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the nantlle valley, aberglaslyn pass and the vale of ffestiniog

Porthmadog was once an important port for shipping the slate from the quarries of Blaenau Ffestiniog. The preserved narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway, built to carry the slate, runs from the Harbour Station to Blaenau Ffestiniog. On the coast nearby are the sandy coves of Borth-y-Gest and the wide sands at Black Rock.

Follow the Caernarfon road, A487 to the village of Tremadog, birthplace of T E Lawrence, the famed 'Lawrence of Arabia' in 1888. Turn left at the square and ascend through Penmorfa before skirting Dolbenmaen. At Penygroes turn right onto the B4418, signed Rhyd-Ddu. Beyond Nantlle the road becomes narrow and steeper as it climbs out of the valley and then descends to Rhyd-Ddu. Turn right onto the Beddgelert road, A4085, passing on the left one of the footpaths to Snowdon. On the gradual descent, skirt Beddgelert Forest, a Forestry Commission picnic area and a nature trail.


Beddgelert is a pleasant village at the junction of the Nant Colwyn and Afon Glaslyn. In a field nearby is the reputed grave of Llewellyn the Great's dog, Gelert. Follow the Porthmadog road, A498, into the beautiful rocky Pass of Aberglaslyn and then turn left over Aberglaslyn Bridge onto the A4085, signed Penrhyndeudraeth. At Garreg turn left onto the B4410 signed Rhyd/Ffestiniog Railway and climb to the edge of more mountaineous country with fine views of the mountains and across the coastal plain to Porthmadog.

On the descent through thickly wooded country, pass Tan-y-Bwlch Station on the Ffestiniog Railway. A nature trail begins from the station. Pass by Llyn Mair, then descend steeply to a main road where the drive turns right onto the Porthmadog road, A487. Pass along the wooded Vale of Ffestiniog to Penrhyndeudraeth and then Minffordd.

On the left is the road to Portmeirion, the romantic Italianate village created by the architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. The massive embankment known as The Cob, which leads to Porthmadog.

 
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