Tal y Bont circular walk

 After crossing the bridge in Tal-y-Bont, take the lane to the left and follow the path up green lanes and across fields to reach a farm.  Skirt round the left hand edge of the main farm buildings to reach a gate into a field where the path climbs up to a stile into another field.  The wind turbines on the hill will become visible as the path joins a green track.

 (Left) Lane off A487 in Tal y Bont
(Above) Tal y Bont from path across fields
(Below) Track beyond fields leading between wind turbines over the hill.

  Avoid the service spurs off to some of the outlying wind turbines and either follow the path on the map or the more recently built bridlepaths and service road to reach the main service area near the summit.  A path cuts across the fields to the left of this area, crossing fields until it reaches the farm buildings to the south.

 
 Below the farm, keep to the track through the gate to the right then cut diagonally across the fields to the trees at the far end.

Machynlleth to Tal-y Bont

As with some of the previous walks it took a few months to complete, we also tackled these two sections from different directions.  As both were linear, I’ve described them in order starting with the northern part from Machylleth.  The route south followed the well-marked Wales Coast Path from Machynlleth, up the Roman Steps and through lanes, down valleys and over hills heading south to the farmbuildings at Melindwr where we headed off the Sarn Helen route to catch a bus at Eglwys Fach back to our campsite.  

(Above) Roman Steps Machylleth

 (Above) View from top of hill looking towards Foel Fawr

The route north from Tal-y-Bont, involved catching a T2 bus to the north end of the town and following the lane to the left of the A487 passing a church which was up for sale.  The lane zigzagged up to Coed Rhyd fach where a track went straight ahead to Tyngraig Farm.  A path on the left skirted a green lane then followed a wall eventually reaching the upper part of the green lane.  

 (Top left) Church for sale
(Bottom left) Tyngraig Farm
(Above) View back down green lane towards farm
(Below) Official footpath at top of green lane

 (Below) Taliesin stones on route

From here the green lane was followed in an easterly direction cutting through a number of fields until another track climbing up from the valley to the south.  This track is followed northwards, crossing another path and track before dropping down through fields to Gwar-cwm-uchaf where a road is joined, turning right to a bridge over the Afon Clettwr and rising uphill.  Keep on this road until there is a sharp left turn.  Keep straight ahead on the track passing Llwyn-gwyn and entering woods.  The route crosses another track and drops steeply down to join the minor road into Furnace where the old mill is situated after turning right on the A487.  Shortly after the mill and other buildings on the right-hand side of the road there is a narrow road that zigzags up to Coed Tyn-y-garth where a path to the left climbs up the side of Foel Fawr.  It then follows the contour for half a mile before dropping down to the farm buildings at Melindwr – joining both sections.

(Above) Path sign  (Below) Mill at Furnace

(Below) Path off road towards Foel Fawr

Dolgellau to Machynlleth

We started the first stage by taking a T2 bus from Dolgellau to the highest place on the A487 at the locally named Mach Loop.  From here there is a stile off the main road and a path heading northwards. This drops down to a ford by some animal pens then rises uphill alongside an overgrown green road.  The route goes over the brow of the shoulder of Cadair Idris where it crosses another path before dropping down through fields to Bwlch Coch where the track becomes a minor road.  A short distance further on a track goes off to the right into the forestry.  Follow this cycle route to a junction then turn left and follow footpath signs leading towards Dref gerig.  From here the path winds towards Pen-yr-Allt then drops through woodland to a ford near Trefeilia.  The track reaches a road which, turning left, drops steeply to a road junction.  Turn left for Dolgellau town centre.

 Top - Stile off A487 above Mach Loop  (Above) ford stream near animal pens

(Below) Follow finger posts to avoid overgrown green lane

 (Above) Looking back towards top of hill over wall.
(Below) leaving farmland to join lane near Bwlch Coch

 (Above) Track leaving road to enter forestry

 (Below) Path goes round buildings before entering woods

The next stage required us to take the T2 bus back to Mach Loop, where we spent a good hour waiting for military aircraft to appear and negotiate the steep sided valley.  Our route to the south took us over a stile on the east side of the road then climbing steeply up a path to the north side of Bwlch-Llyn Bach.  This path joins a minor road which we follow turning right to head south with forests on the left side as the road drops to Waenllefenni.  A short distance later there is a footpath off to the right which crosses a stream then cuts through open country before entering forestry at Cwm Hen-gae.  The path emerges from the woodland and passes Hen-gae then skirts the forest until it reaches an area of disused slate quarries and tips with impressive workings on the opposite side of the valley.  The path joins a road at Aberliefenni.  Take a right turn to follow the road to a picnic spot.  Leave the road here to pass the houses at Caecenau on the right side and then follow the path alongside the river down to Abercorris.  The track meets a minor road where the route heads south skirting the wooded hillsides.  
 (Below) Minor road which runs parallel to A487

 (Above) Footpath off road to valley by Cwm Hen-gae.

 (Above) Track behind buildings in valley  (Below) Disused slate workings on other side of valley

 (Above) Road through Aberliefenni.  (Below) Leaving picnic spot after
Aberliefenni

 At the far end of the village of Esgairgelliog Ceinws there is a track to the left between houses and the path climbs up to the right.  It continues to rise with woodland on the left.  A track on the right should be followed round to a small reservoir.  From here there is a steep climb to a gate in the forest.  The track meets another track where a right turn leads back out of the forest on the south side of the valley.  A wind turbine will be directly ahead for a while then the path veers to the south of it towards the remains of a quarry which lies above the Centre for Alternative Technology.  

 (Above) Entrance to track at far at Esgairgelliog Ceinws leading to footpath (below)

 (Below) View from top of path

 (Above) Entrance to forestry at top of hill  (Below) Junction on forest road - take right turn

 (Above) wind turbine beyond forest.  Keep to left of it toward Centre for Alternative Technology

A stile leads into a narrow woodland where the path drops to the buildings in the museum (avoiding the ticket office).  Head along the higher track around the edge of the centre towards a woodland on the south side.  Keep above the trees to join a path following the contour before dropping to the farm buildings of Glan Dulas mawr and joining a minor road.  Turn left, heading south, to the B4404 where a right turn crosses a stone bridge and, shortly later, joins the A487.  Turn left following the cycle path which leaves the road to cross the river by a metal bridge then rejoins the main road at the old stone bridge at Pont ar Ddyfi.  Turn left and follow the main road into Machynlleth where there are bookshops, art galleries, pubs and cafes to fill the hours.

 (Above) Bridge on B4404  (Below) Cycle track to Pont ar Ddyfi