We met on a fine May morning on the banks of the River Irfon, a mile or so from the village of Abergwesyn. From there we passed the 18th century farmhouse of Lwynderw, more recently used as a hotel, and then headed up the broad slopes of Cefn Fannog.
As we gained height, a splendid view of Drygarn Fawr opened up to the north, with the distinctive ‘beehive’ cairns clearly visible on the skyline. A few dark clouds threatened, but thankfully we remained dry. From here our route descended to the shore of Llyn Brianne.
The low water level allowed us to sit on the shoreline for lunch, before heading back towards Lwynderw via the steep-sided valley of Nant Gwrach. On our way we took a detour into the side valley of Nant Ddwfn to view the remains of a lead mine. A poignant reminder of a hard industrial past, in a landscape that we now view as a peaceful rural scene. This route covered 7 miles or so, with about 400m of ascent. There was plenty of time for members to have a chat, get to know each other and exchange ideas about the future of the Cambrian Mountains. An excellent reason to come along on our regular walks, quite apart from exploring some beautiful little corners of the Cambrians. Back at the riverside car park, Lorna and Stephen produced tea and cake for everyone, with more time to sit and mull over a very enjoyable day.
