Maestron waterfall walk

Including Pistyll Gwyn - Nant-hir.

Ability requirements (key)

Directions

From Cardiff, take the A470 to Dolgellau. From Dolgellau, take the A494 towards Bala. After passing the Glan-llyn Urdd centre at the start of Bala Lake, take the first road to the left, signposted to Parc. At Parc, the lane drops very steeply to cross the river. Take the first left after that, signposted to Arenig. Pass through a farm, then after a few corners, a lane leads off ahead on a very sharp right bend. Take the lane ahead. It passes a cattle grid, then later splits, where the road to the left has another cattle grid. Take the road to the left. On the first left bend, there is a tiny stub of dirt track which can be used for parking, beside a footpath sign. SH 8584 3591.

Route

Head in the direction of the footpath sign, towards a line of conifer trees. Skirt the left side of the trees. The path (which may be quite indistinct) crosses the field behind them diagonally to its right side, picking up a well worn path running along the edge of the next field. (You could get to the same place by skirting the right side of the trees, then following the right side of a wall around, but that is not a right of way.) Follow the right side of the fence, holding roughly the same direction, to reach some walls, then follow the left side of the wall that continues in roughly the same direction again.

The path finally ends at some sheepfolds, where gates lead out of the other side. Holding the same line as the last part of the path, a poorly defined, boggy path leads up to some ruined sheepfolds on the edge of the Nant-hir stream. The Pistyll Gwyn waterfall begins immediately below the sheepfolds. Descend the bank as far as needed to see all of it (until the stream swings left). Return the same way, or extend the walk as desired.

Maps

KML files can be opened in Google Earth, Google Maps, GPX Viewer, and some other mapping services.

Waterfalls

More about this area

Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this description, neither the author nor his fellow walkers can accept responsibility for loss or injury arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this description. This description is intended as a guide only, and you should select a route to suit your own abilities, at your own discretion. Ability requirements are a guide only. Route maps are approximated. You follow this description at your own risk.