Sunday 20th May, 2018

Moel Siabod round

This is a challenging round starting from Pont Cyfyng, near Capel Curig. We will ascend Moel Siabod by its east Ridge, which involves a bit of easy scrambling and some exposure on the section from Llyn y Foel up to the summit. From the summit (2861′ / 872m) there are great views of the Snowdonia mountains in all directions, but particularly of the Snowdon Horseshoe.  We will descend to Plas y Brenin down Siabod’s broad back (and perhaps have a cuppa in passing), then follow the river Llugwy back to Pont Cyfyng.

Please note that it can be cold on the tops, even in May. Please ensure that you have warm, waterproof clothing and good boots.

We will travel to and from Pont Cyfyng in our minibus, and be back in time in time for our now-legendary Cake Fest at 4 p.m.!.

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink.

Distance:  about 7 miles / 11 km

Grade:  a moderate/hard mountain walk

Meet:  8.45 at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Chris Hopkins and Steve Collister

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

(Because this walk makes use of the minibus, numbers are restricted to 12.)

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Friday 18th May, 2018

Sacred Doors

This is a lovely local walk from Trefriw which takes in 3 churches and a chapel, namely Trefriw Church, ancient Llanrhychwyn Church, pretty Gwydir Uchaf Chapel and Llanrwst Church.

From Trefriw we will initially head up through the woods above the Crafnant valley to reach tiny Llanrhychwyn church (established in the 6th century), at the highest point of our walk. From here we will descend on the edge of the forest to Gwydir Uchaf chapel (built in 1673 and noted for its fine painted ceiling), with good views over to Trefriw and down the Conwy Valley.  We will then follow the riverbank into Llanrwst to visit Llanrwst church, then continue by the river back to Trefriw.

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 7.5 miles / 12 km

Grade:  Easy/moderate, at a leisurely pace

Meet:  10.30 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Ken Brassil and Bernard Owen

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Friday 18th May, 2018

Far from the Madding Crowd

Betws-y-coed is busy in the season – but not up at Llyn Elsi where we’ll be going! We start with a walk along the riverside at Betws-y-coed, then crossing MIners’ Bridge to head up to pretty Llyn Elsi, partly along the old Roman Road of Sarn Helen. After walking the mile round the lake (with good views over the mountains of northern Snowdonia), we return to Betws-y-coed.

Although Llyn Elsi lies nearly 700′ above Betws-y-coed, the ascent is long and gentle, then on the way back it’s downhill all the way!

Our minibus will take us to Betws-y-coed, then bring us back at the end of the day.

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 5.5 miles / 9 km

Grade:  moderate, much of it on good wide tracks

Meet:  10.15 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Cate and Mike Bolsover

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

(Because this walk makes use of the minibus, numbers are restricted to 12.)

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Saturday 19th May, 2018

The Crafnant Horseshoe

See today’s walk here.

Not for the faint-hearted, this is the toughest walk of the three days, and will demand a good level of fitness. We will be walking the route of the annual Trefriw Mill Fell Race, with a total ascent of about 4000′  (that’s higher than Snowdon!)

Ascending firstly up the ridge of Cefn Cyfarwydd – the ridge behind Trefriw – we head along its broad top to the peaks of Creigiau Gleision, from where there are incredible views over to the Glyders and the Snowdon Massif, but also down to the coast. After bagging the lesser tops of Craiglwyn, Craig Wen and the Crimpiau, we descend to Llyn Crafnant, then head over Mynydd Deulyn to Llyn Geirionydd on our way back to Trefriw.

This area is remote, one part is boggy, and it can be cold on the tops, even in May.  Please ensure that you have warm, waterproof clothing and good boots. Gaiters would not be out of order in places.

Duration:  All Day.  Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink.

Distance:  about 11 miles / 17.5 km

Grade:  Strenuous mountain (see the gradient profile below)

Meet:  8.45 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders: Tony Ellis and Brian Miller

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Friday 18th May, 2018

The Tide is High

The River Conwy is tidal to Tan Lan, between Trefriw and Llanrwst. This is a totally level, largely riverside walk on the Trefriw flood plain, with glimpses of the old quay from where slate and metals were shipped before steamers brought passengers in their hundreds. We’ll follow the Cob past Tan Lan to the suspension bridge over the Conwy, then cross to follow the riverbank on the Llanrwst side. After a refreshment stop at Ty Hwnt i’r Bont cafe, we’ll return to Trefriw on this side of the river, by a different route.

Duration:  Half day

Distance:  about 4 miles / 6.5 km

Grade:  Very easy and leisurely, but please wear good footwear as the riverbank can be a bit uneven underfoot.

Meet:  1.15 p.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Jan Blaszkiewicz and Kim Ellis


Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Saturday 19th May, 2018

Arctic-Alpine Plants of Cwm Idwal

Arctic-alpine plants make up Britain’s most ancient plant communities and represent the first page of our island’s post glacial natural history. They mostly disappeared as our climate warmed, and have been extinct in most of the British Isles for many thousands of years.  Miraculously, in a few special places a handful of these both extremely beautiful and extremely hardy plants still survive, right on the edge of their geographical and ecological range.

Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve at the head of the Ogwen Valley is perhaps the most famous and the most accessible of these ‘Arctic Refugia’ in Snowdonia

This walk will visit some of these plant communities, take a look at their ecology and past and current threats to their survival as well as other aspects of this magnificent site’s geology, management and human and natural history.

(This is a chance to walk with an expert who knows where to find rare stuff!)

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch, plenty to drink and clothing for the upland environment. Binoculars and hand lenses if you have them may also be of use. Return for 5.30pm (earlier if the weather is inclement).

Distance:  No more than 6 miles / 10 km

Grade and suitability: moderate, but participants need to be comfortable walking over, at times, steep and very uneven ground away from paths in an upland environment.

Meet: 9.15 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631) for transport via car share.

Walk Leaders:  Pete Kay and Joan Prime

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Saturday 19th May, 2018

Way Back When (an archaeology walk)

This year we have again teamed up with the Snowdonia Society to present a walk with archaeologist and heritage consultant Dr Sarah McCarthy.

Starting and finishing in Llanbedr-y-cennin, highlights will include the Iron Age hillfort of Pen-y-gaer (with its defensive chevaux de frise), stunning views into the Carneddau and out to Liverpool Bay, and a brief sojourn in one of the best pubs in North Wales!

This will be a ‘mid-level’ walk, with some rougher (off-path) walking.

We will be getting to the start point of the walk in our minibus, returning by the same method.

Duration:  All day .   Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 5.5 miles / 9 km

Grade:  Moderate

Meet:  9.45 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Dr Sarah McCarthy and Cat Scheltinga

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

(Because this walk makes use of the minibus, numbers are restricted to 12.)

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Saturday 19th May, 2018

Cuckoo Country

The cuckoo (invariably several) can be heard all through May in the scenic area covered by this walk.  The minibus will take us up to Llyn Crafnant, where we will then walk beside the lake to its far end, then up over the bwlch towards Capel Curig (with great views down towards Siabod and Snowdon). On the way back, on good wide paths, we pass small Llyn Bychan before reaching Llyn Geirionydd (where there are toilets), returning to Trefriw on meadows close to the river Crafnant.

We can’t guarantee cuckoos, of course, but this is a great round in its own right, and a lot of hats will definitely be eaten if we don’t hear any!

Duration:  All Day.  Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 10 miles / 16 km

Grade:  Moderate, with one steep section, but leisurely

Meet:  9.00 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Nigel Thomas and Mike Bolsover

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

(Because this walk makes use of the minibus, numbers are restricted to 12.)

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Friday 18th May, 2018

Water for the Coast

See the walk here!

This walk will visit the 4 lake reservoirs in the northern Carneddau foothills which provide water for the coastal towns and the Conwy Valley. We will be taken by minibus out of Trefriw to Cwm Cowlyd, then walk up to Llyn Cowlyd before heading over the hill to Llyn Eigiau. We then head up 250m to the mountain lakes of Llyn Melynllyn and Llyn Dulyn, before returning by a different path to the Eigiau valley to catch the minibus back. There’s lots of industrial history in this area too.

This area of the Carneddau foothills is remote. Please ensure that you have warm, waterproof clothing and good boots.

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink.

Distance:  about 10 miles / 16 km

Grade:  Strenuous in view of the terrain and distance (some 700m of ascent)

Meet:  9.00 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Tony Ellis and Colin Boyd

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

(Because this walk makes use of the minibus, numbers are restricted to 12.)

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Saturday & Sunday 19th & 20th May, 2018

Down to the Sea

2018 is Year of the Sea in Wales, so we’re celebrating with a walk from Trefriw to the sea – and we want to go the scenic way, so we’re doing it in two stages, over two days.

On the first day we’ll walk from Trefriw to the area near Pen-y-gaer, the Iron Age fort above Llanbedr-y-cennin, after which the minibus will bring us back. This is by far the longer and more strenuous of the two days as we firstly ascend from Trefriw to the top of Cefn Cyfarwydd, the ridge behind Trefriw (this is a strenuous, long uphill section). From here on we are in the foothills of the Carneddau, and we’ll then descend to Cowlyd Dam and the Cowlyd valley before crossing the shoulder of Moel Eilio to remote Cwm Eigiau. From here we make our way over towards the bwlch between Pen-y-gaer and Penygadair.

On the second day the minibus will take us back to where we left off the previous day, and we’ll continue to the sea at Conwy. Initially we pass through an area of ancient standing stones and burial chambers, to then follow part of the North Wales Path to Sychnant Pass before descending over Conwy mountain.  And once there, hopefully there’ll be time for an ice cream on the quay, if we fancy it, before the minibus returns us to Trefriw, in time for our now-legendary Cake Fest at 4 p.m.!

Both days should reward you with splendid views.

Please note:  By making a booking you are committing to attend on both days.

Duration:  Two full days. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink on both days.

Distance:  about 12 miles (19 km)  +  7.5 miles (12 km)

  Day 1 gradient profile

  Day 2 gradient profile

Grade:  Moderate/strenuous, much of it over open upland moorland paths. The first day is far more challenging and remote, and may have some boggy areas – gaiters might prove useful.  Remember that it can be cold in the Carneddau foothills, even in May. Please ensure that you have warm, waterproof clothing and good boots.

Meet:  Saturday at 9.30 a.m. and Sunday at 9.30 at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Colin Devine and Karen Martindale

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

(Because this walk makes use of the minibus, numbers are restricted to 12.)

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below..
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Saturday 19th May, 2018

Back from Betws-y-coed

We will initially travel up the Conwy Valley from Trefriw to Betws-y-coed by public transport (bus), to then start the walk back to Trefriw along a high level route through the Gwydir High Park. This is a gem of a walk at a leisurely pace, with excellent views of the surrounding hills and Snowdonia Ranges.

From Betws y Coed, we head up the beautiful Aberllyn gorge past  the old mine workings, then along the bank of Llyn y Parc where we’ll stop for lunch.  We’ll visit Nant Bwlch-yr-haearn (Nant BH) mine, then on to a viewpoint looking back over Llanrwst and the Conwy valley.  As we cross over Mynydd BH the views change to look out over the main north Snowdonia ranges as we make our way down to Llanrhychwyn church and the Crafnant valley back to Trefriw via the Fairy Falls.  The route follows a mix of forest access roads and forest tracks.

Duration:  All day.    Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 7.5 miles / 13 km

Grade:  Moderate

Suitability:  Anyone who is reasonably fit

Meet:  10.15  a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)  to catch public transport to Betws-y-coed

(Fare payable on bus, unless you have a pass)

Leaders:  John Barber and Dave Prime


Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Friday 18th May, 2018

Views from the High Gwydir

This is a great scenic walk in the higher parts of the edge of the Gwydir Forest, with some lovely open views over the surrounding valleys and over to the mountains of northern Snowdonia.

We’ll go by minibus to Gwydir Uchaf (just 2 miles from Trefriw), then the route heads up to Llyn Parc, with elevated views over the Conwy valley, then over to Nant Bwlch-yr-haearn, from where it’s possible (in good visibility) to spot nine 3000′ peaks. We pass Llyn Bwlch y Gwynt and Llyn Glangors, each offering their own views over to the mountains, then back to Trefriw via Llyn Geirionydd and above the Crafnant valley.

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 7.5 miles / 12 km

Grade:  Moderate, and at a leisurely pace

Meet:  9.45 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Karen Black and Joan Prime

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

(Because this walk makes use of the minibus, numbers are restricted to 12.)

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Friday 18th May, 2018

Llugwy river ramble – from Betws-y-coed to Capel Curig

We will initially catch public transport (bus) from Trefriw to Betws-y-coed (20 mins), to then walk upstream to Capel Curig. On this scenic walk we’ll never be far from the river Llugwy, and we’ll pass the Swallow Falls and Tŷ Hyll (the Ugly House – always good for a cuppa).

The walk ends at Plas y Brenin, at Capel Curig, where we can have a cuppa before catching our minibus back to Trefriw.

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  6.5 miles / 10.5 km

Grade:  Easy/moderate

Meet:  10.15 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

(Fare payable on bus, unless you have a pass)

Walk Leaders:  Dave Prime and Nigel Thomas

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

(Because this walk makes use of the minibus, numbers are restricted to 12.)

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Saturday 19 May, 2018

Hills and Skills

Fancy a good walk, and at the same time developing your walking skills a little, such as using a compass, map reading, basic first aid, etc.?

This walk will take us from Trefriw up into the pretty area of Crafnant and Geironydd, but you’ll get more out of this than just a good walk!

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 5 miles / 8 km

Grade:  Moderate, leisurely

Meet:  11.45 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Roger Pierce and Ceri Jones

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Friday 18th May, 2018

A Short Mindfulness Walk

Duration:  about 2 hours.

Distance:  about 2 miles / 3 km

Grade:  Easy, leisurely

Meet:  12.30 p.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631) to then car-share to Betws-y-coed (4.5 miles from Trefriw)

Walk Leaders:  Gwen Parri and Pam Boyd

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Sunday 20th May, 2018

Earlybird Walk

Enjoy the dawn chorus on an early morning walk in and around the edges of the Gwydir Forest with some local bird watchers. Whilst walking a loop that includes woodland and riverbank, learn how to identify birds by their song. A leisurely pace with some rough and short steep sections. The ground may be wet in places. Good boots and binoculars recommended.

There’ll be a hot drink waiting for us in the village hall on our return, and we’ll be back in sufficient time for you to attend another walk, if you wish!

Duration:  Early morning, 2.5 hours.

Distance:  about 3 miles / 5 km

Grade:  Easy/moderate, and leisurely

Meet:  6.15 a.m. (early!) in the main car park in Trefriw (LL27 0JH, SH781631) (opposite the Woollen Mill)

Leaders:  Joan Prime and Alan Young


Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Sunday 20th May, 2018

Rivers, Lakes and Falls

See the walk here!

This is a gorgeous walk in three parts: The first part of the walk sees us walking past the Fairy Falls waterfall, then beside the river Crafnant out of the village and up along the Crafnant valley, as far as its confluence with the Afon Geirionydd. Here there is a short strenuous section as the river flows past waterfalls and down a gorge, and we follow this short river up to Llyn Geirionydd (with toilets at its far end).

The middle section sees us crossing the upper part of the Gwydir Forest, passing a couple of beautiful lakes, and with some great views, before descending to the river Conwy upstream of Gwydir Castle.

The last third of the walk – a level section – sees us following the banks of the river Conwy, past Llanrwst, then round the riverside Cob back to Trefriw.  We’ll be back in time for the Cake Fest at 4 p.m.!

Duration:  All day.  Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 10.5 miles / 17 km

Grade:  Moderate (with a short, steeper uphill section, but also a long final easy section)

Meet:  9.15 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Tony Ellis and Nigel Thomas

  Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Sunday 20th May, 2018

Gwydir and the Wynns

The Wynns of Gwydir Castle were descendants of the Kings of Gwynedd. Their vast estate of some 36,000 acres of land dominated life in C16 North Wales. This leisurely walk will visit their house, Gwydir Castle, the beautifully decorated Gwydir Uchaf Chapel, the intriguing row of almshouses and the Wynn mausoleum, Gwydir Chapel in Llanrwst.

We’ll also stroll along the ‘Chinese Walk’ by way of Gwydir Quay to cross Pont Fawr bridge and follow the river back to Trefriw in time for our now-legendary Cake Fest at 4 p.m.!

Duration:  All Day. Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  about 7 miles / 11 km

Grade:  Easy/moderate, leisurely, with a lot of level walking

Meet:  9.45 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:   Gill Scheltinga and Cate Bolsover

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top

Sunday 20th May, 2018

A Family Walk in Nature

A family activity walk (although everyone is welcome) which will combine environmental games and activities with tales about the area’s human and natural history.  We will walk up from Trefriw Village Hall, via the Fairy Falls following the Afon Crafnant into the beautiful bluebell-filled fields and ancient woods of the Crafnant valley, where amongst many other things we will go on minibeast safaris, scavenger hunts, have a little forage for wild food, hug a few trees, walk barefoot, maybe make shelters, play hide and seek and just enjoy ourselves. The structure of the day and the focus of the activities will depend on the group demographics … and the weather.

We’ll be back in time for our now-legendary Cake Fest.

Duration: about 5 hours.   Please bring a packed lunch.

Distance:  3 miles / 5 km

Grade:  Easy, the walk will not be strenuous and will mostly follow good paths but at times we will at move away from paths and tracks onto rougher ground so suitable footwear is required.

Meet:  10.15 a.m. at Trefriw Village Hall (LL27 0JH, SH781631)

Walk Leaders:  Pete Kay and Cat Schentinga

Click on the map to see the rough location of this walk.

Booking: To book a place on this walk, click on the button below.
Before booking, please click here to check availability of places.

Please ensure that you have read the booking information, terms and conditions before you attend any walks.

Back to the top