All walks › Eryri: Ffestiniog and the Moelwynion
Eryri: Ffestiniog and the MoelwynionLlyn Mair and Coed Plas Tan y Bwlch
Oak woodland and a small lake in the Vale of Ffestiniog, with the narrow gauge railway running through the trees above.
- Distance
- 2.5 mi / 4 km
- Time
- 1 hr 20
- Ascent
- 120 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Waymarked paths loop from the lakeside up through the woods and back, with the option of extending towards Tan-y-bwlch station. Undulating but never steep.
Worth knowing
- You can arrive by steam train at Tan-y-bwlch and walk from there, which is a better day out than driving.
- Sessile oak woodland with heavy moss and fern cover, at its best in spring.
- Sheltered, so a good option when the tops are unpleasant.
What you’ll see
The lake, mature oak woodland, and the Ffestiniog Railway passing above.
Background
The woods were part of the Plas Tan y Bwlch estate. The Ffestiniog Railway opened in 1836 to carry slate from Blaenau down to Porthmadog by gravity.