Abergwynant Woods

Distance - about 2 Hours

Location - Penmaenpool Car Park, Penmaenpool, Dolgellau, Gwynedd

Grading - Quite easy. Some slightly uphill patches.

Relevant map - Ordnance Survey Explorer OL 18 Harlech, Porthmadog and Bala

Useful Information -·Wear comfortable walking shoes and take a waterproof

Note: This map is intended as a rough guide only. You should use the relevant OS map (see above) when walking the route.

There has been ancient woodland at Abergwynant near Dolgellau since at least the 17th century. During the 1960s conifer trees were planted here and most of the native trees were cleared. The site was acquired by Snowdonia National Park Authority in 1996 and since then, work has been done to bring the rhododendron ponticum under control, remove the conifer trees and restore the native trees e.g. sessile oak, birch, holly. Last Autumn, 5000 acorns were collected on the site and taken to a nursery on Anglesey. The aim is to return the young trees back to the site to be replanted during the winter of 2005.

This walk takes in part of the Mawddach trail which is a 15km (9 miles) walk from Barmouth to Dolgellau. It is a flat leisure walk and suitable for all. Leaflets about the Mawddach Trail are available from our Information Centre at Dolgellau and the George III Hotel at Penmaenpool.

1. From the car park go across the road which leads to the Toll Bridge and walk past the George III Hotel along the road. Soon the road becomes a track. Follow this track and go through the gate. This is the track bed of the old railway line from Barmouth to Ruabon. The line was opened in 1865 and proved to be very popular with visitors. The line was also used briefly to carry slate. As cars became more popular, the line became less cost-effective. It was closed in 1965.

On the right hand side of the track is the river Mawddach which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation because of the salt marsh and lowland peat habitats.

2. Soon, you will reach a picnic table and a gate on the left hand side of the track. This is a ‘green’ oak gate. Windblown oak trees from this site were used to create this gate. Go through the gate and follow the zig zag path up through the woodland. Windblown trees from the site have also been used to create the oak steps and bridges.

Work began on the path through the woodland in October 2004 and the local contractor from Arthog hopes to complete the work during Spring 2005. Soon after the clearing of the rhododendron began, more birds were heard in the area.

3. The path gradually leads to a picnic table at the top of the hill from where there is a splendid view of the Mawddach estuary. On the other side of the Mawddach river, can you see Farchynys, another woodland which is managed by the Authority and is open for the public to enjoy?

4. Retrace your steps back from the picnic table keeping right at the fork and turning right at the junction with the track. This track which follows the Gwynant river will lead you back down onto the Mawddach Trail. While going along this track there's a great example of an old lime kiln. The ships would carry limestone here from the Gogarth area in Llandudno, and the lime created would be spreaded over the land to fertilize it. Turn right as you reach the bridge and begin your walk back to the car park along the Mawddach Trail. As you walk along, you can enjoy the view of Cadair Idris to the south, the Llethr and Diffwys to the north and the Precipice Path straight ahead.

Why do we have to get rid of the Rhododendron? - Rhododendron ponticum was introduced to Britain 200 years ago as an ornamental shrub and was planted in the gardens of many large houses. It likes high rainfall and humidity, together with an acid soil. When the Rhododendron actively spreads it casts a dense shade and no other plants can grow underneath it. Thus all the flowers, ferns and mosses disappear and tree seedlings can’t grow, so that when old trees die, there are no young ones to replace them.