Llyn Tegid North

This is a 10 km (6.2 mile) one-way route along the hills above the northern shore of Llyn Tegid, and it takes about five hours at a steady walking pace. It starts at the Llyn Tegid foreshore car park in Bala, on the edge of town, and finishes at the Commemorative Monument near the southern end of the route, after the Afon Lliw and the bridge section. Plan it as a point-to-point day out rather than a loop.

From the foreshore you follow pavement past the Fron Feuno car park at Llanycil, then take the Fron Feuno farm track and public footpath through trees and fields. The route crosses the Nant Gwenwyn Meirch stream by footbridge, passes Plas Moel y Garnedd Caravan Park, then climbs by Moel y Garnedd Uchaf and Ty'n y Rhos to the open heath at Gwastadros. After that it links country road and footpaths via Llwyn Mawr Uchaf and Llwyn Mawr Isaf, drops through Coed Swch y Pentre woodland, and passes along the northern side of Caer Gai, the site of an old Roman fort. The last stretch runs through Weirglodd Wen and Weirglodd Ddu, past a chapel, along the Afon Lliw riverbank, and out to the main road and bridge before the monument.

Moderate for a reasonably fit walker. There is no technical mountain section, but the ground rolls rather than climbing once and descending once: roughly 175 m at the start, up over 280 m in the middle third, back down near 170 m by the finish, with several smaller rises along the way. The friction is distance, uneven ground, and the cumulative five hours, plus the concentration needed to navigate between farms, field boundaries and road links.

Expect a genuine mixed bag. Pavement at the start, farm tracks, field paths and stiles, a stream footbridge, open heath that can be rough and vague underfoot, woodland, and sections of country road with crossings, including the main road near the end. This is not a surfaced or level path, and the open middle section has little shelter, so dress for the conditions you find on the hill.

Because the route does not return to its start, you need to arrange your return transport in advance. The start is close to Bala; the finish is at the Commemorative Monument, and you should not count on anything being available there.

Dogs are welcome on the public footpaths and open access land along this route. On open access land they must be on a lead no longer than 2 m from 1 March to 31 July, during the livestock and ground-nesting bird season. On public rights of way keep your dog under close control at all times, and a short lead is sensible near livestock and wildlife, which you should expect given how much of this walk crosses working farmland.