Dolgellau Weekend Away, 20th to 23rd September 2019

This year's VBR Weekend Away, organised by Elaine and Sue, was based at HF's Dolserau Hall near Dolgellau, with all the offered five walks arranged, recced and led by Maggie and Glen.

Dolserau Hall

Saturday's long walk of 12½ miles started at the Hall before climbing up to the hillside village of Llanfachreth.  A traverse along the Precipice Walk, with its magnificent views of the Mawddach Estuary and Cadair Idris, took us round to Lyn Cynwch before we headed back down to Dolserau Hall.  The short walk of 8 miles took in the Precipice Walk and Lyn Cynwch.

Coffee stop on the way up to Llanfachreth

Llanfachreth Church dedicated to the Celtic Saint Machreth 

The short walkers meet the long walkers near Lyn Cynwch

Precipice Walk with views down to Afon Mawddach

Lyn Cynwch

On Sunday, the longer 10-mile walk started at Cregennan Lakes and crossed over rough tracks to Llyn Gwernan before turning back along an ancient drove route with a number of burial cairns as well as two Iron Age hill forts. It then turned up the riverside path along the wooded River Gwynant Valley before heading back to the start.

The long walkers at the start in Cregennan Lakes car park

And the short walkers

Mawddach Estuary ...

 ... and the Barmouth Viaduct

Not wet all day

Llyn  Gwernan

Old drovers track

On Monday morning, our 6-mile walk started near Llaneltyd and climbed steeply up to the New Precipice Walk giving extensive views down the Mawddach Estuary to Barmouth. The descent to the Penmaenpool Toll Bridge across the river took us to the return path along the Mawddach Trail where we met up with some of the rest of the group who had walked along the trail.

The Remainers on Monday morning

Glen did say it was a steep climb (several times)

The New Precipice Walk ...

... is a flat track cut into the valley side on the slopes of Foel Ispri and makes use of an old tramway built to serve the long abandoned workings of the Voel Goldmine

This nearby water wheel may have been used power the tramway

Penmaenpool Toll Bridge (1879)

Penmaenpool Toll Bridge

Memorial to those lost in the 1966 ferry boat accident ...

...  near the George III Hotel.  The then hotel proprietor with his chef and barman saved many lives on the day of the disaster

Thanks to everyone for a very enjoyable weekend, including the quizmasters John and Dave, but especially to Maggie and Glen who put an enormous amount of effort into mapping out the walks.  We look forward to next year's Weekend Away in Selworthy near Exmoor.