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Torrent Walk

Distance - about 2½ miles (4 km)

Location - From Dolgellau, follow the A470 to the south. After two miles, turn left to Brithdir on the B4416. Cross the narrow bridge (Pont ar Ddibyn) in 50 metres. After a further 100m there is a lay-by on the left with an oak signpost marking the path.

Relevant map - Ordnance Survey Explorer OL 23 Cadair Idris and Llyn Tegid

Useful Information - Wear walking boots and take a waterproof clothing just in case

How about a walk along one of the most popular paths in the Dolgellau area? It follows the path of the river Clywedog through its striking gorge.

The walk
Starting point: A lay-by in the village of Brithdir on the B4416
Grid reference: SH 761 182
Length of walk: A circular walk of approximately 2 miles/3.2km
Time: Approximately 1-2 hours
Facilities: Limited parking in a lay-by

Standard of path
Some steep sections.
Rough and uneven in places.
Some steps along the route.
The path can be quite wet and slippery.
Waymarkers along the route.

Useful information
Wear comfortable shoes with a good tread.
Relevant map – Ordnance Survey Explorer OL 23 Cadair Idris & Llyn Tegid.
For more information about this route contact our Area Warden, Rhys Gwynn on 01341 422 878 or e-mail rhys.gwynn@eryri-npa.gov.uk.
Staff at our Information Centre in Dolgellau can provide you with excellent local knowledge: Tel. 01341 422 888 or e-mail tic.dolgellau@eryri-npa.gov.uk .
Public transport – bus service No. 33 (Dolgellau/Aberangell/Machynlleth). For further details visit www.traveline-cymru.org.uk or phone 0871 200 22 33.

History and further information
The original path was built by Thomas Payne and his son; he was also the designer of the Cob across the river Glaslyn in Porthmadog. The work was commissioned by Baron Richards of the mansion Plas Caerynwch, which is further upstream, in order to extend the mansion’s gardens. If you were to cross the river at the top end of the path directly after Payne had completed it, you would have come across a timber bridge, with a patterned banister. Further down the path there was a fake cromlech – but now there is a bench to commemorate Mary Richards, Caerynwch, a lady who became interested in plants at a very young age and grew to become a renowned botanist. She travelled a great deal, mostly to Africa, and was responsible for bringing many striking plants back to the gardens of Caerynwch.

Even before this time, the shores of the river Clywedog was bursting with activity and industry. Near Pont ar Ddibyn, towards Brithdir there used to be a fulling mill where weaves were washed and beaten with heavy oak hammers. Urine was collected from nearby farms and cottages and taken by cart to the fulling mill in barrels – the owner paid a penny per bucketful. Not much of the mill’s remains can be seen today.

Dolgellau’s weaves were renowned for their quality and were exported all over the world. Coarser weaves were exported to clothe slaves in North America. The weaves were around two hundred yards long and were hung out to dry on tenterhooks. The Welsh name for tenter is ‘deintur’, and many fields in the locality are called Cae Deintur (tenter field). The beech plantation at the bottom of the path is one example - at one time it was an open field and was known as Cae Deintur.

At the bottom of the path, adjacent to Clywedog bridge there are buildings which were previously a woolen mill and warehouse. Water to power the mill was taken from the river further upstream; some of the structure can be seen today. The flow of the water had to be controlled to prevent the waterwheel from breaking – in wet weather the river builds up destructive power and momentum in no time.

A short distance from the bridge towards Dolgellau are the ruins of an old iron furnace dating back to the early eighteenth century. It was built by Abraham Darby, the Quaker from Coalbrookdale. He and other Quakers from Dolserau and Dolgun farms used to mine iron ore on nearby Tir Stent and haul it down to the furnace. Some mining scars can also be seen on the eastern bank of the river Clywedog. The abundance of wood to make charcoal to melt the ore made this an ideal location for a furnace. The ore was exported on ships on the river Wnion, which could sail through Dolgellau at that time.

The Snowdonia National Park Authority has recently restored the original path along the eastern side of the ravine, keeping to the original line where possible. The whole ravine has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest which meant that the work had to be completed without impairing the character of the site.

The path leads through sessile oak woodland, and in May a strong scent of bluebells fills the air. The woodland floor is also carpeted with wood anemone and wild garlic. Because of the humidity of the ravine and the cleanliness of the air in the western domain this site has an important collection of lichens, mosses, ferns, mushrooms and liverwort.

The ravine’s wildlife is remarkable. The number of otters has increased and dormice have been recorded here. Lesser horseshoe bats hunt in the woodland – their main roosting place is in St Marc’s Church near the top of the path. In the spring the songs of the Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler can be heard and the Dipper and Grey Wagtail can be seen on the rocks. Though you are unlikely to see it, the rare Mountain Whorl Snail Vertigo alpestris, which is no longer than 2mm lives in the walls along the bottom roads, and the Welsh Clearwing, a rare moth breeds in the large beech trees.

A variety of trees grow in the ravine including common and small leaved lime, elm and hornbeam. Generally, there are not many trees over a hundred years old owing to the heavy use of trees in the ship building industry on the Mawddach estuary, and the amount of oak bark used in the tannery industry.