Hiking the Snowdonia Slate Trail

Bangor is the oldest city in Wales established in the 6 th century by St. Deiniol. the city grew in the 1700s as it became an important point on the mail coach route to Dublin via Porthaethwy and Holyhead. The Slate industry really kicked off in the the 1770s and slate was brought by pony powered railways down to the city and packed between layers of heather to export around the World. With the arrival of steamboats from Liverpool as well as the railways from 1848, a thriving resort developed. and today its a mixture of a tourist and university town. You can visit the 12th century cathedral and Garth Pier (1896) 470 metres long and often voted the best pier in Britain with views across the Menai Straits to Anglesey Accommodation: We use a number of different accommodation in this busy town.

A beautiful and varied walk especially in good weather. The walk starts from the old harbour at Porth Penrhyn by the shady Lon Las Ogwen River and follows the old Penrhyn Quarry Railway and then branches off across farmland, reaching Llanllechid Church with some nice views of the Snowdonia peaks. There is a bit of minor road walking before crossing the open moors below Moel Fabon. Eventually passing the spoils of Penrhyn Quarry, you reach Bethesda around lunchtime. There are a couple of community cafe and pubs here. Heading out the trail climbs out of the Ogwen Valley with some wild moorland walking until you reach the Parc Padarn and follow the trail through the beautiful dwarf oak forest - a remnant of the once extensive deciduous rain forest above the waters of beautiful Llyn Padarn, 30m deep in places and supporting rare Arctic Char fish. The trail finally rounds part of the lake and descends into the famous village of Llanberis via the National Slate Museum. It will probably be too late for much of a visit, but you pass a lot of the old mining infrastructure on the way in. Llanberis has a range of restaurants, takeaways and out door outfitters. However it has very few pubs for such a busy tourist town. An extra day is recommended to visit the Slate and hospital museums, or if you want to climb Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa, or take the small Victorian train up to the top. Accommodation: we use one of a number of B&Bs / Guest houses mainly dotted along the High Street. They are all used to welcoming walkers, have cosy rooms with tea and coffeemaking facilities

Climb out of Llanberis onto the hillside above the village joining the North Wales Pilgriim's path. You pass forestry and slate quarry workings before following lane and field paths into the village of Waunfawr, possible cafe stop. The walk then climbs very steeply through woodland. You then cross open moorland with views to Mynydd Mawr and the rugged Nantile Ridge. The next section descends through the slate works and quarries of the Nantile Valley, passing the old miner's cottages. From here its a beautifully scenic walk along the side of Llyn Nantlle Uchaf, perhaps with views of Mt.Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa. The trail ascends over the pass at Drws-y-Coed, before descending past Lyn y Dywarchen to the village of Rhyd-dhu, where a pub stop maybe is in order. If you are running late you may want to have a meal here or take the late bus to Beddgelert*. Continue around the side of beautiful Llyn-y-Gadair, entering the Beddgelert Forest eventually popping out at Beddgelert - 'Gelert's Grave' where Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales murdered his pet dog by mistake! - or so the legend goes. This is a beautiful little village with its picturesque stone bridge over the Afon Colwyn. Accommodation: An attractive small traditional Inn with en suite bedrooms, each with colour television, telephone, tea and coffee tray. Besides the dining-room, there is a large lounge with an open fire and two attractive small bars. The place serves home cooking. *If the day becomes too long, there is an option to take the bus from Rhyd-dhu to Beddgelert. This shortens the day to 15.2 miles / 24.6 km.

Take the spectacular riverside path along the Afon Glaslyn Gorge over the Aberglaslyn Pass, then follow a country road to Nantmor. You continue through the pretty village of Bwlchgwernog onto a drover's road crossing the moorland to Croesor. A good track climbs to Croesor and Rhosydd slate quarry, perhaps the remotest part of the whole Slate Trail. From here a broad track drops down to Cwmorthin Lake and its abandoned settlement, then the road descends to Tanygrisiau where there is a lakeside cafe. The trails lead you to the small town of Blaenau Ffestiniog where there are some slate sculptures. A steep descent goes by the Cwm Teigi gorge up steeply into the village of Llan Ffestinog and the Pengwern pub, perhaps the most iconic accommodation on the route. Accommodation: Tonight's accommodation is Y Pengwern. This is a cosy and lovely old droving and coaching inn, it is now owned and run by the community of Llan Ffestiniog on a not-for-profit basis. They offer simple, homely accommodation in a casual atmosphere.

Today's walk rolls out along the Cwm Cynfal gorge and across the boggy Migneint moors, descending through slate workings to Cwm Penmachno followed by a steep climb up to Penmachno, a gorgeous little place with a nice pub. After some refreshments, broad forestry tracks take the trail down to Roman Bridge, an ancient , but not Roman, packhorse bridge over the River Machno. After this the road is followed to Conwy Falls Café. there are some viewpoints along the path. A pleasant track passes the Fairy Glen before a minor road, followed by a short woodland walk, leading to bustling Betws y Coed, a popular Georgian and Victorian resort with its Waterloo Bridge built by Thomas Telford in 1815. The river and falls at Betswy, make this a very pleasant place to stay after a long walk. There are loads of cafes and shops and a couple of nice pubs. Pont-y-Pair Falls In the centre of the village, is the site of a 53-hole rock cannon where gun powder was put in holes in the rocks around here and fired off during times of celebration Accommodation: You will stay in one of a number of similar standard B&Bs, all with comfortable rooms, generally away from the busiest parts of the town. Rooms are generally ensuite, but due to the age and layout of some of the buildings some rooms may have separate private bathrooms instead.

Leave Betws y Coed on a well-engineered riverside walk, passing the famous Swallow Falls before reaching the road at 'The Ugly House' from the 16th century - nowadays a nice cafe with a garden for bees and bit of history. There is then a steep climb into the Gwydir Forest and good woodland tracks. Once out of the woods, the stunning views of Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa, Moel Siabod, the Carneddau and the Glyderau open up as you drop down into Capel Curig. Perhaps time for a coffee also outdoor shops if your boots are falling apart. Now walk to the head of the impressive U-shaped Nant Ffrancon valley and the rough path around Llyn Ogwen with the famous paek of Tryfan towering above the water. From the head of the Nant Ffrancon valley, the trail descends steeply on a quiet lane, part of the Lon Las Ogwen Cycleway, passing slate mining debris, eventually reaching Bethesda. There is normally an hourly bus back to Bangor, but these are about every 2 hours on Sunday, so you may want to call for a taxi for the 15 minute ride. Accommodation: We use a number of different accommodation in this busy town.

After breakfast take Mainline train services to England via Crewe or else where in Wales. You could have an extra day and take the regular bus to Caernarfon with its magnificent castle and back, or there is a pretty walk there along the Menai straits , walking through a couple of botanical parks as you go. (11.4 miles /18.4km)