Snowdonia Autumn

Awesome Autumn

 

Here in Snowdonia, the relentless summer showers have finally given way to beautiful late September days. There's no denying that Autumn is well and truly on it's way - there's a chill in the evening air and sometimes a sprinkling of frost on the Oakeley lawns first thing.

 

We snapped this picture of the beautiful mountains last night. It was a gorgeous autumn evening - perfect for a stroll to appreciate the stunning views.

 

 

 

There are lots of fabulous walks in Snowdonia from the Oakeley Arms Hotel - you can check out our previous blog posts here and here, or ask staff for details.

 



The North Wales Pilgrim's Way

Follow the Pilgrim

Here at the Oakeley, you know by now that we love a good walk, but this week we're wondering about an extra special challenge? We've heard a few of our guests and customers mention the Pilgrims Way, which is a fabulous long distance footpath that spans the northern coastline of Wales.

This stunning walking route runs for 150 miles and follows in the footsteps, literally, of the thousands of ancient pilgrims that would have at one time completed this route as part of their religious education and spiritual journey.

The route begins in Holywell, North East Wales, which was an old embarkation point for ferries that came from the North West of England and the Isle of Man, and it ends at Bardsey Island, a saintly (20,000 saints are said to be buried here) and very religious island. In Medieval times, three pilgrimages to Bardsey were considered to be the equivalent benefit to personal religious enlightenment  as one trip to Rome.

As well as an enormous sense of fulfilment, the route aims to give walkers more insight into the varied and rich history of Wales, and the opportunity to explore some beautiful countryside -  the Clwydian Hills and the Llyn Peninsula to name only a couple of the stunning areas that the walk passes through.

Annual pilgrimages are organised by the route's founding members, and anyone can join them for a section - or the whole lot if you're feeling energetic!

You can find out more information on the route, as well as maps, historical information and details at the website. Click here

Happy Walking!

Image by Mynydd Mawr (Nowster) on wiki commons

Borth-y-Gest Walk

A Beachy Walk

Regular blog readers will remember that a couple of weeks ago we featured the lovely village of Borth-y-Gest on the Oakeley Blog, and that we promised details of a fabulous walk there. Well, never ones to go back on our word - here's the Borth-y-Gest walk.

It starts in the main car park in the village (postcode for sat nav is LL49 9TS)

Distance/Time:   6.5km / 4 miles

Start:                     Car park in Borth-y-Gest (at the southern end of the bay, opposite the café and shop)
Grid Ref:              SH 565 375

**Please note that parts of this walk are tidal, so please check tide status before starting and do not continue if it is unsafe to do so. The walk is best undertaken at low or falling tide.

1: Turn away from the harbour and walk up a short path at the top left corner of car park; turn left at the top.

2: As the road sweeps right, stay ahead and as the road ends stay ahead again and follow the footpath; pass a small church above on the right. Continue ahead on the clear path with beaches below on the left behind the hedgerow; ignore steps on the left.

3: Eventually, at a T-junction after upward steps, stay ahead (ignore the right fork). Cross bridge down to beach. Aim for large sand dune straight ahead. At bottom right corner, find path path uphill bearing right and soon becomes a clear path that snakes upwards and levels out.

4: Turn left at top and walk beside large wall. The path ends at a footpath sign and a rough drive. Turn right through the (usually) open gate then immediately left. Follow the path to reach steep steps and follow them as they zig-zag downhill to reach a concrete slipway.

 5: Either turn left down the slipway then right onto beach; or if tide is high go straight over and follow a stony path on top of the embankment with the golf course on the right. Aim for the rocky outcrop ahead on the left with a small white house just visible.

6: If the tide is out then skirt around the edge of the rocks and to the left of the house. If not, continue along the embankment path to the right of house and pass above it before dropping down to Black Rock Beach.

7: Once on the beach, continue ahead with dunes to right, for almost a kilometre. Cross a brook (may be deep at high tide or after heavy rain).

8: Take the first main exit you reach on the right (look for a sign-board and blue cabin) passing caravan parks. Soon after the pub take a right turn for Y Ffridd then follow a public footpath sign on the right leading into a wooded area to emerge onto a golf course.

 9: Turn left to follow the wide gravel path across the course. After a large bend and fence posts, the track meets a tarmac road. Turn left then almost immediately right to walk along a fence to a path uphill into trees. Continue until you emerge at a caravan park then turn left.

 10: After tennis courts go slightly left at junction then immediately right (with a cabin on the left). Follow this windy road uphill, eventually passing two wooden bin stores.

11: At the first caravan on your left and a slate sign for Borth-y-Gest and Beach ahead, turn right to cross a small grassy clearing, leading to a path through trees then fork left and go through the gate.

12: Follow the path downhill, behind school buildings then through a kissing gate. Turn right then left at road, down Mersey Street and back to car park.

Snowdon Grid References

Lost and Found

A new initiative was unveiled last month by the Snowdonia National Park, in order to help lost walkers and climbers on Snowdon find their way to safety.

The Snowdon Mountain Rescue Team devised the scheme, in which small grid reference notices have been placed on fence posts, gates and stiles so that disorientated walkers can get back on the right track. It's also hoped that the grid references will improve mountain safety and will also be crucial for rescue teams to more pinpoint accurately missing or troubled walkers.

The reference points are parts of a wider safety initiative run by the Mountainsafe Partnership to improve safety on mountains.

Here at the Oakeley Arms, we love escaping to the hills for a good day of walking, and we certainly are spoilt for choice! But we do agree that safety is paramount when on the hills.

You can find more safety information and hints and tips from the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team on their website here

Stay safe out there!!

Image by Stemontis on wikicommons

Walkers Save Rare Flower

Trample for Survival!

In the news last week is the story that the trampling boots of walkers, the muddy paws of dogs and the squelch of bike tyres have all helped to save a rare flower from extinction on Anglesey.

The flower - the three-lobed-water-crowfoot is a not only a bit of a mouthful, but is also part of the Buttercup family. It was once almost extinct in Wales, but since 1999, the numbers have trebled.

The delicate little flowers love to grow in shallow pools of water and mud - like footprints or tracks. The fact that walkers and cyclists are disturbing the mud and earth means that there are more little grooves for this plant to thrive in. It scatters seeds into the mud during the spring before it all dries out by the summer. So, the race is on to get trampling and help spread this pretty flower across more of North Wales.

See, walking is not only good for you, but it's also good for nature. Trample and tread (carefully....) and come and enjoy a walk in our beautiful Welsh countryside. You can find some walks near the Oakeley Arms on our previous blog posts here and here

The common water crowfoot

Image by Rictor Norton and David Allen on WikiCommons

Vale of Ffestiniog Way

Wales Coast Path to Mountains Link!

Well, the fabulous Wales Coast Path opened last weekend to much celebration and excitment. And, in honour of this brilliant footpath, a brand new walking route has been created.

The Vale of Ffestiniog Way is a stunning 18 mile circular route that goes from our lovely village of Maentwrog. It leads all the way up one side of the Ffestiniog valley to Llan Ffestiniog, then crosses the highlands of the valley behind the Manod mountain before dropping into Blaenau Ffestiniog and down the other side of the valley to drop back down to Maentwrog.

Maentwrog already sits on the route of the new Wales Coast Path, so the new Vale of Ffestiniog Way is a brilliant route that links the coast and mountains.

There's loads to explore, discover and see - from the legend of St Twrog to the Cynfal gorge and sad stories of loss, to ancient stones to wildlife.

We can't wait to explore it, and of course have a well deserved drink back here in the Oakeley afterwards!!

You can find out more details and the route description here http://voffway.blogspot.co.uk/

See you on the route!

Many thanks to Huw Jenkins for the link to his blog and route description.

Wales Coast Path

These boots are made for walking.....

Fancy a walk this weekend? Well why not try the brand new Wales Coast Path?

On May 5th, the Wales Coast Path will be officially opened, making Wales the first country in the world to have a walking route that follows every inch of its coastline. It'll be possible to meander, wander, walk and explore an incredible 870 miles of some of the most beautiful coast in the world.

From the outskirts of Chester in the north, the path follows the coast all the way to Chepstow in the South. The project has been co-ordinated by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), along with sixteen local councils and two National Park Authorities, as well as the Ramblers and the Welsh Government, so it has been a huge collaboration and a long-running project.

Some parts of the Wales Coast Path are already well promoted walking routes. The Pembrokeshire Coast path has been officially opened since the 1970s and is one of the most popular Long Distance Trails in Britain.

However, there are some parts of the Wales Coast Path that are not yet open to walkers and the opening of the Wales Coast Path will mean that entirely new sections of coastline will open up to walkers and visitors. The sections between Porthmadog and Machynlleth and most sections between Swansea and the end of the route at Chepstow will all be new sections of path.


And last year, travel guide publishers LonelyPlanet selected the coastline of Wales as one of the “must-see” regions of 2012", alongside world locations such as Croatia, India, Kenya and Central America.


What more of a recommendation do you need? With 870 miles to explore where will you start?


The Oakeley Arms is only a couple of miles from the Coast Path at Portmeirion and Porthmadog, so there's plenty to explore. Check back soon for some details of walks along the coast.

See you on the coast!!

Image ©VisitBritain/ James McCormick

Oakeley Winter Walk

Ffestiniog Valley Walk

We love a bracing winter walk here at the Oakeley Arms, and we don't need much of an excuse to drag the walking boots from the cupboard, fill up the thermos and head out for an amble.

The forecast's pretty good this weekend, so what are you waiting for? Try our brilliant walk along the Ffestiniog Valley - there are some cracking views and stunning scenery.

This walk leaves straight from the Oakeley. See you in the bar afterwards for a well-earned drink!

Distance:               approx 5 ½ miles

Start:                       Oakeley Arms, Maentwrog

Maps:                     OL Explorer 18: Harlech, Porthmadog and Y Bala

Directions:            

1: Leave the pub and turn left onto the main road; follow pavement round corner towards bridge. Just before bridge over Dwyryd, turn left through gate (at a footpath sign) and walk along top of grassy mound. Ahead are stunning views of the Ffestiniog valley.

2: When you get close to the river, the path swings left. Go through gate, turn right and stay on the quiet lane for over a mile. The river is parallel to the lane at first, then it veers away from it. Finally you will reach a small bridge, cross it and continue ahead to follow lane to a road.

 3: Turn right to soon reach a junction, then turn left and very soon cross over for footpath sign turning right over stone stile. Follow path up through trees and over stile. Walk besides wall for short distance and at a corner of wall where the stones have fallen go through gap and turn left (the wall should now be on your left) towards road.

4: Over stile, turn right on road and walk for almost 200metres. At a footpath sign turn left, through gate and along path. Go through gate then steeply downhill to gate at bottom.

5: Go through small boggy land and head to right, walking along field edge towards the corner. Here head upwards along right edge of field, passing way-marker. At top of field go through gap and stay straight ahead, keeping wall on left. Cross stile and turn left along a track heading downhill.

6: At the road turn sharp right and at end of parking area on the right cross road and turn left down narrow path. Go through gate and soon track will veer to left, but as it ends stay ahead on path through trees which curves left to gate.

7: Through gate and into nature reserve and follow path uphill by river. Turn left to cross bridge and climb steeply. Walk past another information board and follow main path. Go over small stream and through gap in broken wall.

8: At top of woods go over stile and continue straight on to walk alongside wall then through ferns. Over stile then turn left and soon head right up track following edge of trees. At a fork, stay left.

9: You’ll soon reach the old railway track (look for the ruined bridge ahead. Turn left here and walk along the old track; you should be able to see wooden sleepers to mark the track.

10: At Dduallt station go through gate and cross railway line to pass railway buildings. Just after old house on right look for stile over fence on the other side of the track. Opposite the stile, cross the track again and over stile, turning left.

11: After going under bridge follow path through more ferns and go through two gaps in the broken stone walls to stile. Over stile, cross railway, over another stile and turn right. Follow path that heads downhill.

12: At a track by a house, continue ahead and the track will start to go steeply downhill. At a very sharp bend to left keep straight on over stile at footpath sign. Go downhill and cross stream, then carry on descending through woods to gate.

13: Through gate, turn left to follow steeply path down to track. Turn uphill to right, passing house and cross bridge. Go half left along path then through gate to follow windy path through trees. When you reach lane, turn right and then at main road turn right again to reach Oakeley Arms.

**Please note that appropriate clothing and shoes should be worn for this walk, and it should not be attempted in bad weather. It is also recommended that you take a map with you, as well as adequate food and drink supplies.

All directions are correct at the time of writing but the Oakeley Arms cannot accept responsibility for errors, omissions or changes or any damages caused as a result of following these walk directions. Please notify us if you find any errors and we will do our best to rectify them.

Ask a member of staff if you'd like help with directions or advice on the route.

Welsh Mountain Adventures

Outdoor Life

What are you up to this weekend? Having a lie-in? Watching a film?  Painting the kitchen? Taking the kids shopping? Coming to see us at the Oakeley Arms?

It's true that the sun has truly set on summer, but that doesn't mean the outdoor fun has to stop. Ok, so we know you don't want to go and sit on the beach in the snow (although it has been known!) but how about a trip out to explore some of the breathtaking Snowdonian scenery that's right on our doorstep.

Alwen Williams is a local mountain leader, who has been working with our customers and guests since she set up her mountain leading venture last year, and she's been a great hit so far.

From a quiet local walk, to tackling our highest peaks, Alwen will make sure you have the best experience possible. If you want to brush up on your navigational skills, learn some new route-finding proficiencies or discover a prowess for map reading that you didn't know you had, then Alwen is on hand to help.

Alwen can suggest routes (and she knows all the best, quietest ones) and take you to new places. Having grown up among the hills of Ffestiniog, there isn't a valley or nook she doesn't know about.

A qualified mountain leader with over seven years experience, Alwen's passion and enthusiasm shines through in every aspect of her work in the mountains. You can book her for half day, whole day or even overnight expeditions. And if walking's not your thing, then get on 'yer bike and into the famous woods of Coed-y-Brenin because Alwen also offers guided biking tours and trips.

You can check out Alwen's profile, find out more information or contact her at the Welsh Mountain Adventure website.

Get out there and explore! And after all that, we promise you've deserved a pint of Oakeley Dokeley! See you at the bar :)

Llyn Mair Walk

Why not make the most of this fabulous Indian Summer we're having here in Wales this week, and enjoy a walk straight from the Oakeley Arms Hotel?
You could combine it with a trip on the Ffestiniog Railway or enjoy a refreshing drink and a well-deserved meal back at the hotel when you've finished!

1. Leave the hotel and turn right, heading up the hill. Follow this (sorry it's steep!) as it eventually reaches the lake side. Contine along the side of the lake, until you come to a car parking area on the right, and on the left you'll see a wooden gate leading to a lake-side picnic area. Go through the gate and follow the path as it bends round to the right.
2. Shortly, go through the next gate to continue along the path. At way-marker #26, bear left downhill and continue, to cross a footbridge. Go through gap in the wall and bear left to follow the path. Go over two small footbridges and stay on the path as it winds around the lake edge.
3. Eventually, at a fork, and way-marker #10, turn right here and head up the track. At a sharp left corner, stay ahead and go through/pass by a wooden gate. At way-marker #8, bear right.
4. At the top of a small hill and way-marker #28, turn right. At the next junction (with way-marker #27 on your right) turn left. Go through/past a wooden gate, and then another to return to the lakeside picnic area. Turn right to re-trace your steps back down the hill.
5. To explore the railway station, go back to the road, cross it and into the car parking area. Cross the footbridge and follow the steep slate-gravel path uphill. This will take you through the woods to the station.
6. An alternative walk - at point 3 above (way-marker #10) go straight ahead. At way-marker #11 turn right and follow the path. At way-marker #12, keep ahead again, and the path will eventually bring you out on the drive for Plas Tan-y-Bwlch. Some of the house is open to the public - check with our staff and they will be able to give you more details. Turn left at the drive and follow it all the way back to the Oakeley.

Now you deserve a drink!!
Happy walking

Llyn Mair in Autumn