Fairbourne to Machylleth

 

We started our first short walk from Morfa Mawddach station, just over the bridge from Barmouth, along the sea defences.  He took Mo (our camper van) round to Fairbourne where he met us in time for an ice cream (it was hot!). 

Fairbourne is noted for the council refusing to continue to protect it from the sea.  Ironic really as, all the way along the front there are concrete defences dating back to 1940 to stop an invasion by Germany.  There's also a little train, used around 1865 by a Welsh businessman to help bring materials for construction from the main line.  

We climbed up the road through Friog to where the old Coast Path crosses and took that route back to Fairbourne then found an Indian restaurant for dinner.

Next morning he dropped us off at the top of the road and we set off along a path that skirts the old quarry.  It was already warm and getting enough water was my number one priority.  We climbed up and crossed a stream (first drink) then continued up, stopping to look back over Fairbourne and Barmouth.

Eventually we came to a house so that meant a road.  Sure enough, we found it and followed it along the top of the ridge for a few miles, stopping every now and then for blackberries next to a woolly wall (her) and a nose plough (me) to try to remove my halti.

There were standing stones and some annoying sheep but no people.

As the road dropped down and we joined a grass track, we saw him coming towards us.  We continued downhill to the village of Llwyngyril where we stopped at the pub for them to have a drink then had our lunch in Mo.

This village is reknowned for its knitting circle, members of which produce amazing creations that are exhibited in different places.  

We didn't stay long as we were only half way through the walk which climbed out of the village along a road.  He looked at it and decided not to join us but promised to meet us at the other end.  

There were more annoying sheep in the fields we crossed, including a group that had been inside a dilapidated building - until I arrived.  Then they escaped through the open doorway - and a window!  I got the blame, of course.

The path continued - up and down - to a road and finally to a cool green lane which stopped at the main road where he was supposed to meet us.  He wasn't there.

She found a message to say 'Continue to the station at Tonfanau'.  Only another 2 miles!

He met us part way and, trying to be helpful, pointed us in the direction of a footpath up a hill while he went back to Mo.

Luckily, we hadn't gone too far on that path before she realised it wasn't the route to the station so we had to go back and walk all the way down the road.  It was hot!  

We met him at the station - she told him off - I had a long drink of water - then we set off to find our campsite in Tywyn.

Problem was, there was only a narrow lane so it took ages.

Next day we were walking in the other direction from Aberdyfi to Tonfanau.  Apart from trying to get Mo down a lane with a low bridge which could have ended in disaster, it was a good walk along the beach back to Tywyn.  She was barefoot (now she knows what I have I to cope with) and didn't have her walking poles.  I was allowed to go without the halti - but not off the lead!  

By the time we reached him walking towards us I was thirsty but I also wanted to go in the sea.  Life's not easy for a beagle.

They had lunch at the Pebbles Cafe and the nice owner gave me biscuits and a drink.  Then we set off again along the promenade and out to the footbridge by Broad Water where we were to meet him.  He eventually arrived having had problems finding his way out of Tywyn.  

After a paddle in the river (popular with other people and dogs) we walked the short distance to the station and drove to a nearby campsite, Cae Du, which was next to the sea and had nice views.  It looked as if it was going to rain - but it didn't.   

Next day we had to drive all the way back to Aberdyfi (he said he knew they way but we weren't so sure) and, after a stop for coffee, he walked along the front and up the hill with us.  It was steep, it was hot and there was no water in the stream.  

He was glad to go back down so left us at the track by the farm and we went in the other direction - the wrong direction.  

As we started dropping, she checked her map (at the same time as she got a phone call from him telling her 'You've gone the wrong way!)

So, we walked back and finally reached the road which went along the top of the valley from Tywyn towards Talyllyn with no views over the estuary we were following up towards Machynlleth.  

It was a very long road to the Bwlch Farm.  There was a kite flying below us where we joined a track and began to get views in the other direction.

.Finally we started to drop down and we even found water!  I had a drink and a paddle. 

 

We continued down the steep road towards the main road where we met him in a layby.  He hadn't bothered climbing the hill to meet us.  Can't blame him!

So we went into Machynlleth to get something to eat then returned to yet another campsite near the hamlet of Cwrt.  It was a quiet site so we just relaxed until bedtime.  There was only one day to go.

He joined us for the first part of that walk, all the way to Pennal (just under two miles) where we followed the road up to the hills.  

Pennal was an interesting village with plenty of chapels and a nice pub (we tried it out that evening).  

Further along the lane we came to Pennal Forest and started a long climb, all the way up to Foel Goch where there were views south and down to Machylleth.  

I enjoyed a drink then it was downhill all the way to the river.  

We met up there and we all had a paddle before going into town for a late lunch.