TANET VALLEY

Spring delights in the

Welsh Tanet valley 

 

Cadair Berwyn     2713ft (827m)      125-072327 SJ

Unnamed Peak     2723ft (830m)      125-072324 SJ

Moel Sych            2713ft (827m)      125-066318 SJ  

 

Parking

Ample car parking in the village of Llangynog by the public toilets in the centre of the village.

 

Maps

Landranger 126

Explorer 255 Langollen & Berwyn

 

At the village of Llangynog the Tanat valley splits into two deep sided valleys. The one on the left cuts into the southern Berwyns and the one on the right take the B4391over the ancient pass across the Berwyns to Bala.

 

The area around Llangynog has seen a great deal of mining and quarrying over the years leaving the area dotted with numerous deserted drift mines and shafts. Although nature has claimed back the area it still leaves the industrial archaeologist many interesting sites to visit. The village is now only served by road but it once even had its own rail link which served to take away the minerals carved out of the hill sides by the hard working miners in the last century.

During the 1860s, a series of small railways were planned in the Welsh borders. In 1897 the Tanat Valley Light Railway was approved and construction began in late 1899 and was largely complete by 1902. Although passenger services were run from the official opening day, it was always mineral traffic that provided the bulk of the railway's income. By the early 1920s the company was in severe debt and was acquired by the Cambrian Railway company in 1921. In 1922 the TVLR became part of the Great Western Railway company. Passenger services ended in January 1951, with most of the line being abandoned in July 1952. The last goods traffic over the remainder of the TVLR ceased in January 1964. There is still evidence of the line all the way down the Tanet valley.

The Route

From the car park turn left and the right and right again up a small lane that runs along the bottom of the valley. On the far side of the valley you will see the B4391 slowly climbing up the right hand side of the valley. If you can see this you know you’re on the right lane.

Tanet Valley

This delightful lane is an absolute pleasure to walk along during the spring, with many delightful spring flowers growing along the side of the lane and small lambs frolicking in the pastures. Also watch out for evidence of the mine shafts dotted along the left hand side of the lane. Most of these are fenced off but you can still get quite a good impression of how dangerous this occupation must have been.

The lane continues along the valley for about three miles before turning left across a small bridge and onto a bridle track on the other side of the valley. Follow the track up to the head of the valley to the top of the waterfall on the left hand side. Here turn right where you will join the B4391. Turn left along the road for about twenty or thirty yards, here you will see a track on your right, take this track.

After walking about twenty yards or so along this track you will see a track leading off on your right. There is a notice board nearby giving information on the area. Take the small track on your right and head off in the direction of the main Berwyn ridge. This track runs across the vast area of moor land that runs off the main Berwyn ridge. The track has been laid down with old railway sleepers covered in netting in the areas where the ground becomes very boggy. Please adhere to the path at all times, not just for safety reasons but to preserve this area from erosion caused by man continuing to walk through an area that has a delicate eco structure. Continue to follow the track across the moor until you eventually pick up a fence that leads to the summit of Moel Syth marked by a stone cairn.

Here turn left over the wooden ladder style and head north down the col and up to the unnamed peak The ridge now continues Northwards with moorland stretching to the West and a steep craggy drop to the East. The ridge northwards is extremely boggy as it drops a little before climbing up to the new unnamed highest point on the ridge. A stone outcrop that is probably one of the best feature of the ridge. If the weather is clear and good, it's as well to follow the tracks closer to the eastern edge, as this appears to be much firmer. If the weather is bad with poor visibility stay closer to the fence that runs along the ridge, otherwise you may need a parachute if your compass reading isn't up to scratch. The strange feature of the Berwyns is that Moel Sych and Cadair Berwyn are both marked down as being 827 metres high, with the Trig point being placed on Cadair Berwyn, but the highest point on the ridge is the small rocky out crop just South of the Trig point on Cadair Berwyn. This is marked down as being 830metres high, and it's also a great place to have your lunch on a nice day. Just below this outcrop on the Cadair Berwyn side is a large windshelter carved out of a huge stone cairn, an ideal shelter on a windy day.

UN-NAMED TOP FROM CADAIR BERWYN

       After reaching the trig point on Cadair Berwyn the ridge continues

northwards for about another mile to a small summit called Cadair Bronwen, which is about 780 metres high. It was here according to Welsh legend that King Arther had is round table. If this was true, all I can say is that it must have been a very draughty in the winter.

       Unless you are very fit and you plan to extend the walk by a further three or four miles by continuing to Cadair Bronwen, Retrace your steps back over the unnamed peak and down to the col between the unnamed peak and Moel Syth. Here turn left down a small track heading east into the valley. The track descends between a small lull in the steep crags along the eastern edge of the Berwyns, it drops down past the eastern side of Llyn Lluncaws over the grass and heather on to a ridge that joins the Berwyn ridge at a right angle. Instead of continuing along this ridge, turn right down the grassy slope to the lake. 

The track during the winter can become quite boggy until you get to the lake. After reaching the lake the track follows the stream down the valley heading south. Looking back towards the ridge, one has a wonderful view of the mountain and the cascading crags dropping down into lake below. There are two tracks that descend down the valley, one hugs the left-hand side of the valley, and the other follows the stream at the bottom of the valley floor. The easier path is the one that runs down the side of the valley on your left. Just before the track continues around the side of the hill opposite the falls, via right down a small track that crosses the stream. You then take the path down to the car park by a small café.

Now you can either spend a few moments in deep thought looking at the cascading waterfall from the small bridge which crosses the river just below the falls, or enjoy a nice cup of tea at the friendly little café watching the wild birds feeding in the garden. The view from the garden is as spectacular as you can get with the highest falls in Wales as its back drop.

Pistyll Raeader

After leaving the café take the track leading to the waterfall and cross the bridge over the river, enjoying the view as you cross. Follow the path through the woods passing fields filled with bluebells in the spring until you come to the site of some old quarry workings. Here you will see a track that zigzags up the side of the valley on your right. Take this until you reach the top above the valley. Here a track will head south in the direction of Llanygnog Follow the bridle track until you come to the head of a steep valley overlooking the Tanet valley. Here you can take the gradual path down the valley on your right or the direct track straight down to the base of the cwm. 

View from the track leading back to the Tanet Valley

At the base of the cwm you will find a number of drift mines that have not been fenced off. DO NOT VENTURE INTO THESE MINES AS THEY ARE VERY UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS. Cross the small stream on your right and follow the track keeping right at all times below the base of Craig Rhiwarth, a small hill that has suffered badly from the hands of man. The path will lead you through some very pretty woodland bringing you out onto the B4391. Turn left and it’s just a short walk to the car park on your left.

Once you have stowed your kit why not enjoy a cool drink in one of the two pubs next to the car park, after all you’ve earned it.

These route guides are free, but if you feel this has been helpful please donate a little to any of the Mountain Rescue teams, THEY ARE THERE TO HELP YOU IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. David

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