#30.CWM PRYSOR.10-5-12.

A linear walk that has been on my to do list for a long time was a stretch of the Bala-Festiniog Railway in Cwm Prysor and with the BBC predicting a decent day weather wise i arranged to meet Howie and Clive at the Rhug Estate,we then drove in 2 car's to Trawsfynydd where i left mine behind the Hotel and we drove back up the valley in Howie's where we left it in the lay-by at Ffridd Bwlch Llestri.The drive over to this valley had seen some blue sky and sunny weather but above Bala the skies were leaden and it was raining lightly,and we had to don full waterproof's from the off,i took my umbrella as i didn't want to get any water on my camera.Crossing the A4212 we walked across Pont Rhyd-y-fen,seen below which span's the Afon Tryweryn,and took the footpath immediately right through a field to reach the disused railway line below Clogwyn Du.

Lot's of sheep about today,even the dead carcass of a mature one.

I didn't realise how windy it was as we were sheltered by the shoulder of Craig y Hyrddod and the tree plantation's but once out into an open stretch we felt the full force off it.It was blowing in from the coast right into our faces and i had to keep the brolly at an angle and just follow the boot's in front of me and every time i stopped to take a photo i had to face the way where we had come from.

Nearing the Afon Amnodd-bwll crossing,seen below, we were sheltered from the driving wind by the Penllyn Forest.

Howie and Clive at the Bryn Celynog Halt.

We now reached the old Cwm Prysor Station which has been converted into a house called Cefn Llyn,back of the lake,which stand on the shore of Llyn Treweryn,this was the highest point on the line standing at 1,278 feet above sea level.We had to walk a short section of the A4212 to reach Ffridd Nant-Crethyll,the large plantation on the opposite side of the road.The railway line was shut to passenger's in 1960 and to freight in 1961 and the A4212 was not built until 1964,the valley being served only by farm track's! The railway line goes through some impressive rock cutting's on it's way to the Nant Prysor Viaduct.

Close up of a murky view to the viaduct.

The viaduct has 9 arches and at it's highest point stand's 105 feet high with the Afon Prysor running through the middle arch.

I wanted to walk this line as the railway run's along a rocky shelf for much of the valley and the view's would have been fantastic,but alas not today.Near Tanrallt we had a break in a tunnel below the line.

The line now skirt's below Craig Aderyn through more cutting's,here the wind was at it's most fiercest and i was having to wrestle with my brolley to keep it sheltering me.

Passing the Llafar Halt,seen below,we got our first glimpse of Castell Prysor,a Motte and Bailey Castle.

Although the line has disappeared all the old bridges are still standing.

Afon Llafar bridge.

Afon Llafar erosion nearby.

Reaching a lane the way ahead was blocked so we had to walk through the field's of the Cae-glas farm for 100 metres before we could drop back down onto the line.In the hedgerow we saw 4 redstart's who were frolicking oblivious to us but i couldn't get my camera out quickly enough to snap them.A short distance away another lane lead's back to Trawsfynydd via the Ty-llwyd Terrace and we took this back to Trawsfynydd.The distance walked was 10 mile with 400 feet of ascent and we all said we will come back to do this stretch again,but on a sunny day,and may be extend it to Tomen y Mur.And yes it rained all day,thank's BBC.


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