Favourite walks

I thought I’d start to share with you some of my favourite walks that I do regularly from Bryn Celyn House. For those of you not familiar with Bryn Celyn we are based on the northern side of Cadair Idris and this is a great walk to undertake on a cool day (I say cool because it’s far too strenuous in on a hot day for me). Usually I set off in the early morning and take the car to the Ty Nant carpark LL40 1TL just above Dolgellau, it’s a 6 minute journey but it takes hours off the walk and is a great starting place for the climb up the ridge of Cadair Idris known as Penygader - The Pony Path.

Don’t forget to pay at the car park! Nothing worse than getting into your stride and half way up remembering that you forgot (I know that lurching feeling well!).

I was once told that it takes it’s name from an old farmer who used to take a pony on this route to offer refreshments to the walkers in the form of ice cream…I’ve not come across this myself but could easily believe it.

So the walk is a reasonably safe and steady climb. Manmade steps lead the way up most of the climb and there are lots of places to stop and admire the views. From the car park entrance turn right and take the first path left up towards a farm building. The path quickly winds it’s way past this and along side a lovely mossy stream. Over the years we’ve taken our children from aged 4 to 17 and I highly recommend taking lots of small snacks and a good bottle of water to keep them happy - even the teenagers need some encouragement sometimes. It’s not a difficult walk, but it is nonetheless it’s a 5 hour climb of 727m and a distance of 6 miles (there and back).

As you look back at the path you’ve climbed it quickly offers views of the Mawddach valley and beyond across the valleys of Snowdonia, it is breathtaking and of course changes colour with the seasons. I once met a man carrying his easel up and he said that he was climbing the mountain every day to paint - incredible!

When you reach the ridge, it’s such a relief to be on a flatter terrain but don’t be fooled, turn left and keep striding. At this point it’s probably only the halfway point but the climb is less strenuous for a while until you reach the last section, the rise of the summit. On the way up from the ridge you can’t help but notice the views that stretch across to Aberdovey South and Snowdon in the North. Best enjoyed on a safe clear day.

Here’s a view from the top last Easter Sunday - the only place to eat the picnic.