Looking across Llyn Brenig from its dam.
Looking South from the dam.
Llyn Brenig from the East side of the dam.
The Afon Alwen East of Pentre-llyn-cymmer.
Caer Ddunod rising to the right of the Alwen Valley.
"Which way do we go?"
Why this photo of a Foxglove in flower?
We were climbing steeply up a road and I needed a rest!
Distant views of the hills - probably the Berwyns.
Photo taken a little South of Hafoty Llechwedd.
Vacating our lunch spot North of Hafoty Llechwedd.
The dam at the East end of the Alwen Reservoir,
viewed from the path heading North to Pentre-llyn-cymmer.
Looking North over Pentre-llyn-cymmer towards Llyn Brenig.
Looking towards Llyn Brenig from road East of the dam.
Walk stats: Distance: 7.9 miles. Climb: 956'.
Time: 4 hours 29 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
The forecast looked good, well at least late afternoon when rain was likely to arrive.
The start of the walk is a pleasant stroll from the Llyn Brenig Visitor Centre, across the dam and down hill to Pentre-llyn-cymmer. The walk from the Outdoor Centre at Pentre-llyn-cymmer became more challenging as there was no path on the ground and we had to trek through long wet grass as we contoured round above the Afon Alwen, but worse was to com! As we approached Caer Ddunod we had to negotiate a rather overgrown and boggy section on the edge of a wood quite close to the river. Thankfully as we reached the end of the wood with Caer Ddunod in sight a marker post pointed us in the right direction away from the river.
The walk passed through delightful countryside, especially in the Alwen Valley, but our only views of any hills came as we reached the highest point on the road to Hafoty Llechwedd.
Lunch was taken just after Hafoty Llechwedd when we spotted the remains of an old boundary with plenty of large stones that we could utilise as seats.
Throughout the morning it had been a rapid changes from warm sunshine and the need for a sunhat and cloud cover when hats needed to be removed to allow heads to cool! Lunch time was no exception.
Our best views came just after lunch as we started to descend into Pentre-llyn-cymmer when we had superb views of the Alwen Reservoir and Llyn Brenig with the rest of our walk ahead of us.
After a slight change from the described walk where we took a path on the West side of the village to avoid retracing our steps up the road. This was a pleasant alternative if you can forget the climb through long wet grass to reach the road and the way ahead along the Elorgarreg Trail back to Llyn Brenig.
Birds seen or heard today included: Greylag goose, Canada goose, European robin, Pied wagtail, Barn swallow, House martin, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common buzzard, Common kestrel, Goldfinch, House sparrow, Grey heron and Mallard.
Overall a very enjoyable walk, with only one or two Horsefly bites and Nettle stings to worry about, and equally as important no sign of imminent rain.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Sportman's Arms, the highest pub in Wales, a place I last visited in 1972. Now open again, serving food as well. Hopefully they will get enough passing customers to make a go of this venture. BSA bitter from the fairly local Buzzard Brewery based at Llandyrnog did well to quench our thirst before we headed honeward.
Eventually it did rain as we approached Broughton on the way home, and quite accurately it could be described as torrential as it bounced up from the road.
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