short distance and then disappears. From this stage on we choose our own way following sheep/pony tracks where present.
The route to the summit of Carnedd Dafydd follows a stream bed - Afon Berthen. The surface is uneven and we will be walking through beds of marsh grass in some places. There are a few runnels leading off the main stream that have dried up and are overgrown. Care needs to be taken with footing in these areas. We will possibly have to cross the stream in a couple of places, but this posed no problem on Monday.
As we approach Foel Graig the gradient becomes more pronounced. With the summit of Foel Graig to our left the climb to Carnedd Dafydd becomes even steeper. There is no recognisable path. The ground is mainly grass, bilberry bushes interspersed with rocks. The final section is rocks.
Reaching the cairn on the ridge we turn left, and a short walk takes us to the summit of Carnedd Dafydd. The views across Tryfan, Glyders and Y Garn are magnificent. There is then an enjoyable ridge walk to Pen yr Ole Wen.
A short backtrack from Pen yr Ole Wen and we start the descent following Braich Ty Du, keeping Carreg Fran to our left. There are a few steep grass banks on the way back and a walking pole is recommended. We cross Afon Berthen in a couple of places using spar bridges near some sheepfolds. We mainly follow the wall back to the gate into the wood where the walk started.
MWIS currently forecasts temperatures of 22 to 27 on the summits. Bring plenty of water.
Adjacent to the lay-by are some great pools. So if you fancy a dip afterwards bring your cozy!
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W/c 16th August 2026
D Walk, Wednesday August 19, The Dungeons and Heswall Fields, 4 miles
The walk starts at Banks Road Heswall and crosses Heswall Dales before following well defined footpaths providing fine views of the Estuary. Then we descend to the shore through The Dungeons and Heswall Fields returning to the starting point along the shore.
Start at Banks Road, Heswall. /// retain.storm.garage ///
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B+ Walk, Thursday August 20, Moel Ffenigl fm Rhydd Sarn, 8.3 miles / 1845 ft
The walk starts at a lay by a few miles south west of Bala on the A494, which has plenty of parking space. The start coordinates are:
SH 861 288, /// prove.boots.dumpling /// geo: 52.8441566 -3.6926463
I reccied this walk with Mike C. We found the first half reasonably waymarked but the route is not well trodden, making the overgrown terrain a bit hard to navigate sometimes.
Up to Lyn Llymbren and beyond is not waymarked at all. Fences have been erected, stiles left to rot and fall away and some sections so badly overgrown that I would not like to take a group along the 2018 route, so I have introduced some changes. There is one point where we have to clamber over a fence - no barbed wire thankfully.
After that, descending from Moel Ffenigl, there is a very good path heading due North, leading back to the outbound route, which we will follow for a short distance before cutting back to re-join the 2018 route as it returns to the A494. Those small sections haven’t been reccied but I’m pretty sure they will be OK.
It is worth mentioning that the last 500 ft to Moel Ffenigl is an extremely steep grassy slope. A hard slog but no exposure involved, apart from taking care not to roll back down! Also, there is a lot of tall marsh grass and walkers are strongly advised to wear long trousers. Wearing shorts, both Mike and I picked up about 10 tick bites each. I am arranging to take a course of antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
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W/c 23rd August 2026
C Walk, Wednesday August 26, Circular Route Aldford to Eccleston – 6.91 miles/ 250 ft
Route Starts in Aldford Village, where we pick up the footpath along the river to Eccleston Village. We take a circular route through Eccleston Village and then pick up the same footpath back along the river to Aldford. On arriving back in Aldford we take a slightly different route back to the CP.
Starting point - free Car Park in Aldford Village, on Church Lane. CH3 6JE. /// yoga.glorified.admiringly /// SJ419594
Meet either at E (9.30), or at the start for 10.00.
The riverbank can be a little muddy, so a stop for coffee may not be easy. I have written to the Warden of St Marys Church in Eccleston. There is a large, grassed area at the back of the church, where we could sit and have Lunch. He responded very positively! (Just need to give him notice).
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A Walk, Thursday August 27, Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu, 6.5 miles /2650 ft
Start : SH 571 526 /// offerings.scuba.spicy ///
A relatively short walk, but there is a section of scrambling over an exposed rocky outcrop. The walk starts from the Rhyd Ddu car park and follows well established paths - some sections have loose shale, so care is required, particularly when descending.
From the car park we walk towards Llyn y Gader before turning to make a steady ascent to the ridge. Weather permitting! - there are impressive views across to Snowdon and surrounding peaks. We climb to Mynydd Drws y Coed (2,077 ft) where the path goes up and over an outcrop of rock. The scramble is not too challenging, but there are some significant drops, so care is required. We will take it very slowly!
Once past the scramble, we follow the ridge path to the second peak Trum y Ddysgl (2,326 ft). Again there are views to enjoy - this time of the ridge itself, the peaks of southern Snowdonia and out to the coast. We continue along the ridge to the third peak - Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd (2,140 ft) - and the Queen Victoria obelisk (erected in 1897 to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee). We then retrace our steps and make a gentle descent to the Beddgelert Forest and follow paths through the forest back to the car park.
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