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  4. Pentrefoelas, Conwy

Pentrefoelas, Conwy

Summary

A circular walk from Pentrefoelas, Conwy, a village that takes its name from the nearby verdant hill (or 'foel-las'), once a castle motte.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Distance:
8.0 miles (12.8 km)
Walking time:
04h 00m
Type:
Circular

Start location

Pentrefoelas, Conwy LL24 0LE

lat: 53.048265

lon: -3.6825147

Map

Elevation

Route

1 of 0

Getting there

Llew Jones bus 70 on Tuesdays and Saturdays only from Conwy and Llanrwst to Pentrefoelas (0800 4640000, traveline.cymru). Car park in Pentrefoelas by river bridge south of A5 road.

Waypoints

1

In the village centre, join the lane rising beside the Foelas Arms. At the bend, turn right behind the churchyard; the subsequent path advances field-side, reaching a road beyond a farmyard. Turn left up this (care needed) to find a rough track departing right in 400m. The Georgian estate village of Pentrefoelas lies in the broad upland vale of the Afon Merddwr. The low ridges of remote Hiraethog ripple its flanks, from which are superb views to Snowdonia’s highest peaks and more distant summits to the south. This walk revels in these, en-route encountering evidence of the area's turbulent past

2

Fork along this bridleway, pass left of Cefn Garw farmhouse and follow the walled track to meet a tarred lane in 650m. Turn left to reach the A543 road.

3

Turn left, then in 100m head right up the farm lane. Turn right in front of the farmhouse; the lane roughens to a field road and bends right at trees to rise wall-side to a waymarked (Hiraethog Trail) cross-track in another 350m. Turn left on this, which rises gently to unlock views to a sublime skyline of Snowdonia's highest summits, from the Carneddau in the north, via Snowdon to shapely Siabod in the south. Pass straight over the cross-track above fir woods and follow the firm moorland track through four further gates.

4

Just past the fourth gate, go left down the walled track towards Maes Merddyn farm. Turn left immediately above the farmyard using two adjacent gates, then contour-walk across three pastures (waymark arrows) to join the gated field road ahead to Cefn-y-Gadfa. Bear left at this cottage along the continuing field road to the next farm, then drop to the minor road. Turn right, then just before the cattle grid use the kissing gate, left. Follow the hedge-line before passing through woods covering the steep motte of Foel Las castle, possibly built for the Welsh Prince Owain Gwynedd in 1164. At the tarred farm lane go right to a road.

5

Cross into the gated track opposite, passing above the farm to reach a junction. Turn left (fingerposted) to the nearby sharp-L bend. Use the handgate, right, and descend two pastures to reach the A5 road beside a cottage.

6

Cross right into the narrow lane, then across two bridges and rise to the T-junction. Keep ahead up the gated, rutted field track, rising past woodland, then beside reedy pastures to reach a minor road.

7

Turn left and walk 600m to a gated, waymarked stony track on the left. Take this; keep right at the T-junction, then left in 120m to reach a squat communications mast. Go right for 50m, then left to a ladder stile, beyond which follow waymarks beneath the nearby spreading beech to regain Pentrefoelas Bridge, visible ahead.

Notes

Terrain: Roads, byways, moorland tracks, field paths.

Maps: OS Explorer OL17; Landranger 116.

Eating & drinking: Riverside Chocolate House Tearoom, Pentrefoelas LL24 0LE  (01690 770296, riversidechocolatehouse.com).

Sleeping: Y Giler Arms, Rhydlydan, Pentrefoelas LL24 0LL (01690 770612, giler.co.uk). Foelas Arms, Pentrefoelas LL24 0HT (01690 770213).

Visitor information: Snowdonia National Park Information Centre, Royal Oak Stables, Betws y Coed LL24 0AH (01690 710426, eryri-npa.gov.uk).

Guidebooks: OS Pathfinder North Wales and Snowdonia by Terry Marsh (£11.99, Crimson Publishing, ISBN: 9781780590721)

Local Ramblers: Conwy Valley (01492 874563, conwyvalleyra.org.uk)

Problem with this route?

If you encounter a problem on this walk, please let us know by emailing volunteersupport@ramblers.zendesk.com. If the issue is with a public path or access please also contact the local highways authority directly, or find out more about solving problems on public paths on our website.

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