Dolmelynllyn Estate Walk

A circular loop of 4 miles (6.4 km) starting and finishing at the National Trust car park in Ganllwyd village, graded Moderate, with an official time of about 4 hours. That pace is not padding: the walking is slow, climbing from around 49 m at the village to roughly 227 m in the forestry above before dropping back down.

From the car park you cross the road towards the restored corrugated-iron village hall, then follow the tarmac lane beside the River Gamlan to a stoned footpath and a waymarked bridge. Cross and veer right for Rhaeadr Ddu, the Black Falls, which the official route describes as two separate waterfalls, spectacular in all seasons. Beyond a kissing gate and a wooden footbridge the path climbs on waymarkers through recently cleared forestry, passes a rustic oak footbridge, and reaches the Cefn Coch gold workings and the ruined Berthlwyd cottage. The return descends on tarmac to a stone house, back into the woods, through the Merionnydd National Trust work base, past the Tyn-y-Groes Hotel, over the main road to the River Mawddach and Tyn-y-Groes bridge, then home on road and pavement.

The upper half of the loop is a 19th-century industrial landscape rather than pure scenery. The official route picks out the Cefn Coch stamping mills, barracks and powder hut, old tramway and mining remains, and the Berthlwyd ruins. If you like reading a hillside for what people once did on it, this is the reason to choose the longer loop over a waterfall visit alone.

Expect woodland, grass paths and some tarmac. It can be muddy and is steep in places, with kissing gates, step-over stiles and a ladder to negotiate. Boots with grip are sensible, and the descent will feel harder than the map suggests after rain.

The route crosses the busy main road near the hotel and again uses road and village lane on the return. Treat both crossings with care and keep children and dogs close there.

Use the National Trust car park in Ganllwyd village, postcode LL40 2TF, signposted from the A470. The walk begins by crossing the A470, so take your time at that point. Dogs are welcome under close control in the woodland and on leads on farmland, with livestock about; the Trust asks that you keep dogs on leads and clear up after them.