Lake Crafnant

On alighting at the bus stop, cross the bridge in front of the woolen mill: still manufacturing, plenty of wool from all the Welsh sheep, using the water that flows from the lake, factory shop. Turn left after the mill, and keep left at Y junction - signed for Lake Crafnant. Be prepared for quite a steep, long climb, about 2 miles, on the tarmac road up the valley.

The lake is a reservoir, dammed in 1874. This obelisk was erected in 1896 by the occupants of Llanrwst to commemorate the gift to the town of this lake, with 19 acres of land, by Richard James. These days, local occupants get water bills like everyone else. Take the narrow lane along the left shore, pass the cafe. When you see a phone box, take the path on the left, over a stile, and climb steeply through the thick woods (the trees shield the sky, so the light is quite dim). On to waypoint 3.

Turn right and right again to find gated forest road, go on to waypoint 4.

At the Y junction, don't turn; the road becomes a path. Cross the stiles and pass between fences (don't turn off). You will emerge on open ground above Capel Curig, with great views across Llugwy Valley to Moel Siabod (see one of my walks, "Llugwy Valley"). Near a small footbridge, the track meets another clear trail at right angles. Turn right onto it, and follow the stream up a rocky gully. Ignore the right fork, and from saddle at top of gully Crafnant is visible. A clear path goes into the cwm; loop around outcrops, dive down over rough pasture back to the lane along the shore of the lake, and on to waypoint 5.

Cross back to the monument, and retrace steps down the road you came up. It's harder going down, as feet kept hitting front of boots. My left big toe was black when I got home and the nail dropped off a few weeks later! On to waypoint 6.

It's 5 years since I did this walk; it featured in one of our local papers this week (Daily Post)and my memory might have faded. I would welcome comments from anyone doing it, it is a great walk. Enjoy!