Vale of Conwy

A view from the terrace of the Plas Maenan Hotel towards Dolgarrog. The bridge over the Afon (River) Conwy is in the centre of the picture. This bridge once carried a railway branch from Dolgarrog Station to the aluminium works. The rail tracks were removed in the 1960's and the bridge now carries water mains and a currently closed footpath.

As seen from Dolgarrog station. The reason? No regular trains have passed by since before 8 January. Flooding etc has caused yet another issue for this scenic railway line to Blaenau Ffestiniog to close on numerous occasions. SH7866 : Information board at Dolgarrog station Viewed from the apparent safety of the footpath crossing.

Seen to the left of the existing track. In 1916 a short branch line was opened from the Conwy Valley railway, east of the river. It made a sharp turn through almost 180 degrees to cross the river and run along the valley to the factory. From the entrance gate, sidings fanned out into seven areas of the factory. - History points Link It was here the railway joined the line to Llandudno Junction.

Deals with Covid rules and the announcement of a replacement bus service. The Conwy Valley Line which runs between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno did not reopen on 28 January as expected, and a bus replacement service will operate until further notice. The line, which runs from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno, had closed again on Tuesday, 19 January following flood damage caused by Storm Christoph. This is coupled with staff shortages.

The footpath is signed as 'closed'. The reason being about 200 metres behind the photographer is a bridge SH7866 : Dolgarrog bridge viewed south westwards across the river which is closed for safety reasons. Moves are in hand to have the bridge repaired. In theory this must be the only village which has a station but it cannot be reached unless a long circuitous route is taken by road. Equally it is a station without a village.

It was in this area a short branch line was opened from the Conwy Valley railway, east of the river. It made a sharp turn through almost 180 degrees to cross the river and run along the valley to the aluminium works factory. From the entrance gate, sidings fanned out into seven areas of the factory. There are no visible signs of the old railway it having been lifted in 1965.

Currently closed as the bridge SH7866 : Dolgarrog bridge viewed south westwards about 200 metres behind the photographer is closed for safety reasons. The path does however lead to the Afon Conwy. A popular spot for dog walkers.

At the centre of the photo is Dolgarrog Bridge which used to carry a branch line from the Aluminium works across the Afon Conwy to join with the Conwy Valley line. The line closed and the railway dismantled, it now carries two large water pipes and a footpath.

A wide, flat valley, prone to flooding. The fence across the middle of the photo shows the path of the Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog railway line which has had to close several times in the last few years due to damage caused by flooding.

Cows with their young calves are enjoying the spring sunshine on the rough meadows adjacent to the railway and A470 by Dolgarrog Station. Compare with a previous view during preparation for railway works: SH7866 : Access to the railway.

A view from the riverside at a low state of tide.

A view of the river at a low tide level with reeds and mudbanks.

From Maenan, this track heads roughly north towards Cadair Ifan Coch with various branch paths, some mapped, some not. One which is well-used leads to a good viewpoint over the Conwy Valley.

From a forest track heading north from Maenan, a branch path brings one out, with a slight scramble, to the viewpoint at Cadair Ifan Coch, where rocks form a gap in the woodland, about 35m below the summit of the hill. The spot commands a panorama over the lower Conwy valley and across to woodland beyond Trefriw. The only thing marring the view is the former aluminium works, now converted to the tourist attraction of Surf Snowdonia, and the ugly Trefriw Hilton, soon to be housing asylum seekers instead of granting them temporary permits to work and pay taxes which any sane government would see as an answer to the current permacrisis (largely of the insane government's own making).

As an access road, this track serves Ty'n-yr-allt (behind the photographer) but as a public footpath, it comes from Maenan (some way further south). It reaches the public road system at Pen-y-groesffordd a quarter of a kilometre ahead.