Monday 21st August 2017 Rhos-y-Gwaliau - Llanuwchllyn - 10 miles

Monday 21st August 2017 Rhos-y-Gwaliau - Llanuwchllyn - 10 miles

Another dry day, but grey and misty, would we get the views the route promised? This was the last section that we would travel daily for - the next time we walk, it will be our final jolly to complete the whole project! We're getting close!

We arrived at Llanuwchllyn, but finding our proposed parking spot was a bit of a challenge. The guide suggests a parking spot on the route opposite the Post Office , but the old Post Office is at the far end of the village near the pub! Eventually we stopped in the community centre car park and driving on up that lane showed that was the way the route goes! So we returned to the Community Centre car park and checked that it was fine to leave our car there. People are very helpful!

We then drove back through Bala to Rhos-y-Gwaliau to the parking area where we finished our last section. The route goes cross country from the parking area following a track through the woods. This climbs up through a farmyard, with kennels full of frustrated dogs, on up to more open land with views ahead. You then come to another farm which you walk right through the middle of! Here the dogs were loose, but at least they were friendly - one looked dead! Fortunately it managed to open its eyes as we went past but we weren't worth any more consideration!

This leads to a lane which takes you down into Rhos-y-Gwaliau. This in turn meets a bigger lane, eventually joining the road into Bala. This crosses the river running into the lake at an old stone bridge where we met a lovely German couple who kindly took a photo of the four of us (to prove we'd made it!)

Bala is lovely, a busy High Street with lots of facilities, but it must be the main centre for quite a large area. There seemed to be a lot going on, sailing, kayaking, fishing on thje lake, so certainly worth a return visit to explore further.

Irene stopped for an ice cream to keep the energy levels up and we all availed ourselves of the loos before continuing back out of Bala past the rugby club towards the Bala lake railway station. You walk right through the station and cross the line over the footbridge to start the climb up into the surrounding hills.

After climbing on footpaths through fields, you reach a track which runs right past the Bala Lake Hotel with fabulous views of the lake below. After walking through the hotel grounds, you pick up another footpath which climbs on up through woodland with lovely views of the lake through the trees.At points, the route is a bit unclear, its hard to be exactly sure how far through the instructions you are, but generally you follow the main walked route. You eventually emerge out of the woods to bracken covered open land heading away from the lake.

 Still climbing, you finally pick up some footpath posts as you crest the ridge. For us, this was easier to spot as a party of ramblers was coming from the opposite direction!

You climb a bit further on a bridleway before taking a footpath heading back down in the direction of the lake. The views were fabulous!

The path drops across fields, down to eventually cross a stream, and on through another farm to join a lane. This again heads away from the lake up a valley until you reach a bridge to cross the stream running through the valley, allowing you to climb again up the other side of the valley.

Now you are climbing Cefn Gwyn, fortunately not right to the top, heading back towards the lake, past yet another farm, with views opening up as the way levels out. Here we opted to pause for lunch, finding a handy fallen rowan tree to sit on. The path now drops down tto cross another stream followed by a brief up, before dropping again through the garden of Cae Glas farmhouse. This is a beautiful cottage in an idyllic spot facing the lake.

The owner came out for a chat, recalling the time an oil tanker overturned in the lane leading up to the cottage and the rescue vehicle overturned too - one rolled all the way down to the lake! It is steep! He kindly gave a donation before we headed off down his drive to cross a lane into a bridleway again heading towards the lake. Eventually you join the road that runs by the lake parallel to the Bala Railway line.

After following the road past Pentre-piod station, you turn off to join a bridleway which makes one more climb up the hillside opposite the lake. This is a big climb, eventually arriving at another isolated farm again with fabulous views of the lake. From here you make the final descent down the farm lane, then across a paddock to the lakeside road once more. After a short distance, you take a footpath towards the railway line. This was very boggy and we picked our way from tussock to tussock to reach the stile to the railway. After crossing the line, you follow the track into the railway yard past the engine sheds and station. The trains were being cleaned down - it was just like Thomas the Tank Engine, Beautiful engines, troublesome coal trucks, vintage tractors, a signal box! Marie even got a cup of tea from the station.

From the station, you follow the lane to the main street, and along to the community centre where we had parked. That was it - next time we walk it will be three consecutive days to finish the entire route. Roll on September - Barmouth here we come!

Friday 4th August 2017 Lake Vyrnwy Dam - Rhos-y-Gwaliau - 12 miles

Friday 4th August 2017 Lake Vyrnwy Dam - Rhos-y-Gwaliau - 12 miles


Well, this was the section none of us were looking forward to. The whole section from Lake Vyrnwy to just outside Bala was routed on road due to Powys County Council refusing to permit any way-marking over the Berwyn Mountains. This would definitely be easier and thus safer navigating, but road walking can be hard-going!

Anyway, we found our car parking spot near Rhos-y-Gwaliau, only to find we had no phone signal! Fortunately, the others found us without any problem! Our drive back to our starting point followed exactly the route we'd be walking so we had a quick chance to recce the route! Sections were definitely very open and exposed, so following the road looked like a very sensible idea!

Back at Lake Vyrnwy, we left the car and crossed the dam, posing for photos on the dam as this is where you get the best views of the lake.

The weather was good again, we have been so lucky! The lake looked lovely, with the fairytale-like Straining Tower glowing in the sunshine as we crossed to follow the road on the northern side of the lake.

Views of the lake are limited as you follow the road, with tree planting on both sides of the road. The road was really quiet, though this was during the school holidays. We met more cyclists than cars! All in all, pleasant level walking with no risk of getting lost!

We decided to have a break at the RSPB Peregrine Watch lakeside bird hide at the far end of ythe lake, before starting the climb over the Berwyn Mountains to Bala. How civilised! Comfy padded seats! Not many birds to be seen though, let alone peregrines!

We then took the road to Bala - supposedly a very minor road - but we met more traffic on this single carriageway than around the lake! However, it was still relatively quiet and it was good to tackle the long sustained climb with even ground underfoot!

Soon we were climbing through conifer forest, not quite as gloomy as some we've walked through - the trees being less densely packed and allowing some light and life through. The land rose steeply with a bank rising to our right and the land dropping away to the left.

Finally, you emerge out over a cattle-grid into more open moorland. The climb evens out and you then cross into the Snowdonia National Park.

The landscape was stunning - huge expanses of open moorland all starting to purple up with the heather coming into bloom.

The road winds up and around with several blind bends and steep drops to the side! You can see how easy it would be to get lost up here, especially in poor conditions.

Now you've reached the summit of the Hirnant Pass over 1600 ft, so then its downhill to Bala!Walking on the road certainly allowed you to appreciate the scenery, stunning views all down the Hirnant Valley. The road follows down into the valley bottom. Here you meet more woodland and a stream in a much gentler landscape. This you follow until you reach the parking area where the route leaves the road to where we had parked.

Again, another pleasant days walking, far better than expected. Perhaps sending the route along roads was the best decision after all!

Tuesday 25th July 2017 Pont Robert - Lake Vyrnwy Dam- 10.8 miles

Tuesday 25th July 2017 Pont Robert - Lake Vyrnwy Dam (Llanwddyn) - 10.8 miles


After our last expedition, we checked our route and mileage carefully - we were all a bit pooped! Hopefully it was the humidity! This section couldn't be altered much, Pont Llogel was only 7 miles and before any major climb. Beyond that, Lake Vyrnwy was the best stop with easy parking and loos!! We could stop at Llanwddyn itself but parking would be a bit of a challenge, so we thought "go for it"!

Another good day, and arrived at Lake Vyrnwy to leave one car in the lower car park by the sculpture trail before heading back to the Post Office at Pont Robert.

The route leaves Pont Robert on the Glyndwr Way going up! You gradually climb out of the valley- lovely views of the Vyrnwy Valley - across open fields before dropping down to the River Vyrnwy itself. The Glyndwr Way follows the riverside path through broadleaf woods.

This is a delightful walk, rocky outcrops, rapids in the river and natural 'beaches'. One family were using one for a picnic and playing in the river, it really was a super spot.

You finally drop out onto the B4382 which you follow to Dolanog, famous for the Ann Griffiths chapel. Ann Griffiths was a late-18th Century methodist who only lived to the age of 29, but wrote 70 hymns in that time. To visit the chapel, you walk over the old stone footbridge and right through the village.. Its very plain and simple, beautifully symmetrical with high pews. It was worth the slight detour to visit and there are public loos in the car park opposite!

The route leaves the Glyndwr Way here, to follow the Ann Griffiths Way devised in her memory. This leaves the village by the village church, across pasture land towards a farm. You actually pass through the farmyard and the beautiful timber framed farmhouse dated 1664. Its currently for sale if you fancy a project! The route now rejoins the river, so we found a sunny spot for lunch. We were beginning to meet a few fellow walkers - obviously the route between Port Llogel and Dolanog makes a nice stroll!

You follow the river through woodland and then out in!to pasture land with views of Alt Dolanog behind. You are still following the river, but at times less closely, to cross pasture land and past a beautiful cottage , with manicured garden seemingly in the middle of nowhere! The route finally heads back into the trees to follow the river path into Pont Llogel.  Here we met a father and son walking to Pont Llogel and kindly made a donation to our fundraising.

Pont Llogel is a great place. It has a Post Office selling bottles of water and ice-creams, a handy picnic table by a stream, and a portaloo in the car park! Walkers paradise - so we had to stop and avail ourselves of the facilities!

Finally, moving onward, the route rejoins the Glyndwr Way, climbing up past the church and along the ridge, with a large caravan park below. You continue away from the ridge through small rough paddocks and following the way marks until you come to a more open section with hills climbing away to the right.

Here the guide tells you to climb the steep section early, on the diagonal, so we did. Unfortunately, too early, only to meet a fenced corner high on the ridge! Obviously we weren't the only ones, a lost hat hung forlornly on a branch nearby! There was also a  worn section, under the fence, creating a space big enough for a sheep or four lost walkers to crawl under. This we did, none of us able to face losing all that height only to have to climb it again. Then followed a bit of creative navigating to try and pick up the route again, which fortunately we managed quite quickly. It was a good decision for the route continued to climb, up and up, through gloomy conifers, really dark and barren. Finally, out of the trees, it was still up, until you eventually reached the top. The view was wonderful when you finally recovered enough to appreciate it!

Then we had to go down the other side! More gloomy conifers and a steep descent this time troubling the knees rather than the lings! Wales has hills!

The route does take pity on poor walkers and eases some of the descent by leaving the Glyndwr Way early and following the road. The Glyndwr Way joins this road further down the hoillside, leading you into Llanwyddn itself.

From here the road will take you directly to Lake Vyrnwy, but the route takes you across country, crossong the river and up a track on the fringe of a wood.This track climbs until you pass a cottage where you get views of the lake itself. The track then drops and eventually turns into the lanes taking you to the car park just below the dam where we had parked.

A hard days walking, but very enjoyable - the Glyndwr Way is very scenic if a bit hilly!

Tuesday 4th July 2017 Welshpool - Pont Robert - 13 miles

Tuesday 4th July 2017 Welshpool - Pont Robert - 13 miles


Time to conquer Wales - 68 miles to go (according to the guide book!!).  A grey morning and we hit rain heading out, but by the time we got to Pont Robert, it was dry. Pont Robert was bigger than expected but we found parking by the Post Office and then headed back to Welshpool.

You follow the High Street out of Welshpool (much longer when you're walking!) to pick up the Glyndwr Way just past the steam railway. This takes you up (what else) over the parkland of Llanerclydol Hall and through farmland. Here we soon made our first error of the day, missing a stile hidden down in a dip in the hedge boundary! It took a fair bit of searching to find it and it obviously wasn't regularly walked; it was very overgrown! The next part was a bit obscure too, We think a field boundary hedge had been removed! We walked miles round the edge of the next field and the stile was meant to be 60 yards from the field corner! It wouldn't have been so bad, but the field margins were very narrow and full of brambles and nettles! When we eventually found the promised stile, it was very overgrown and in poor repair, but we squeezed across! This popped us out on the lane that you follow across Frochal Common and on out into open farmland with fabulous views all around! The weather had cleared totally and it was getting warm!

Eventually you leave the lanes to head off (up!) into Graig Wood - lovely old sessile oak woodland.

Here again, you are following Glyndwr's Way which helps navigation! You then drop into the newer planting  of Figyn Wood and the bracken was very lush - but also lots of butterflies and orchids.

You leave the wood to pick up a short section of road before turning off through a holiday park and equestrian centre. Stopping for a quick snack, perched on a handy wall, we met loads of people searching for a runaway riderless horse! Think it was long gone - we hadn't seen it!

Up again, across fields, down a lane, up around the edge of woodland - low trees, high nettles! Dropping down again, navigating from stile to stile, we were getting really warm with all this climbing! More ups and downs, but at least we were still following Glyndwr, which made things easier! Some stiles had been replaced with nice shiny kissing gates, but the 'ladder' by the rusty barn was very tricky - basically a fence of horizontal bars quite close together. So with no uprights to hang onto, or steps, and little room to fit your boots between the bars, it was a challenge an the gate was very firmly shut!

At the next lane, we left Glyndwr's Way, and headed off UP (again) around a wooded hill fort. The shade was welcome! More head high bracken to negotiate, up, up, up, and then a steep descent the other side! You finally come out onto a lane, with more stunning views, before dropping down across some very lumpy fields with some near vertical stiles to cross. All a bit tricky on a slope after rather a lot of miles! At least we could see Meifod ahead.

You then take the road into Meifod where we met a lovely lady watering her plants, who gave us a donation and offered us tea! Unfortunately, we couldn't stop as time was ticking - but how kind.

We rejoined the Glyndwr Way, to leave Meifod, climbing up again, firstly on lanes, then past gloomy conifers, then back to native broadleaf woodland over bumpy pasture land!

Ever upward, on lanes - fantastic views of the Vyrnwy Valley, down, then up yet again, across country, passing a lovely cottage - did someone call out to us? No time to stop, more lovely, open, rolling farmland, which took us back to Pont Robert! What a day! All very weary. Our planned 11 miles had somehow expanded to 13!?

Wednesday 21st June 2017 Overseal - Barton-under-Needwood - 9 miles

Wednesday 21st June 2017 Overseal - Barton-under-Needwood - 9 miles


Today, we are going to close the gap and complete the whole Eastern section of our walk! More good weather and a good trip to Barton. Fortunately we remembered where we had parked previously , it all seemed so long ago - well it was last November!

Then back to Overseal to resume our walk from the community centre.

You leave Overseal on the road, before picking up footpaths that take you through trees and past pony paddocks - very pleasant on a warm day. You head through more young tree planting, not big enough for shade yet, with quite a lot of long grass. At one point we found ourselves covered in a strange sort of black 'soot' or pollen! We never did work out where it came from.

After a short section on road, we then joined paths marked National Forest trail again, starting off from someone's driveway and heading off, up, past woodland to cross several fields. We lost count, but eventually found the appropriate landmark to lead on to the promised track taking us to Botany Bay! Here we went into Penguin Wood (!) - not the most obvious name for a wood, but.......

Here, more young tree planting and fields take you on to join the lane into Rosliston. Here we found the pub was now a house, which scuppered plans of a cooling drink. So we decided on a lunch break in the churchyard, hoping for shade, but not before Marie had been to the local store for a cold drink and Linda had eyed up a plant stall! Its no wonder it takes us ages to get anywhere - but at least we support the local economy!

After lunch in the churchyard - benches but no shade - we continued out of Rosliston - to find the second village pub still fully operational ! You'd have thought by now we'd have learnt to read on! Never mind!

The section out of Rosliston is currently on roads due to 'problems with the footpath'! We had driven this way earlier so familiarity helped! As we finally left the road, to return to footpaths, we did consider re-considering - it took us into a paddock of very hot, grumpy looking cows, all sheltering at the field margin, just where we wanted to walk! Trying for invisibility, we picked up the pace and headed through! The footpath leads through several small fields, through small, wooden gates in varying stages of disrepair - we felt lucky not to break one entirely - before dropping down hill into Walton-on-Trent.

Here we decided to have a cooling drink at The White Swan, which looked very inviting and was directly on our route! We even stayed inside as it was cooler and very comfy! It also gave us a chance to plan the next stages of our route, so an essential planning meeting! Linda was able to suss out the interior design - an interesting use of old mis-matched doors to clad the walls and lots of natural wood and grey paint. Linda, as a landlady herself, has a professional interest in exploring hostelries which we all try to support!

Suitably refreshed, we headed out, the route again following the roads we had driven earlier, to cross Walton Bridge, a restricted width bridge over the River Trent. Fortunately it has a separate  pedestrian walkway as it is very narrow! It bears the scars of many vehicles paintwork despite being single lane and traffic light controlled!

You continue on the roads until you reach the road roundabout just outside Barton-under-Needwood. Here you take a footpath that takes you down to the towpath of the Trent and Mersey canal which you cross and then follow minor roads to Barton Marina - a leisure development around a large canal basin serving the canal. A footpath around a lake takes you out onto the road into Barton-under-Needwood.

We arrived just as the schools were finishing, so the place was full of children, Mums, cars, teenagers, school buses!! We even used the school crossing patrol to cross to the War Memorial for our finishing photo, which an obliging teenager took! I think people thought we were a bit bonkers - the crossing patrol man definitely did!

So, we had completed our Eastern section, Boston to Welshpool completed, with only about 68 Welsh miles to go! At Overseal, we checked diaries and set dates for four more day hops and a trip to Barmouth to finish. We aim to finish on Wednesday 27th September 2017!!