Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Postman's Pass - Abergynolwyn - Wales


Yesterday afternoon here in Wales we had glorious autumnal sunshine, a perfect day for me to join a Tywyn based walking group for the first time.  The walk was a three and a half mile round trip that started from the centre of the nearby village of Abergynolwyn.  Abergynolwyn is located at the confluence of the Nant Gwernol and Afon Dysynni and it was following the course of the rivers that our walk along the 'Postman's Pass' took us.

Parking in the car park in the centre of the village, we then walked down to the river, passing the village pub, The Railway Inn, on our right, turning right off the main road before the bridge, passing cottages on your right, then taking the path on the left, as in my first photo.


Looking back to the cottages from path.

Having crossed the river follow the paving stones across the marshy field, at the top of the hill follow the track as it opens up into a bracken covered hillside. Following the track along the riverside, take great care as the banks down to the fast flowing river below are extremely steep, although the sure footed sheep seem to cope.


                     As you round a corner this next photo is of the picturesque view that greets you in all its glory.


A little further along the path you encounter a rocky outcrop with small iron rings embedded into the rock. Curious I stopped to take photos and was told by one of my walking companions that they were put there by local farmers to tether the cows whilst they were milked and fed.
                               One of the rocks has even been chiselled out to make a feeding trough for the cattle.

I could not resist taking some photos looking back towards Abergynolwyn through the eye of one of the iron rings. I do not suppose I am the first to do so, but I am pleased with the results. 



As the river begins to widen out there are some lovely wooded areas before the trail opens up to the next valley, eventually one come across a stone house with a wall that I just had to photograph.




A little beyond here cross over the stone bridge at Pont Ystumanner, turn right on to the narrow lane and walk to the crossroads. 


Pont Ystumanner above followed by two photos taken from the bridge.


                                                  It was here we came across some friendly shire horses.



At this crossroads we turned right and followed the signs for Abergynolwyn and Tal-y-llyn, heading towards the impressive farmhouse 'Caerberllan', as the footpath passes through the farmyard I took the opportunity to take a few photos of the house and its environs. love the steps that would have been used for mounting your horse!







Soon after leaving the farmyard and heading uphill again one encounters views of Castell y Bere a Welsh built castle constructed by Llywelyn the Great in the 1220s, intended to maintain his authority over the local people and to defend the south-west part of his princedom of Gwynedd. In 1282 war with Edward I of England the castle fell to English forces. Edward I expanded the castle further and established a small town beside it. In 1294 the Welsh leader Madoc ap Llywelyn mounted a major revolt and the castle was besieged and apparently burnt. Edward did not repair it and it became ruined, today it is a tourist attraction, worthy of a visit on another walk sometime I think. 




Having left the valley behind again the trail has now turned back towards Abergynolwyn and these views are now on the right hand side.



It is not long before the village once again comes into view in the distance, as one begins the descent. Finally crossing the river again, carry straight on along the road and you will find yourself back at the car park.






I hope my photos have enabled you to enjoy a virtual walk of the 'The Postman's Pass' 
NB: For larger view just click on individual photo.

For those planning a visit.

OS Grid Reference: SH 679070 ( approx start of walk - car park in centre of village)

The following website links may also be of interest. Also with thanks to these sources for information that helped me with compiling this post.


Tywyn Travel Guide  Tywyn  Abergynolwyn  Abergynolwyn Official Website  Castell y Bere



If you enjoyed this virtual walk you may also enjoy the blog post entitled The Cascade Trail



All photos are my own taken October 2013. 
 Copyright All rights reserved by LindyLouMac Photo Collection 
The full set of photos may also be viewed individually in my album entitled  


36 comments:

  1. Hello Linda , so happy to read that you are getting out and about and making new friends and seeing new places around your home ,, Thank you for sharing with us too ,, Love the photo through the eye of the iron :-) xx

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    1. Thanks Anne, I was pleased with how the photos through the iron came out.

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  2. Linda
    Such beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing xxx

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  3. i did take the larger view walk, not once but twice, stopping to stare at each one, you have something for everyone, stones and walls and old houses and streams and vistas of beauty full of sheep... so much beauty in that 3 miles.

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    1. Sandra, I am delighted that you found such pleasure in the post.

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  4. Anne has said it all..... so happy to have you back blogging. Take care Diane

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    1. Thanks Diane, it is thanks to all the wonderful support I have had from my friends that I have felt able to return to blogging.

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  5. Hi Linda. Look at that wonderful autumnal sunshine ! Just perfect for your first walk. Stunning photos , every one. I love the trough carved out of the rock, and the views through the iron were very professional. Thank you for sharing your very interesting walk with us.

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    1. Thanks Dianne, the iron photos are my favourites, I was pleased with the results.

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  6. I hope I can convey how much I enjoyed these photos. Wow! What a beautiful country and landscape. Thank you so much for sharing that walk with us.

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  7. Oh I love this more than I can say. :-) So much beauty and diversity of terrain. The shot of the sun-lit woods is glorious. :-)

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    1. I liked the sunlit woods photo enough to use for a meme from my Photography blog yesterday. :)

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  8. Lovely shots Lindy, and thank you for sharing this lovely walk with us!

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  9. Walking in the Welsh countryside...how wonderful! I love photo 24...that floating cloud is just perfect!

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    1. Thanks Deborah, very different for me, but I think I am adjusting.

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  10. Most stunning photos! Glad you took us along.

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  11. Hello Linda! It's nice to read you again!

    Those are some gorgeous photos! Looks like a beautiful place to go walking, and on such a delightfully sunny day too! :o)

    I would definitely have loved to visit that castle! I've been reading a book trilogy set in Medieval England and Wales, and the first one is centred on Llewellyn Fawr and his wife Joanna (King John's daughter), next two on his heirs in Wales and John's heirs in England. Fabulous reads! If you're interested in historical fiction then I highly recommend them! "Here Be Dragons", "Falls the Shadow" and "The Reckoning" by Sharon Kay Penman.

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    1. I will do the castle walk at sometime in the future and blog about it, so watch this space. Thanks so much for the author recommendation, I do read some authors writing in the historical fiction genre but am not familiar with Sharon Kay Penman.

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    2. A friend recommended her most recent book (Lionheart) too me as she knew I was interested in that time period. The she suggested I read her book on the War of the Roses "The Sunne in Splendour" and I knew I was hooked with Sharon's writing! The same friend introduced me to the Fan Group on Facebook (in which Sharon sometimes participates) and I've been participating in lively debates about the books, the Middle Ages in general, Tv series and movies covering that period and a whole bunch of random things with a group of fun (and slightly crazy) people!

      I'll definitely keep my eye out for the Castle walk! :o)

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  12. This walk is even lovelier than I had thought from your other blog! And I love that you found a walking group to go with.

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    1. Delighted you were tempted by the trees to look at the rest Sallie.

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  13. What a beautiful landscape ! I did a bus tour around the UK end May this year from London up to Edinburgh and further and then on the other side down via Wales, Liverpool, Bath, Stonehenge and back to London. It had been a wonderful trip and I have seen so beautiful Landscapes.

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    1. You had an interesting variation of landscapes in that tour, so pleased you enjoyed some of the beauty that the UK has to offer.

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  14. THIS made me smile. In part because you're getting yourself out there and finding snippets of peacefulness.....and in part cuz you captured such loveliness that I couldn't help but smile. I adore the shots from the tethering ring--while you might not have been the first person to capture that, you did it well! And that breathtaking green after the steep climb...worth it!
    And definitely worth going back and catching more! :-)

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    1. Thanks Mel, it makes me happy to read that I made you Smile.

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  15. What a great walk and not too long. You have shown what a beautiful place wales is I think it is often overlooked.i love to look at old walls and try and think of the labour needed to make such a gorgeous piece of architecture and history. Have a lovely weekend

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  16. Fabulous photos Linda from your first walk with this group. I particularly love the one of the sheep on the hillside and really love the photos through the iron rings.

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  17. It was lovely to receive your recent comment, and to know that you are busy in your spot of Wales and enjoying walking with friends.
    Postman's Pass looks a lovely spot, and how lovely to be there in such lovely sunshine. I am just about to go back to the beginning and look at your photos in the larger size.
    All my best to you.

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  18. I am so glad for you Linda.. Sounds like you are getting into the swing of things there in your part of lovely Wales. The Postman's pass has such lovely lush fields and you tell us a lovely story about all the old castles and cottages.
    glad to become a member of your new blog.
    happy days
    val xx

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  19. Wow Lindy, gorgeous place for sure! I love the photos looking through the metal rings.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  20. What beautiful country! Are you living in Wales now? Quite different from Italy, but every bit as charming!

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    1. Yes living in Wales now, surprisingly many similarities to where we lived in Italy. :)

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