Where
is it? Betws y Coed in the beautiful Conwy Valley
How long will it take ? : The circular walk is approx. 1.6
miles (2.3km). You
could walk it in less than 1/2 an hour but allow 1hr to enjoy the scenery
and attractions.
What's the attraction? : Glorious riverside walk, ancient Church
of St Michael's, plus a Railway museum.
Essentials : Two good legs, as a wheelchair would
not get through the kissing gate
Rating : Easy
Car Parking : Parking is available
near the Betws-y-Coed Railway Station
Facilities : Toilets are
available at the Car Park outside the Railway Station. Cafes and various
shops available at the Station complex.
Lets Go :
Directions
for this walk are very simple. Leave the car park and enter the Betws-y-Coed
Railway Station. Cross the footbridge over the Conwy Valley Railway
Line to the Conwy Valley Railway Museum. Have a look around the Museum
or walk through to Hen Ffordd (Old Road) by St
Michael's Church.
St Michael's is a beautiful old church and should you be lucky enough
to find the church doors open you will find an interesting C14th stone
effigy of local Knight, Gruffydd ap Dafydd Goch,
grandson of Dafydd, the brother of Llewelyn ab Gruffydd, the
last true Prince of Wales. The church yard itself has some grand Welsh
slate gravestones sheltering beneath overhanging Yew trees.
Leave the old churchyard and continue toward the Betws-y-Coed Golf Club
(turn left on exiting the Railway Museum or turn right on exiting
the churchyard via the old lych gate).
Take the lane to the right of the Golf Club entrance and continue along
the riverbank and through the kissing gate.
There are glorious river
views. The path continues squeezed between
the golf course and the Afon (River) Conwy as far as the junction of
the Conwy with the Afon Llugwy. Here you will find a bench where you
may rest a while and enjoy the view. Keep your
eyes open for Dippers, Wagtails and should you be very lucky, Kingfishers.
From here the path follows the Afon Llugwy upstream, running between
the golf course and the Llugwy. Marvel at such sites as the clear waters
of the Afon Llugwy and the Betws y Coed sewage treatment works!
Toward the end of the walk the track passes a nice old building, Royal
Oak Farm, which once provided dairy products for the Royal
Oak Hotel. It then passes the Betws y Coed Motor Museum before reaching
the Betws-y-Coed tourist Information office from where you will see the
Railway Station Car Park and the end of the walk.
If you have time for another short walk in Betws y Coed click here >
Buy the Ordnance Survey Map:
Outdoor Leisure OL17 (1:25,000)
