The Ro and Nant y Pandy Valleys.

Start. Lay-by to the east of Glyndyfrdwy.

Route. Lay-by to the east of Glyndyfrdwy - Siambr Wen - Ponrhyn - Dreboeth - Ty n-llwyn - Tyn-y-graig - Minor Road (grid 147 395) - Nant y Pandy - Tan-y-Graig - Nant - Nant y Pandy Slate Mill - Glyndyfrdwy - Lay-by to the east of Glyndyfrdwy.

Notes. This walk rises along the wooded edge of the Ro Valley before traversing heather moorland reaching a minor road at the 1,555ft contour, it then descends a narrow trod into the Nant y Pandy Valley ending the walk exploring the remains of a 19th century slate mill. Not the most exciting of walks but it did give us a break from canal side rambling.

After parking on a large lay-by just east of Glyndyfrdwy we headed up a single track road (Siamber Wen) turning right at the first junction, another single ribbon of tarmac guided us to Ponrhyn, a track looped behind the farm this we followed to Dreboeth, a cattle grid guarded the entrance to the farm, we passed over it, wandered behind the farm buildings to join a waymarked field path. Across the green hillside we walked, behind the next building (Ty’n-llwyn) we climbed to the edge of a forestry plantation, a wide track cut across the hillside directly in front of the tree line, this guided us above the next farm (Tyn-y-graig) followed by a forest track through bracken and gorse onto open moorland.

Now guided by a land rover track through an extensive area of bilberry and heather we headed towards the tree line of the Ceiriog Forest, on reaching grid reference 147 395 we stepped onto a narrow tarmac lane, we turned right. The short walk over tarmac that followed deposited us at a waymark post, a narrow trod plunged down the steep hillside of the Nant y Pandy valley, we opted to follow it. The descent cut across the bracken and bilberry covered hillside levelling off just before reaching a track.

Time to quench our thirsts and take a look at the map, it looked like our route followed this track north into woodland. We soon reached a bridleway sign, not sure this was our route we continued to the next sign, a footpath following what was once a tramway carrying slate from hidden mines in the hills above. For certain this was our route, we soon reached a breached dam, this once held water to power a 40ft water wheel at the Nant y Pandy Slate Mill, we continued to the remains of the mill now softened by mosses, nature slowly re-claiming the site.

Continuing down stream the path reached a house with a footbridge crossing the beck, we crossed to to join a rough track, the track in turn guided us to a small museum on the side of the main road, we crossed before turning right, a pavement safely guided us along the side of the busy A5 back to the patiently waiting car.

view route map.

home.

Siamber Wen our guide into the promised land.

Views over Dreboeth to the tops of Moel Morfydd and Moel y Gamien.

Near Ty n-llwyn soaking up views over the Ro Valley.

Picking our way through pathless moorland, looking to Moel Morfydd and Moel Gamien with Moel y Gaer with its'a iron Age Hill Fort between the two.

Rearing up out of the Ro Valley, Vivod Mountain.

Striding out over the surface of a reassuring path, looking back to Vivod Mountain.

Lone tree with views across the Ro Valley.

The sunlit lowlands of the Nant y Pandy Valley.

Dropping into the Nant y Pandy Valley.

Echoes of an industrial past, the breached dam that once held water to power the machinery of the Nant y Pandy Slate Mill.

Capturing the whispers of a lost industry, this wheel pit once held a 40ft water wheel.

Exploring the ruins of the Nant y Pandy Slate Mill.

From 1870 untill it's closure in the 1920s slate slabs were processed here, the site contained the fore mentioned water wheel, forge, office and stables, all slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Take the path over the bridge you follow a tramway along the edge of the hill, we opted to follow the beck.

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