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Waunfawr Circular Walk from the Welsh Highland Railway

By Dave Roberts   

on August 31, 2016    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Low Level and Easier Walks in Snowdonia, Snowdonia National Park, Wales

Waunfawr Circular Walk from the Welsh Highland Railway

Route Essentials

Route Summary

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

9.56 km

Ascent

335 m

Time

2 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Waunfawr WHR Station

Difficulty

Moderate Walk, Trail or Fell Runs

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Waunfawr Circular Walk from the Welsh Highland Railway Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Waunfawr Circular Walk from the Welsh Highland Railway

This is a moderate circular walk or trail run around the village of Waunfawr on the edges of Snowdonia, starting and finishing from the WHR station  Snowdonia Parc Inn pub.

1 From the Pub/station follow the main road for 100m or so before turning right up the minor road. After a few 100m, take the footpath signposted left. This has a weathered sign noting Y Fron on it.

2 Follow this path uphill, through the woodland, past an old cottage in the rocks to emerge on the moorland above.

3 There are extensive views here, despite only being 300m high. You can detour to Moel Smytho, which doesn’t add much to the distance, if you want to sit on top of a hill. Turn right along the wall towards the minor road. Cross the road and descend the hillside opposite, where you’ll soon find a pleasant grassy track.

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4 After 0.5km, you’ll join a green track which you need to follow left and downhill. Continue along this track, which becomes a minor road and keep on this for a further kilometre. Turn right at the junction, and follow this road past the Tryfan Junction WHR halt, and onwards through a farmyard. The track then descends pleasantly towards the Afon Gwyrfai.

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5 Cross Afon Gwyrfai by the bridge, with the track now continuing uphill. Take the first right along the lane and follow this lane towards the main road. Take care to follow it around  to the left at the first sharp bend, and keep an eye out for the footpath to the right and follow this to the main road. Don’t worry if you miss this, you can back track along the road a short distance.

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6 The next section is a bit of a slog, but heads down, and you’ll be up in no time. Cross the road and take the left hand junction to follow a straight country lane that pulls steadily uphill. Follow this track, crossing ahead at the crossroads and continuing uphill. The road turns to the right at a junction, continue along it until you reach the final cottage (Fron Oleu).

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7 At Hafod Oleu, the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way way-markers can be followed to the start of the walk. Follow the track past two cottages, turning right before the third cottage to follow the wide and good track downhill. The path is excellent to start with, but needs care to follow as you descend due to it crossing many farm tracks that make a more obvious route! There are also a few damp sections, but nothing that should worry proper boots. Just keep an eye out for the way-markers!

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8 You’ll soon reach the village – where the way-markers lead you past hidden cottages on a good hard path, across a road to eventually join the main road. Turn left at the road, taking care with traffic, cross the bridge over the Afon Gwyrfai (again) and you’ll be back at the start in no time.

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Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Route Start Location: Waunfawr WHR Station

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
9.56 km 335 m 2 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Moderate Walk, Trail or Fell Runs

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Pub and shop at Waunfawr

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public Transport:

This walk can be started from the Welsh Highland Railway. Snowdon Sherpa buses available to Waunfawr from Caernarfon.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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