Not the Mynydd Mawr walk - 28/3/15

Sunday’s forecast of up to 75mph gales seemed to have been taken to heart, as only John H and Roy were to be found in an otherwise deserted car park in Rhyd Ddu. It was dry and reasonably calm, so we decided to head for Bwlch Cwm Llan, the track there being a safer option than the ridge to Mynydd Mawr, if the winds picked up. On the way we had a look at a collapsing quarry tip retaining wall, already spilt on to the path and with thousands of tons of slate pushing at the remaining sections. We have taken this up with the SNP Authority – if you walk that way and agree with us, please contact the SNP or Gwynedd CC.

The wind gave us a battering up near the bwlch, as did the rain, but it all eased as we returned to Rhyd Ddu. A mug of tea in Ty Mawr developed into a craving for bacon pancakes (very nice), much more attractive than the planned butties in the forest! The only other customers when we arrived were other C&D members, all being sensible and just going out for lunch!

John decided to head home to do some C&D secretarial work, leaving Roy and me to walk the Cwm Pennant path into Beddgelert Forest, finding the usually very wet and muddy forestry section of the path now hugely improved. A circuit high up in Cwm Ddu gave us fine views before we headed back via Llyn y Gader With a five plus mile walk in the morning and similar in the afternoon, we enjoyed a good day out.

Dave