Talyllyn Rock n Railway Walk
15 people attending
5 places left
This scenic day walk combines a ride on the Talyllyn Narrow Gauge Railway with the ascent of Craig Yr Aderyn (Bird's Rock), and a visit to Castle y Bere, an atmospheric ruin. If you forgive the absence of cow bells tinkling the scenery of this part of Eryri National Park is almost alpine in appearance and incredibly picturesque on a sunny afternoon. We will begin our day looking at the scenic Dolgoch waterfalls. We then travel by steam train up the valley (Ticket £12.00) to the start our walk. Passing through the pretty village of Abergynowlyn, our route sets off along the Arfon (river) Dysynni, and then hugs a hill side until we reach Castle y Bere (see below). From here we can also see the target of today’s walk the intriguing Birds Rock, a conical hill massively scarred by mining activities. Whilst climbers scale the seemingly impossible west face, we will take on the rock from the rear. From the summit on a clear day the three peaks of nearby Cadair Idris are very obvious and the fertile Dyffryn (valley) Dysynni can be viewed all the way to the sea. Our return route will take us through remote farmsteads to pick up the steam train back to Dolgoch, boarding at Abergynowlyn, where refreshments are available.
The Talyllyn Railway is one of The Great Little Trains of Wales and the first preserved railway in the World. It opened in 1865 being built to transport slate from quarries down to the port of Tywyn. In 1951 a preservation society took over the running, and now heritage steam engines transport passengers 7 miles from Tywyn through the ancient woodlands and meadows of the Fathew Valley to Nant Gwernol buried deep in the mountains above Abergynolwyn. We will take a 20 minute ride uphill on part of the route and the little locos work hard on the gradient.
Castell y Bere is especially good at evoking the atmosphere of Wales’s native castles. Built by Welsh ruler Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) to protect Gwynedd’s southern frontier, construction began in 1221 with the castle remaining in use until 1294. It was a secure place with a commanding location, its sophisticated design features two gatehouses with drawbridges and possibly portcullises.
If you fancy making a weekend of it there is a camping event at Nantcol taking place an hour's drive away and this walk makes a prefect ending to the weekend.
All photos: AndyM, event leader.
Bad Weather This event may be altered or cancelled if persistent heavy rain is forecast - you will be notified by at least 18:00 hours the night before in this case
Dogs are welcome to join us on this event but please note the following:
This route passes through areas with livestock. Your dog needs to be well behaved or on a lead, and it must not affect other member's enjoyment of the event. Your dog needs to have the stamina to keep up with the group and it may be too hot for some breeds.
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https://www.outdoorlads.com/my-first-event
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What to bring
Please study this list carefully for this walk. Persons indequately equipped may be asked to drop out.
Money: you need £4 CASH for the car park and £12 CASH for the train
Water: bring at least one litre, and keep it easy to access
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day Rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Waterproof bags: keep spare clothing, electronics and anything else dry even when your rucksack leaks by using Ziploc type food bags or, better still, outdoor activity waterproof bags
Boots: waterproof and breathable hiking boots with good ankle support are essential on this walk - some waterlooged trains are possible after havy rain
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters, and carry a spare, dry pair
Walking Poles: optional but they take the strain off your knees going downhill
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: no jeans as they become heavy and cold if it rains, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry. If its warm, shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry.
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: look after your eyes!
Sun cream: UV levels are still high at this time of year on mountains
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: a packed lunch is essential on this walk
Map and compass: the walk leader will have these, but if you like map reading or want to develop your skills, bring yours along
Mobile Phone: keep it in a waterproof bag
Food & drink
You'll need a packed lunch and snacks with you on this walk. There is nowhere near to buy provisions so please bring them with you. At the end of the walk there may be time for refreshments at the train station whilst we wait for the train. You must be carrying plenty of water or rehydration drinks, especially if the temperature is above 20C at sea level.