Elwy Valley Walk

Off message but over Easter, Gill and I went back to North Wales to see my Mum for her 81st birthday (our Christmas visit has also been cancelled when we caught Covid) and visit other family members. 

During the day we would go for walks and this 5 mile circular in the Elwy Valley was marvellous. Plenty of up and down's, great views and hardly any other walkers. 

Unfortunately the modern Ordinance Survey Pathfinder guide  for the area does not appear to have this walk listed in it anymore. Check out this link on the my OS website "route" for a map of walk but watch out that the right of way footpaths have been slightly changed for parts of the route, so follow what the actual signs indicate rather than your GPS. 

Start in the public car park by the old bridge in Llanfair Talhaiarn. The guidebook warns that you should not attempt this walk in misty weather. We finished the walk with an outdoor drink at the Black Lion. The food looked lovely. Next time. I will post and link further photos on Facebook

A Christmas walk "In the Valley of the Elwy"

"Lovely the woods, waters, meadows, combes, vales,
All the air things wear that build this world of Wales..." Gerard Manley Hopkins

Off message but today I went for a truly beautiful walk in the "Switzerland of North Wales" the Elwy Valley.

Walk 15 of Pathfinder guide "North Wales, Snowdon and Offa's Dyke" was only 5.5 miles but was pretty challenging in parts.

It was cold and windy with plenty of winter sunshine. Apart from some fell runners and their dogs we did not see a soul. I was born and bred in North Wales and cannot believe that I have not been walking here before. It was stunning.

There is even a West Ham connection since the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins whose poem "In the Valley of the Elwy" was born in Stratford.

Check out more pictures of walk on FaceBook