Snowdonia_Society_mag_spring_2014

Galwedigaethau yn Eryri Occupations in Snowdonia

Gwanwyn 2014 Spring

Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Eryri Snowdonia Society magazine

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Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Eryri Snowdonia Society Magazine

I’w ddarllen â theclyn darllen cod bar For use with a smartphone bar code scanner

Cymdeithas Eryri Snowdonia Society,

Caban, Yr Hen Ysgol, Brynrefail, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 3NR

Sefydlwyd Cymdeithas Eryri yn 1967 a’i nod yw sicrhau fod harddwch ac amrywiaeth tirwedd, bywyd gwyllt ac etifeddiaeth ddiwylliannol y Parc Cenedlaethol yn parhau er mwynhad cenedlaethau’r presennol a’r dyfodol. ~~~ The Snowdonia Society, established in 1967, works to ensure the beauty and diversity of the National Park’s landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage remain for present and future generations to enjoy.

Ddim yn aelod?

Not a member?

Cefnogwch ein gwaith trwy ymaelodi!

Cysylltwch â ni neu gweler ein gwefan i ddarganfod rhagor.

Why not support our work by joining the Society?

Contact us or visit our website for details.

01286 685498 info@snowdonia-society.org.uk www.cymdeithas-eryri.org.uk www.snowdonia-society.org.uk Elusen gof. rhif / Reg. charity no: 253231

Swyddogion ac Ymddiriedolwyr / Officers and Trustees Llywydd / President: John Lloyd Jones OBE Is-Lywyddion / Vice-Presidents: Dr John Disley, Sir John Houghton CBE FRS, Sir Simon Jenkins FSA, David Firth, Morag McGrath.

Cadeirydd / Chair: David Archer Is-gadeirydd / Vice-Chair: Katherine Himsworth Ysgrifennydd Anrh. / Hon. Secretary: Rhydd/Vacant Aelodau’r pwyllgor / Committee members: Netti Collister, Bob Lowe, Gareth Roberts, Margaret Thomas, Marc Thomas, Elwyn Thomas, Peter Weston, Jacob Buis.

Os hoffech gysylltu ag unrhyw aelod o’r pwyllgor, ffoniwch y swyddfa.

If you would like to contact any of the committee members, please phone the office.

Staff Cyfarwyddwr/Director: John Harold

Notice of the

Rhybudd am

2014 Snowdonia Society

Gyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol

Annual General Meeting

Cymdeithas Eryri 2014

Dydd Sadwrn, 18 Hydref 2014 Lleoliad i'w ddatgan.

Saturday, 18 October 2014 Location to be announced.

Cysylltwch â’r swyddfa os oes gennych unrhyw ymholiadau: 01286 685498

Contact the office in case of queries:

info@snowdonia-society.org.uk

Cynnwys • Contents Golygyddol Warden Eryri Cerflunydd a’i Dirwedd Creu eich Gwaith eich Hunain Antur Stiniog Cwm Croesor a'r Marchog Crwydrol Mae Gwirfoddoli’n Talu Achubwch y Parciau!

Adolygiad Llyfrau Digwyddiadau Daearegwr yn gadael cymynrodd Coedwig Tŷ Hyll Aelodau Busnes newydd

3-5 6-9 10-13 14-15 16-17 18-21 22-23 24-26 26-27 28 28 30 31

Editorial Snowdon Warden A Sculptor and his Landscape Creating Your Own Work Antur Stiniog Cwm Croesor and the Knight Errant Volunteering Pays Save the Parks!

Book Reviews Events Leading Geologist leaves a legacy Tŷ Hyll Woodland New Business Members

Gweinyddwraig Swyddfa/Office Administrator: Frances Smith Rheolwr Prosiect Ecosystem Eryri/ Snowdonia Ecosystem Project Manager: Mary-Kate Jones Swyddog Prosiect Ecosystem Eryri/ Snowdonia Ecosystem Project Officer: Jenny Whitmore

Ymwelwch â'n chwaer-wefannau • Visit our sister websites www.tyhyll.co.uk www.theuglyhouse.co.uk

www.14peaks.com

Cyfrifydd/Accountant: Judith Bellis Cyfieithu/Translation: Gareth Jones Delwedd clawr: Tanio’r Injan Cover image: Stoking the Engine © Bob Rodgers

Dyma gylchgrawn swyddogol Cymdeithas Eryri. Caiff ei gyhoeddi bob chwe mis a’i ddosbarthu i aelodau’r Gymdeithas yn rhad ac am ddim. Gofynnwch os hoffech chi gael unrhyw erthyglau mewn fformat print bras.

This is the official magazine of the Snowdonia Society, distributed free to its members twice a year. Please ask if you would like the text of any articles in a larger print format.

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Golygyddol

Editorial

Yn 1951, pan grëwyd Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, roedd mwyafrif ei drigolion yn dal yn rhan o economi wledig ac yn ennill eu bywoliaeth trwy ymwneud yn uniongyrchol â’r tir, boed hynny yn ffermio, coedwigaeth, chwareli llechi neu fwyngloddio. Er bod tractorau’n dod yn gyffredin, defnyddid ceffylau yn helaeth, ac yn achos tyddynwyr mewn mannau anghysbell, pynfeirch oedd yr unig ddull ymarferol o gludo nwyddau. Roedd nifer o’r tyddynnod hyn yng Nghoedwig Gwydyr a Choed y Brenin, ble’r oedd y Comisiwn Coedwigaeth, a sefydlwyd wedi’r Rhyfel Mawr, yn brysur yn plannu ar gymaint o dir ag y gallai gaffael; hoffai i’w weithlu fyw yn y fan a’r lle rhag ofn i dannau ddigwydd, ac i warchod ei goed ifanc rhag ymwelwyr digroeso, pobl neu ddefaid. Roedd mwyngloddio ar raddfa fechan - plwm yn bennaf, ond copr, aur a sinc hefyd - yn dal i ddigwydd, gan amlaf yn yr un mannau ble cai’r conwydd eu plannu. Roedd y diwydiant llechi yn dirywio ers blynyddoedd, ond roedd nifer sylweddol o bobl yn dal i ddibynnu arno am eu bywoliaeth.

In 1951, when the Snowdonia National Park was created, most of its residents were still part of a rural economy earning their living through direct involvement with the land, be it in farming, forestry, slate quarrying or mining for minerals. Although tractors were becoming common the use of horses was still widespread, and for smallholders in remote locations the packhorse remained a practical form of transport. Many such smallholdings were in the Gwydyr Forest and Coed y Brenin, where the Forestry Commission, created after the First World War, was busily planting as much land as it could acquire; it liked to have its workforce living on the spot in case of fire, and to protect its young trees from unwanted visitors, be they people or sheep.

Small scale mining - usually for lead but sometimes for copper, gold or zinc - was still going on, often in the same areas that were being planted with conifers. The slate industry had been declining for years but a significant number of people still depended on the quarries for their livelihood.

Drigain mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, mae’r sefyllfa’n wahanol iawn. Mae’r ffyrdd llawer gwell yn golygu fod llawer o bobl nid yn unig yn byw yn y Parc, ond hefyd yn cymudo i weithio yn nhrefi’r arfordir, neu hyd yn oed Caer, Lerpwl neu Manceinion. Mae'r mwyngloddiau’n segur bellach, a chynhyrchir llechi ym Methesda a’r Blaenau yn unig. Mae’r Comisiwn Coedwigaeth (sydd bellach yn rhan o Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru) wedi’i gwtogi, a gwerthodd ei dyddynnod fel cartrefi gwyliau a chyflogir contractwyr i wneud ei waith teneuo a thorri coed. Ychydig iawn o geffylau a ddefnyddir i drin y tir, ac eithrio symud coed yn achlysurol, ac mae'r gofaint a'r cyfrwywyr hefyd yn brin. Ym maes amaeth, mae sgiliau trwsio a chynnal peiriannau bellach yn hanfodol, a defnyddir yr amser a arbedir wrth ddefnyddio beic modur cwad o flaen cyfrifiadur yn ymdopi â cheisiadau cynyddol gymhleth am grantiau a chymorthdaliadau. Wrth i ffermwyr ymdrechu i ailddiffinio’u rôl,

Sixty years on the situation is very different. Vastly improved roads mean that many people now live in the Park but commute to work in the coastal towns, or even to Chester, Liverpool or Manchester. Today, there are no working mines, and only in Bethesda and Blaenau Ffestiniog is slate being extracted. The Forestry Commission (now part of Natural Resources Wales) has slimmed down, selling off its smallholdings as holiday homes and employing contractors to carry out its thinning and harvesting operations. Horses working on the land are a rarity, used occasionally to extract timber, and farriers and saddlers are thin on the ground. In agriculture the ability to mend and maintain machinery has become an essential skill and the time saved by using a quad bike is utilized in front of a computer screen coping with ever more complex applications for grants and subsidies. As farmers struggle to redefine their role, few can afford to employ

(Parhad drosodd)

(Continued overleaf)

Ennill bywoliaeth yn y Parc

Earning a living in the Park

Cyfarwyddwr Newydd ● New Director Mae’r Gymdeithas yn dibynnu ar gorfflu bychan o staff, a dros y 12 mis diwethaf, bu gwahanol Gyfarwyddwyr wrth y gwaith. Yn dilyn penderfyniad Sarah Medcalf i beidio dychwelyd i’r Gymdeithas wedi ei chyfnod mamolaeth oherwydd rhesymau personol, rydym yn falch o groesawu Cyfarwyddwr parhaol newydd, John Harold, ecolegydd yn ôl ei alwedigaeth a siaradwr Cymraeg y mae Eryri yn annwyl iawn iddo. Rydym yn ddiolchgar i Sarah am arsylwi prosiect hynod lwyddiannus Tŷ Hyll a symud y pencadlys i Caban. Yn y cyfamser, rydym hefyd yn ddiolchgar iawn i Huw Jenkins, ein Cyfarwyddwr dros dro ers 12 mis, sydd wedi gweddnewid ein dulliau o gyfathrebu â’r cyfryngau ac wedi recriwtio aelodau busnes newydd. Diolch i’n holl Gyfarwyddwyr presennol a rhai’r gorffennol.

The Society relies on a small corps of staff, and over the last 12 months has seen changes of Director. Following Sarah Medcalf’s decision, for personal reasons, not to return to the Society after her maternity leave we are pleased to welcome a new permanent Director, John Harold, an ecologist by training and a Welsh speaker with a particular affinity for Snowdonia. We are grateful to Sarah for overseeing the very successful Tŷ Hyll Project and the move to Caban.

Meanwhile we also owe many thanks to Huw Jenkins, our interim Director for the past 12 months, who has really spruced up our media communications and recruited new business members.

Our thanks to all our Directors, past and present.

John Harold

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(Golygydd, parhad)

ychydig iawn ohonynt all fforddio cyflogi gweision, ac yn aml iawn, bydd eu plant yn dewis peidio dilyn eu camre.

Gwerthir ffermydd a byddant yn cynyddu, ond â gweithlu llai.

Serch hynny, nid yw’n ddarlun hollol ddu. Dros y blynyddoedd, mae pobl ifanc a fyddai ar un adeg wedi treulio’u hoes fel gweision fferm wedi cael gwaith fel hyfforddeion gwaith ystâd gan y Parc Cenedlaethol neu'r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol, gan feithrin sgiliau adeiladu a chynnal llwybrau, a chrefftau mwy traddodiadol fel codi waliau sychion a phlygu perthi, a fu mewn perygl o ddiflannu. Mae nifer ohonynt wedi dod yn hunangyflogedig, neu wedi cael gwaith ym maes rheoli cefn gwlad fel ceidwaid a gwardeiniaid.

Yn sgil mecaneiddio, ni fydd ffermwyr mynydd bellach yn cerdded eu tir yn ddyddiol, ac maent mewn perygl o golli'r wybodaeth a'r ddealltwriaeth fanwl o'r tir oedd yn ail natur i'w cyndeidiau. I ryw raddau, mae’r wybodaeth honno yn nwylo’r tywysyddion a’r hyfforddwyr sy’n gweithio yn y maes hamdden awyr agored cynyddol. Byddant yn cerdded y mynyddoedd yn rheolaidd, ac wrth addysgu sgiliau map a chwmpawd, bydd rhaid iddynt fentro oddi ar y llwybrau troed. Os na chawsant eu magu ar y tir, byddant yn gwneud iawn am hynny trwy eu parodrwydd i ddysgu am ei ecoleg. Mae hamdden awyr agored hefyd yn cynnig llu o swyddi ategol i staff ceginau a chadw tŷ mewn canolfannau, hostelau a gwestai dirifedi. Mae nifer o bobl ifanc wedi canfod y gall gweithgaredd hamdden arwain at yrfa. Daw rhai dringwyr yn hyfforddwyr, a bydd eraill yn cychwyn gwneud gwaith mynediad â rhaffau neu drin coed. Bydd beicwyr mynydd yn sefydlu busnesau llogi a thrwsio beiciau, cynllunio ac adeiladu llwybrau beicio mynydd, neu mewn rhai achosion, cynnig llety yn arbennig i feicwyr, megis yr Hen Ysgoldy ym Mronaber.

Fodd bynnag, twristiaeth yn ei ystyr ehangaf yw prif ffynhonnell gwaith y Parc Cenedlaethol, yn cynnwys lletyau gwely a brecwast, siopau coffi, siopau anrhegion ac adwerthwyr offer awyr agored, neu ym maes gweithgareddau cyffrous unigryw i ymwelwyr nad ydynt yn dymuno siopa. Mae entrepreneuriaid fel Sean Taylor o ‘Tree Top Adventure’ ger Llanrwst a’r wifren sip un filltir ym Methesda wedi profi fod y cyhoedd yn barod i dalu am gyffro. Trwy ychydig o fentergarwch a dychymyg, gellir creu marchnadoedd arbenigol: er enghraifft, aiff ‘Gone Swimming’ â grwpiau o unigolion eofn i fwynhau anturiaethau gwlyb ar hyd yr arfordir ac yn y mynyddoedd; bydd Camu i’r Copa yn trefnu triathlonau, rasys antur a chystadlaethau beicio; bydd ‘Nature’s Work’ yn annog ymwelwyr i ymbwyllo a chadw llygad barcud yn y mynyddoedd. Mae Eryri’n cynnig amrywiaeth anhygoel o waith.

Rob Collister Cynhyrchwyd y cylchgrawn hwn gan dîm golygyddol yn cynnwys Rob Collister, Frances Smith a Huw Jenkins. Rydym yn hynod ddiolchgar i’r holl awduron a ffotograffwyr sydd wedi cyfrannu at y rhifyn hwn.

Cofiwch mai safbwyntiau personol yr awduron sy’n cael eu mynegi ganddynt, ac nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn adlewyrchu polisi Cymdeithas Eryri.

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(Editorial, cont.)

farm workers, and their children frequently prefer not to follow in their footsteps. Farms are sold off and holdings grow bigger but with a smaller workforce.

However, it is not all doom and gloom. Over the years, young people, who might once have spent their lives as farm labourers, have been taken on as trainee estate workers by the National Park or the National Trust, becoming skilled in footpath construction and maintenance, as well as in more traditional crafts like dry stone walling and hedge-laying, which had been in danger of dying out. Many have moved on to become self-employed, or employed in countryside management as wardens and rangers.

Due to mechanization, hill farmers are no longer walking over their land daily and are in danger of losing the intimate knowledge and understanding of the land that their grandparents took for granted. To some extent, that knowledge now resides with the guides and instructors who cater for a burgeoning outdoor recreation industry.

They walk in the mountains on a regular basis, and while teaching map and compass skills they are obliged to step away from footpaths. If such people have not grown up on the land they make up for it in their willingness to learn about its ecology. Outdoor recreation also provides a host of ancillary jobs for kitchen and domestic staff in innumerable centres, hostels and hotels. Many youngsters have found that a leisure activity can lead to a career. Some climbers move into instructing, others into roped access work or tree surgery. Mountain bikers move into the bike hire and repair business, into designing and building mountain bike trails, or sometimes providing biker-specific accommodation like the Old Schoolhouse at Bronaber.

Tourism in its wider sense, however, is currently the biggest source of employment in the National Park, be it in B & Bs, coffee shops, gift shops and outdoor equipment retailers, or in the development of one-off adrenaline activities for visitors looking for an alternative to shopping.

Entrepreneurs like Sean Taylor of Treetop Adventures near Llanrwst and the mile-long zip-wire in Bethesda have proved that the public is prepared to pay for excitement.

With enterprise and imagination there are niche markets to be created: Gone Swimming, for example, takes groups of hardy souls on aquatic adventures along the coast and up in the mountains; Always Aim High organizes triathlons, adventure races and cycling sportifs; while Nature’s Work encourages a slower pace and an attentive eye in the mountains. The diversity of occupation to be found in Snowdonia is remarkable.

Rob Collister

This magazine was produced by an editorial panel of Rob Collister, Frances Smith and Huw Jenkins. We are extremely grateful to all the authors and photographers who have contributed to this issue. The views expressed by the authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect Snowdonia Society policy.

Š Rob Collister

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Warden Eryri

Cyfweliad â Rhys Gwynn

Rwy’n warden ers 2004, dros ardal sy’n cynnwys Cadair Idris ac afon Mawddach. Cyn dod yn warden, roeddwn yn filfeddyg ym Machynlleth a Dolgellau, ond wrth ddathlu fy mhen-blwydd yn 40, profais un o’r argyfyngau hynny: a oeddwn i’n dymuno digornio a disbaddu gwartheg am weddill fy mywyd? Felly penderfynais ddod yn warden, nid i gefnu ar waith milfeddyg, ond i ddilyn y freuddwyd oedd yn wastad yn annwyl gennyf.

Allwch chi ddisgrifio diwrnod nodweddiadol?

Mynediad yw’r prif waith - tua 75% o’m hamser, mae’n debyg: cynnal a chadw llwybrau troed yn ddiddiwedd; symud coed syrthiedig, neu glirio ffosydd a thraeniau. Mae cynllunio llwybrau mynediad newydd Rhith y Brocken ● Brocken spectre yn agwedd fwy boddhaus a chreadigol: rhagweld pa manteision o’r newydd i’r economi lleol, lwybrau fydd y rhai mwyaf poblogaidd; cyd-drafod â thirfeddianwyr; gan ddenu ymwelwyr o Gymru a thu hwnt. cael caniatâd i fynd trwy ardaloedd Bydd hefyd yn llesol i’r gymuned leol trwy cadwraeth arbennig ac ati. Dyma ran ddenu pobl i fynd allan a mwynhau’r guddiedig y gwaith na wêl pobl. Daw’r syniad am lwybr mynediad newydd gan dîm o wardeiniaid gan amlaf, ac yna, byddwn yn gofyn am gymorth arbenigwyr o bob cwr o’r Parc.

Ar hyn o bryd, rwy’n datblygu hen ffordd o’r Brithdir, sy’n rhan o Lwybr Mari Jones rhwng Llanfihangel a’r Bala.

Mae’r rhan hon wedi’i defnyddio'n drwm a’i difrodi gan gerbydau 4X4, a ddefnyddir yn gyfreithlon ond ar lwybr na fwriedid erioed i gerbydau modern ei ddefnyddio. Bydd angen sawl wythnos i gwblhau hyn, ond bydd sicrhau fod y llwybr hwn mewn cyflwr da yn cynnig

"Ni chaf fyth fy siomi gan ddyddiau dychrynllyd o oer a dreulir yn gweithio yn yr awyr agored mewn glaw neu eira trwm." dirwedd mewn ffordd iach, a’u hailgysylltu â’u rhan hwy o Gymru a’r gorffennol sy’n rhan ohonynt. Byddaf yn arwain teithiau cerdded cymunedol yn aml, ac weithiau, byddant yn teimlo fel curo’r terfynau.

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Mae addysg yn ei ystyr ehangaf yn rhan allweddol arall o'r gwaith. Wrth batrolio'r mynydd, byddaf hefyd yn gweithredu fel uned wybodaeth anffurfiol, efallai’n cynnig cyngor ynghylch diogelwch neu’n hysbysu pobl am nodweddion arbennig yr ardal ar adeg benodol; yn fwy ffurfiol, byddwn yn rhedeg digwyddiadau i ysgolion a cholegau.

Mae caban signalau Llyn Penmaen wedi’i ailagor yn ddiweddar fel arsyllfa natur, ac mae’n gaffaeliad rhagorol. Mae’n cynnwys cymysgedd o hanes lleol a naturiol, â lluniau a replicâu wedi’u stwffio fel enghreifftiau o’r hyn allech ei weld ar ddiwrnod nodweddiadol. Mae’r rhan uchaf, sydd â ffenestri o’i amgylch, yn arsyllfa wych dros afon Mawddach.

Bydd 50,000 o bobl yn defnyddio Llwybr Mawddach bob blwyddyn, ac mae’r caban signalau yn boblogaidd iawn.

Rydym yn dibynnu’n sylweddol ar dîm o wirfoddolwyr lleol i’w gadw ar agor.

Mae gennym ddeg ohonynt ar hyn o bryd, ac rydym yn chwilio am ragor.

Bydd ar agor mor aml ag y bo modd o’r Pasg ymlaen a thrwy’r haf yn ogystal â gwyliau hanner tymor a gwyliau eraill.

Os hoffech wirfoddoli, cysylltwch â mi trwy ffonio 07748 103940.

Beth yw’r olygfa fwyaf cofiadwy a welsoch o’r arsyllfa?

Teulu o saith hwyaden ddanheddog yn pysgota am ledod tywod. Er nad yw’r

lledod lled sgwâr hyn ond tua dwy neu dair modfedd ar draws, roeddent yn her sylweddol i’r adar, â'u gyddfau main.

Cludai’r adar y pysgod i’r lan i’w taro ychydig, cyn eu cludo i'r dŵr i’w taro drachefn, ac yna, eu llyncu. Ymdebygai i rywbeth o gartŵn, wrth i’r lledod symud yn araf i lawr gyddfau’r adar.

A yw’r Parc wedi newid llawer?

Nid fu’r de erioed mor brysur â ‘phot mêl’ y gogledd, ac mae ein hymwelwyr yn gymysgedd wahanol, sy’n ymddiddori mwy mewn teithiau cerdded cymhedrol a hawdd - rhywbeth mwy addas i deuluoedd, efallai, nid antur ac adrenalin.

Yn ystod y deng mlynedd diwethaf, mae'r Parc cyfan wedi profi cynnydd amlwg yn nifer y bobl sy'n dod yma ar deithiau cerdded noddedig ac i redeg rasys pellter hir. Mae’n dda gweld cymaint ohonynt yn defnyddio’r Parc, ond bydd rhagor o

sŵn traed ac olwynion yn troi yn gwneud difrod!

Beth yw eich hoff brofiad fel warden?

Mae’n anodd dewis un yn unig, ond pe bai’n rhaid imi, byddwn yn dewis y profiad o weld rhith y Brocken, term sy'n tarddu o Fynyddoedd y Brocken yn yr Almaen.

Gwelais y rhith wrth gerdded i lawr o Gadair Idris un gaeaf, ac roedd yr haul isel o’r gorllewin yn taflunio fy silwét, ynghyd ag eurgylch, ar y cymylau isel i’r dwyrain.

Mae’n brofiad hudolus sy’n digwydd fel arfer pan fydd tywydd llonydd ar ddiwedd y prynhawn a neb arall o fewn golwg. Mae profiadau nesaf at y gorau yn cynnwys gweld tylluan glustiog yn hela dros yr eira, grugieir duon yn paru, neu ddyfrgi ar wastad ei gefn yn gwledda ar bysgodyn.

Mae cymaint o gorneli bychan yn y Parc, a gellir gweld neu ddysgu rhywbeth newydd yma trwy'r amser.

Dewch yn wirfoddolwr yng nghaban signalau Llyn Penmaen!

Bydd y caban ar agor mor aml ag y bo modd o’r Pasg ymlaen a thrwy’r haf yn ogystal â gwyliau hanner tymor a gwyliau eraill.

Os hoffech ymuno â'r tîm o wirfoddolwyr, cysylltwch â mi trwy ffonio 07748 103940.

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Beth yw eich profiad mwyaf siomedig?

Gweld pobl yn amharchu’r Parc, yn taflu ysbwriel efallai, neu’n reidio beic mynydd heb fod yn ystyriol o’r tir a’r niwed dilynol.

Yn enwedig os byddant yn lleol, a gwaeth byth os byddant yn bobl ifanc; dylai pobl ifanc gynrychioli ein dyfodol, ac mae arnom angen eu cefnogaeth i sicrhau ffyniant y Parc. I’r gwrthwyneb, ni chaf fyth fy siomi gan ddyddiau dychrynllyd o oer a dreulir yn gweithio yn yr awyr agored mewn glaw, eirlaw neu eira trwm, a chaf ymdeimlad o gyflawni bob tro.

Heblaw Eryri, ble hoffech chi fod yn warden?

Mae Eryri wedi’i gefeillio â Pharc Cenedlaethol Triglav yn Slofenia ers 1993, a chefais gyfle i gwrdd â chriw o bedwar a ddaeth i ymweld ag Eryri yn ddiweddar.

Roedd un ohonynt yn warden yn Triglav; disgrifiodd y dolydd alpaidd ym Mehefin, ac fe wnaeth hynny godi awydd arnaf i fynd i’w gweld. Byddwn wrth fy modd yn ymweld â'r parc hwnnw, ond dwi ddim yn meddwl y byddai’n llwyddo i fy moddhau yn yr un modd ag Eryri, o bell ffordd.

Snowdonia Warden Interview with Rhys Gwynn

Right now I am working on the old Roman road from Brithdir which is part of the Llwybr Mari Jones, Llanfihangel to Bala trail. This section has been heavily used and damaged by 4x4s, operating legally but on a surface that was never intended for modern vehicles. It will take several weeks to complete, but having this route in good condition will bring benefits back to the local economy, encouraging visitors from Wales and beyond.

It will also benefit the local community through getting people out and enjoying the landscape in a healthy way, reconnecting them with their part of Wales and the past they have come from.

I often lead community walks and these sometimes seem like ‘beating the bounds’.

I’ve been a warden since 2004, covering the area which includes Cadair Idris and the Mawddach. Before becoming a warden I was a vet practising in Machynlleth and Dolgellau, but on my 40th birthday I had one of those crises: did I want to be dehorning and castrating cattle for the rest of my life? So I signed up to be a warden, not to get away from being a vet, but to follow the dream I had always cherished.

Can you describe a typical day?

Access is the main activity - probably 75% of my time: the constant maintenance of footpaths; fallen trees to be removed; or ditches and drains to be cleared. Designing new access routes is the more rewarding or creative side: anticipating which route will be most popular; negotiating with land owners; gaining consents to pass through special areas of conservation and so on. This is the hidden side of the job that people don’t see. The idea for a new access route usually originates from a team of wardens, and then we call on specialists from across the Park to contribute.

Education in the broadest sense is another key part of the job.

On an informal basis, when I’m out patrolling the mountain, I’m also acting as a mobile information unit, maybe providing advice on safety or informing people about the specialities of the area at a particular time; more formally, we run events for schools and colleges. The Penmaenpool signal box has recently re-opened as

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distance races. It’s great to see the Park being used by so many, but increased footfall and rotating wheels all take their toll!

a nature observatory and is proving a great asset. It includes a mix of local and natural history, with pictures and stuffed replicas as examples of what you might see on a typical day. The upstairs, with windows all round, provides a great observation point overlooking the Mawddach.

What is your best moment as a warden?

It’s very difficult to pick just one, but if I had to, it would be the Brocken spectre moment, an expression which originates from the Brocken Mountains in Germany. I saw it while walking down from Cadair Idris during the winter, with low sun from the west beaming my silhouette onto the low cloud on the east, complete with halo. It’s a magical moment generally occurring in still weather on a late afternoon when no-one else is around. Runners-up would be a short-eared owl hunting over snow, lekking black grouse, or an otter on its back feasting on a fish.

There are so many little corners to the Park that there is always something new to see or learn.

With 50,000 people a year using the Mawddach Trail, the signal box has proved very popular. To keep it open we rely heavily on a team of local volunteers, currently we have ten of them and we are looking for more. It will be open as much as possible from Easter through the summer plus half terms and holidays. If you’d like to volunteer, please give me a call on 07748 103940.

What’s your most memorable sighting from the observatory?

"Days spent working outside in driving rain, sleet or snow, when it’s bitterly cold, never disappoint."

A family of seven Mergansers fishing for small dabs. These squarish flatfish, even though only two to three inches across, presented a real challenge to the slim-necked birds.

They’d take them to the bank, whack them around a bit, take them back onto the water, whack them about a bit more, then swallow them. It looked like something out of a cartoon as the dab moved slowly down the neck.

What is your most disappointing moment?

Seeing people disrespecting the Park, maybe throwing litter or riding a mountain bike with no regard for the terrain and the consequent damage. Especially if they are local, and even more so if they are young; the young should be our future and we need them on side if the Park is to flourish. Perversely, days spent working outside in driving rain, sleet or snow, when it’s bitterly cold, never disappoint, and there is always a sense of achievement.

Has the Park changed much?

The south has never been as busy as the honeypot north and our visitors are a different mix, with more interest in intermediate and low level walks - maybe more of a family friendly bias as opposed to action and adrenaline. In the past ten years across the whole of the Park there has been a noticeable increase in the volumes of people coming for charity sponsored walks and for long

Where would you like to be a warden if not in Snowdonia?

Snowdonia has been twinned with the Triglav National Park in Slovenia since 1993, and just recently I met a team of four on a visit to Snowdonia. One of them was a Triglav warden; she described the alpine meadows in June and filled me with a yearning to go and see them. I’d love to visit but I doubt if it would come anywhere close to fulfilling me as much as Snowdonia does.

Be a Penmaenpool signal box volunteer!

The box will be open as much as possible from Easter through the summer plus half terms and holidays. If you’d like to join the team of volunteers, call Rhys Gwynn on 07748 103940.

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Cerflunydd a’i Dirwedd Huw Jenkins Yr haf diwethaf, canodd fy ffôn...

‘Fe wn i dy fod yn hoffi stori dda. Dos i weld beth sydd yn yr afon gyferbyn â Bryn Mawr ger y marc distyll.’ Parciais yn yr encilfa fwdlyd, ychydig i lawr y ffordd o Blas Tan y Bwlch, ble bydd caiacwyr a chanŵ-wyr yn parcio er mwyn lansio’u cychod ar afon Dwyryd, a cherddais hanner can medr ar hyd yr arglawdd. Ar ochr y twmpath llaith ymhellach i fyny’r afon, safai Clogfaen Pren enwog David Nash yn falch.

Heb unrhyw wynt ac yn yr awyr las, roedd adlewyrchiad y clogfaen mor odidog â’r clogfaen ei hun. Treuliais awr yn gwylio'r llanw’n dod i mewn, ychydig o grychdonnau yn y lle cyntaf, yna swigod ewynnog brown wedi'u dilyn gan briciau a boncyffion. Cododd lefel y dŵr yn gyflym i fyny’r clogfaen un medr o uchder, ac ymhen tri chwarter awr, dim ond un chwarter ohono y gellid ei weld. Roedd holltau a wnaed gan y llif gadwyn yn rhoi’r argraff o wyneb bodlon, wrth i’r clogfaen fwynhau ei jacwsi mwdlyd, heb falio am ambell dun neu botel blastig a arnofiai heibio.

llun y sblash mawr na ddigwyddodd, oherwydd cafodd y clogfaen ei ddal yn sownd ar ôl cael ei wthio at gwymp dŵr rhaeadr fechan. Fisoedd yn ddiweddarach, cafodd ei gludo gan y dŵr i'r pwll islaw ble arnofiai fel hipopotamws. Ar sawl achlysur, ceisiodd David ymyrryd i gynorthwyo’r clogfaen ar ei daith, ond yn 1994, fe’i cludwyd gan ffrydlif cyn belled â’r bont, y llecyn y bwriedid ei ddefnyddio fel man cychwyn cludo'r clogfaen ar y ffordd fawr, a thua dau gan medr o safle lansio’r clogfaen.

Codwyd trybedd a chodwyd y clogfaen trwy fwlch siâp triongl wrth ymyl y bont. Ymgynghorodd David â’r clogfaen, rhywbeth tebyg i hyn: A ddylwn dy gludo yn ôl i fyny’r afon? - Na, byddai hynny’n annaturiol. - A ddylwn dy gludo i fy ngweithdy? - Na, byddwn yn sychu yno ac yn dod yn grair, a dyna fyddai diwedd

Tri deg chwe blynedd yn ôl, roedd y clogfaen hwn yn rhan isaf derwen yng Nghoed y Bleiddiau, tua milltir i ffwrdd ar droed, a llawer ymhellach os dilynir yr afon droellog. Yn 1978, penderfynwyd fod y goeden yn beryglus, a chaniatawyd i David Nash ei thorri. Cerfiwyd sawl darn, yn cynnwys y sffêr hanner tunnell hwn, a dorrwyd yn fras â'r bwriad gwreiddiol o'i gludo i'w weithdy ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog.

Defnyddiwyd pwli a rhaff i’w rowlio a’i symud i lawr i Fronturnor Uchaf, ac roedd cam nesaf y daith ar hyd yr afon.

Roedd ffotograffydd yn barod i dynnu 10

y stori. - A ddylwn dy adael ar ochr arall y bont? - Os gwelwch yn dda.

Felly cafodd ei rowlio dros y ffordd a thrwy’r giât, a’i adael yn y nant ble safodd am wyth mlynedd arall, cyn cyrraedd Afon Dwyryd yn 2002. Bu’n symud i fyny ac i lawr yr afon am tua blwyddyn, cyn belled i lawr ag Ynys Gifftan, cyn diflannu, a thybid ei fod yn teithio’r cefnforoedd.

Ailymddangosodd am ychydig yn 2008, ac unwaith eto yn haf 2013. Ond pam wnaeth y clogfaen ailymddangos ac o ble daeth? Ar ddechrau Awst 2013, cwympodd derwen fawr i mewn i'r afon, tua hanner milltir i fyny'r afon o bont Maentwrog. Oedais i gael golwg gan feddwl y byddai’n anodd iawn ei chlirio, ond y diwrnod canlynol, bu glaw trwm iawn, ac mae’n debyg fod ymchwydd o ddŵr wedi’i chludo ymaith.

Wrth iddi droi a throsi ar ei ffordd i’r môr,

datgymalodd yn dameidiau mawr. Tybed a lwyddodd i symud y clogfaen o'r mwd?

Nid yw David yn un o frodorion yr ardal, ond mae Bro Ffestiniog yn rhan gynhenid o’i fywyd â'i waith. Wedi treulio’r rhan fwyaf o wyliau ei blentyndod yn y dyffryn, ymgartrefodd yn 1969 yng Nghapel Rhiw, y mwyaf o blith un ar hugain o gapeli a wasanaethai boblogaeth Blaenau Ffestiniog. Wedi can mlynedd fel addoldy ac adeilad ble cynigid arweiniad ysbrydol, gadawodd y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, a bellach, mae’n gartref i gasgliad hynod o gerfluniau sy’n crwydro’r byd ac yn ymweld ag amgueddfeydd mawr eu bri.

Wrth i’w waith ddod yn fwy dibynnol ar lifiau cadwyn, roedd ei gartref yn llai addas, felly prynodd weithdy ac iard ddiwydiannol, yn agos at y bont sy’n croesi cledrau’r rheilffordd sy’n cyrraedd y dref. Mae’r bont yn llecyn da i gael cipolwg

ar waith sy'n mynd rhagddo. Bydd mwg yn codi o’r iard yn arwydd fod yr artist wrth ei waith, oherwydd caiff llawer o’r cerfluniau eu rhuddo â chwythlamp nes byddant yn ddu fel golosg.

O’r bont, gallwch hefyd weld Mellten yn Taro, cerflun a roddwyd i’r dref yn ddiweddar, a'r unig waith celf gan David Nash a arddangosir yn barhaol yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Yn wreiddiol, cafodd Mellten yn Taro ei gerfio o onnen a ddymchwelwyd yn ystod storm 1987, ond wedi un mlynedd ar bymtheg o hindreulio ac effeithiau cnocellod y coed, roedd yn dirywio, a gwnaed y fersiwn hwn o ddur Corten.

Dyma’r math o ddur a ddefnyddiwyd i greu cerflun Angel y Gogledd a'r bont sy'n arwain at Gastell Caernarfon; cynlluniwyd y dur hwn i rydu’n sefydlog, a bydd yr haen o rwd ar yr wyneb yn amddiffyn rhag rhagor o gyrydu.

Mae swyddi traddodiadol yr ardal hon wedi ymwneud â'r adnoddau naturiol; torri coed i adeiladu llongau a defnyddio’r afon i gludo llechi i’r môr a chalch i'r caeau.

Fel artist ei dirwedd, sy'n gweithio gyda grymoedd natur mewn modd ystyriol a pheirianegol, gallai David Nash honni ei fod yn cyfuno’r cyfan.

Yn ddiweddar, cynhaliwyd arddangosfa 'Clogfaen Pren', sy'n cofnodi taith y cerflun trwy gyfrwng geiriau, lluniau a ffilm, mewn sawl lleoliad yng ngogledd Cymru.

Gerddi a Pharc Cerfluniau Frederik Meijer yw’r unig fan ble cynhelir yr arddangosfa yn 2014, ond bydd rhaid ichi deithio i Michigan rhwng Mai 23 ac Awst 17 i’w gweld. Yn nes atom (ac ar adeg argraffu’r cylchgrawn hwn), gallwch weld y clogfaen go iawn yn Afon Dwyryd, ychydig i lawr yr afon o Blas Tan y Bwlch.

David Nash gyda'r clogfaen suddedig David Nash with the submerged boulder

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Mellten yn Taro ● Lightning Strike, Blaenau Ffestiniog

A Sculptor and his Landscape Huw Jenkins

Last summer my phone rang... ‘I know you like a good story. Go and see what’s in the river opposite Bryn Mawr at low tide’.

I pulled in to the muddy layby, just down the road from Plas Tan y Bwlch, where kayakers and canoeists park to launch onto the Dwyryd, and walked fifty metres along the embankment. Resting proud on the upstream edge of the mud bank was David Nash’s famous Wooden Boulder.

With no wind and blue skies the boulder looked as magnificent in its reflection as in the flesh. For an hour I watched as the tide came in, at first a few ripples rounding the corner, then brown frothy bubbles, followed by sticks and logs. The water level rose fast up the metre high boulder and in three quarters of an hour, just a quarter was in view. Gashes from the chainsaw gave the perception of a contented face as the boulder luxuriated in a muddy jacuzzi, oblivious to the occasional tin can or plastic bottle floating past.

Thirty six years ago this boulder was the base of an oak tree in Coed y Bleiddiau (Forest of the Wolves), about a mile away by foot and much further by bendy river. In 1978 the tree had been declared dangerous and David Nash was given permission to fell it. Several pieces were carved, including this half tonne sphere, roughly cut with the original intention being to get it back to his workshop in Blaenau. Rolled and lowered by block and tackle to Bronturnor Uchaf, the next stage of the journey was to be by stream.

A photographer was poised ready to capture the big splash that didn’t happen, as the boulder, pushed into the chute of a short waterfall, got wedged fast. Months

later it was washed down to the pond below where it floated like a hippo. On a couple of occasions David intervened to help the boulder on its way, until in 1994 a torrent washed it as far as the bridge, the original aiming point for onward transport by road and about two hundred metres from the launch site.

A tripod was erected and the boulder lifted through a triangular shaped gap at the edge of the bridge. David consulted with the boulder, something along the lines of: Shall I take you back upstream? No, that would be unnatural. - Shall I take you to my workshop? - No, I will dry out, become a relic and the story will be over.

- Shall I place you the other side of the bridge? - Yes please.

And thus it was rolled over the road, through the gate and placed in the stream where it stayed for a further eight years, before finally entering the Dwyryd in 2002. For almost a year it moved up and down the estuary, to as far downstream as Ynys Giftan, until disappearing, presumed to be travelling the oceans.

It reappeared briefly in 2008 and then again in the summer of 2013. But why did the boulder re-emerge and from where? In early August 2013, a large oak tree fell into the river, about half a mile upstream from Maentwrog bridge. I stopped to look and thought it was going to be really difficult to clear, but the following day there had been heavy rain and a surge of water must have washed it away. As it twisted and turned on its way to the sea, it broke into large chunks and maybe gouged the boulder from out of the mud?

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David might not be a native by descent but the Vale of Ffestiniog has been engrained into his life and work. Having spent most of his childhood holidays in the valley, he set up home in 1969 at Capel Rhiw, the largest of the twenty one chapels that serviced the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog. After a hundred years as a place of worship and spiritual guidance the Calvinist Methodists left, and today it is home to a remarkable globe-trotting collection of sculptures doing the rounds of prestigious museums.

As his work became more chainsaw dependent, its residential setting proved less appropriate, so an industrial scale workshop and yard was acquired, close to the bridge over the railway tracks into town. The bridge is a good vantage point from which to sneak a preview of work in progress. Smoke rising out of the yard is a tell-tale sign of the artist at work as many of the sculptures are scorched with a blowtorch to a charcoal black.

From the bridge you can also see the Lightning Strike, a sculpture recently donated to the town and the only David Nash work of art on permanent public display in the UK. The Lightning Strike was

originally carved out of an ash tree blown over in the 1987 storm, but after sixteen years of weathering and woodpeckers it was deteriorating, and this version was made out of corten steel. This is the same type of steel used for the Angel of the North and the bridge into Caernarfon Castle; it is designed to rust in a stable manner with the layer of rust on the surface providing protection against further corrosion.

Traditional occupations in this area have worked the natural resources; harvesting trees for shipbuilding and using the river for transporting slate to the sea and lime to the fields. David Nash could claim to bring it all together, an artist of his landscape,

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working with the forces of nature in a thoughtful, engineering manner.

‘Wooden Boulder’, an exhibition documenting the sculpture’s journey in words, pictures and film, was recently on display at a number of venues in north Wales. The only place where it is being exhibited in 2014 is at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, but you will have to travel to Michigan between May 23rd and August 17th. Closer to home (and at the time of going to print), you can still see the real McCoy on the Dwyryd, just downstream from Plas Tan y Bwlch.

Creu eich gwaith eich hunain Catrin Roberts

Archeolegydd oedd arna i eisiau bod pan oeddwn i'n ifanc, yna nani, ac yn dilyn hynny daeth sawl peth arall i'm meddwl.

Penbleth yn wir oedd penderfynu ar yrfa benodol! Roedd cymaint o ddewisiadau; sut oedd disgwyl i ferch ifanc wneud penderfyniad dwedwch?

Fe gawsom gyngor ar yrfaoedd yn yr ysgol ond cefais y cyngor gorau gan fy rhieni, mae’n debyg: “Gweithia yn y meysydd sy'n dy ddiddori; y rhai ti'n credu ynddynt ac sy'n dy ysbrydoli.” Ac felly y bu yn y pendraw - nid drwy gynllunio'n ofalus, cofiwch chi, fwy drwy hap a damwain a thraul bywyd!

Wedi gweithio mewn sawl gwahanol faes dros y blynyddoedd, mae gwell syniad gennyf bellach o beth sy'n fy moddhau o ran gwaith. Ac oeddent, roedd fy rhieni’n iawn: mae’n waith sy'n fy niddori ac yn fy ysbrydoli, ac rwy’n credu ynddo!

iawn at fy nghalon. Mae hyn wedi mynd o nerth i nerth; bellach rwyf yn gweithio fel tiwtor i dri choleg gwahanol ac yn cynnig gwersi preifat. O ganlyniad i ddilyn y trywydd hwn, rwyf wedi cwrdd â dwy eneth arall sydd â'r un math o ddiddordeb yn yr iaith ac rydym newydd ddechrau busnes cyfieithu, 'LWC', ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog.

O gofio sut mae’r economi wedi bod yn ddiweddar, da yw gweld fod mentrau newydd yn datblygu yn y fro sy’n cynnig gwaith, hyfforddiant a chyfleoedd gwahanol ac amgen i bobl ein bro, ac mae o leiaf dau ohonynt yn ymfalchïo yn eu gwasanaeth Cymraeg.

DHFF, a ysgrifennir yn llwyr gan bobl ifanc y fro. Mae hyn oll wedi rhoi hwb i'n heconomi a'n calonnau, ac wedi cynnig sawl swydd newydd diddorol.

Gwn nad ydy’r hyn sy'n fy moddhau at ddant pawb, ac mae’n wir nad oes ystod eang o yrfaoedd ar gael i’r rheiny sydd am barhau i fyw yn ardal 'Stiniog, ond credaf yn gryf fod angen inni fynd ati i greu ein gwaith ein hunain. Mynd amdani i wireddu breuddwydion, un cam bach ar y tro.

Pwy a ŵyr lle aiff yr holl fentro â chi, a bois bach mae'n foddhaol! Mae gwaith ar gael os ydych yn barod i fentro, nid eich gwaith delfrydol bob tro, ond bydd un peth yn aml yn arwain at y llall, ac yn aml at rywbeth gwell.

"Penderfynais ar fympwy bron i gychwyn arwain fy nheithiau cerdded fy hun"

Gan nad oedd swydd leol yn cynnig hyn oll, Mentrau fel menter gweithgareddau awyr penderfynais ar fympwy bron i gychwyn agored Antur Stiniog, sydd â llwybrau arwain fy nheithiau cerdded fy hun, eww! beicio arloesol a siop ddillad awyr agored; a'i wir fwynhau. Mae'n cwmpasu sawl a menter Cellb, tŷ bwyta a bar sy’n cynnig agwedd braf imi: cael mynd am dro; dysgu adloniant a lleoliad gwych i gynnal gigs a am fy mro, ei hanes a'i natur; casglu a sinema amgen, a chartref i gylchgrawn mwynhau bwyd gwyllt; cael rhannu hyn gydag eraill; ac wrth gwrs y cymdeithasu!

Delweddau © Catrin Roberts O ganlyniad i bobl yn dod i wybod am hyn, rwyf wedi cael dipyn o waith dehongli, ysgrifennu byrddau gwybodaeth a gwybodaeth ar gyfer teithiau - rhywbeth na ystyriais erioed. Mae'n rhyfedd sut gall un peth arwain at rywbeth arall diddorol.

Tra bod hyn yn gweddu'n wych i mi'n bersonol, wnaiff o fyth ddenu digon o arian i fy nghynnal drwy'r flwyddyn.

Felly fe fues i'n ffodus iawn pan daflodd bywyd gynnig arall perffaith ataf nad oeddwn wedi ei ystyried o'r blaen, sef dysgu Cymraeg i oedolion - rhywbeth rwyf wedi bod yn ei wneud yn anffurfiol ac yn wirfoddol ers sawl blwyddyn, ac yn bendant rhywbeth sy'n agos 14

Ni ellir gweld yr olygfa wych o ben y mynydd heb gymryd y cam cyntaf wrth ei droed.

in Robe rts. rtesy Ca tr ges cou All ima

Creating

your own work Catrin Roberts

I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was young, then a nanny, and as time went on several other options occurred to me. Deciding on a definite career was very perplexing! There was so much choice; how on earth was a young woman expected to decide?

and voluntarily for some years, and that was very close to my heart.

This has also gone from strength to strength; I now work as a tutor for three different colleges and offer private lessons. By following this path I have met two other women with the same interest in Welsh and we have recently set up a translation business, LWC, in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

We had careers advice at school, but the best advice probably came from my parents: “Work in a field that interests you; one that inspires you and that you believe in.” And that’s how it was in the end - not by careful planning, mind, more by chance and necessity.

With the economy as it has been recently, it’s good to see the growth of new initiatives in the area, offering work, training and alternative opportunities to local people, with at least two of them proud to offer a Welsh language service. Ventures like the outdoor activities provider, Antur Stiniog, with their innovative bike trails and outdoor clothing shop; and Cellb, a restaurant and bar, providing a venue for gigs, an alternative cinema, and a home for the innovative magazine DHFF, written entirely by local young people. Not only have these given a boost to the local economy by offering new, interesting jobs, they have also raised our spirits.

Having worked in various different fields over the years, I now have a better idea of what gives me satisfaction where work is concerned.

And yes, my parents were right - work that interests and inspires me and that I believe in.

"I decided, almost on a whim, to lead my own guided walks."

Because there was no employment locally that offered all that, I decided, almost on a whim, to lead my own guided walks, and wow! I really enjoyed it. It combines a number of delightful aspects for me: walking; learning about my neighbourhood, its history and wildlife; collecting and enjoying wild food; sharing all this with others; and, of course, socialising! As a result of people hearing about this work, I have been offered some work in interpretation, for example, writing information boards and information for walks - things I had never considered doing previously. It is strange how one thing can lead to another.

I realise that the things that inspire me don’t appeal to everyone, and it is true there is not a wide range of career opportunities available for people in the ’Stiniog area, but I strongly believe that you have to go out and create your own work. Get out there to realise your dreams, one small step at a time. Who knows where your efforts will take you and, ‘boys bach’ it’s satisfying! There is work out there if you are prepared to take a chance, not necessarily in your ideal job, but one thing often leads to another, and often to something better.

While this suited me very well, it never generated enough income to keep me going all year. So I was very lucky when life presented me with another ideal opportunity that I had not considered before, that is, teaching adults Welsh - something I had been doing informally

You can’t see the fantastic view from the top of the mountain without taking that first step at its foot.

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Antur Stiniog Rob Collister

Ar daith lawr rhiw â’r Moelwynion yn y cefndir ● On a downhill trail with the Moelwynion in the background.

Wrth yrru i’r gogledd o Flaenau Ffestiniog ar yr A470 y dyddiau hyn, mae'n debyg y gwnaiff lliw a symudiadau ar y llechwedd uwchben chwareli Llechwedd ddwyn sylw modurwyr. Wrth edrych yn ofalus, gwelir mai beicwyr yn gwibio i lawr rhiw yw’r dotiau lliw. Maent yn reidio ar un o bedwar llwybr beicio a adeiladwyd gan Antur Stiniog, sy’n sicrhau fod Blaenau Ffestiniog yn Fecca i feicwyr mynydd o bob cwr o’r Deyrnas Unedig; yn wir, cynhelir un o ddigwyddiadau pencampwriaeth y byd ym Mlaenau y gwanwyn nesaf.

Yn union fel menter y Dref Werdd a ddisgrifir gan Iona Price yn rhifyn Gwanwyn 2011 y cylchgrawn hwn, cafwyd cymorth ariannol Cymunedau yn Gyntaf i sefydlu Antur Stiniog. Sefydlwyd Cymunedau yn Gyntaf gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2001 a daw i ben yn 2015, a'i nod yw cynnig cymorth ariannol a allai gynorthwyo i hybu economïau lleol sydd mewn trafferthion. Yn achos Antur Stiniog, ymddengys fod hynny wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn.

Yn ogystal â denu nifer fawr o ymwelwyr i’r ardal (hyd at 85 beiciwr y diwrnod ar benwythnosau prysur), crëwyd deg swydd i bobl leol hefyd, ac mae'n argoeli y gall gynnal ei hun pan ddaw'r cymorth ariannol i ben.

Nid yw unrhyw un o’r llwybrau hyn yn addas i ddechreuwyr llwyr - mae dau ohonynt i arbenigwyr yn unig, ac mae'n rhaid gwisgo arfwisg a helmedau wyneb llawn. Mae’r hawsaf o’r rhain, a ddisgrifir fel 'llwybr glas', yn cynnwys rhannau sydd gryn dipyn yn anoddach nag unrhyw ran o Lwybr Marin yng Nghoedwig Gwydir, ac fe’i bwriedir ar gyfer beiciau â hongiad llawn, nid rhai â hongiad blaen yn unig.

Mae sawl prosiect arall ar y gweill: llwybr lawr rhiw haws i ddechreuwyr; cwrs traws gwlad o amgylch cronfa ddŵr Tanygrisiau i’r sawl sy’n ceisio ymarfer corff yn ogystal ag adrenalin; a bwriedir cysylltu rhan uchaf y llwybr lawr rhiw â Llwybr Penmachno, gan ddefnyddio’r hen dramffordd chwarel heibio Cwt y Bugail ac i lawr drwy Riwbach. Mae siop offer awyr agored yn cael ei hagor yn y dref, a bydd hefyd yn ganolfan i ymwelwyr sy'n dymuno cael hyfforddiant, gwasanaeth tywysydd neu wybodaeth am weithgareddau awyr agored eraill Blaenau.

Bydd bysys mini â threlars wedi’u cynllunio’n arbennig yn cludo beicwyr lawr rhiw i’r Cribau ar uchder o 483m, ble ceir golygfeydd godidog o Fro Ffestiniog a’r Moelwynion. Yma, disgyrchiant sy’n cyfrif, ac mae angen dewrder a sgiliau sylweddol. Gall beicwyr da ddisgyn tua 200m o uchder fertigol mewn tri munud neu lai; bydd ar feidrolion angen tua deng munud. Mae tocyn diwrnod yn cynnig pymtheg cyfle i ddefnyddio’r llwybr am £26 (mae defnyddio’r llwybr unwaith yn costio £3), sy’n werth am arian rhagorol ym marn pob beiciwr. Ar y gwaelod, ceir cawodydd poeth, pibell dŵr bwerus i olchi beiciau a chaffi i lenwi’r tanc pan fydd angen hynny.

Bellach, her Ceri Cunnington, Cyfarwyddwr Antur Stiniog, yw datblygu gweithgareddau megis canŵio a dringo, fel gall ymwelwyr a’r gymuned leol elwa arnynt heb niweidio’r amgylchedd, yn union fel beicio mynydd.

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Driving north out of Blaenau Ffestiniog on the A470 there is every chance, these days, that the motorist’s eye will be caught by colour and movement on the hillside above the Llechwedd quarries. A second glance reveals coloured dots that are actually cyclists careering downhill at high speed. They are riding one of four bike tracks built by Antur Stiniog which are making Blaenau Ffestiniog a mecca for downhill mountain bikers from all over the UK; indeed, next spring Blaenau will be hosting a world c=hampionship event.

None of these tracks are suitable for complete beginners - two are strictly for experts, with body armour and full-face helmets obligatory. The easiest, a so-called 'blue run' has sections significantly harder than anything on the Marin Trail in the Gwydyr Forest and is intended for bikes with full suspension rather than “hardtail”.

Minibuses with specially designed trailers provide the uplift to Cribau at 483m, with magnificent views over the Vale of Ffestiniog and across to the Moelwynion. Here, gravity takes over, coupled with a requirement for bottle and a high degree of skill. Good riders descend some 200m of vertical height in three minutes or less; mere mortals need more like ten minutes. A day ticket, giving up to fifteen runs, costs £26 (a single run is £3) - excellent value for money, all riders seem to agree - and at the bottom there are hot showers, a pressure hose for washing bikes and a café to provide an energy boost when needed.

Med Goch Roberts, Cyfarwyddwr Cynorthwyol, yn paratoi i gludo beicwyr i ben yr allt.

Med Goch Roberts, Assistant Manager, preparing to transport bikers to the top of the hill.

Like the Green Town initiative described by Iona Price in the Spring 2011 issue of this magazine, Antur Stiniog was created with funding from Communities First. Set up by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2001 and to be wound up in 2015, the aim of Communities First has been to provide funding for innovative projects that might help to kick start ailing local economies. In the case of Antur Stiniog it appears to have been highly successful. Not only has it attracted large numbers of visitors to the area (as many as 85 riders a day on a busy weekend), but also ten jobs have been created for local people, and when the funding dries up it shows every sign of being self-sustaining.

There are other projects in the pipe-line: an easier downhill run for beginners; a cross-country course around Tan y Grisiau reservoir for those seeking exercise as well as adrenalin; and there is a proposal to link the top of the downhill track with the Penmachno Trail, using the old quarry tram-line past Cwt y Bugail and down through Rhiwbach. An outdoor equipment shop is being opened in the town which will also serve as a bureau for visitors seeking instruction, guiding or simply information about other outdoor activities Blaenau has to offer.

The challenge now for Ceri Cunnington, Director of Antur Stiniog, is to develop activities such as canoeing and climbing, in a way that, like mountain biking, can benefit both visitors and the local community without harming the environment.

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Cwm Croesor a'r Marchog Crwydrol Andrew Galloway mae cymuned glòs a chreadigol yn byw yma, ac mae’r mwyafrif yn siarad Cymraeg. Lleolir Oriel Caffi Croesor ger yr afon, ac mae’n siop goffi gymunedol ac yn oriel i artistiaid lleol hefyd.

Gwelwn y gair “Croesor” ar yr arwydd i’r chwith. Wrth imi gyfeirio’r car i mewn i'r bachdro, fe wnaeth porthdy gweddol fyrdew ac addurnedig wedi’i adeiladu o’r garreg biws-lwyd leol ddwyn fy sylw. Roedd mynedfa borthcwlis fwaog ac adwyog wedi’i hadeiladu fel rhan o’r porthdy, ac yn amlwg, arferai’r ffordd basio trwy’r fynedfa hon.

Cafodd y Cnicht ei enwi gan longwyr a ddeuai i Borthmadog oherwydd ei debygrwydd i helmed marchog, ac fe saif fel gwyliwr uwchben Cwm Croesor. O gopa creigiog y marchog crwydrol, mae’r cyfuchlinau yn cwympo i lawr y dyffryn gan gynnig golygfa bensyfrdanol o chwarel Croesor, a saif ar uchder o dros 500m ar lethrau gogleddol Moelwyn Mawr. Ymhell islaw, mae cledrau segur y dramffordd a gludai lechi o flaenau’r cwm i longau a arhosai ym Mhorthmadog. I’r gogledd-orllewin, gwelir panorama o’r Wyddfa a'i chriw - yr Wyddfa ei hun, yn debyg i ben sffincs onglog - bwlch Main, yr asgwrn cefn a'r gynffon; Bwlch y Saethau, y pawennau gorweddog - ar yr achlysur hwn, yn ymestyn o dan awyr oedd mor las â'r eryr ar do Plas Brondanw.

Stopiais y car i ymgynghori â’r map Arolwg Ordnans, a gadarnhaodd fy mod ar fy ffordd i Gwm Croesor. Ymwthiais ymlaen yn araf, gan bryderu y rhedai tirfeddiannwr o filiwnydd blin ataf o blith y rhododendrons, yn cludo dryll. Yn lle hynny, gwelais erddi y tu draw i’r rhododendrons. I’r dde, roedd hen chwarel wedi’i hamgylchynu gan wal gerrig a chanllaw, ac uwch ei phen, safai belfedir haearn bwrw wedi’i beintio â phaent lliw glas y nen ac wedi’i goroni gan wrn fflamllyd carreg mawr. I’r chwith, roedd mynedfa fwaog arall, â drysau pren wedi’u paentio â’r un paent glas. Ymhellach draw, gallwn weld talcen plasty gwledig, ac roedd eryr carreg ar ei ben. Ar ôl darllen y map ymhellach, sylwais fy mod wedi cyrraedd Plas Brondanw, cartref hynafiaid Clough Williams-Ellis, y cadwraethwr, y pensaer a chrëwr Portmeirion.

Dilynais y grib lydan i'r gogledd-ddwyrain o'r copa at Lyn yr Adar, llyn bach prydferth sy'n llecyn delfrydol i fwynhau ychydig o wersylla gwyllt neu nofio. O ben y llyn, roedd llwybr yn gogylchu Cwm Corsiog, ac yn mynd tua'r de at chwareli segur Rhosydd, Machu Picchu tawel a diffaith Bryniau Cymru.

Gwthiai'r ffordd un lôn heibio clwydi a gerddi Plas Brondanw, gan barhau i ddringo uwchlaw caeau Traeth Mawr, ble'r oedd mornant y gellid ei mordwyo cyn belled ag Aberglaslyn cyn adeiladu’r Cob ym Mhorthmadog ar ddechrau’r 19eg ganrif. Ar ben y ffordd, saif pentref Croesor, a oedd yn gartref ar un adeg i gannoedd o chwarelwyr a'u teuluoedd. Er bod poblogaeth y pentref wedi lleihau ers anterth y ffyniant economaidd,

Agorodd chwareli Rhosydd yn yr 1830au. Erbyn 1883, cynhyrchai’r chwarel rhwng pedair

Moelwyn Bach o Fwlch Stwlan ● Moelwyn Bach from Bwlch Stwlan

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a phum mil tunnell fetrig o lechi bob blwyddyn, a chyflogid yno ddau gant o ddynion. Câi’r llechfaen ei fwyngloddio dan ddaear, ac mae'r gwastraff a waredwyd yn dal i’w weld fel llabedau enfawr o graig doredig sy’n ymestyn o’r adfeilion fel bysedd tewion. Yn sgil pellenigrwydd y chwarel, byddai’r chwarelwyr yn byw ac yn gweithio fry yn y mynyddoedd o ddydd Llun i ddydd Sadwrn, gan ddychwelyd un diwrnod yr wythnos, i fynd i'r capel gan amlaf. Roedd amgylchiadau byw yn anodd iawn, roedd y gwaith yn beryglus, ac roedd anhwylderau resbiradol yn gyffredin. Bryd hynny, byddai chwarelwr yn ffodus iawn o gael dathlu ei ddeugeinfed pen-blwydd. Ar waetha’r bywyd caled hwn, cydymdrechai’r chwarelwyr i godi calonnau ei gilydd. Fe wnaeth côr y chwarel ennill y wobr yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 1898. Ffynnai trefn y ‘caban’ o drafod a hunanaddysg; ysgrifennai rhai chwarelwyr farddoniaeth, a chynigid addysg grefyddol gan eraill. Yn dilyn dirywiad a chau’r chwarel yn yr 1930au, ysgrifennodd Richard Owen y gerdd ganlynol er cof:

Plas Brondanw, Croesor

ceuffyrdd sy’n arwain at geudyllau’r chwarel yn dal ar agor, ond dylech eu crwydro yng nghwmni tywysydd profiadol yn unig.

Bydd topiau’r ceudyllau a chreigiau yn cwympo’n aml.

Hwy ddeuant ataf beunydd yn eu tro, ‘Hen hogia’r Rhosydd’ ar gariadus hynt.

Mi glywaf eto’u lleisiau – daw i’m co’ Y tynnu coes, a’r llon ffraethineb gynt.

Dringais y llethr serth o’r hen farics tuag at y gweundir agored, nes cyrraedd esgair ddwyreiniol Moelwyn Mawr, fry uwchben Llyn Stwlan, yr argae sy’n cyflenwi dŵr i bwerdy hydro-electrig Tanygrisiau. O’r copa 770m o uchder, edrychais yn ôl ar draws Gwm Croesor at gopa'r Cnicht a silwét nenlinell Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, a myfyriais ynghylch ein dyled i Clough Williams-Ellis, oedd yn allweddol yn y gwaith o sefydlu’r Parc. Roedd Clough yn ddelfrydwr, ac yn ddyn ei oes a’i ddosbarth a gymdeithasai gyda Bertrand Russell a Noel Coward. Ond roedd yn ŵr hael iawn hefyd, a ystyriai’r gwaddol y byddai’n ei adael i genedlaethau’r dyfodol - pensaer crwydrol. Byddai’n dda cael rhagor o bobl o’r un anian heddiw.

Cyrchent i’r chwarel o gartrefi pell, Gan herio gwynt a glaw ac oerni’r hin, Heb ofer boeni am ryw amser gwell – Dirwgnach fu eu taith hyd ‘lwybrau blin’.

Y chwarel nid yw mwy – mae’n adfail prudd, Heb sŵn peiriannau yn y llethol hedd, Mae’r gwynt yn chwiban rhwng y meini rhydd, A llu o’r gweithwyr heini yn y bedd.

Ond erys rhai fel minnau yn y fro, Nes daw i’n rhan y gorffwys yn y gro.

Roedd yr haul bellach yn disgyn yn gyflym tua'r gorllewin, ac euthum tua’r de i Fwlch Stwlan, ac yna i fyny i esgair orllewinol Moelwyn Bach gan barhau i lawr allt tuag at lawer rhagor o weithfeydd segur, tuag at Benrallt ac yn ôl i Gwm Croesor.

Cafodd llawer o beirianwaith y chwarel ei glirio oddi yno, ond mae’n anhygoel faint ohono sy’n goroesi yn y llecyn diarffordd hwn: blwch gêr rhydlyd cerbyd; efallai o un o dramiau'r dramffordd; olwynion 'megryn' o droliau a ddefnyddid i gludo defnyddiau o ganol y mynydd; ffensys llechfaen uchel, a adeiladwyd oherwydd roedd llechfaen ar gael ac roedd yn rhatach na phren, ac maent yn dal i sefyll, ar waethaf can mlynedd o wyntoedd taranllyd ac oerfel milain.

Yn Rhosydd, mae llawer o’r

Wrth basio Oriel Caffi Croesor, gwelais ychydig o brysurdeb yno, felly euthum yno i fwynhau mochachino cyflym a chael cipolwg ar yr oriel. Fe wnaeth ffotograff du a gwyn o afon sidanaidd Croesor yn y niwl ddwyn fy sylw. Penderfynais ildio i fympwy, a gofynnais i’r wraig oedd yn gweini a allwn i brynu’r llun. Gofynnodd imi aros ychydig tra’r oedd yn galw’r ffotograffydd. Yn debyg i ‘Mr Ben’, ymddangosodd yn y caffi, yn cario cyfrolau o’i waith. Treuliais awr neu ddwy ger y tân yn pori trwy ei ffotograffau, â minnau’n gwneud sioe o fy ychydig eiriau o Gymraeg, ac yntau’n adrodd hanesion ei waith, y dyffryn, a Clough Williams-Ellis wrth gwrs. * Cyhoeddywd y gerdd Hen Hogia'r Rhosydd yn Rhosydd - A Personal View / Golwg Bersonol gan Jean Napier; Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst, 2004

Delweddau © Andrew Galloway.

Mae Andrew Galloway yn aelod o Gymdeithas Eryri sy’n cael ei swyno gan fannau gwyllt y byd ers pan oedd yn blentyn. Roedd yn fyfyriwr Daearyddiaeth a Daeareg yn wreiddiol, ac mae'n cyfuno diddordeb mewn ffotograffiaeth â chariad at ysgrifennu, a bydd yn ysgrifennu erthyglau sy'n pwyso ar ei brofiadau yn yr awyr agored ym mryniau a mynyddoedd Prydain a’i gysylltiadau teuluol â Chymru.

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Cwm Croesor and the Knight Errant Andrew Galloway rock fanning out from the ruined buildings like fat fingers.

Due to the quarry’s remoteness, the quarrymen would live and work high in the mountains from Monday to Saturday, returning home for just one day of the week, usually to attend chapel. Living conditions were harsh, the work dangerous, and respiratory disorders common. In those days, a quarryman would have been lucky to reach his 40th birthday. Despite this hard life the quarrymen rallied round to keep morale high. There was a quarry choir, which won the prize at the National Eisteddfod in 1898. The ‘caban’ system of discussion and self-education flourished; some wrote poetry, others instructed in religion. Following the decline and closure of the quarry in the 1930s, Richard

The sign pointing to the left read, “Croesor”. As I manoeuvred my car into the tight hair-pin turn my attention was caught by a rather chubby, ornate lodge constructed of local purple-grey stone. Built into it was a portcullis gated archway through which the road clearly used to pass.

I stopped to consult the Ordnance Survey map which confirmed I was on the road to Croesor. I edged forward slowly, concerned that some irate millionaire landowner would come running out of the rhododendrons brandishing a shotgun. Instead, the rhododendrons gave way to gardens. To the right was a small quarry enclosed by a stone wall and balustrade, above which stood a wrought iron belvedere painted in celeste blue and surmounted by a large flaming urn in stone. To the left was a further archway, with wooden doors painted the same shade of blue. Beyond, I could see the gable-end of a country house, on the apex of which was a large stone eagle. Further consultation of the map revealed that I had stumbled upon Plas Brondanw, ancestral home of Clough Williams-Ellis, conservationist, architect and creator of Portmeirion.

Adfeilion barracs Chwareli'r Rhosydd ● Ruined barracks at Rhosydd Quarries

Squeezing past the gates and gardens of Plas Brondanw, the single-track road continued to climb above the fields of Traeth Mawr which, prior to the building of the Cob at Porthmadog in the 19th century, was a tidal inlet navigable as far as Aberglaslyn. At the end of the road lies the village of Croesor, once home to hundreds of quarrymen and their families. Although the population of the village has dwindled since the height of the industrial boom, there is still a close-knit creative community living here, mostly Welsh-speaking. Oriel Caffi Croesor, situated by the river, serves as the community coffee shop and also as a gallery for local artists.

So named by sailors entering Porthmadog because of its resemblance to a knight’s helmet, Cnicht stands like a sentinel above Cwm Croesor. From the errant knight’s craggy summit the contours plunge to the valley floor offering a vertiginous view of Croesor Quarry, perched at over 500m on the northern slopes of Moelwyn Mawr. Far below runs the disused track of the tramway which once carried slate from the head of the valley to ships waiting at Porthmadog. To the north-west lies a panorama of the Snowdon massif, Yr Wyddfa, resembling the head of an angular sphinx - Bwlch Main the backbone and tail, Bwlch y Saethau the couchant paws - on this occasion all stretched out beneath a sky as blue as the eagle on the roof of Plas Brondanw.

Owen wrote the following poem in memoriam: They come to me constantly in their turn, Old Boys of Rhosydd on loving pilgrimage.

I hear their voices again – there come to mind The leg pulling and cheerful wit of yore.

They converged on the quarry from far-off homes, Daring the wind and rain and biting cold, Without vain yearning for better times – Uncomplaining was their journey along ‘weary paths’.

The quarry is no more, it is a sad ruin, No sound of machines, the stillness overwhelms, The wind whistles between the loose stones, And a host of lively workmen are in the grave.

I followed the broad ridge north-east from the summit to Llyn yr Adar, a beautiful little lake which is an ideal spot for wild-camping or swimming. From the head of the lake, a track contoured around Cwm Corsiog, heading south to the disused quarries of Rhosydd, the silent, desolate Machu Picchu of the Welsh Hills.

But some like me live on nearby, Until it falls our lot to rest in the earth.*

Quarrying at Rhosydd began in the 1830s. By 1883 the quarry was producing four to five thousand tonnes of slate a year and employed two hundred men. The slate was mined underground, the discarded waste still forming immense lobes of fractured

Much of the quarry machinery was stripped away but it is amazing what still survives in this remote place: the rusted 20

Llyn Cwm Corsiog

As I was passing the Oriel Caffi, there was still some activity inside so I popped in for a quick mochachino and a wander around the gallery. A black and white photograph of the silky Afon Croesor in the mist caught my attention. I decided to indulge and asked the serving-lady if I could buy it. She asked me to wait a moment while she called the photographer. ‘Mr Ben’-like, he appeared in the café, brandishing volumes of his work. We spent the next hour or more sat by the fire, browsing through his photographs, me showing off my few words of Welsh, him telling me stories of his work, of the valley, and of course, of Clough Williams-Ellis.

gearbox of a vehicle; perhaps a trolley car from the tramway; ‘megryn’ wheels from carts used to transport material from the heart of the mountain; tall slate-stone fences, built because slate was available and cheaper than wood, and standing still, despite a hundred years of thunderous winds and blistering cold. At Rhosydd, many of the adits leading to the giant slate caverns are still open, but it is advisable only to enter them in the company of an experienced guide. Roof collapse and rock-fall are common.

I climbed the steep incline from the rear of the old barracks towards the open moorland, until I reached the eastern limb of Moelwyn Mawr, high above Llyn Stwlan, the dam that feeds water to the hydro-electric power station at Tanygrisiau. From the summit at 770m, I looked back across Cwm Croesor to the summit of Cnicht and the silhouetted skyline of the Snowdonia National Park, and pondered the debt we owe to Clough WilliamsEllis who was a principal in its founding. Clough was an idealist, a man of his age and class, who hobnobbed with Bertrand Russell and Noel Coward. But he was also a man of great beneficence, who considered the legacy he would leave to future generations an architect errant. Would that we had more of his calibre today.

* Cyhoeddywd y gerdd Hen Hogia'r Rhosydd yn Rhosydd - A Personal View / Golwg Bersonol gan Jean Napier; Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst, 2004

All images courtesy Andrew Galloway.

Snowdonia Society member Andrew Galloway has been enchanted by the wild places of the world since a child. Originally a student of Geology and Geography he combines an interest in photography with a love of the written word, writing articles which draw on his outdoor experience in the hills and mountains of Britain and his familial connections with Wales.

The sun now rapidly falling towards the west, I headed south to Bwlch Stwlan, then up onto Moelwyn Bach, the western limb of the little Moelwyn leading downhill past many more abandoned workings, towards Penrallt and back to Croesor.

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Mae Gwirfoddoli’n Talu Wrth gychwyn gwirfoddoli, bydd llawer o bobl yn sylweddoli pa mor ddifyr a boddhaus yw'r gwaith, beth bynnag fo'r tywydd.

Dywed un o’n gwirfoddolwyr mwyaf brwdfrydig, Valentina, mai ei hatgof pennaf am oes fydd "clirio Rhododendron ponticum ar ddiwrnod glawog, a brofodd na wnaiff tîm da ag ysbryd da fyth falio am y tywydd, ac wrth gwrs, ni wnaiff te cynnes a bisgedi flasu cystal fyth eto. Roedd cyfle i feithrin sgiliau ymarferol sydd weithiau'n absennol mewn addysg uwch yn wych. Credaf fod y profiad personol a’r cyfle i fod mewn cyswllt go iawn â chefn gwlad yn gwneud ichi deimlo'n well."

Yn sicr, gwaith gwirfoddol yw un o’r gyrfaoedd mwyaf buddiol.

Mae Prosiect Ecosystem Eryri yn cynnig cyfleoedd lu i gyfranogi mewn materion cadwraeth lleol, cwrdd â phobl debyg, a meithrin sgiliau cyflogaeth hanfodol.

Dechreuodd Natalie wirfoddoli i’r Gymdeithas pan oedd yn y Brifysgol: "Pan oeddwn yn fyfyrwraig, gwirfoddoli oedd un o’r gweithgareddau pwysicaf (heblaw fy ngradd!), nid yn unig i gael profiad gwaith, ond hefyd i wneud ffrindiau, cadw’n heini a dysgu am yr ardal leol." Mae Natalie bellach yn gweithio i’r Gymdeithas Arddwriaethol Frenhinol. "Mae'r profiad a gefais gan Gymdeithas Eryri yn gymorth gwirioneddol imi â fy ngwaith, ble’r wyf yn gyfrifol am nifer fawr o wirfoddolwyr - mae gwybod sut brofiad yw gwirfoddoli yn cynnig cipolwg gwerthfawr imi ar yr hyn sy’n fwyaf llwyddiannus. Roedd fy mhrofiad o wirfoddoli hefyd yn un o’r rhesymau allweddol dros fy mhenodi yn Rosemoor."

Yn ogystal â dod i gysylltiad â phobl amrywiol trwy wirfoddoli, fe ddowch hefyd i adnabod pobl sydd â phrofiadau amrywiol.

Gall pobl ifanc ddysgu sgiliau newydd gan ymddeoledigion, gall myfyrwyr addysgu gwirfoddolwyr eraill am ecoleg rhywogaethau penodol, a gall pobl o wledydd eraill amlygu’r gwahaniaethau a’r tebygrwydd ar draws ffiniau. Gallwch bob amser ddysgu rhywbeth gan rywun, a byddwch chithau hefyd yn gallu addysgu rhywbeth i eraill bob tro, megis annog hunanhyder a gwaith tîm neu ddweud wrthynt beth yw enw coeden.

Rhwng Mehefin a Rhagfyr 2013, cynhaliom 30 diwrnod gwaith, a chyfranogodd dros 130 o bobl ynddynt. Bydd pobl o bob oedran a gallu yn cyfranogi, yn cynnwys myfyrwyr, ymddeoledigion a phobl ddi-waith. Rydym wedi rhedeg diwrnodau gwaith ar y cyd â Mosaic, grŵp sy’n ceisio sicrhau fod pobl dduon a rhai o dras ethnig lleiafrifol yn teimlo'n agosach at eu Parc Cenedlaethol.

Dywedodd Siân Roberts, swyddog prosiect Mosaic Eryri: "Cafodd ein pencampwyr cymunedol lawer o hwyl yn brwydro rhododendron a chlirio ffromlys yr Himalaya. Maent hefyd yn gwerthfawrogi’r profiad fel cyfle i roi rhywbeth yn ôl i’r Parc Cenedlaethol, ardal y maent wedi dod i'w charu ac y byddant yn ei hyrwyddo i eraill. Mae gwaith corfforol yn yr awyr agored yn gydraddolwr gwych - ni fydd unrhyw rwystrau pan fyddwch oll yn cydweithio i glirio rhododendron!" Eleni hefyd, bu criw o ofalwyr ifanc yn rheoli Rhododendron ponticum.

Amrywiaeth sy’n rhoi blas ar fywyd, ac mae rhai o'n diwrnodau gwaith mwyaf anarferol diweddar wedi cynnwys arolwg o famaliaid y môr, adeiladu blychau ffeuau i felaod coed, a chyfranogi mewn bioblitz dau ddiwrnod. Dywed Brian Cope, sy’n gwirfoddoli i’r Gymdeithas ers deuddeg mlynedd: "Mae'r rhaglen yn cynnig cyfle ichi ddewis beth sy'n apelio atoch - dim pwysau!

Ond gwyddom fod yr holl waith yn werth chweil ac o fudd i bobl eraill a ddaw i weld yr ardal."

Mary-Kate Jones Rheolwraig Prosiect Ecosystem Eryri

Archwilio cynnwys baw dyfrgwn (ch Checking the contents of an otter spra

22

Volunteering Pays One of the most rewarding occupations has to be that of the volunteer. The Snowdonia Ecosystem Project offers many opportunities to get involved in local conservation issues, meet like-minded people and gain skills useful for employment.

Natalie started volunteering with the Society when she was at University: "For me as a student, volunteering was one of the most important activities (bar the degree!), not only for work experience, but to make friends, get active and learn about the local area." Natalie now works for the Royal Horticultural Society. "My experience with the Snowdonia Society has really helped me in my job where I am responsible for lots of volunteers. Knowing what it’s like to be a volunteer gives me a valuable insight into what works best. My volunteer experience was also one of the key reasons why I was hired at Rosemoor."

Between June and December 2013 we ran 30 workdays in which over 130 people got stuck in. People of all ages and abilities took part including students, jobseekers and retirees. We have run workdays with Mosaic, a group aimed at helping black people and people from ethnic minorities feel more connected to their National Park. Siân Roberts, the Mosaic project Officer for Snowdonia, said, "Our community champions had great fun rhododendron bashing and clearing Himalayan balsam. They’ve also valued the experience as a chance to put something back into the National Park, an area which they have come to love and which they promote to others. Outdoor physical work is a great equaliser – there are no barriers when you’re all working together to clear rhododendron!" This year has also seen a group of young carers controlling Rhododendron ponticum.

Once they start volunteering, many people come to realise how much fun and how fulfilling an occupation it can be, whatever the weather. One of our keenest workers, Valentina, says that her best memory "will always be the rainy Rhododendron ponticum clearance, which demonstrated that a good team with a good spirit does not care about the weather conditions, and of course the warm tea and biscuits will never taste that good again. It was great to gain practical skills that are sometimes lacking in higher education. I think the personal experience and the chance to be really in contact with the countryside just makes you feel better."

Volunteering brings you into contact not only with a variety of personalities, but also people with a wide range of experiences. Young people can learn life skills from retirees, students can inform others about ecology and the science behind conservation, and people from overseas can highlight both differences and similarities across borders. There is always someone to learn from and there is always something one can teach others, whether it’s the value and effectiveness of team-work or the name of a tree.

hwith); Glanhau Traeth Harlech aint (left); Harlech beach clean

Variety is the spice of life and some of our more unusual recent workdays have included surveying for sea mammals, building pine marten den boxes and a two day bioblitz. Brian Cope, who has been volunteering with the Society for twelve years, says, "With the programme one can choose what one wants to do - no pressure! But one knows that all the work is worthwhile and is benefiting other people who come to see the area."

Mary-Kate Jones Snowdonia Ecosystem Project manager

Os hoffech gymryd rhan mewn If you’d like to get involved in gwaith ymarferol i ddiogelu a practical work protecting and gwella tirweddau gwerthfawr improving Snowdonia's precious landscapes, contact: Eryri, cysylltwch â: mary-kate@snowdonia-society.org.uk 01286 685498 23

Gwirfoddolwyr Mosaic volunteers Brian Cope, chwith/left

Achubwch y Parciau! Maent yn fwy na llefydd hardd Ers 1951, pan grëwyd Parc Cenedlaethol cyntaf Cymru, bu cynnydd o 12 miliwn ym mhoblogaeth y DU, sef y nifer sy’n ymweld â Pharciau Cymru bob blwyddyn. Mae nifer cerbydau trwyddedig y DU wedi cynyddu o bedair i 34 miliwn. Yn y cyfamser, mae poblogaeth y byd wedi mwy na dyblu o dri biliwn i saith. Yn y blaned gynyddol boblog hon, mae rôl y Parciau yn bwysicach nag erioed, ac yn wrthnysig, mae’r bygythiad iddynt yn waeth nag erioed hefyd.

Mae bygythiadau byd-eang megis y newid yn yr hinsawdd a thwf poblogaeth, ynghyd â phwysau dilynol am ynni, tai a bwyd, yn ddi-baid. Mae bygythiadau hefyd lle bydd pobl sydd mewn grym yn gwneud penderfyniadau sy’n blaenoriaethu ystyriaethau economaidd yn lle gwarchod y rhinweddau sy’n gwneud y mannau hyn yn arbennig.

Yn Ionawr, argymhellodd y Comisiwn Williams ar Lywodraethu a Darparu Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus ad-drefniant radical o'n 22 awdurdod lleol i greu 10, 11 neu 12 awdurdod. Nid yw Comisiwn Williams yn cynnig unrhyw newidiadau i statws a chylch gwaith Awdurdodau’r Parciau, ond mae'n argymell y dylai'r Parciau gydweithio rhagor ac y dylai'r Llywodraeth ystyried sefydlu un Awdurdod Parciau Cenedlaethol yng Nghymru gan gadw hunaniaethau unigryw y tri Pharc.

Fodd bynnag, erys bygythiad go iawn y gellir colli swyddogaethau cynllunio Parciau Cenedlaethol i awdurdodau lleol, gan golli un o’u dulliau allweddol o gyflawni eu dibenion statudol. Rydym yn croesawu cymeradwyaeth Comisiwn Williams o’r perfformiad a’r gwerth am arian y mae'r Parciau Cenedlaethol presennol wedi’u cyflawni. Efallai nad yw’r strwythurau hyn yn berffaith o bell ffordd, ond o leiaf maent yn canolbwyntio’n glir

ar warchod rhinweddau a chymeriad ardal unigryw pob Parc.

Serch hynny, rhaid inni fod yn bryderus am lawer iawn o bethau; mae'r syniad o un corff trosfwaol i lywodraethu’r Parciau yn ddigon amwys i fod yn eithaf peryglus.

Yn hollbwysig, mae Cymdeithas Eryri yn credu fod rhaid i Barciau Cenedlaethol gadw a datblygu eu swyddogaethau cynllunio i sicrhau y caiff buddiannau lleol a chenedlaethol eu gwarchod a'u hybu ymhellach o fewn y trysorau cenedlaethol hyn.

Yn fuan, byddwn yn lansio ymgyrch o’r enw ‘Mae Parciau Cenedlaethol yn Cyfrif’ ar y cyd â chymdeithasau’r Parciau Cenedlaethol eraill ac YDCW. Bydd yr ymgyrch yn gwella proffil y Parc, dwyn sylw at y peryglon a wynebir ganddynt, a cheisio perswadio Llywodraeth Cymru y dylid adeiladu ar lwyddiant y Parciau fel trysorau mwyaf gwerthfawr Cymru.

Croesawir cefnogaeth ein haelodau. Os hoffech ddilyn y datblygiadau, cofrestrwch i gael ein cylchlythyr electronig trwy e-bostio info@snowdonia-society.org.uk Mae pobl yn caru eu Parciau fel mannau i anturio, cael ysbrydoliaeth ac ymlacio; mewn arolwg, ystyriai 95% o bobl Cymru fod y Parciau yn bwysig iddynt a bydd tri chwarter poblogaeth Cymru yn ymweld â hwy bob blwyddyn. Bydd ymwelwyr yn pleidleisio â'u pocedi hefyd, ac yn gwario dros £1bn y flwyddyn gan greu swyddi y mae galw mawr amdanynt. Yn ychwanegol, mae gan y Parciau gyfoeth o fywyd gwyllt a’r adnoddau naturiol rydym mor ddibynnol arnynt, megis dŵr yfed.

Claddu Ceblau Foltedd Uchel Croesir Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri gan ddwy ran sylweddol o linellau trawsyrru foltedd

Statws elusennol newydd i’r Gymdeithas

New charitable status for the Society

Yn y CCB, pleidleisiodd aelodau o blaid y Gymdeithas yn dod yn Sefydliad Elusennol Corfforedig (CIO), ac mae'r Comisiwn Elusennau wedi cymeradwyo a chofrestru hyn. Rydym wrthi’n trosglwyddo ein hasedau i’r CIO newydd, ac wedi hynny, caiff yr hen elusen ei dirwyn i ben. Bydd rhagor o fanylion am y CIO yn y cylchgrawn nesaf.

At the AGM members voted in favour of the Society becoming a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) and this has been approved and registered by the Charity Commission. We are in the process of moving our assets to the new CIO, after which the old charity will be wound up. More details of the CIO will follow in the next magazine.

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uchel (400kV) y Grid Cenedlaethol ynghyd â pheilonau mawr. Mae’r naill ran yn cychwyn i’r gogledd o Abergwyngregyn ac yn rhedeg i Ddolgarrog, ac mae’r llall yn rhedeg o aber Dwyryd i Drawsfynydd ac yn croesi’r Migneint i'r Bala.

Mae llywodraeth y DU trwy OFGEN wedi neilltuo £500m yn bennaf i gladdu rhannau o’r Grid Cenedlaethol mewn tirweddau gwarchodedig (Parciau Cenedlaethol ac Ardaloedd o Harddwch Naturiol Eithriadol) ar draws Prydain. Bu ymgynghoriad cychwynnol yn gynharach eleni, a rhagwelir y bydd cyfle maes o law i nodi pa ardaloedd y dylid eu blaenoriaethu wrth gynllunio’r gwaith claddu.

Mae hyd y llinellau trawsyrru sy’n croesi Eryri yn fwy na hyd llinellau Parciau Cenedlaethol eraill Cymru. Ar draws y DU, dim ond Parc Cenedlaethol South Downs sydd â mwy o linellau. Bydd Cymdeithas Eryri ac eraill yn pleidio eu hachos i sicrhau na orfodir Eryri i fod â chyfran annheg o'r llinellau hyn.

Mae bob cilomedr o geblau uwchben yn costio £1.5m ac mae ceblau tanddaearol yn costio llawer iawn mwy, yn dibynnu ar gymhlethdod y dirwedd. Mae ffigyrau diweddar yn achos Powys yn awgrymu y gallai pob cilomedr gostio rhwng £7m ac £8m, hynny yw, mae cyfanswm cyllideb y DU yn cyfateb i 60-70 cilomedr, ac mae 53 cilomedr yn Eryri yn unig. Pe gallem gael 6 neu 7 cilomedr, byddai hynny’n gyfran deg.

Bydd yn bwysig felly amlygu pa rannau o'r llwybrau presennol sy'n niweidiol dros ben - er enghraifft, lle maent yn croesi dros lecynnau agored pwysig sy’n brin o orchudd, neu lle gellir eu gweld yn amlwg iawn o’r priffyrdd, neu lle maent yn niweidiol iawn i ecosystemau.

. ger afon Dwyryd ilon difrodedig yryd Estuary © Dw e th Dymchwel y pe on n lo damaged py Blowing up the

Save the Parks! They’re not just pretty places Since 1951 and creating the first National Park in Wales, the UK population has grown by 12 million, which is the amount of people who visit the Welsh Parks each year. The number of licensed vehicles in the UK has risen from four to 34m. At the same time the world population has more than doubled from three to seven billion.

In this increasingly crowded planet the role of Parks has never been more important and perversely, never so threatened.

Global threats such as climate change and population growth, with the consequent pressure for energy, housing and food production, are relentless. There are also threats when people in power make decisions which prioritise economic imperatives over the retention of the qualities which make these areas special.

for money which the existing National Parks have delivered. Their structures may be far from perfect but they do at least have a clear focus on maintaining the special qualities and character of each unique Park area.

population visit them each year. Visitors also vote with their wallets spending over £1bn a year creating much needed jobs. In addition the Parks are rich in wildlife and the natural resources we depend upon such as drinking water.

There is however a great deal about which we should be concerned; the proposal for a single overarching body to govern the Parks is vague enough to be quite dangerous. Critically, the Snowdonia Society believes that National Parks MUST retain and develop their planning function to ensure that both the local and the national interests in these - our national treasures - are protected and furthered.

Undergrounding High Voltage Cables

With the other National Park societies and CPRW we will shortly launch a campaign called ‘National Parks Matter’.

The campaign will raise the profile of the Parks, draw attention to the dangers they face, and seek to convince Welsh Government of the case for building on the success of the Parks as Wales’ own crown jewels. Support from our members will be welcomed. If you would like to be kept abreast of developments, please sign up for our electronic newsletter by emailing info@snowdonia-society.org.uk

The UK government through OFGEN has set aside £500m mainly for undergrounding sections of the National Grid in protected landscapes (National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) across Britain. An initial consultation took place earlier this year and it is anticipated that there will be an opportunity at a later stage to identify which areas should be the priorities for undergrounding.

The Snowdonia National Park is crossed by two major sections of high voltage (400kV) National Grid transmission lines with big pylons. One runs from west of Abergwyngregyn to Dolgarrog and the second runs from the Dwyryd estuary to Trawsfynydd and across the Migneint to Bala.

In January, the Williams Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery recommended a radical reorganisation for our 22 local authorities to be consolidated into 10, 11 or 12. The Williams Commission does not propose any change to the status and remit of the Park Authorities, but does recommend that the Parks work more Snowdonia has a greater length of collaboratively and that the Government National Grid power lines than any other should consider a single National Park National Park in Wales, and across the Authority in Wales whilst retaining the UK only the South Downs National Park distinct identities of the three Parks. People love their Parks as places for has more. The Snowdonia Society will However, there remains a real threat that adventure, inspiration and relaxation; be arguing the case along with others to the National Parks may lose their planning when surveyed, 95% of people in Wales ensure that Snowdonia is not burdened functions to the local authorities and thus consider the Parks to be important to with more than its fair share. lose a key tool for delivering their statutory them and three quarters of the Welsh (Continued overleaf) purposes.

We welcome Yr olygfa tua’r Wyddfa, heb ei llesteirio am ychydig gan y peilon a’i geblau. ● View of Snowdon the Williams briefly uninterrupted by the pylon and its cables.

Commission's endorsement of the performance and value

s.

© Archie Harri

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(Continued from p.25)

Adar Nythu Gogledd Cymru

Each kilometre of overhead cabling costs £1.5m and underground cabling costs much more and depends upon the complexity of the geography. Recent figures for Powys suggest that each kilometre might be £7m to £8m i.e. the total pot for the UK is equivalent to 60 to 70 kilometres and within Snowdonia alone there are 53 kilometres. If we could get 6 or 7 kilometres, that would be a fair share.

Dyma’r llyfr cyntaf ers 1907 am yr adar yng ngogledd Cymru gyfan, ac mae’n seiliedig ar bum mlynedd o waith maes gan gannoedd o wirfoddolwyr.

Gwnaed arolygon blaenorol gan ddefnyddio’r raddfa 10x10km, ond mae hwn yn defnyddio 2x2km sy’n llawer manylach. Mae cyflwyniad manwl yn cynnig gwybodaeth gefndir ddiddorol am gynefinoedd, tirwedd a defnydd tir. Mae prif gorff y llyfr yn cynnwys taeniadau dwy dudalen am bob rhywogaeth, yn cynnwys trosolwg manwl o’r aderyn hwnnw a ffotograffau prydferth a siartiau yn dangos y newid yn ei ddosbarthiad ers 1972. Mae’r penodau rhagarweiniol yn hollol ddwyieithog, ynghyd â'r disgrifiadau o’r Cudyll Coch a'r Ŵydd Wyllt; mae crynodebau Cymraeg o’r holl rywogaethau eraill.

It will be important therefore to highlight those sections of the existing routes which are particularly damaging – for example, where they cross over important open spaces where there is little cover, or where they are very prominent from main roads, or especially damaging to ecosystems.

Dyma rai sylwadau a gafwyd hyd yn hyn gan aelodau ynglyn â'r linellau trawsyrru: Comments so far received from members concerning transmission lines include: Given the limitation to only a few kilometres, my approach would be to concoct some principles:

Mae gan bob rhywogaeth noddwr unigolyn neu fusnes a enwir – nawdd a gododd y £18,000 oedd yn angenrheidiol i gyhoeddi’r llyfr. Cafodd adar poblogaidd eu dewis yn gyflym, ond nid oedd rhai eraill yn apelio; yn y pen draw, fe wnaeth Canadiad gwladgarol oedd yn gweithio i'r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol noddi gŵydd Canada!

1. It must be an area where there is already good quality landscape, albeit with pylons.

2. The removal of only a small section of pylons from a view should not be nullified by pylons left in that same view.

3. Removal of pylons close to the viewer will have much more impact than ones further away.

4. We should prioritise for the maximum number of people.

One area that fits the bill is the line just east of Llandecwyn Station and up the valley to Llyn Tecwyn. It is good wild landscape, easily visible from the road and ruined by the pylon line going right up the middle.

Julian Cox

Dyma lyfr rhyfeddol a ddylai apelio at ddechreuwyr ac arbenigwyr.

Golygwyd gan Ian M. Spence, Anne Brenchley, Rhion Pritchard a Geoff Gibbs; Liverpool University Press 2013, £45

The Breeding Birds of North Wales

---

This is the first book on the birds of the whole of north Wales since 1907 and is based on five years of fieldwork by hundreds of volunteers. Previous surveys were done at the 10x10km scale but this one digs down into greater detail at 2x2km. A detailed introduction gives useful background information about habitats, landscape and land use. The main body of the book consists of double page spreads for each species containing a detailed overview of that bird, with beautiful photos, and charts showing the changing distribution since 1972. The introductory chapters are fully bilingual as are the Red Kite and Greylag Goose accounts; all other species have Welsh summaries.

May I suggest the section from where the lines cross the North Wales Path just south-west of Abergwyngregyn to just to the east of Pen y Gaer hill fort? This would transform the despoilation of the present wonderful views. The lines are particularly intrusive where they cross the pass at Bwlch y Ddeufaen. If the stretch from Llandecwyn to Trawsfynydd could also be undergrounded, that would be a huge improvement. Many people travel in these areas, including many walkers, some of whom come long distances to enjoy the matchless scenery.

Nick Smyth

Each species has a named individual or business sponsor – sponsorship which raised the £18,000 necessary for publication. Popular birds were snapped up quickly but some were given the cold shoulder; eventually a patriotic Canadian working for the National Trust sponsored the Canada goose!

Gyrrwch eich sylwadau atom i'r cyfeiriad isod.

Please send your comments or letters to: Cymdeithas Eryri Snowdonia Society, Caban, Yr Hen Ysgol, Brynrefail, Caernarfon LL55 3NR info@snowdonia-society.org.uk

This is a stunning book which should appeal to both beginners and experts.

Argraffir llythyrau a sylwadau yn yr iaith y derbynnir hwy.

Letters and comments are printed in the language that we receive them.

Edited by Ian M. Spence, Anne Brenchley, Rhion Pritchard and Geoff Gibbs. Liverpool University Press 2013 , £45 26

Adolygiadau Llyfrau Eidalwr yn Eryri

●

Book Reviews Pierino’s Snowdonia

gan Pierino Algieri

gan Pierino Algieri

Dros y pymtheg mlynedd diwethaf, mae ffotograffau Pierino Algieri wedi bod yn llygaid y cyhoedd yng ngogledd Cymru, ond hwn yw ei lyfr cyntaf ac nid yw'n siomi.

Over the last fifteen years Pierino Algieri’s photography has been very much in the public eye in north Wales, but this is his first book and it does not disappoint.

Most of almost two hundred images were taken on large format, as opposed to digital, cameras which gives this collection the flavour of a retrospective. Some might argue that too many of the pictures are too small to do them justice. On the other hand, this does increase the impact of those given the full page or even double page treatment, whilst keeping the book at an affordable price.

Mae’n cynnwys bron iawn dau gant o ffotograffau, a thynnwyd y mwyafrif â chamerâu fformat mawr, nid rhai digidol, sy'n ychwanegu blas o’r gorffennol at y casgliad hwn.

Byddai rhai yn dadlau fod gormod o’r lluniau yn rhy fach i wneud cyfiawnder â hwy. Ar y llaw arall, mae hyn yn cryfhau effaith y lluniau a argraffir ar dudalen lawn neu ddwy, ac mae'n sicrhau fod pris y llyfr yn fforddiadwy.

Inevitably, some of the images seem familiar, though there are plenty that are not. Some are of very well known scenes, but Pierino always seems to find a new slant on old subjects - Snowdon and the Mymbyr lakes at dawn rather than sunset, for instance; and others are of places well off the beaten track that few will recognize.

Yn anochel, mae rhai o’r delweddau'n ymddangos yn gyfarwydd, er nad yw hynny'n wir am bob un. Mae rhai yn lluniau o olygfeydd cyfarwydd iawn, ond mae Pierino yn wastad fel pe bai'n gallu cynnig cipolwg newydd ar hen bynciau - yr Wyddfa a llynnoedd Mymbyr ar doriad y wawr yn lle’r machlud, er enghraifft; mae eraill yn lluniau o fannau anghysbell iawn y gwnaiff ychydig iawn ohonoch eu hadnabod.

Pierino is a landscape photographer first and foremost; he is less interested in detail, but the book benefits from just enough pictures of people (often self-portraits), plants, animals and buildings to lend variety.

Mae Pierino yn ffotograffydd tirluniau yn bennaf; nid oes ganddo lawer o ddiddordeb mewn manylion, ond mae gan ei lyfr ddigon o luniau o bobl (hunanbortreadau yn bennaf), planhigion ac anifeiliaid i gynnig amrywiaeth.

Pierino’s skill with a pen does not match that with a camera and he has been let down by the proofreader - if indeed there was one! Nevertheless, the extended captions to each photograph are fascinating asides on local and natural history, on tricks of the trade with regard to composition and lighting, and on the effort and sometimes discomfort involved in being in the right place at the right time.

Nid yw sgiliau ysgrifennu Pierino cystal â’i sgiliau ffotograffiaeth, ac mae darllenydd y proflenni wedi gwneud tro gwael ag ef os darllenwyd y proflenni, yn wir! Serch hynny, mae pennawd estynedig pob llun yn ychwanegion diddorol ynghylch hanes lleol naturiol, cyfrinachau'r grefft o ran cyfansoddiad a goleuo, a'r ymdrech a'r anghysur sy'n gysylltiedig ar adegau â bod yn y lle iawn ar yr adeg iawn.

Above all, he shares his thoughts and feelings and is not afraid to admit how much the landscape of Snowdonia, his ‘cynefin’, means to him. One senses that he would agree with Ansell Adams’ dictum that photography should be “something said about something felt”.

Uwchlaw popeth, mae’n rhannu ei feddyliau a’i deimladau ac nid yw’n ofni cyfaddef faint mae tirwedd Eryri, ei gynefin, yn golygu iddo. Ceir yr argraff y cytunai â sylw Ansell Adams ynghylch ffotograffiaeth, y dylai fod yn “rywbeth a ddywedir am rywbeth a deimlir”.

A book to cherish and linger over on those long dark evenings!

Llyfr i’w drysori ac i bori ynddo ar nosweithiau hir a thywyll.

Pierino’s Snowdonia, Pierino Algieri - available in English and Welsh.

Eidalwr yn Eryri, Pierino Algieri - ar gael yn Saesneg ac yn Gymraeg.

Gwasg Carreg Gwalch £25. Signed copies are available from www.algieri-images.co.uk

Gwasg Carreg Gwalch £25. Mae copiau wedi eu arwyddo ar gael o www.algieri-images.co.uk

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Digwyddiadau • Events Ddim yn aelod? Cewch ddarganod mwy am Gymdeithas Eryri trwy fynychu un o'n digwyddiadau. Croesewir aelodau a rhai sydd ddim yn aelodau'n ddiwahân. Dyma rai o'r digwyddiadau sydd ar ein rhaglen haf.

Not a member? Why not come and find out more about the Snowdonia Society by attending one of our events. They are open to members and non-members alike. Here is a sample of the events on our summer programme.

Mawrth 29 Ebrill, 2pm - Ymweliad â'r Ganolfan Adeiladu Naturiol ym Mhlas Tirion, Llanrwst, i weld sut mae deunyddiau traddodiadol yn cael eu defnyddio yn adnewyddiad cyfredol y tŷ C16eg hwn.

Tues 29 April, 2pm - A Visit to The Natural Building Centre at Plas Tirion, Llanrwst, to see how traditional building materials are being used in the on-going restoration of this C16th house.

Sat 17 May - Blooming Wild A wildflower and wildlife walk through Coed y Bleiddiau, Tan y Bwlch, with part of the route by steam train.

Sadwrn 17 Mai - Blodeuo'n Wyllt Taith gerdded blodau a bywyd gwyllt trwy Goed y Bleiddiau, Tan y Bwlch, â rhan o'r daith ar drên ager.

Sun 27 July - A circular walk on the Rhinogydd, one of Wales' wildest and least visited mountain ranges and home to many rare birds. Led by Keith Hulse.

Sul 27 Gorffenaf - Cylchdaith Gerdded ar y Rhinogydd, sy'n un o gadwyni o fynyddoedd mwyaf gwyllt a mwyaf disathr Cymru ac yn gartref i lawer o adar prin. Dan arweiniad Keith Hulse.

Thurs 21 August, 2pm - Visit to Blaen y Nant Farm, Nant Ffrancon. An opportunity to see how the wildlife and habitats of this traditional organic mountain farm have benefited from agri-environment schemes.

Iau 21 Awst, 2pm - Ymweliad â Fferm Blaen y Nant, Nant Ffrancon. Dewch i weld sut mae cynlluniau amaethamgylcheddol wedi bod o fudd i fywyd gwyllt a chynefinoedd y fferm fynydd organig draddodiadol hon.

Sat 6 Sept - Introduction to Kayaking, on Llyn Mymbyr, Plas y Brenin.

Sadwrn 6 Medi - Cyflwyniad i Gaiacio, Llyn Mymbyr, Plas y Brenin.

Fri 19 Sept - Archaeology Walk to Dinas Emrys with Kathy Laws.

Gwener 19 Medi - Taith Gerdded Archaeoleg i Ddinas Emrys. Dan arweiniad Kathy Laws.

For more information or a copy of the full programme please contact us or visit our website.

Am ragor o wybodaeth neu i gael copi o'r rhaglen lawn cysylltwch â ni neu gweler ein gwefan.

01286 685498

info@snowdonia-society.org.uk

01286 685498 info@snowdonia-society.org.uk www.cymdeithas-eryri.org.uk

www.snowdonia-society.org.uk

Daearegwr yn gadael cymynrodd i gynorthwyo i warchod Eryri

Leading geologist leaves bequest to help protect Snowdonia

Fe wnaeth Dr John Beavan ddarganfod ei hoffter o’r mynyddoedd trwy grwydro Eryri, ac mae wedi gadael cymynrodd gwerth £4,470 i Gymdeithas Eryri i’n cynorthwyo i barhau i warchod y dirwedd a wnaeth ei ysbrydoli.

Dr John Beavan discovered his love of mountains through exploring Snowdonia. A member of the Snowdonia Society for forty years he bequeathed £4,470 to the Society to help ensure we can continue to protect the mountains and landscape that first inspired him.

Cafodd Dr Beavan PhD mewn Geoffiseg o Brifysgol Caergrawnt, a daeth yn un o brif wyddonwyr y byd ym maes mesur anffurfio tectonig â thechnoleg GPS. Fe'i ganwyd yn Henffordd yn 1950, a bu farw ym mis Tachwedd 2012 yn Seland Newydd, ble'r oedd wedi ymgartrefu.

With a PhD from Cambridge in Geophysics, Dr Beavan became one of the leading scientists in the world at measuring tectonic deformation with GPS technology. Born in Hereford in 1950, he died in November 2012 in New Zealand, where he had settled.

Ydych wedi ystyrio gadael rhodd i Gymdeithas Eryri yn eich ewyllys? Cysylltwch â ni i ofyn am gopi o'n Canllaw Cymynroddion.

01286 685498

info@snowdonia-society.org.uk

Have you considered leaving the Snowdonia Society a gift in your will? Contact us to request a Legacy Guide. www.cymdeithas-eryri.org.uk • www.snowdonia-society.org.uk 28

FSC Rhyd-y-creuau FSC Rhyd-y-creuau is a leading provider of environmental and taxonomy training in North Wales.

Mae Cyngor Astudiaethau Maes Rhyd-y-creuau yn un o ddarparwyr hyfforddiant amgylcheddol a thacsonomeg fwyaf blaenllaw yng Ngogledd Cymru.

Friendly, comfortable, full-board accommodation and expert tuition. Llety â phob pryd bwyd, cyfforddus mewn cwmni cyfeillgar ynghyd â hyfforddiant arbenigol.

Great access to the diverse habitats and environments of Snowdonia National Park.

Cyfle gwych i droedio amgylcheddau a chynefinoedd amrywiol Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri.

• Mosses and Liverworts – 14-16 February Mwsoglau a Llysiau’r Afu – Chwefror 14-16 • Freshwater Invertebrates for Educators – 11-13 April Anifeiliaid di-asgwrn-cefn d r croyw i Addysgwyr – Ebrill 11-13 • Tree Identification – 23-26 May Adnabod Coed – Mai 23-26 • Bumblebees and Solitary Bees – 30 May-01 June Cacwn a Chacwn Unig – Mai 30-Mehefin 01 • An Introduction to Surveying and Identification of Dragonfly and Damselflies – 22 July Cyflwyniad i Arolygu ac Adnabod Gweision y Neidr a Mursennod – Gorffennaf 22 • Introduction to Phase 1 Habitat Surveys – 15-17 August Cyflwyniad i Arolygon Cynefinoedd Cyfnod 1 – Awst 15-17

To see the full programme or for more information please visit the website: I weld y rhaglen gyflawn neu am fwy o wybodaeth, ewch i’n gwefan:

www.field-studies-council.org/rhydycreuau Or contact us: Neu Cysylltwch â ni: Tel/Ffôn: 01690 710494. E-mail/E-bost: enquiries.rc@field-studies-council.org 29

It’s all Working in Ty^ Hyll Woodland

Mae Popeth yn Llwyddo yng Nghoetir Ty^ Hyll Mae coetir Tŷ Hyll, sy’n amgylchynu eiddo blaenllaw y Gymdeithas, yn le arbennig iawn. Diolch i waith caled Cyfeillion Tŷ Hyll, mae’n gwella!

Tŷ Hyll woodland, surrounding the Snowdonia Society’s flagship property, is a very special place. And with the hard work of Friends of Tŷ Hyll it is getting better!

Flwyddyn wedi ffurfio’r grŵp yn Rhagfyr 2012, daeth criw bychan o’r Cyfeillion ynghyd i fwynhau paned a chacennau a hel atgofion am uchafbwyntiau blwyddyn o weithgareddau, yn cynnwys diwrnodau gwaith rheolaidd yn y coetir. Ein her rheoli yw: cynnal y coetir derw uwchdirol a’r fflora a’r ffawna arbennig sy’n byw ynddo; gwella mwynhad ymwelwyr; a darparu hafan gyfeillgar i bryfed peillio i gynnal ein prosiect magu a pharu mamwenyn rhywiol!

A year after being formed in December 2012, a small group of Friends met over tea and cakes to recall highlights from a year of activities, including regular woodland workdays. Our management challenge is: to sustain the upland oak woodland and the special flora and fauna that it supports; to enhance visitor enjoyment; and to provide a pollinator friendly haven for our sexy queen bee rearing and mating project!

An outstanding highlight of 2013 was the BioBlitz in October, organised with the Society’s Snowdonia Ecosystem Project volunteers. Over two days, a variety of friendly local wildlife experts helped visitors, young families and students to identify and record as many species as possible. These records were then fed into the important Welsh database, managed by Cofnod.

Being held later in the year than normal, our Bioblitz found a fantastically full foray of fungi.

Uchafbwynt pennaf 2013 oedd y BioFlits ym mis Hydref, a drefnwyd ar y cyd â gwirfoddolwyr Prosiect Ecosystem Eryri Cymdeithas Eryri. Dros ddau ddiwrnod, fe wnaeth amrywiaeth o arbenigwyr cyfeillgar lleol ar fywyd gwyllt gynorthwyo ymwelwyr, teuluoedd ifanc a myfyrwyr i nodi a chofnodi cymaint o rywogaethau ag y bo modd. Yna, mewnbynnwyd y cofnodion hyn yn y gronfa ddata Gymreig bwysig a reolir gan Cofnod. Yn sgil cynnal ein BioFlits yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn na’r arfer, canfuwyd cyfoeth bendigedig o ffyngau.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the experts and visiting groups we recorded an amazing 250 different species including 36 moths, 102 plants, 18 birds and 61 fungi. One exciting moment was finding seven soprano pipistrelle bats in one of our boxes!

Diolch i frwdfrydedd yr arbenigwyr a’r grwpiau o ymwelwyr, cofnodwyd cyfanswm anhygoel o 250 rhywogaeth wahanol, yn cynnwys 36 gwyfyn, 102 planhigyn, 18 aderyn a 61 ffwng. Roedd canfod saith ystlum lleiaf meinllais yn un o'n blychau yn un foment gyffrous!

This has to indicate the overall good health of our woodland, and that the Friends of Tŷ Hyll volunteers seem to be getting it right! The woodland is proving to be an increasingly valuable resource for engaging and educating young people, hopefully improving their opportunity to gain meaningful employment in the wonderful environment of Snowdonia.

Yn sicr, mae hyn yn awgrymu fod ein coetir mewn cyflwr da yn gyffredinol, ac mae'n ymddangos fod gwirfoddolwyr Cyfeillion Tŷ Hyll yn gwneud eu gwaith yn iawn!

Mae’r coetir wedi profi ei fod yn adnodd cynyddol werthfawr i ennyn diddordeb ac addysgu pobl ifanc, a gobeithio, gwella eu cyfle i gael gwaith ystyrlon yn amgylchedd bendigedig Eryri.

Have you visited yet? You should!

Better still, come and volunteer; become a Friend of Tŷ Hyll!

A ydych wedi ymweld â’r coetir eto?

Dewch draw! Gwell fyth, gwirfoddolwch; dewch yn un o Gyfeillion Tŷ Hyll!

Friends of

Tŷ Hyll organise eve nts and activi ties throughout the year, incl uding wildlife gard ening days o n Mondays an d regular wo odland work days.

Contact the Society for m ore information or check the Tŷ Hyll website. www.theugl yhouse.co.u k

n Tŷ Hyll

Mae Cyfeillio yddiadau trwy yn trefnu digw n, yn cynnwys gydol y flwyddy dio bywyd diwrnodau gard Llun, a diwrnogwyllt bob dydd y coetir. dau gwaith yn Gymdeithas am Cysylltwch â’r er aeth neu gwel ragor o wybod gwefan Tŷ Hyll. uk www.tyhyll.co.

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Aelodaeth Fusnes

•

Business Membership

Mae'n flwyddyn ers i ni lansio ein cynllun Aelodaeth Fusnes ac erbyn hyn mae gennym 21 Aelod Busnes.

Y busnesau isod yw'r rhai diwedderaf i ddangos eu bod yn gofalu am ddyfodol Eryri trwy gefnogi gwaith y Gymeithas. Am ragor o wybodaeth am ddod yn Aelod Busnes cysylltwch â ni neu gweler ein gwefan.

It is a year since we launched our new Business Membership package and we now have 21 Business Members. The businesses below are the latest to show they care about Snowdonia's future by supporting the Snowdonia Society's work. For more information about becoming a Business Member contact us or visit our website.

North Wales IT

Llanberis Cwmni cymorth technegol sy'n darparu gwasanaeth atgyweirio a chynnal a chadw cyfrifiaduron a gliniaduron, yn broffesiynol ac yn ddi-lol.

A technical support company providing PC and laptop repair and maintenance. Professional, nononsense service.

Darparwyr gweithgareddau antur yng ngogledd Cymru sy'n cynnig cyrsiau amlweithgaredd i deuluoedd, ysgolion, colegau a grwpiau ieuenctid.

Adventure activity providers in north Wales, offering multi-activity courses for families, schools, colleges and youth groups.

Rheilffordd rac a phiniwn i ben yr Wyddfa, yn cynnig golygfeydd syfrdanol oddi ar gopa Cymru.

A rack and pinion railway to the summit of Snowdon, offering awe-inspiring views from the roof-top of Wales.

Cymdeithas weithredol sy’n helpu pobl i fwynhau'r awyr agored, â dwy ganolfan yn Eryri.

A co-operative society helping people enjoy the outdoors, with two centres in Snowdonia.

Clare's Health Shop, Llanrwst Un o siopau bwydydd iechyd annibynnol gorau gogledd Cymru.

One of north Wales' finest independent health food shops.

Rhyd y Creuau, Betws y Coed

Un o ganolfannau’r Cyngor Astudiaethau Maes sy’n cynnig cyrsiau a chyfleoedd eraill i ddarganfod a chael eu hysbrydoli gan y byd naturiol.

A Field Studies Council centre offering courses and other opportunities to explore and be inspired by the natural environment.

Ymaelodwch... Join now...

... a helpwch i warchod harddwch ac amrywiaeth tirwedd a bywyd gwyllt Eryri.

... and help protect the beauty and diversity of Snowdonia’s landscape and wildlife.

Mae aelodaeth o’r Gymdeithas yn cychwyn o £12 i'r rhai sydd o dan 25 oed. Am ragor o wybodaeth am Aelodaeth Unigol neu Fusnes, cysylltwch â ni neu gweler ein gwefan.

Membership of the Snowdonia Society starts at £12 for under 25s. For more information about Individual or Business Membership, contact us or visit our website.

01286 685498 info@snowdonia-society.org.uk www.cymdeithas-eryri.org.uk • www.snowdonia-society.org.uk

Ynys Gifftan © Steve Lewis

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