We woke to a stunning day so off we set - wondering to begin with how many taxis would appear as it had turned out to be a bit of a quest to find a Welshpool one that could understand where we needed to be collected. It was only a 4 mile trip back to the start point so I think they thought at first we were joking! In fact those 4 miles are treacherous along a single track road and it would have added to the beginning of the day and meant a 15 mile walk ahead which we thought was a bit far... We had looked at the remaining walks and decided we could cut a day out of the suggested route by making today's walk to Pont Llogel rather than just to Lake Efyrnwy/Vyrnwy which means that after today we will only have 2 days left....
As it happened a taxi did arrive so we were safely returned to Llangadfan and today the start was a little steep but not massively which was a bit of a bonus! The day now was cloudier than it had been but warm and still.
And this walk was a little different to previous ones in that it was one of forestry tracks, lane walking, woodland ways and quiet secluded valleys not the big vistas of before - but SO peaceful!
It was a gentle climb then we were into the first forest of the day ....
....which was quite a long walk through the trees and we saw many log piles today which I always find interesting!
Old and new wood, large and small shapes and sizes! We had occasional views through the trees to see the Breiddens as we walked though more forestry ...
.........and then through mixed woodland with pretty little streams running through the trees, no doubt on their way to Afon Efyrnwy which was getting ever closer to us...
The beginning of this walk had been easy on forestry tracks as we dropped won to a caravan park at Ddol Cownwy before we headed REALLY steeply up a short (thank goodness) slope, now in the hot sun once more! We sat on a well placed bench overlooking an old Quaker site with a memorial stone.
Then we dropped down through the trees still to our first view of Lake Efyrnwy.
The stone built dam was the first of its kind to be built in the UK - started in 1881 - and providing water to Liverpool. Our first views to the lake were blocked by conifers to begin with but soon opened up as we dropped down to have clear views of the impressive dam. The lakes seems quite diminutive compared to those at Elan valley - unless that is because this one is in an enclosed space unlike those at Rhayader. (As a matter on interest the pipework for the Elan valley reservoirs is now being updated in the villages it passes through en route to the Midlands - having survived for so long; pretty cute builders those Victorians...). Lake Efyrnwy has its own share of provision for tourism, but very unobtrusive and we were really pleased to enjoy a coffee AND a teacake at the Old Barn Cafe - this was such a treat! And in the hot sun! So often on our walks we have arrived as the cafe closes...or there isn't even a cafe! This would have been the end of the walk today so we were pleased that we had chosen to go further, both because we were enjoying ourselves so much and because we still had a few miles in the old legs yet!!
So, onwards once more we were leaving the Lake behind and headed off on another track and then over fields to Abertridwr, a little hamlet just, passing many lambs!
....and pheasants...
We had then to follow the road, only for a short way thankfully and then crossed to a lane which was now running kind of parallel with the earlier walk. Glyndŵr's Way does change direction a lot....Then into pretty woods where we had a climb again - this time a stairway to heaven with over 150 steps ...phew!....Trees opened up to views of the Breiddens briefly....and across then, as we turned again, to the walk we had done on Tuesday. The gorse here smelt beautifully, reminded me of the walk over the Clwydian Hills at the north of Offa's Dyke...
We could see Llwydiarth church coming into view as we dropped down into fields,
passing more old machinery....
and a caravan park to arrive at the post office which we had sussed out the other day and knew they provide coffee. We sat by the church...
enjoying our drink and a bun - such luxury - wondrous!
This is also the start of 2 other shorter walks - Ann Griffiths walk, a 15 mile walk to Pontrobert. Ann was a well known 19th century hymn writer and there is a really lovely bronze memorial to her here.
The other walk is Pererindod Melangell walk - an old drovers road, quarrymens pilgrims' walk which leads to a 1400 year old nunnery. Pont Llogel, the bridge over the river here and where the car was parked, is the old medieval deer park which belonged to Sir Grufydd Fychan, an ally of Owain Glyndŵr.
So there we are, another lovely 11 miles completed once more.....only 2 days left - exciting!!
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