Betbet three

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Really stunning walk. Initial woodland and riverside walk from Betws-y-Coed is picturesque with good views of Swallow Falls. Ugly House makes a good rest point (really good scones). Steeper section through woodland takes you onto nice tracks across open moorland with views across the Ogwen Valley. Walk through the valley follows an easy trail until Llyn Ogwen. The path on the northern shore is slippery underfoot when wet and includes a few scramble sections. Less confident walkers may prefer to keep to the A5 at this point. Toilets and cafe at Idwal cottage is pleasant. Road walk through Nant Ffrancon valley is easy going terrain which leads easily into Bethesda.

At Bethesda end, the route starts at a community orchard, then quickly turns to a park to emerge at a road leading to a crossroads. Instead of taking a turn towards the Penrhyn quarry, the route suggests going through the woods. The first attached photo shows an entry to the woods. The second photo shows a crossing of the road leading up to the quarry.

It then follows Afon Ogwen stream and crosses it via bridge shown on the third photo. The next section goes along the main A5 road out of Bethesda and you need to watch out for an exit towards the stream as shown on the fourth photo. When it reaches Dorothy Stringer Outdoor Pursuit Trust farm there are wooden steps over a stonewall to cross on the right. Don't try to go through the farmyard.

There is a large lake Llyn Ogwen on the route next with a National Trust center. Toilets are free there and little snacks are sold there too. Leaving the center at Pont Pen-y-benglog, the next section leads along the remote side of the lake and it is very stony. The fifth photo shows the most dangerous rocky hole that walkers need to cross. The route along the lake is not always easy to follow given the rugged and sometimes soggy ground. There are, however, wooden posts marking the way. There is a farm at the end of the lake that needs circumventing from above. No through route via the farm.

The route continues by Gwern Gof Isaf Campside with a couple of wooden tables by the side. It is important to go through a gate that is shown on the sixth photo with a sheep behind it and next to "Campsite Rules" sign, not down to the campsite.

The next 5km lead through an open valley with no shade. This section ends at Capel Curig where there is a public paid toilet (50p).

The last 9km is mostly through a landscape protected by woods. The GPS signal between 9th and 8th km before Betws-y-Coed was erratic - sometimes showing my location too far to the right of the route and a couple of steps away showing my location too far to the left. I had to use common sense.

The route at approx. 7km before Betws-y-Coed follows a wide gravel road and it is easy to miss an exit into a narrow footpath. I took a photo of the spot. See the seventh photo.

Somewhere between 4th and 3rd km before Betws-y-coed, the route crosses a tributary of Afon Llugwy stream via a wooden bridge. See the eighth photo. It seems as though there is a sharp turn upwards right after the bridge but the turn is approx. 40m farther after the bridge.

The following section leads through meadows where the path is not easily recognisable on the ground. Walkers need to aim at several wooden steps on the way. The last steps are just above a dog refuge. There is no public right of way through the refuge.

Finally, there are plenty of opportunities for buying meals and refreshments in Betws-y-Coed as well as public toilets and transport links.

Overall, the route is relatively safe, direct, quiet, varied and with many beautiful sights. Its main weakness is that it is not always accurate and walkers need to engage common sense to see through the imperfections.

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