After the walk to Tomen-y-Mor, we did a linear walk starting at Ganllwyd on A470 (between Dolgellau and Trawsfyndydd) and walked in a northerly direction taking the forestry cycle track on the left after crossing the river. This track is sometimes referred to as the Roman Road or Sarn Helen and climbs uphill through a coniferous plantation emerging in open countryside where the track follows a contour below the slopes of Craig y Penmaen. Further on, where the path splits, take the higher route and then drop down to the road in the valley to the east passing Roman Kilns. Follow the road to the left, passing a chapel and then bear right at Penystryd before crossing a fence into a field and heading uphill, following a wall for a while then keeping right over the left shoulder, but not heading towards the summit, of Moel Ddu. The path crosses a number of streams as it rises towards a crossroad of paths at the gap between two hills. Take the left path over a wall and continue on this path which drops down to eventually reach a farm, Plas Capten. Follow the footpath signs through the farmyard to reach a track which joins a minor road at Bryn Goleu. Turn left and cross the A470 into Trawsfynydd. On leaving the small town at the northern end, cross the A470 and there is a green road opposite which rises uphill then drops down to a stream and follows a track which eventually reaches Tomen y Mur and the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre. Our route was to head back over the A470 to follow the cycle path through the remains of the power station buildings and back to the nearby campsite.
(R) Chapel viewed from near Roman Kilns
View up to gap between two hills
(Above) View of Trawsfynydd descending from hill.
(Below) Where track which joins a minor road at Bryn Goleu near Trawsfynydd
The next stage was to cover the route south from Ganllwyd but this took two attempts, first walking to the well marked route up stream to Rhaeadr Ddu (Black Waterfalls) and then cutting south through the forest and heading right into open country at Goetre. The path is well signed until Tyddyn bach where a sign indicated that the path goes left, eventually heading north back towards Ty’n y groes back on the A470. At a later date we took the footpath from the minor road in Llanelltyd and a track joins the road on the right, immediately after the houses. This clearly defined track cuts through the forest and rises up to open country below Bryniau Glo. Here is follows a contour, cuts through a wall then goes to the left of a small hill to join another path from the left toward Hafod y fedw. Keeping to the higher path, drop down to cross a stream then follow the wall for a while before veering to the right and dropping to the corner of two walls on the edge of the forest. Here it joins a track. Turn left crossing another stream and eventually reaching a pasture which gently climbs up towards Tyddyn bach. The route, in either direction, requires careful map-reading as well as reference to the Cicerone Guide. At Llanelltyd a track drops down the left hand side of the church to join a track that leads to the old bridge. Upstream are the remains of Cymer Abbey and an excellent camp site. Directly opposite the road from the old bridge is a track leading up hill towards a golf club and over the hill with woodland on the lefthand side to crossroads and the lane dropping down to Dolgellau.
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