Snowdonia: 30 Low-level and Easy Walks - South

From Ffestiniog to the Dyfi, and Bala to the coast

By Alex Kendall

ISBN

9781852849856

Availability

Published

21 Sept 2020

Edition

First

Pages

168

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.05cm

Weight

210g

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Guidebook describing 30 walks in Snowdonia, Wales. Routes are mostly low level and on clear paths and showcase the region's beautiful scenery and rich history and culture. Part of a 2-volume set, this southern volume includes Trawsfynydd, Bala, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, the Harlech Coast and the valleys of the Mawddach and Dyfi.

Seasons

Suitable for year round walking. Excellent in summer, but still accessible in winter or poor weather when higher routes are inaccessible.

Centres

Llan Ffestiniog, Trawsfynydd, Y Bala, Harlech, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, Aberdyfi

Difficulty

Easy/moderate routes, mostly low-level and on clear paths. From 3km to 18km, covering valleys, lowlands and small hills. Suitable for walkers of all abilities and the whole family. GPX files available to aid navigation.

Must See

Walking in Snowdonia is more than just Snowdon: sandy beaches; abandoned slate mines; ancient woodlands of Ceunant Cynfal and Coed Aber Artro; cormorants and choughs on Birds' Rock; Tomen y Mur fort; Harlech Castle; Cefn Coch gold mine; Pistyll Cain waterfall; and the first National Trust property

ISBN

9781852849856

Availability

Published

21 Sept 2020

Edition

First

Pages

168

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.05cm

Weight

210g

Overview

Through 30 day walks ranging from 3km to 18km, this guide offers opportunities for walkers of all abilities to explore the lowlands, moorland and estuaries of Snowdonia National Park. The second of two volumes to low-level and easy walking in Snowdonia, this guide covers the southern region between Llan Ffestiniog and Machynlleth. Other centres include coastal towns of Harlech, Barmouth and Aberdyfi, and lakeside settlements of Trawsfynydd and Y Bala.

Famous for its northern mountains, the Snowdonia National Park also features an expansive coastline of sandy beaches and wildlife-rich estuaries. Inland, the landscape showcases mossy-banked rivers, gorges and thundering waterfalls in ancient broadleaved woodlands, while tranquil valleys and moorlands dotted with ruined castles, mines and forts provide panoramic views of surrounding mountains and lakes.

Each walk features in-depth route description and 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 OS mapping, alongside a wealth of insights into the history, geology and wildlife of the area. The guide supplies what3words addresses for start and finish points and postcodes for car parks, as well as refreshments and facilities available on each route and an appendix of useful contacts.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

The walks

Landscape

History

Wildlife

When to go

Getting there

Accommodation

What to take

The Countryside Code

Maps and GPS

What3words

Understanding Welsh placenames

Safety

Using this guide

Around the Rhinogydd

Walk 1 Ceunant Cynfal

Walk 2 Rhaeadr y Cwm

Walk 3 Tomen y Mur

Walk 4 Llyn Trawsfynydd

Walk 5 Harlech

Walk 6 Llanbedr

Walk 7 Black Falls

Walk 8 Pistyll Cain

The Mawddach Estuary

Walk 9 Barmouth

Walk 10 Mawddach to Ysgethin

Walk 11 New Precipice Walk

Walk 12 Precipice Walk

Walk 13 Foel Offrwm

Walk 14 The Mawddach Estuary

Walk 15 Morfa Mawddach and the Blue Lake

Bala to Dolgellau

Walk 16 Brithdir

Walk 17 Foel Caerynwch

Walk 18 Afon Melau

Walk 19 Llyn Arenig Fawr

Walk 20 Afon Lliw

Walk 21 Gwastadros

Walk 22 Bala Lake/Llyn Tegid

Cadair Idris to the Dyfi

Walk 23 Cwm Cywarch

Walk 24 Castell y Bere

Walk 25 Abergynolwyn

Walk 26 Birds’ Rock

Walk 27 Dolgoch Falls

Walk 28 Cwm Ratgoed

Walk 29 Aberdyfi

Walk 30 Machynlleth

Appendix A Useful contacts

Maps

Maps and GPS

The map extracts in this guidebook are from 1:50,000 OS maps, with a handful from 1:25,000 OS maps. Although many of the walks follow clear or waymarked routes, you may find it useful to have a 1:25,000 map with you. The relevant 1:25,000 map is indicated in the information box at the start of each route description. Alongside these two map scales, Harvey publishes a 1:40,000 map of South Snowdonia, which covers the whole of the area explored in this book (apart from Walk 30).

GPX tracks

GPX tracks for the routes in this guidebook are available to download free at www.cicerone.co.uk/985/GPX. A GPS device is an excellent aid to navigation, but you should also carry a map and compass and know how to use them. GPX files are provided in good faith, but neither the author nor the publisher accept responsibility for their accuracy.

Updates

November 2021

Walk 9 Barmouth

The route has been very firmly closed by the council at llanaber when you turn down by the cemetery to cross the bridge over the railway line as lt is unsafe. You need to carry on along the pavement for a couple of hundred yards before you can turn down a small road signed to seafront to reach the prom.

Reviews

We loved this book

We were probably the first people to use this new guidebook as it came out just before our 2 week walking holiday in south snowdonia. We are fairly new to walking - taken it up in the last 2 years around our home area of the Peaks - and we loved this book - clear instructions and in the main clear routes - for interesting walks when the weather or your inclination isn’t to head to the top of everything around you. Though marketed as low level/ easy there were plenty of opportunities to emerge onto more open land and feel you were amongst the hills. There was a wide range of walks, woodland, sea cliff, lake and estuary, and hills so that, relying only on this book, we were able to walk for a whole 2 weeks without anything feeling samey. Looking forward to using the North Snowdonia book in the future.

Portia, by email

Downloads

Snowdonia: 30 Low-level and Easy Walks - South - GPX File

Alex Kendall

Alex Kendall is an international mountain leader, both in the UK and abroad, and has led overseas expeditions to various places including Svalbard, Oman and India, but always looks forward to a walk in the mountains of the UK. Alex writes infrequently for a few different online publications, and developed the Snowdonia Way, a new long-distance trail, his guidebook to which was published in 2017 by Cicerone. He enjoys walking, mountaineering and fellrunning and lives in Cumbria, in the western reaches of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

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