~Llyn Elsi~
8th July 2017
Llyn Elsi
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
Penrhyddion Ucha |
Machno Valley |
It's going home day at the end of a week's holiday in the vicinity of Betws-y-Coed. We stayed at the cottage (left) in the hillsides south of Capel Garmon. The view of the scene in Machno Valley was one of the great benefits of the location.
Coed Gartheryr
There are many fine woodland walks from the village of Betws-y-Coed. I decided we should walk up to Llyn Elsi through Coed Gartheryr. Leave the main road and walk to the right of and behind St.Mary's Church. It is quite steep in places, amounting to around 750ft of ascent mostly on forest tracks and there are so many tracks and paths, it is worth taking a map and compass and hope for the best...
Llyn Elsi
About 40 minutes after entering the woods, we find Llyn Elsi. A beautiful place with Moel Siabod peeping over the trees in the west.
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You can walk around the lake. It was dammed in 1914 and so is artifically high, but so is anyone wearing high-heels, who cares? There is a dog in the photo...
Hafod-las
Leaving the lake by the dam at the southern end, we followed less well-defined paths to Hafod-las and into more open countryside on a route back to the valley of Afon Llugwy below.
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We cross a mining "incline" where there would have been a railway for lowering slate down the hill.
Miners Bridge
Afon Llugwy and a bridge which we climb and cross to enjoy the woodland and river walk back to Betws-y-Coed.
What is there not to like about walking around the hillsides, forests and rivers of Betws-y-Coed?
Y Stablau
We took lunch at The Stables - Royal Oak in Betws-y-Coed.
Miniature Railway
Alongside the standard railway line of the Conwy Valley, is the miniature railway of the Conwy Valley Railway Museum.
Walkers: Karen, Molly and Me.
Route: Llyn Elsi from Betws-y-Coed and back via the old minig area of Hafod-las and miners bridge.
Refreshments: There are loads of refreshment opportunities in and around Betws-y-Coed and nothing much wrong with eating outside at Y Stablau - on a fine, sunny day!
Weather: Sunny and Warm.
Time Taken: About 6 miles; 3hrs.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2017 ©
Take me back to the start ....