Celebrating National Tree Week
23rd November - 1st December 2024
To celebrate National Tree Week, we share with you our three favourite woodland walks. All of these walks are perfect for an autumnal stroll or a summertime wander amongst the beautiful woodlands that are on our doorstep.
Dolgoch Falls
The Fathew Valley, in the south-western part of Snowdonia National Park, takes in a wooded gorge along the Nant Dol-Goch stream; a tributary of the River Fathew. Here, you will find three waterfalls tumbling down the steep sides of the gorge into pools below, as well as a popular circular walk that links all three. The first part of the walk passes underneath the Talyllyn Railway viaduct and a viewing platform, and then rises after the lower falls. Follow the path along the stream to the steps leading to the middle and upper falls. After leaving the middle falls, the path rises to the upper falls and a picnic area. The trail can be slippery in damp weather but on a hot day, it’s a beautiful place for children to play in the rock pools that can be found at the base of the upper falls.
Ynysmaengwyn
A short drive away, just outside Tywyn, is Ynysmaengwyn. This beautiful woodland setting is perfect for a wander, and those that are more adventurous, can partake in the orienteering course. Explore the tranquil grounds of the estate once owned by the Corbett family where you can see the ruins of the old grand mansion and the family’s coat of arms, ‘The Salt King’. The Dovecote also stands in the grounds, together with a walled garden and a Fairy Glen hidden in the woods. From here, you can walk the banks of the estuary, along the Broadwater to Tywyn if you fancy a longer walk, and loop back to Ynysmaengwyn along the road.
Nant Gwernol Forest Walks
A short drive from the Trefeddian takes you into Abergynolwyn. From here, you can access three walks through the unspoilt woodlands of the forestry, and you'll see something of the former slate mining activity in the area. There are two shorter walks at one mile each or a longer three-mile walk. The cascade trail (the yellow route) crosses the footbridge by the station and ascends the valley close to the river. Further down, cross another bridge to go back along the other side before steeply descending the Allwyllt incline towards the station.
The red trail is also around the one-mile mark. From Nant Gwernol station, this route climbs the Allwyllt incline by a zigzag path before descending to Abergynolwyn station. Finally, the Quarryman Trail (the blue path) is around three miles long and explores the old mine workings of Bryn Eglwys Quarry. It follows the river before climbing out of the woods, through the old quarry, past mill workings and descending along the old tramway and steep Allwyllt incline back to the station.
The starting point of the Nant Gwernol walks is the station at the end of the line on the Talyllyn narrow gauge railway on its route from Tywyn, through the Fathew valley to Abergynolwyn, so a train ride and walk can be combined.
