A Walk - Moel Siabod with Dave Colbert
11 miles (17.5km) with 3100ft (950m) Total Ascent
Bore Da! Moel Siabod rises as an isolated pyramid between the valleys of the Afon Llugwy and Afon Lledr to the west of Betws y Coed. The panorama from its summit is regarded as one of the best in Snowdonia, with all the major hills of Eryri from Cadair Idris in the south to Snowdon and Carnedd Llewelyn in the north in view, weather permitting of course!
The mountain presents its most impressive features to the south, so we will begin its ascent from the village of Dolwyddelan in the Lledr Valley, initially following the course of the Afon Ystumiau up to Llyn y Foel, hidden in an impressive hollow beneath Moel Siabod´s massive crags. An entertaining scramble up the airy Daear Ddu ridge (literally the ‘Black Earth’) takes us directly to the summit, at 872m/2,862ft the highest point on the walk. Following a lengthy descent of the north-east ridge to Pont Cyfyng in the valley of the Afon Llugwy, we head for Betws y Coed alongside said river, passing Ty-hyll and the famous Swallow Falls on the way. Mwynhau!!
B+ Walk - Eastern Promise: Undulating countryside east of the Conwy. with Val Walmsley
10½ miles (16.9km) with 1300ft (396m) Total Ascent
Leaving Betws y Coed railway station we cross the Afon (river) Conwy and pick up a path which takes us to Coed-y-Celyn. From here we continue south, passing though Dinas Mawr and Penrhyddan Pella to Maes-y-Grnedd. Turning north past Capel Garmon with its neolithic burial chamber, we now head to Moel Treriw. Looping back south via Tany Foel to Pentre-bach, we then head easterly on paths and a road to cross the railway via a footbridge, before heading back to railway station and Betws y Coed.
B Walk - Forest Walk with Chris Cook
6½ miles (10.5km) with 1280ft (390m) Total Ascent
Forest Walk (some steep climbs) from Betwys-y-Coed (Betwys-y-Coed means Praying in the Park).
This is a forest walk with many indigenous trees. We leave the bus park and head for Pont y Pair and the Gwyndair Forest. This walk is a combination of forest trails and some steep narrow footpaths. It takes you high above Conwy Valley with beautiful views towards the town of Llanrwst. The return meanders along the bank of Llyn Parc a natural lake damned to power mining machinery in the Aberllyn Gorge. We then follow the signs back down to Betwys-y-Coed. (Time and energy allows this walk to be extended).
Walkers welcome at Glan Aber Hotel opposite the car park. Happy Daze.
C Walk - The Slate Trail with Lesley & Peter Stevens
6 miles (9.7km) with 397ft (121m) Total Ascent
Our walk today is a circular walk following the Afon (river) Llgwy down one side and back along the other side. There is some climbing in the first half but flat for the second half with good paths throughout.
The walk starts from the coach park in the centre of Betws Y Coed (toilets available 20p). Heading west we walk along the main street to cross the river (Afon Llgwy) via a small road bridge. Turning left (west) we now follow the path along the side of the river until we reach the Miners Bridge. From here we start our main climb of the day; this is quite a steep climb (150ft / 45m) but we have loads of time so we can take our time on this ascent. At the top of the climb we join the Snowdonia Slate Trail which runs from Bangor on the coast to Bethesda near Snowdon for 83 miles. We now follow the Slate Trail for approx 1 mile before dropping down towards the river where we are afforded a wonderful view of the Swallow Falls. Leaving the falls we continue to make our descent to the river, which we now follow until we meet the main road at a bridge with the ‘Ugly House’ by its side.
This is the half way point of the walk, so we cross the river to head back on the far side heading east. Unfortunately for here we have approx 1¾ walk along the road, but on the good side it is a good footpath and downhill all the way until we leave the road to cross the Miners Bridge and head back to Betws Y Coed along our original river walk route.
