Blaenau Ffestiniog Guide Book

Am ddim Free

Blaenau Ffestiniog croeso!

welcome!

‘Let the train take the strain, come visit the rain’.

Blaenau Ffestiniog, Welcome to Croeso Blaenau Ffestiniog Mae’r dref sydd yn brolio cymysgedd unigryw o harddwch naturiol, hanes, diwylliant a bwrlwm, ac sydd yng nghalon Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri yn eich croesawu i fforio ein mynyddoedd garw, dyffrynnoedd hyfryd, ein llynnoedd llonydd a’n niferoedd o fwytai a thafarndai.

A town that boasts a unique blend of natural beauty, history, culture and vibrancy, and which lies at the very heart of the Snowdonia National Park, welcomes you to explore the rugged mountains, picturesque valleys, tranquil lakes and numerous café’s and pubs.

Mae’r ffaith y gall Ffestiniog frolio bod ganddi ddau gôr gweithredol a sawl band pop sydd wedi cyrraedd brig y siartiau yn adlewyrchiad o natur amrywiol y dref a’i phobl, lle mae’r traddodiadol a’r cyfoes, a’r hen a’r newydd yn toddi i’w gilydd mewn ffordd sy’n ein gwneud yn falch o fod yn Gymry.

The fact that Ffestiniog can boast two active male voice choirs and several chart topping pop groups is a reflection of the diverse nature of the town and it’s people, where traditional and contemporary, and old and new harmonise in a way that makes us proud to be Welsh.

Mae’r llyfryn hwn wedi’i greu er mwyn rhoi gwybod i’r teithiwr a phobl leol be sydd ar gael yma yn Ffestiniog. Pobl leol sydd wedi byw yn yr ardal ar hyd eu hoes sydd wedi gwneud y cyfraniadau ysgrifenedig, a hefyd pobl sydd wedi disgyn mewn cariad efo’r ardal ac wedi symud yma i fyw. Gobeithio y bydd y llyfryn yn eich ysbrydoli i ymweld â’r dref, ac i ymwneud a’i phobl…

This booklet has been produced to enlighten people as to the wonders Ffestiniog has to offer both to the traveller and to local people. Literary contributions have been made by people who have lived here all their lives and also by people who have fallen in love with the area and it’s people and have since moved here to live. We hope it will inspire you to come and visit the town, engross yourself in the culture and perhaps even try your hand at a bit of Welsh…

...lle ga’i brynu ambarel?

Where can I buy an umbrella?

O ’le gai logi beic?

Where can i hire a bike?

Lle mae’r dafarn agosaf?

Where is the nearest pub?

Ydi’r defaid yn cael bod ar y stryd?

Are the sheep allowed to roam the streets?

Lle mae’r parc?

Where is the park?

Os gwelwch yn dda!

Please!

Lle ga’i banad os gwelwch yn dda?

Where can I get a cuppa?

Diolch!

Thank you!

4-5

Braslun o Hanes Blaenau Ffestiniog a’r Fro A Short History of Ffestiniog Parish

6-9

Gweithgareddau Awyr Agored Outdoor Activities

10-11 Taith Hanesyddol

Historical Walk

12-15 Taith Panorama’r Moelwyn

Moelwyn Panorama Walk

16-17 Map Cerdded

Walking Map

18-21 Y Mabinogi

The Mabinogi

22-27 Arweiniad Od ac Anhygoel

Weird & Wonderful Guide

28-31 Y Tu Hwnt i Blaenau

Beyond Blaenau

32-33 Rheilffordd Ffestiniog

Ffestiniog Railway

34-35 Teithiau Trên Golygfaol

Scenic Train Journey

36-37 Pengwern Cymunedol

Pengwern Community

38-39 Adfywio Canol Tref Blaenau Ffestiniog

Blaenau Ffestiniog Town Centre Regeneration

40-50 51

Hysbysebion Classifieds Map y Dre Town Map

Braslun o Hanes Blaenau Ffestiniog a’r Fro Tref weddol ifanc, yn seiliedig ar y diwydiant llechi ydi Blaenau Ffestiniog. Ond mae’r hen ran o’r plwyf, Llan Ffestiniog yn mynd yn ôl rhai canrifoedd. Gwelir olion hynafol, yn dyddio i oesoedd cynnar iawn o’n hamgylch ym mhob rhan o’r ardal, a nifer o safleoedd o’r Oes Efydd, yr Oes Haearn a chyfnod y Rhufeiniaid yn britho’r fro.

Y mae sawl llecyn tua chyfeiriad Cwm Cynfal â chysylltiadau a’r chwedlau enwog, Y Mabinogi, a nifer o’r enwau lleol o gwmpas yn ein hatgoffa o hynny. Wrth ddilyn rhai o lwybrau’r ardal cawn ein harwain i sawl cwm hudol, a hanesyddol, megis Cwmorthin, Cwm Bowydd, Cwm Cynfal, Cwm Teigl, a phob un â’i nodweddion hynod, a’u golygfeydd rhyfeddol. Ffordd Rufeinig sy’n arwain am rai milltiroedd trwy’r fro yw Sarn Helen, yn adlais o’r cysylltiadau â dyfodiad y Rhufeiniaid i Domen-y-mur gyfagos tua’r ail drydedd ganrif oed Crist.

04

Fel y gwelir, mae olion dyn wedi bod yn naddu’r graig am fywoliaeth i’w gweld yn amlwg ymhob cyfeiriad. Yn ôl traddodiad, dywedir mai un o Arfon, Methiwsala Jones, a gafodd freuddwyd am garreg las a holltai’n dda, oedd i’w chael mewn lle a ddatblygodd dros gyfnod o amser ac fe’i hadnabyddir fel chwarel Diffwys, dafliad llechen o le a ddatblygodd yn dref sylweddol yn y man. Roedd hynny tua chanol yr 1760au. Dros y blynyddoedd agorwyd chwarel ar ôl chwarel ym mhob rhan o’r plwyf, dros amser tyfodd chwarel yr Oakeley fel mai hon yw chwarel danddaearol fwya’r byd. Mae’n anghredadwy meddwl fod oddeutu hanner can milltir o reilffyrdd yn gyfan gwbl o danddaear ar yr amrywiol lefelau ynddi a hynny yng nghrombil y mynydd ei hun. Dyma ddechrau’r diwydiant a ddatblygodd i fod yn un

o ganolfannau llechi mwya’r byd ac fe esblygodd yr hyn a oedd yn blwy’ Ffestiniog gyda’i dyrnaid o dyddynnod a ffermydd i fod y dre fwyaf ym Meirionnydd, sef Blaenau Ffestiniog, ac yn wir, yr ail dref fwyaf yng Ngogledd Cymru yn 1901.

Ar un adeg cyflogid dros 4,000 o ddynion yn y chwareli lleol yn gyfan gwbl, a rhoddodd hynny hwb mawr i economi ardal eang. Mewn ymateb i’r galw am y llechi o bob rhan o’r byd, agorwyd tair rheilffordd i gyrraedd y dref, yr L.M.S., G.W.R. a Rheilffordd Ffestiniog, ar gyfer y gwaith o gludo llechi yn benodol ac er mwyn gwasanaethu’r boblogaeth yn gyffredinol. Agorwyd pwerdy trydan-dwr yn Nôl Wen yn 1899 ar gyfer cyflenwi trydan i rai o’r chwareli, ac ym Mai 1902, strydoedd Blaenau Ffestiniog oedd y rhai cyntaf ym Mhrydain i gael eu goleuo gan drydan o egni’r dyfroedd. Yn ddiweddarach, ym 1963, agorwyd pwerdy Ffestiniog yn Nhanygrisiau, yr orsaf drydan storfa-bwmpio gyntaf ym Mhrydain, a’r fwyaf yn Ewrop ar y pryd.

Gwnaed defnydd arall o rai o’r ceudyllau yn un o chwareli Ffestiniog yn ystod yr ail ryfel byd, rhywbeth a oedd yn gyfrinachol ar y pryd. Penderfynwyd trosglwyddo trysorau’r genedl Brydeinig o’r Oriel Genedlaethol a phalas Buckingham i chwarel Chwarel y Manod yn 1941. Ymysg y peintiadau fu’n cael eu cadw yn y chwarel, yng nghrombil y Manod Mawr dros gyfnod y rhyfel oedd darluniau gan artistiaid enwog megis Rubens, Rembrandt a Michelangelo.

Clywed sibrydion ar y pryd fod Tlysau’r Goron yn cael eu storio yno hefyd. Ond stori arall yw honno!

Arddongosfa hanes, agored bob dydd 10am-4pm Ty^ Abermawddach

A Short History of Ffestiniog Parish

Blaenau Ffestiniog is a relatively new town, created following the discovery of the valuable slate vein in the area in the 18th century. But Ffestiniog parish itself goes back a few centuries. Many ancient remains can be seen dotted around the area, with sites dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages, and there is also evidence of the Roman period in the neighbourhood.

Towards Cwm Cynfal, some of the place-names remind us of the magical stories recorded in the world-famous folk tales, Y Mabinogi, where some of the tales are located. By following some of the local footpaths, we can reach a number of well-known valleys, Cwmorthin, Cwm Bowydd, Cwm Cynfal, Cwm Teigl, each with its’ own particular historical features, and superb views.

Sarn Helen is a noted Roman road, which covers a few miles in the vicinity, and reminds us of the arrival of the Roman legions to nearby Tomen-y-mur, a Roman camp, around the 2nd or 3rd centuries A.D.

Evidence can be seen all around the town of mans’ pursuit for a livelihood from the slate rock, and the slate waste is a reminder of a thriving industry in the area. According to tradition, it was in the 1760s that one Methusala Jones, from Arfon, dreamt of a location where the rock slabs split perfectly, and ventured to start a small business at a place that later became known as Diffwys Quarry, here in this town. Diffwys was soon followed by many other slate quarries. One of those quarries, the Oakeley, grew into what became the largest underground slate workings in the world, which has, unbelievably, around 50 miles of railway track in its’ various underground levels in the bowels of the surrounding mountains.

Hence the beginning of a thriving industry which developed into what became one of the largest slate centres in the world. Out of a secluded part

of Ffestiniog parish mushroomed a community that became the highest populated in all of Meirionnydd county, and the second largest in the whole of north Wales by 1901.

At one time, over 4,000 men worked in the local slate quarries, which contibuted greatly to the local economy. To provide transportation for the slate products, and for the convenience of the increasing population, three railway branches were built from different directions to reach Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The L.N.W.R. (later L.M.S.), the G.W.R., and the Ffestiniog Railway, which was constructed in 1836. Dôl Wen hydro power station was built to provide electricity for the local quarries in 1899, and in May 1902, Blaenau Ffestiniog became the first town in Britain to have its’ streets lit with electricity provided by the power of water, which is in abundance in the area.

Later, in 1963, Ffestiniog Power Station was opened at Tanygrisiau, being the first pumped storage power station in Britain, and the largest in Europe at the time.

During the second world war, a different use was made of some of the caverns in one slate quarry in the locality and these operations were carried out in total secrecy. Due to the dangers of enemy bombing over London, it was decided to transfer all of the art treasures at the National Gallery, and from Buckingham Palace and other places to Manod Quarry quarry in 1941. Amongst the painting stored there over that period were works by Rubens, Rembrandt and Michelangelo. There were rumors at the time that the Crown Jewels were also stored there.

But that’s another story!

History exhibition open daily 10am-4pm at Abermawddach House

05

Gweithgareddau Awyr Agored

Mae’r dref yn galon i Barc Cenedlaethol Eryri ac mae’r ardal yn cynnig bob math o weithgareddau.

Cerdded

Gallwch ddewis cerdded yn yr ucheldiroedd neu ar yr iseldiroedd yn Ffestiniog. O’r Moelwyn Bach yn y de hyd copa uchel Moel Siabod mae gennych dros 90 cilomedr o gefn gwlad gwyllt i’w ddarganfod. Yn y lleoedd mwyaf gwyllt mae defnyddio map a chwmpawd yn hanfodol. Tua’r de o’r Blaenau yn uchel uwchben mae’r ddau Fanod. Er fod copa gogleddol y Manod Mawr yn cael ei chwarelydda yn ddwys, mae’r copa deheuol heb ei gyffwrdd fwy neu lai ac mae’n wyllt. Mae ei frawd llai, sef y Manod Bach yn wyllt a does does yr un llwybr arno i’w ddofi. Yn nythu rhwng y copaon fe ddowch o hyd i lyn prydferth y Manod, sy’n lle gwirioneddol wych i chi gael picnic.

I’r rhai ohonoch sydd ddim yn tueddu i wirioni ar gopaon uchel neu leoedd gwyllt, cadwch lygad am y lleoedd i fynd am dro yn y pentref ac yn y coedlannau (gweler tudalennau 10-17) fel Cwm Bowydd a bydd harddwch rhaeadrau Cwm Cynfal yn cipio eich anadl. Neu beth am gerdded trwy goedlan Maentwrog lle mae hen goed derw yn teyrnasu a gallwch glywed a gweld cnocell y coed.

Heb anghofio fod ystlumod yn cyniwair yma hefyd.

Dringo

06

Ar glogwynni’r Moelwyn sy’n wynebu tua’r de cewch fwynhau rhai o’r dringfeydd gorau ym Mhrydain. Am eu bod yn wynebu’r de maen nhw’n sychu’n sydyn a gan fod y creigiau yn fras hyd yn oed pan fo hi’n llaith maen nhw’n ddelfrydol ar gyfer dringo. Mae yma amrywiaeth o ddringfeydd hawdd hyd y rhai eithafol, mae ystod o ddewis graddfeydd dringo ar gael yn y fan hon ac mae’r rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn aml-ddisgyblaethol.

Fforio Ogofau

Arferai Blaenau Ffestiniog fod yn un o’r chwe phrif ardal cynhyrchu llechi yng Ngogledd Cymru, a llechi sydd wedi gwneud y dref hon yn enwog.

Roedd llechi Blaenau, sy’n adnabyddus am eu cryfder a’u gwydnwch, yn cael eu hallforio ar draws y byd i gyd.

Mae’r diwydiant pwysig hwn wedi gadael olion parhaol yn y dirwedd, uwch y ddaear yn y tomenni, y tramffyrdd a’r melinau adfeiliedig; a hefyd o dan ddaear ar ffurf y milltiroedd o dwneli troellog ac hefyd y siambrau sydd cymaint â chadeirlannau a gafodd eu naddu â llaw yn y mynyddoedd o amgylch y dref.

Parheir i weithio llechi mewn dwy chwarel, fodd bynnag mae’r pyllau tanddaearol mawr, sef Cwmorthin, Croesor, Rhosydd, Wrysgan a nifer o rai eraill, yn segur ers tro byd. Mae ceudyllau Llechwedd yn galluogi ymwelwyr â’r ardal i gael gip olwg ar fywydau’r hen chwarelwyr Cymreig; ac ar gyfer cerddwyr neu haneswyr diwydiant, mae nifer fawr o lwybrau yn yr ardal sy’n eich galluogi i werthfawrogi’r olion a’r golygfeydd.

Gall fforio o dan ddaear fod yn beryglus, a dim ond y rhai ohonoch sydd â’r cyfarpar a’r profiad addas a ddylai fentro gwneud hyn. Gall eich clwb fforio lleol fod yn gyswllt cyntaf gwerthfawr dros ben.

Set in the heartland of the Snowdonia National Park the area offers every kind of outdoor activity.

Walking

From high level to low level, Ffestiniog offers all kinds of walking. From Moelwyn Bach in the south to the high peak of Moel Siabod you have over 90 square kilometers of wild country to explore.

In the wilder areas the use of a map and compass is essential. To the south of Blaenau and towering above it are the Manods. Although the north peak of Manod Mawr is heavily quarried, the south peak is relatively untouched and wild. Its smaller brother - Manod Bach is wild and untouched by paths. Nestling between the peaks is the beautiful Llyn Manod, ideal for a picnic.

For those not into high tops or wilderness areas, look for the village and woodland walks (see pages 10-17) e.g Cwm Bowydd, and Cynfal on the edge of Llan Ffestiniog is breathtaking for its waterfalls. Or walk through the Maentwrog woods where old ancient oaks dominate and woodpeckers can be heard and seen. It’s also the haunt of bats.

Caving

Outdoor Activities

Blaenau Ffestiniog was one of the six major slate production areas of North Wales, and it was slate that made Blaenau famous. Blaenau slate was exported the world over and is renowned for its strength and durability.

This great industry has left a permanent mark on the landscape, above ground in the tips, tramways and ruined mills; but also below ground in the miles of winding tunnels and cathedral sized chambers that were carved by hand in the mountains around the town.

Slate extraction continues at two working quarries, however the large underground mines, Cwmorthin, Croesor, Rhosydd, Wrysgan and many others are long abandoned. A show mine, Llechwedd Slate Caverns, allows visitors to glimpse the working lives of the Welsh quarrymen; and for the walker or industrial historian there are many routes in the area that allow the remains, and the scenery, to be appreciated.

Underground exploration is potentially dangerous and should only be attempted by the suitably equipped and experienced. Your local caving club would be a good first point of contact.

Climbing

The south facing cliffs of the Moelwyn provide some of the best rock climbing in Britain. As they are south facing they dry quickly and as the rock is rough, even when damp it makes good climbing. From easier routes to the extremes all grades are on offer, most are multi-pitch.

07

Gweithgareddau Awyr Agored Canwio

^ Caiacio a chanwio yn lleol – Nefoedd ar y ddaear i Badlwyr

Dychmygwch deithio o amgylch y byd a dod adref gyda mynydd o’r Alpau, cornant serth o Orllewin Virginia, afon o Seland Newydd, rhaeadr o Norwy, aber o Ddyfnaint, arfordir creigiog o Orllewin Iwerddon a thon llanw o Sir Benfro.

Ychwanegwch lyn o Awstria a dyffryn o’r Rhein.

Ac yn olaf, argae sy’n faes chwarae a reolir o Golorado. Nawr dychmygwch hyn oll o fewn 5 i 45 munud i ffwrdd mewn car. Agorwch eich llygaid, rydych ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog!

John Jones – Clwb Padlo Blaenau www.padloblaenau.co.uk

Pysgota

Dyma un o’r ardaloedd mwyaf nodedig am lynnoedd lle gallwch ddal y brithyll brown a hynny’n cynnwys llynnoedd y Moelwynion, Cwmorthin, Corsiog, Conglog a Llyn yr Adar, yn ogystal â llynnoedd Ffestiniog, Gamallt, a Llyn Morwynion i enwi dim ond rhai, ynghyd ag afonydd y Teigl, Cynfal a’r Ddwyryd.

Os ydych am bysgota am y brithyll seithliw a’r brithyll brown yna ewch i Danygrisiau. Mae’n hawdd cael mynediad at y llyn ac fe ganiateir y rhan fwyaf o wahanol fathau o bysgota yma, ac mae’n addas ar gyfer pawb o bob gallu.

Cymdeithas Enweiriawl Cambrian Sefydlwyd 1885

08

Yn ddiamau, mae Blaenau Ffestiniog, yng nghanol golygfeydd ysblennydd Eryri, yn ganolfan ardderchog ar gyfer unrhyw bysgotwr sy’n mwynhau dal brithyll brown gwyllt mewn amgylchoedd prydferth. Yma mae pencadlys Cymdeithas Enweiriawl Cambrian, lle ceir cyfle i bysgota yn y llynnoedd rhagorol a leolir ymysg y bryniau o amgylch.

Canieteir unrhyw ddull cyfreithlon gyda un genwair ar y tro, yn cynnwys pysgota mewn ‘Float Tube’ (pluen yn unig), ond gan fod y dyfroedd yma yn naturiol ac weithiau yn anghysbell, y pysgotwr fyddai’n gyfrifol am benderfynnu os yw’n saff i lansio neu beidio.

Lleolir llynnoedd y Gymdeithas, ar y cyfan, i’r Gorllewin (yng nghadwyn mynyddoedd y Moelwyn) ac i’r Dwyrain, tua chyfeiriad y Migneint, o’r A470 sy’n mynd drwy’r dref. Y mae map o’r ardal, a llynnoedd y Gymdeithas i’w gweld ar dudalen “Dyfroedd” ein gwefan.

Cyswllt e –bost. cambrian1885@googlemail.com Dyma restr o rai o lynnoedd yr ardal

^ y Moelwyn Grwp

^ y Migneint Grwp

Llyn yr Adar GR SH 655480. 1,874’ 10 Erw. Tua dwy awr o gerdded o Danygrisiau.

Llynnoedd Barlwyd SH 710485. 1,450’ 10 8 Erw. & 5 8 Erw.30 munud o gerdded o Fwlch Gorddinan.

Llyn Cwmorthin GR SH 674465. 1070’. 22 Erw. ½ awr o gerdded o Danygrisiau.

Llynnoedd Dubach GR SH 719460. 1,350’. 7 8 Erw. ½ awr o gerdded o’r dref.

Llyn Cwm Corsiog GR SH 664470. 1,720’ 7 Erw. Tua 1½ awr o gerdded o Danygrisiau.

Llyn Manod SH717449. 1,400’ 16 Erw, ½ awr o gerdded o Flaenau Ffestiniog.

Llyn Llagi SH648483. 1,238’. 8 Erw. Tua 2½ awr o gerdded o Danygrisiau.

Llyn Dŵr Oer SH717454. 1,250’ llai nag un Erw,½ awr o gerdded o Flaenau Ffestiniog.

Fe ellir prynu tocynnau dyddiol, wythnosol neu dymor o siopau celfi pysgota yn yr ardal, ar yr amod fod y pysgotwr yn ddeilydd trwydded bysgota Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd dilys. www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Gwylio Adar

Cewch gyfoeth o adar yn yr ardal hon ac ar y copaon uwch mae yna gigfrain, hebogiaid, bwncathod a’r brain coesgoch anhygoel, sy’n adar prin yn y rhan fwyaf o ardaloedd ym Mhrydain. Yn y dyffrynnoedd coediog mae cnocell y coed, telor y cnau, y llinos a’r titw a bydd gennych wastad y cyfle i weld gweilch y pysgod yn pysgota yn aberoedd yr afonydd a’r llynnoedd.

Canoeing

Kayaking and canoeing locally - A Paddlers Dream Imagine touring the world and bringing back a mountain from the Alps, a steep creek from West Virginia, a river from New Zealand, a waterfall from Norway, an Estuary from Devon, a rocky coastline from the West of Ireland and a tidal wave from Pembrokeshire. Add a lake from Austria and a valley from the Rhine. Finally a dam controlled playground from Colorado. Now imagine all of this within 5 to 45 minutes drive away. Open your eyes you’re in Blaenau Ffestiniog!

John Jones – Clwb Padlo Blaenau www.padloblaenau.co.uk

Fishing

One of the most prolific areas for lakes containing brown trout from the lakes of the Moelwynion, Cwmorthin, Corsiog, Conglog and Llyn Adar, to the lakes of Ffestiniog, Gammallt, Morwynion to name just a few with the rivers Teigl, Cynfal and Dwyryd.

For rainbows and brown trout try Tanygrisiau with easy access and most methods of fishing allowed, for all abilities.

Cambrian Angling Association Est 1885

The Cambrian Angling Association offers excellent lake fishing in wild surroundings. Blaenau Ffestiniog, in the centre of the spectacular scenery of the Snowdonia National Park, is undoubtedly a good centre for any angler, who enjoys catching Wild Brown Trout in beautiful surroundings. Any legal method with a single rod and reel is allowed including Float Tube Fishing, (fly only) but as these lakes are natural and sometimes remote, the decision as to whether it is safe to enter the water, is entirely yours.

Outdoor Activities

The lakes are mainly located to the west, (in the Moelwyn mountain range) and to the East, (in the Migneint range), of the A470 trunk road that runs through the town.

Contact e –mail. cambrian1885@googlemail.com Here is a list of some of the areas lakes

Moelwyn mountain range

Migneint range

Llyn yr Adar Llynnoedd Barlwyd GR SH 655480. 1,874’ 10 Acres. GR SH 710485. Height 1,450’ About two hours walk from 10 acres & 5 acres 30 minutes Tanygrisiau. walk from the Crimea Pass.

Llyn Cwmorthin GR SH 674465. 1070’. 22 Acres.

About ½ hours walk from Tanygrisiau.

Llynnoedd Dubach GR SH 719460. Height 1,350’.

7 acres, 30 minutes walk from Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Llyn Cwm Corsiog GR SH 664470. 1,720’ 7 Acres.

About 1½ hours walk from Tanygrisiau.

Llyn Manod GR SH717449. Height 1,400’ 16 acres, 30 minutes walk from Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Llyn Llagi GR SH648483. 1,238’. 8 Acres.

About 2½ hours walk from Tanygrisiau.

Llyn Dŵr Oer SH717454. 1,250’ less than I acre.30 minutes walk from Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Day, Week and Season Tickets are available (subject to the angler being in possession of a valid Environment Agency rod licence. ww.environment-agency.gov.uk

Bird Watching

An area rich in birdlife. The higher peaks have ravens, peregrins, buzzards, and the remarkable choughs rare in most parts of Britain. In the wooded valleys, woodpeckers, nuthatchers, finch and tits, and always the opportunity to see ospreys fish the estuaries and lakes.

09

Taith Henesyddol gan Catrin Roberts

Pellter 2 filltir | Amser 2 awr | Gweler tudalennau 16-17 am gyfeirnod cerdded 1-10 Teithiau Cerdded Nordig - ffoniwch 01766 830 568 / 07900 615 380 1

Bydd 2ein taith yn cychwyn wrth i ni gerdded drosodd o orsaf drên Blaenau i Bistyll y Dre’.

3 Gadewch i ni fentro i fyny i’r dde o’r sgwâr 4 heibio’r rhes gyntaf o dai’r chwarelwyr, lle 5 6 bo’r bungalows nawr bu tai bychain, ac ym mhen 7pellaf y rhes, fe welwch dy^ uncorn, sy’n 8 nodweddiadol o dai Newborough ar dir Glynllifon … yr 9unig un ar ôl, a oedd yn gartref i bedwar teulu 10o dan yr un to!

1 2

Cerddwn ymlaen i ben y ffordd,3 a chyn troi’n ôl i lawr i’r dde, edrychwch i fyny i’ch chwith ar ffordd 4 y chwarel, yr inclein y tu ôl i chi 5a chadwch eich ^ clustiau’n effro i swn esgidiau hoelion 6 yn troedio adref ar ddiwedd shifft y gweithwyr yn 7 yr oes a fu. Wrth gerdded i lawr8 i’r stryd, sylwch 1 9 deulawr. Wrth ar enghreifftiau eraill o’u tai, rhai 2 10 gyrraedd y stryd fawr unwaith yn rhagor, ar y 3 groeslon Heol Foty,4 trowch i’ch chwith, a chymryd y troad cyntaf wedyn eto i’r chwith a dilyn y lôn 5 ^ sy’n gymharol serth6 i fyny heibio i dy cyn rheolwr chwarel y Llechwedd a dilynwch y ffordd sydd 7 wedyn yn arwain rhwng rhesi o dai i lawr i’r dde.

8 9 Dilynwch y ffordd hon ar draws yr hen inclein 10 o dai, lle bo’r ffordd yn serth, heibio’r ail res troi’n llwybr cerdded, ac fe gewch olygfa gwerth chweil. O’r fan hon, mae’n bosibl gweld y fro yn ei holl ogoniant, fe welwch yr Ysbyty Goffa ar eich llaw chwith uwch y cwm.

Gweler hefyd Reilffordd Ffestiniog ar y dde, a’r Great Western yn rhedeg yr holl ffordd i’r Bala.

1

Wrth i’r llwybr droi’n ôl yn ffordd,2 byddwn 3 yn mynd i fyny’r allt ac yn ymuno â hen lôn y 4 chwarel, ac wrth droi i’r dde arno, fe welwn 5 ddibyn y chwarel yn gadarn uwch6 ein pennau.

1 Pan edrychwn i’r chwith yn y fan hon, fe welwn 7 2 hafotai ffermwyr y gorffennol, ac mae gan un 8 3 ohonynt enghraifft dda o wagen ag olwynion twll 9 4 a phin. Dilynwn y ffordd i lawr heibio i felin llechi 10 hynaf y dref, sef Melin Pant-yr-Ynn.5 6

10

7 8 9

Disgynnwn i lawr heibio’r felin, a chymrwn y llwybr sy’n arwain i lawr drwy’r caeau ar ein dde (cyn y rhes o dai) ac yn ymuno â lôn gefn. Wrth i ni droi i’r dde 1yn y fan hon, byddwn yn cerdded 2 heibio cyn gartref y nofelydd John 3 Cowper Powys , ac yna’n disgyn i lawr i’r brif ffordd. 4Cymrwch y troad i’r dde yma, ac 1 5 yna’r cyntaf i’ch chwith, a pharhewch i lawr heibio2 6 i Westy y Don, ger y blwch ffôn, ac i lawr i Gwm 3 7 Bowydd, gan gerdded o dan bont y rheilffordd. 4 8 Cerddwn i lawr heibio i Fferm Gelli, a dilynwn y 5 9 6 lon i’r pen pellaf, cyn troi i’r chwith i lawr i’r cwm, 1 1 10 7 2 gan ddilyn y lôn i’r dde lle mae llwybr cyhoeddus 2 8 3 wedi ei farcio sy’n rhedeg y tu ôl i gefn Fferm3 1 9 4 Cwm Bowydd,4 sydd gyda llaw, yn cynnwys olion 2 10 5 5 annedd o’r oes haearn ar eu tir. Dilynwn y llwybr 3 4 yn syth dros y 6bryn, a thros yr afon , 6a 7 7 5 chymrwch y llwybr i fyny i’r dde, (sy’n gymharol 8 8 serth) i fyny yn9 ôl i gyfeiriad Blaenau.6 Cerddwn 9 7 yn ein blaenau, heibio Sgwâr y Parc lle bu’r 10 10 8 bobl broffesiynol yn byw â 2/3 llawr a seler!!!

9 Cerddwn yn ein blaenau a thros y bont, cyn dod 10 at Neuadd y Farchnad. O’r cylchdro yma i’r dde, cerddwn yn ôl i ganol y dref at yr orsaf, heibio i Temperance House gyferbyn â Siop y Gloddfa, sy’n enghraifft dda o rai o’r siopau mawr a fu ym Mlaenau. Wrth gerdded yn ôl i lawr yr allt nawr at Sgwâr Diffwys, byddwn yn mynd heibio i un o ysgolion gynharaf y dref ar ein llaw dde, saif hwn gyferbyn â banc presennol yr HSBC. A dyma ni’n cyrraedd ein man cychwyn unwaith eto – mae llawer iawn mwy i ddweud, ond taith arall fydd honno!

Gobeithio eich bod chi wedi ^ mwynhau - rwan ta … beth am baned bach o de!

Historical Walk

by Catrin Roberts

Distance 2 miles | Time 2 hours | See pages 16-17 for walking reference 1-10 For Nordic Walking Sessions Call 01766 830 568 / 07900 615 380 1

As2 we set off on our walk over from Blaenau train station to the town fountain, let us venture up to 3 the 4 right of the square, past the first terrace of quarrymen’s houses - where bungalows now stand 5 6 there were once small houses, and at the far end of 7 terrace you will see a house with one chimney, the 8 typical of Newborough houses on Glynllifon land …9 the only one left, which held four families under 10 one roof!

1 2

Let us proceed to the end of the road,3 and before we turn right, look up to your left along the quarry 4 road, the incline behind you, and try 5and imagine the sound of hobnail boots trudging 6 home at the end of the workers’ shift in a former 7 age. As you walk down to the High Street, note 8 1 other examples of houses of that time,9 which have 2 two storeys. As you return to the High10 Street, at 3 the Lord St crossroads,4 turn left, taking the first turning again to the left.

Following the relatively 5 steep road up past the6 former Llechwedd quarry manager’s house and 7follow the road which then leads in between terraces of houses down to your 8 right.Follow this road across the old steep incline, 9 10 of houses where the roads past the second terrace turns into a footpath, and you will be rewarded with a magnificent view. From here, you can see the area in all its glory, with the Memorial Hospital to your left above the valley, the Ffestiniog Railway on the right, and the Great Western Railway running all the way to Bala.

1 2 As the path heads back towards the road, we will 3 go up the hill and join the former quarry road, 4 and as we turn right 5onto it we will see the quarry precipice standing firmly above our heads. If you 6 1 look to the left you will see the summer residences 7 2 of farmers of the past, 8 one of which has an 3 excellent example of 9a wagon with hole and pin 4 10 wheels. We will proceed down the road past the 5 oldest slate mill in the town, Melin Pant-yr-Ynn. 6

We will now proceed down past the mill and

7 8 9

follow the path which goes down through the fields on our left hand side (before the terrace 1 of houses) and joins a back road. As we turn to the right here, we 2will walk past the home of the 3 novelist John Cowper Powys, 4 and go down to the main road.Take the turning 5 to your right here, 6and then the first left,1 going 2 down past The Don hotel, near the phone box, 7 3 and down to Cwm8 Bowydd, walking under the 4 railway bridge. We 9 will walk down past Fferm Gelli, and follow the road to the far end5 and turn1 10 6 left down to the valley. Here, follow the road to 2 7 3 the right 1 where there is a marked public footpath 8 4 which runs behind Fferm Cwm Bowydd,9 which, by 2 5 3 has the remains of an iron age dwelling the way, 1 10 4 on its land. We will follow2 the straight path over 6 7 the hill,5 and over the3 river, and will take 8 6 4 the path up to the right, (relatively steep) back up9 7 to Blaenau. As we arrive 5at the far end of the path 10 8 and walk straight ahead,6we will walk past Park 9 7 Square10where professionals used to live with 2/3 storeys and a cellar!!! We8 will proceed onwards 9 and over the bridge until we arrive at the Market 10 Hall. From the roundabout take a right and we will walk back to the town centre to the station, past Temperance House opposite Siop y Gloddfa, which is a fine example of one of the large shops which were once familiar in Blaenau. A little further to your left, we will pass the Isallt café, built for the famous Dr. Robert Roberts during the 1870s. He was quite a man, a physician, a poet, a musician and a fisherman. He worked under the pseudonym Isallt and was particularly interested in the ‘cynghanedd’ measure.As we walk back down the hill to Diffwys Square, we will pass one of the town’s oldest schools on our right hand side, which stands opposite the current HSBC bank.

And here we are back where we started, there is plenty more to tell you, but I will keep that under wraps for another journey!

I hope you enjoyed our walk … now how about a nice cup of tea!

11

Taith Panorama’r Moelwyn gan Bob Cole

Dwy filltir a hanner, rhyw awr neu ddwy ar y mwyaf. Rhai elltydd (wrth gwrs!!)

Gweler tudalennau 16-17 am cyfeirnod cerdded 1-10 1

Mae’r 2daith hon yn dechrau ar droed trwy’r dref ei 3hun ac mae llwybr y daith hon yn mynd â chi at4 droed cadwyn o fynyddoedd trawiadol y Moelwyn gyda 5 golygfeydd o Argae Stwlan. Fe all fod yn wlyb o 6 7 dan droed.

8

9 draws y maes parcio ac ewch heibio Ewch ar 10 Gwesty’r Frenhines cerddwch ar hyd y ffordd heibio’r Swyddfa Bost a’r siopau a chymryd 1 yr ail droad ar y dde, sef Heol Glynllifon, wrth 2 1 dafarn y Meirion. Parhewch i fynd yn eich blaen, 3 2 a chymryd y ffordd i’r dde wrth yr Ysbyty Goffa, 4 3 heibio’r Ganolfan5 Iechyd 4a’r maes parcio, er mwyn croesi a chymryd y5 llwybr rhwng y ty^ olaf 6 a’r ysgol.

7 6 8

7

Yng nghefn y tai, 9ewch oddi ar y llwybr i’r chwith 8 9 am ennyd i weld 10cofeb i feddyg lleol a’i fab, fe 10 welwch fod pennill gan Hedd Wyn wedi cael ei 1 sgrafellu ar y gofeb, bardd lleol oedd Hedd Wyn 2 a gafodd ei ladd yn y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf. Mae’r olygfan hon yn rhoi cyfle i chi edrych yn eich3 4 blaen tuag at y llwybr-ffordd i lawr y dyffryn.

5 6

Ewch yn ôl ar y llwybr, cerddwch i lawr y grisiau 7 llydan pren yna drwy gae yn llawn8

meini wedi’u gorchuddio â mwsogl, cofiwch gadw rhyw fymryn i’r 1

9 10

2 chwith oddi wrth y ffens, a chadw’r ffens ar eich 3 chwith hyd nes y dewch at gamfa ar ffurf ysgol, 4 ewch drosti, troi i’r chwith a dilyn y trac at grid 5 gwartheg ar eich chwith, trowch i’r dde6 yn y fan hon a chroesi camfa fel eich bod yn awr ar drac 7 gwastraff llechi llydan.

8 9

12

Parhewch i gerdded yn syth ymlaen ar 10hyd trac gwastad bras (gan gadw i’r dde) ac mae’r trac yn dechrau codi yn raddol trwy goedlan wasgarog,

byddwch yn croesi nifer o nentydd bach, peidiwch â chrwydro oddi wrth y prif lwybr. Ar ôl oddeutu 10-15 munud byddwch yn cyrraedd wal feini sydd wedi torri, cymerwch ennyd yn y fan hon i edrych yn ôl tua chyfeiriad y dref sy’n gorwedd rhwng clogwyni lle mae’r hebog yn dal i nythu, efallai y gwnewch chi glywed mewian y bwncathod hefyd, a cofiwch fwynhau’r olygfa o Fynyddoedd y Moelwyn.

Moelwyn Bach sydd ar y chwith, a’i gopa’n eithaf gwastad, yn y canol mae’r Moelwyn Mawr sy’n 770 medr o uchder ac yna Moel yr Hydd - ac mae hi’n drawsdaith glasurol fendigedig i’r rhai sydd â’r amser a’r sgiliau darllen map.

Dilynwch y rhes o feini ar y dde, hyd nes y byddwch yn dechrau mynd ar i lawr yn y diwedd, ewch drwy’r giât (neu dros y gamfa), mae digonedd o grefftwaith seiri meini i chi ryfeddu arno yn y fan hon. Wrth fynd o gwmpas y tro, cadwch i’r chwith wrth i chi fynd dros nant fach, gan gadw’r adfail ar eich ochr dde, a pharhewch i lawr drwy goed bedw a chyll a chofiwch wrando am glegar Sgrech y Coed. Croeswch gamfa ac yn y pellter fe welwch Argae Stwlan, yn swatio rhwng y Moelwyn 1 Bach a’r Moelwyn Mawr. 2 Mae’r argae yn rhan o 3 ^ gynllun bwmpstorio Gorsaf Bwer Ffestiniog.

1

4

^ yna trowch i’r 2 Parhewch i lawr y trac gerllaw’r ty, 6 3 chwith i ymuno â’r A496.7 Trowch i’r dde yn y fan 4 hon, cerdded ar hyd ymyl8 y ffordd am 300 metr 5 heibio dau fwthyn, a sylwch ar y rhaeadr 9 odidog 6ar eich chwith, ac10fe ddewch at drac 7 concrid wedi’i farcio gyda 2 arwydd llwybr troed.

8 Yn y fan9 hon gallwch gychwyn y daith yn ôl neu ^ ddewis 10parhau ar eich taith at Gronfa Ddwr Tanygrisiau lle mae yna gaffi a phwerdy.

5

Moelwyn Panorama

by Bob Cole Walk

Two and a half miles, one to two hours.

Some hills (of course!!) See pages 16-17 for walking reference 1-10 1

Starting2 with a short walk through the town, this route can take you to the very foot of the dramatic 3 Moelwyn Mountain range with 4 views of5 the Stwlan Dam. It can be wet under foot.

the town nestling beneath the cliffs where peregrine still nest. Also listen for

the mewing of buzzards, then look across to the Moelwyn Mountain range. Moelwyn Bach is on the left with its flattish top, in the middle, Moelwyn Mawr rises to 770 metres and finally Moel yr Hydd – all a wonderfully classic traverse for those with the time and map reading skills.

6 7 Cross the car park and by the Queens Hotel turn 8 right along the road past the post office and shops 1 to take 9the second on the right, Heol Glynllifon, 2 by the 10Meirion Vaults pub. Continue, bearing 3 1 right at the Cottage 4 2 Hospital, past the 5 3 Health Centre4and 6 a car park, to5 7 cross and take6 the 8 footpath between the 9 7 10 last house and8 the 9 school.

Follow the line of boulders on your right, eventually you start to descend, pass through the gate (or over the stile), look at profusion of the stonewallers’ craft. Rounding a bend, veer left over a small stream, keeping a ruin on the right and continue down through birch and hazel woods listening out for the raucous cackle of the jays. Cross a stile and in the distance stands the Stwlan Dam, nestling 1 between Moelwyn Bach and Mawr. This is part 2 of the Ffestiniog Power Station pumped storage 3 1 scheme.

2

At the back of the houses, take a detour left to visit a monument to a local doctor and his son, 1 2 engraved with a poem by Hedd Wyn, a local bard 3 killed in the First World War. This viewpoint is also an opportunity to look ahead at our valley route.4 5 6

Return to the path, walk down the widely spaced7 wooden steps and through a moss- 8 1 covered boulder field bearing 9 2 slightly left to a fence. Keep this on your left until 10 3 you arrive at a ladder stile, over this, turn left and 4 follow the track to a cattle grid on your left. Here 5 turn6 right & cross the stile onto a wide slate waste track.

7

4

Continue down to a track by a house, then turn 6 4 left to join the A496.

Turning right here, walk 7 5 along the verge for 300 metres past two cottages, 8 6 noticing the waterfall on the left, to meet up 9 7 with a concrete8 track10 marked with 2 footpath signs.

3

10

5

9

Here you can start the return leg or opt to continue 10 to Tanygrisiau Reservoir with its café and power station.

8

Carry straight on along a rough flat track 9 (keeping right) which starts to rise steadily 10 through sparce woodland, crossing several small streams, do not deviate from the main path. After approximately 10-15 minutes you reach a broken wall of boulders, linger a little and look back to

13

Taith Panorama’r Moelwyn gan Bob Cole ^ Tanygrisiau Y ffordd i Gronfa Ddwr

Ewch drwy’r giât mochyn a dilyn y llwybr gweiriog ar i fyny hyd nes y bydd yn gwastad-hau a byddwch yn gallu gweld pentref Tanygrisiau yn y pellter.

dilynwch yr arwydd am y llwybr troed i fyny 6 gris ac ar hyd y ffens, i ddechrau mae’r llwybr yn gul ond yn fuan mae’n drac da i’w gerdded. Parhewch ar hyd y llwybr hwn, gyda golygfeydd o’r Blaenau o’ch blaen a’r Manod Bach ar y dde, sylwch ar chwareli llechi Maenofferen a Diffwys, sydd wedi cael eu 1 2 gweithio ers canol yr 1700au.

3 4 Parhewch trwy’r giât gul (gan anwybyddu’r un 5 fwy ar y dde) ac1 ewch heibio’r coed derw crablyd a’r caeau gwyrdd heibio 6i’r fferm sydd wedi cael 2 3 ei enwi ar ôl dyffryn Cwm7 Bowydd. Ewch yn eich 8 4 blaen i 1fyny’r llwybr serth ac fe gyrhaeddwch y 9 5 mochyn. ffordd trwy’r giât 2 10 3

(Mae Tanygrisiau yn golygu ‘o dan y grisiau’ oherwydd mae’r creigiau yn codi gwedd ar ôl gwedd uwchben y pentref), dydy’r llwybr ddim yn glir iawn yn y fan hon, anelwch am y bwthyn bach ar draws y ffordd ac fe ddewch at giât yn y ffens, croeswch y ffordd, ac anelu am y pentref.

Ar ôl oddeutu 400 metr fe welwch y dreif gyda ffens wen ar ei hyd sy’n arwain at y Pwerdy, y llyn a’r caffi. Er mwyn dod yn ôl, ewch yn ôl ar hyd y ffordd y daethoch ar hyd y dreif, ar draws yr A496, trwy’r giat ac i lawr y llwybr gweiriog at gyffordd y trac concrid a’r A496. Mae hi’n bosib i chi ddal y trên neu gael bws yn ôl (gofynnwch am amserlen).

Llwybr-ffordd i Flaenau Ffestiniog

14

Dilynwch y trac concrid heibio dau rid gwartheg at gompownd wedi’i ffensio, yn y fan hon

6

7 Parhewch ar eich ffordd at y siop Euro-Spar ar 4 8 5 y dde, croeswch Ffordd Wynne a cherddwch ar 9 6 hyd ymyl y Parc a thros y bont droed lle byddwch 10 7 yn dod allan wrth ymyl neuadd y farchnad gynt 8 ac Eglwys Dewi Sant (yn 1880 yr oedd yna 18 9 man addoli yn y dref). Yna byddwch ar Stryd yr 10 Eglwys, trowch i’r dde heibio blaen yr eglwys a 500 medr o’r fan honno, byddwch yn cyrraedd yr orsaf.

Moelwyn Panorama

by Bob Cole Walk Route to Tanygrisiau Reservoir Take the kissing gate and follow the grassy path uphill until it levels off and Tanygrisiau village comes into sight.

(Tanygrisiau means ‘under the stairs’ as the rocks rise above the village in stages), with the path indistinct, head for a small cottage across the road and coming to a gate in the fence, cross the road, and head towards the village. After approximately 400 metres you will see the white-fenced drive for the Power station leading to the lake and cafĂŠ. To return, retrace your steps along the drive, across the A496, through the gate and down the grassy path to the junction of the concrete track and the A496. Possible to get train or bus back (ask for timetable).

Route to Blaenau Ffestiniog Follow the concrete track past two cattle grids to a fenced compound, here follow the footpath

sign up 6 steps and along the fence, at first the path is narrow but it soon becomes a good walkable track.

Continuing on this path, with views of Blaenau ahead and Manod Bach to the right, notice the slate mines of Maenofferen and Diffwys, worked 1 since the mid2 1700s.

3 4 Continue through the narrow gate (ignoring the 1 5 larger one on the right) and along past stunted oak 2 6 trees and green fields and past the farm that 3takes 7 4 its name from the valley of Cwm Bowydd. Proceed 1 8 5 up the steep9 path and enter the road via a kissing 2 6 gate.

3 10 4

7

5 Continue to the Euro-Spar store on the right, cross 9 6 Wynne Road and walk along side the park and 10 7 over a foot bridge to exit in a square by the side of 8 the old market hall and St Davids Church (in 1880 9 there were 18 places of worship in the town).

10 Enter Church Street, turn right past the front of the church and 500 metres on, reach the station.

8

15

A496

G/N

yd

B

Oakeley Square

8

Rhiwbryfdir

A496

Glanypwll

arl w

Af on

9

10

8

>

Cwm Bowydd

9

10

A470

3

4

1

Maen-offeren

1

Canol Dref Town Centre

5

7

2

Trefeini

3

2

6

A470 5

Llan Ffestiniog

Bethania

4

Teithiau Cerdded Betws Y Coed Walking Route

>

ol

o Af

n

G

7

Harlech Porthmadog

A496

A496

6

Railway Station

Rheilffordd Gorsaf

Wooded area

• Some of the paths shown have steep or rocky sections. Conditions underfoot will change from season to season • Wear walking shoes and take waterproofs with you. Remember that weather conditions can change very quickly on the hills • The use of the relevant Ordnance Survey maps at 1:25000 scale is advised Ymwadiad / Disclaimer Mae cerddwyr yn gyfrifol am eu diogelwch eu hunain.

Walkers are responsible for their own safety.

• Bydd rhannau o’r llwybrau yn garegog ac yn llithrig o dan draed ar adegau o’r flwyddyn • Dylid gwisgo esgidiau cerdded addas a mynd â dillad glaw gyda chi. Gall y tywydd ar y bryniau newid yn sydyn iawn • Argymhellir i chi ddefnyddio y map Arolwg Ordnans perthnasol, graddfa 1:25000 wrth ddilyn y llwybrau

PARATOWCH / BE PREPARED

Llynnoedd ac afonydd

Congl-y-wal Lakes and rivers

Ardal goediog

Toilets

A Roads

Toiledau

Building

Adeliad

Moelwyn Panorama walk

1

Taith Panorama’r Moelwyn

Lonydd A

Historical walk

1

Taith hanesyddol

ALLWEDD / KEY

Manod

A470

Cadwch gefn gwlad yn daclus, parchwch y tir, ewch ag ysbwriel adref gyda chi a chadwch eich ci ar dennyn yn enwedig o gwmpas anifeiliaid fferm A470 Please leave the countryside tidy, respect the land, take litter home and keep dogs on a lead especially near livestock

d oe

>

Y Mabinogi gan Gwyn Thomas

Chwedlau Cymraeg o’r Oesoedd Canol ydi Pedair Cainc y Mabinogi. Fe’u sgrifennwyd nhw am y tro cyntaf mewn llawysgrifau pwysig ond, am ganrifoedd cyn hynny, roedden nhw wedi cael eu hadrodd yn llysoedd y Cymry. Y mae peth o ddefnydd y chwedlau hyn yn hen iawn - y mae cysgodion rhai o hen dduwiau’r Celtiaid ar rai o gymeriadau’r Mabinogi.

Ystyr y gair `Mabinogi’, i ddechrau, oedd `chwedl am lencyndod’; yna fe ddatblygodd i olygu `chwedl’. Ystyr y gair `cainc’ ydi `rhan’.

Y gainc sydd o bennaf diddordeb i ni, yn Ffestiniog, ydi’r Bedwaredd Gainc, a elwir yn `Math fab Mathonwy’. Brenin Gwynedd a dewin oedd Math, ac un o ddewiniaid nerthol ei lys ydi Gwydion. Ail ran y chwedl sy’n berthnasol i’n hardal ni.

Y mae chwaer Gwydion, sef Arianrhod, wedi rhoi genedigaeth i faban dan amgylchiadau sy’n codi cywilydd mawr arni. Cipia Gwydion y baban a’i fagu, a gofalu amdano fo.Wedi iddo dyfu’n llanc a dod i weld ei fam am y tro cyntaf, y mae hi’n ddig iawn fod Gwydion wedi cadw ei mab - i atgoffa pawb o’i chywilydd, meddai hi. Y mae hi’n rhoi tair `tynged’ ar y mab: `chaiff o ddim enw, nac arfau - dim ond ganddi hi, a chaiff o ddim gwraig o blith gwragedd y ddaear. Trwy ei hud y mae Gwydion yn cael enw i’r mab, Lleu Llaw Gyffes (`yr un pryd golau sy’n fedrus iawn ei law’), ac arfau. Y drydedd dasg yw cael gwraig iddo.

Y mae o a Math yn creu gwraig i Lleu o flodau’r maes, ac yn ei galw yn Blodeuwedd (`wyneb o flodau’). Ânt i fyw ym Mur Castell, lle y mae Tomen y Mur heddiw.

18

The Mabinogi

by Gwyn Thomas

The Mabinogi are Welsh tales. They were first written in important manuscripts, however centuries before then, they were recited in the Welsh courts. The material used in these tales or legends are very old – the shadows of some of the olden Celtic Gods are upon some characters in the Mabinogi.

Initially, the meaning of the word `Mabinogi’, was `a tale about adolescence; then it developed to mean `chwedl – i.e. fable, myth, legend, tale.’.

The meaning of the word `cainc’ is ‘strand’ or branch.’

The part that retains the most interest for us, here in Ffestiniog, is the Fourth Cainc, called `Math fab Mathonwy’. Math was the King of Gwynedd and also a wizard, and Gwydion is one of his powerful court wizards. It is the second part of the tale that is relevant to our area.

Gwydion’s sister, Arianrhod, has given birth to a baby under circumstances that are extremely humiliating for her personally. Gwydion steals the baby and he raises and cares for him. When the baby has grown into a young man and he sees his mother for the first time, she is very angry that Gwydion has kept her son – in her mind, he has done so in order to remind everyone of her humiliation. She casts three ‘fates’ on the son: `he will not have a name, nor armour, only from her, and he will not get a wife from amongst the women on earth. Using his own magic Gwydion gives the son a name, Lleu Llaw Gyffes (meaning The Fair Dextrous One), and he provides him with armour too. The third task is to get him a wife. He and Math create a wife for Lleu made from field flowers, and they call her Blodeuwedd (`face of flowers’). They lived at Mur Castell, where Tomen y Mur is today.

19

Y Mabinogi gan Gwyn Thomas

Un dydd, y mae’n rhaid i Lleu adael y llys. Yn ystod ei absenoldeb daw Gronw o Benllyn heibio, ac y mae o a Blodeuwedd yn syrthio mewn cariad, ac yn cynllwynio i ladd Lleu. Gan fod cysgod hen dduw haul (go-leu-ni) ar Lleu, dydi o ddim yn hawdd ei ladd, a rhaid i Flodeuwedd ei hudo i ddweud wrthi sut y gellir gwneud hynny – dull rhyfedd iawn, ar lan Afon Gynfael (ein afon Cynfal ni). Y mae Gronw’n cuddio wrth Fryn Cyfergyr (ein Bryn Cyfergyd ni), ac mae’n taro Lleu â gwaywffon. Ond dydi o ddim yn marw – y mae o’n troi’n eryr (aderyn duw’r haul), ac yn hedfan ymaith.

Y mae Gwydion yn chwilio’n hir amdano, cyn cael hyd iddo mewn coeden fawr yn Nantlleu (Dyffryn Nantlle). Y mae’n ei droi’n ôl yn ddyn – truenus iawn ei gyflwr. Wedi iddo ddod ato’i hun y mae’r ddau, efo byddin, yn mynd i ddial ar Flodeuwedd a Gronw. Y mae Blodeuwedd a’i morynion yn ffoi o’r llys am lys yn y mynydd, sef Bryn Castell. Gan fod ar y morynion gymaint o ofn, maen’ nhw’n dianc wysg eu cefnau, ac ^ llyn: a dyna sy’n esbonio enw y syrthio i ddwr Llyn y Morwynion. Yna y mae Gwydion yn troi Blodeuwedd yn dylluan.

Beth am Gronw? Y mae Lleu’n mynd ag o at Afon Gynfael, lle y ceisiodd Gronw ei ladd o. Y tro hwn, Lleu sy’n mynd i daflu gwaywffon, a Gronw sy’n mynd i sefyll lle y safai Lleu. Ymbilia Gronw am drugaredd, gan ddweud mai ar Flodeuwedd yr oedd y bai, a gofynna a gaiff o roi `llech’ (carreg fawr) rhyngddo fo ag ergyd Lleu. Cytuna hwnnw. Ond dydi’r llech o ddim cymorth: y mae gwaywffon Lleu’n mynd drwyddi hi a Gronw, ac yn ei ladd o. Y mae’r stori’n dweud fod y llech, â thwll ynddi, wrth afon yng Nghynfal o hyd.

Erbyn hyn, y mae’r `llech’ efo twll ynddi hi wrth ymyl Bryn Llech a Llech Ronw.

20

Cyfeirnod Grid A.O: 7155 4055

The Mabinogi

by Gwyn Thomas

One day, Lleu has to leave the court. In his absence, Gronw from Penllyn passes by, concurrently he and Blodeuwedd fall in love, and conspire to kill Lleu. Because there is a sun god’s shadow on Lleu, he is not easy to kill, and Blodeuwedd has to bewitch him into telling her how he can be killed – which turns out to be a very strange way indeed. On the banks of the Cynfael River (known to residents as the Cynfal river). Gronw hides by Bryn Cyfergyr (known to residents as Bryn Cyfergyd), and strikes Lleu with a spear. But he doesn’t die – he turns into an eagle (the sun god’s bird), and flies away.

Gwydion searches for him for a long time, before finding him in a large tree in Nantlleu (Dyffryn Nantlle). He turns him back into a man – in a forlorn condition. After Lleu recovers from the ordeal, both of them, army in tow, decide to avenge Blodeuwedd and Gronw. Blodeuwedd and her maidens flee from the court toward their mountain court, Bryn Castell. The maidens are in such fear for their lives, that they flee, backwards first, and as a result they fall into the lake : hence the name Llyn y Morwynion (Maidens’ Lake). Then Gwydion turns Blodeuwedd into an owl.

O.S Grid Ref: 7155 4055

What about Gronw? Lleu takes him to Cynfael river, where Gronw attempted to kill him. This time, Lleu is the one who throws the spear, and Gronw stands where Lleu previously stood. Gronw begs for mercy and says that it was Blodeuwedd’s fault, and he asks if he can hold a slab (‘llech’ in Welsh) between himself and Lleu’s striking blow.

He agrees. But the slab is useless : Lleu’s spear delivers a killer blow – it goes straight through the slab and Gronw too. According to the tale the slab, with the hole in it, still remains near Cynfal river.

Nowadays, the slab with the hole in it is nearby the places know as Bryn Llech and Llech Ronw.

21

Arweiniad Od ac Anhygoel

“Pawb yn deud bod hi’n bwrw glaw ym Mlaenau ….Ffestiniog, ond wir i chi mae hi’n braf o hyd ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog.”

Dyfyniad ydi hwn o gân gan un o fandiau reggae / ffync mwyaf poblogaidd y Dref yn y 90au.

Mae’r band yn chwarae ar y ffaith fod gan y Dref enw am fod yn un lle mae hi’n bwrw glaw o hyd (y 3ydd lle mwya’ glawog ym Mhrydain!), ond mae geiriau’r gân yn dweud yn gwbl glir, er ei bod hi’n bwrw, mae’r bobl, y ‘crac’ neu’r ‘buzz’ yn creu teimlad hwyliog hurt fel awyrgylch parti!! OND, fydd y teimlad hwn ddim yn amlwg nac ychwaith ‘yn eich wyneb’ yn barod i’ch croesawu hefo breichiau agored gyda chyfarchiad yn Saesneg…….. (sy’n rhywbeth gwahanol i’r rhan fwyaf o gyrchfannau twristaidd yn Eryri a Chymru’r dyddia’ ‘ma! …………..ohhhhhhhh nac ydi - dydi hi ddim mor hawdd â hynny…. mae’n rhaid i chi fynd i chwilio amdano, cymysgu hefo’r criw lleol, rhoi her i chi eich hun i’w cyfarch nhw yn eu hiaith eu hunain ac yn y blaen ac yn y blaen…......y gwir Gymru ydy’ Blaenau Ffestiniog……..tref heb ei datblygu ac yn lle go iawn, fan hyn yw’r lle sy’n bell o bob man y dylai pawb wneud yr ymdrech i ddod o hyd iddo!

Dyma i chi rai bwyntia’ pwysig neu arweiniad od ac anhygoel i’r hyn sy’n digwydd o dan yr wyneb yn Blaenau :

22

Yr Awyr agored anhygoel

Y Parc Sglefrio - Fawr o ddim byd - cwpl o beips chwarter a hanner peips, ond fe welwch chi ‘Graffiti Cymraeg’ sydd wirioneddol yn werth ei weld (mae Graffiti Cymraeg yn beth prin i’w weld os nad ydi o’n wleidyddol!), unwaith eto mae hwn yn rhoi Blaenau ar flaen y gad yn nhermau creadigrwydd diwylliannol yng Ngogledd Cymru.

Cicio Pêl - yn Ysgol Uwchradd Y Moelwyn, Ffordd ^ o ddod o hyd i griw ifanc Wynne, ‘da chi’n siwr yn cicio pêl……..gofynnwch gewch chi ymuno hefo nhw! Peidiwch â bod ofn gofyn “gai joinio mewn?”

Dan do

Digon teg ...... ella ei bod hi’n bwrw y rhan fwyaf o’r amser yma…….felly be ar wynab daear wnewch chi i ddengid rhag y glaw?!

Côr - Mwy na thebyg, dyma un o’r ffyrdd gora’ i dreulio gyda’r nos gwlyb yn ystod yr wythnos ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog. Mae’r côr yn ymarfer unwaith yr wythnos am 7.30yh yn yr ysgol uwchradd ac mae croeso i ymwelwyr ddod i wrando arnyn nhw, yn enwedig os wnewch chi eu ffonio nhw ymlaen llaw. Bydd y digwyddiad hwn yn cael ei gynnal trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn gyfan gwbl. www.corybrythoniaid.com

“Pawb yn deud bod hi’n bwrw glaw Ym Mlaenau ...Ffestiniog, ond wir i chi mae hi’n braf o hyd ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog” A quote form one of the Towns most popular reggae/ funk bands of the 90’s. It translates to “Everybody says it rains in Blaenau, but honestly it’s always sunny in Blaenau!!”. The band teases with their Home Towns reputation for being rainy (3rd most rainy place in Britain!), but also states that even though it rains, the people and the ‘craik’ or ‘buzz’ within this environment has a very humorous crazy party vibe! BUT, it isn’t there in your face & ready to welcome you with open arms with a greeting in the English Language... (Like many tourist traps in Snowdonia and Wales these days!) ....ohhhhhh no, you’ve got to go look for it, mix with the locals, challenge your self to greet them in their own language and so on....Blaenau Ffestiniog is the real Wales...undeveloped, it gives a true meaning to the term “off the beaten track”!

Here are some top-tips or if you like a kind of weird and wonderful guide to the underground scene of Blaenau:

Weird & Wonderful Guide

the great .... OUTDOORS

Skate Park - Not much a couple of quarter pipes & a half pipe, but some kick ass ‘Graffiti Cymraeg’ (Welsh Graffiti ..... really rare if its not political!), once again putting Blaenau a step in front in terms of cultural creativity in North Wales.

Kick about - @ The secondary school Moewlyn, Wynne Road your guaranteed to get a crowd of young unns kicking a football .... ask to join in “gai joinio mewn?”

In-doors

Ok ... so it’s raining almost all the time here .... so what in druids name do you do to get away from it!? Choir - Probably the most enjoyable way to spend a rainy weekday evening in Blaenau Ffestiniog. The choir rehearses once a week at 7.30pm in the secondary school and visitors are welcome to come and listen, especially if they ring first. Entirely in Welsh. www.corybrythoniaid.com

23

Arweiniad Od ac Anhygoel Tafarndai

“is this the in-place to be, what am I doing here....spending money on beer” dyfyniad o gân Nightclub, gan y Specials .....eeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrm wel na, ‘does gennym ni ddim un o’r rhain, ond beth am i chi alw i mewn i’r tair prif dafarn yn y Dref. Cewch barti wnewch chi byth ei anghofio……..cofiwch eich llyfr ymadroddion, rydych yn sicr o gael diod am ddim! : Y Meirion Canol y Dref, Y Wynnes - yn ardal Manod & Tap (Kings head) - ardal Glanypwll.

Tafarndai vs Crefydd!!

Mae’n werth cymharu’r nifer o dafarndai o’u cymharu â’r nifer o ganolfannau crefyddol.

Bwyd i sortio’r Pen Mawr ar ôl mwynhau’r noson gynt gymaint : Mae’r wawr wedi torri ar y diwrnod nesaf ac rydych yn dal i allu arogli’r Guinness o’r Meirion Vaults ar eich dillad ac mae gennych ryw frith gof o ryw hen foi hurt hefo barf wen……Siôn Corn…………naci wir… Popeye .... be?!! Felly be’ ydi’r ffordd ora’ i chi deimlo rhywbeth yn debyg i chi eich hun unwaith eto : Camwch i mewn i ‘Bistro’r Moelwyn’, ar y stryd fawr. Gall Jackie & Anwen eich rhoi ar ben ffordd hefo brecwast gwerth chweil a photelaid o lager ……….dyna ni! Popeth yn iawn unwaith eto! Hefyd, gallwch fynd am dro sydyn neu ddal y bws Clipa i lawr i’r Caffi Ger y Llyn, sydd hefyd yn gweini brecwast a chwrw gyda golygfeydd gwych o fynyddoedd y Moelwyn. Profiad sy’n werth ei brofi, OND sydd ddim ond yn addas ar gyfer cerddwyr sydd wedi hen arfer troedio (neu i’r rhai ohonoch sydd heb gar) ydi’r daith gerdded i fyny at Gaffi Pont yr Afon Gam ar ben y Migneint, - edrychwch ar y teithlyfrau cerdded am gyfarwyddiadau!

24

Cyrchfan ar y cyrion:

Canolfan greadigol ydi’r CeLL sy’n ganolbwynt ar gyfer gweithgareddau gwahanol sy’n digwydd o dan yr wyneb yn y dref. Hwn ydi’r lle lle mae’r criw ifanc creadigol i gyd yn hel at ei gilydd, yn y ganolfan aml gyfrwng, adeilad gorsaf heddlu a llysoedd y dref gynt, mae yma ystafelloedd i fandiau gael ymarfer, oriel caffi bar, swît ddylunio, stiwdio ffotograffiaeth, lle i berfformio (gigs & D.J’s) a sinema fach danddaearol sy’n dangos ffilmiau’r byd bob 3ydd dydd Gwener yn y mis. Edrychwch ar y wefan am ragor o wybodaeth www.cellb.org neu galwch i mewn i weld be’ sy’n digwydd, mae’r CeLL reit yng Nghanol y Dref yn Sgwâr y Parc.

Weird & Wonderful Guide

Fringe Venue:

Pubs

“is this the in-place to be, what am I doing here.... spending money on beer” to quote The Specials song Nightclub .....mehhh ok so we ain’t got one of those, but check out the Towns 3 premier pubs for a party you’ll never forget ...... remember your phrase book, its sure to get you a free drink! : Meirion - Town centre, Wynnes - Manod district & Tap (Kings head) - Glanypwll district.

The CeLL is a creative centre which is the hub for alternative & underground creative activities in the Town. This is where all the young creatives hang out, within its multi-facet center which was the Towns old police station & court rooms. There are band rehearsal rooms, a caffe-bar gallery, design suite, photography studio, performance space (gigs & D.j’s) and a small underground cinema screening world films every 3rd friday of the month. Check out their website for info www.cellb.org or just pop in to see what’s going on, its right in the Centre of Town @ Park Square.

Pubs vs Religion!!

Try comparing number of pubs to religion centres.

Hangover Food : It’s the next day, you can still smell the Guinness of The Meirion Vaults on your clothes and are having flash backs of a crazy white bearded aging man ....Santa clause .... no Popeye .... what?!! So the cure : Step into Bistro Moelwyn, on the high street, Jackie & Anwen can sort you out a quality breakfast along with a bottle of larger .....sorted! Also try a brisk walk or catch the Clipa Bus service to Lake Side Caffe, also serving breakfast & beer with stunning views of the Moewlyn mountains. Another gem, but ONLY for the hardcore travellers (or those without a car!!) is a hike to Pont Yr Afon Gam Caffe on top of the Migneint, see walking guides for directions!

25

Arweiniad Od ac Anhygoel Celfyddydau

Ers dechrau’r cloddio am lechi yn y 1800au, mae Blaenau Ffestiniog wedi mwynhau treftadaeth gref a chreadigol gyda’i chorau talentog, bandiau pres, telynorwyr dall a’i fandiau Reggae oes newydd. Ffrwydriad o greadigrwydd efallai? Mi fyddai’n amhosib rhestru bob dim, ond…

Celfyddydau/Ffotograffiaeth/ Cerfluniau

Sefydlwyd y clwb camera ym 1961 a bu’n cyfarfod yn wythnosol ar nos Fercher am 7:30 yn y Ganolfan ym Mlaenau rhwng mis Medi ac Ebrill.

David Nash Wedi sefydlu ym Mlaenau, mae David Nash bellach yn gerflunydd byd enwog.

Gareth Parry - Mae ei luniau wedi eu hysbrydoli gan ddiwylliant y chwareli, tirlun Ffestiniog a chwarelwyr yr ardal.

Maria Hayes - Mae gwaith Maria yn defnyddio nifer fawr o dechnegau yn cynnwys peintio, printio, arlunio a chymysgedd o’r tri. Caiff ei hysbrydoli gan dirlun Ffestiniog a ffurf corff dynol.

Checiwch Canolfan Creadigol y CeLL am wybodaeth am artistiaid/arddangosfeydd lleol, yn cynnwys cymdeithas hanes a nifer o artistiaid ^ Celf Blaenau: lleol eraill fel Roland George a Grwp www.cellb.org

Cerddoriaeth a Pherfformiadau ^ sydd ar frîg y siartiau Gwibdaith Hen Fran - Grwp Cymraeg ar y funud. Gweler eu safle wê am fanylion ar gigs: www.myspace.com/gwibdaithhenfran

Samba Blaenau - Ymarfer bob nos Fawrth rhwng 7-9 yn Neuadd Eglwys Dewi Sant.

26

Checiwch allan:

www.myspace.com/anweledig1 www.myspace.com/vatesgweld www.myspace.com/gaitoms www.myspace.com/bandfrizbee www.myspace.com/llanclan www.myspace.com/yrannioddefol www.myspace.com/cericunnington Canolfan Greadigol y CeLL – gigs a lle i fandiau chilio. Checiwch y cerddor ifanc ‘Desibel ‘dB’ Festival’ ar y 5ed o Fehefin. www.cellb.org Bistro Moelwyn - bwyd a miwsig...lle braf i ymlacio!

Weird & Wonderful Guide

Gareth Parry - His paintings are strongly influenced by the slate industry,Ffestiniog landscape and the quarrymen of of the area.

Maria Hayes - Maria’s work is 2 dimensional, using a variety of media including painting, printmaking, drawing and mixed media. She finds inspiration in the landscape of North Wales and in the human form.

Check out CeLL Creative Centre for local artist exhibitions, including the Towns Historical Society Exhibition and various other artists such as Roland George and Blaenau Art Group. : www.cellb.org

Music & Performance Gwibdaith Hen Fran - Presently Blaenau’s chart topping Welsh language band. (see their myspace for local gigs info : www.myspace.com/gwibdaithhenfran Samba Blaenau - Practice every Tues evening 7 - 9 in St David’s Church Hall.

The Arts

Since the Slate mining boom of the1800’s Blaenau Ffestiniog has enjoyed a rich heritage of creativity from its choirs, to brass bands, blind harpists to present day reggae bands. It’s basically a ‘boom’ of creativity. It would be almost impossible to list everything here, but here goes!

Art / Photography / Sculpture

The Camera Club has been in existence since 1961 and meets on a Wednesday evening at The Ganolfan, Blaenau Ffestiniog, 7.30 to 9pm, September to April.

David Nash Blaenau Ffestiniog based sculptor.

David Nash is one of the UK’s pre-eminent contemporary artists.

Also Check out:: www.myspace.com/anweledig1 www.myspace.com/vatesgweld www.myspace.com/gaitoms www.myspace.com/bandfrizbee www.myspace.com/llanclan www.myspace.com/yrannioddefol www.myspace.com/cericunnington CeLL Creative Centre - gigs & bands hang out, check out the young musicians ‘Desibel ‘dB’ Festival’ on June the 5th. www.cellb.org Bistro Moelwyn - food & music ....nice venue!

27

Y Tu Hwnt i Blaenau gan Huw Jenkins

Llan (eglwys) yw’r anheddiad hynafol sy’n fan aros i yrwyr gwartheg, a Blaenau (yr ucheldiroedd) yw’r dref gymharol newydd sydd wedi cael ei hadeiladu ar gyfoeth o wythiennau gwerthfawr o lechi sydd wedi cael eu defnyddio i doi tai ar draws y byd i gyd. Fe wnewch chi ganfod fod cyrraedd yma yn antur ynddo’i hun, - gallwch fentro ar draws rhostiroedd gwyllt, dros fynyddoedd y Gerddinen (‘Crimea’), neu gyrraedd o danynt mewn twnel , neu ar drên stêm - ac ar gyfer y dyfodol mae cynlluniau cyffrous ar y gweill i’ch galluogi i gyrraedd ar Felorêl, cerbyd ydi hwn sy’n ymdebygu i bedalo ar reilffordd, neu gallwch ddewis cyrraedd hefo’ch gwynt yn eich dwrn ar feic mynydd lawr allt. Yn îs i lawr y dyffryn, gall caiacwyr badlo i mewn ar y llanw cyn belled â hen bentref Maentwrog. Yr elfennau hyn, yn ogystal â Gellilydan, Tanygrisiau a Thrawsfynydd, a’r ffermydd a’r bythynnod diarffordd sy’n ffurfio cymuned Ffestiniog.

Dyma i chi le llawn chwedlau ac awyrgylch sydd wedi cael eu defnyddio fel lleoliadau ar gyfer ffilmiau fel First Knight. Ond fe welwch fod hanes go iawn o’n cwmpas ni ym mhobman gyda cherrig o’r oes efydd ar hyd y trac lle’r arferai paganiaid deithio o’r Iwerddon i Gôr y Cewri.

Adeiladodd y Rhufeiniaid gaer, gan gynnwys amffitheatr bach ar gyfer dysgu hyfforddeion newydd, ac fe roddodd y Normaniaid domen a beili yn ei ganol. Mae’r garreg gerfiedig, sy’n coffau’r rhan o’r wal a gafodd ei hadeiladu gan Marcus a’i lu, wedi cael ei hailgylchu ac fe’i gwelir yn nrws y dafarn ym Maentwrog.

Crëwyd y mynyddoedd garw rhain o ganlyniad i symudiad haenau o’r ddaear a gweithred folcanig, fe’i hindreuliwyd dros gyfnodau o filoedd o flynyddoedd ac fe’u sgrafellwyd gan rewlifoedd yn toddi. Mae nentydd, rhaeadrau ac afonydd yn byrlymu dros y dyffryn trwy geunentydd

28

llaith amryliw sy’n cyfuno i ffurfio’r aber gwych sy’n llifo heibio i Bortmeirion. Sylwch ar olion dyn ar y dirwedd; y waliau cerrig sych, y tomenni hefo’u copaon gwastad a’r incleiniau lle’r arferai wagenni o lechi gael eu hesgyn a’u disgyn. Gyda’r cen a’r bywyd gwyllt yn prysur adfeddiannu’r dirwedd does dim amheuaeth fod natur yn prysur hawlio ei thir yn ôl.

Os ydych chi’n mwynhau cerdded mae llwybrffyrdd di-ri yma ar eich cyfer lle gallwch archwilio’r dreftadaeth gyfoethog, a gyda phob troad mae yna stori a golygfa newydd yn eich aros: mynydd siâp pwdin plwm y Manod lle’r arferai trysorau celf Prydain gael eu storio, wedi eu cadw yno’n ddirgel rhag y bomio; neu’r incleiniau a ddefnyddiwyd gan chwarelwyr i gyrraedd adref ar eu ‘ceir gwyllt’ - sef tameidiau o bren a haearn a ddefnyddiwyd ganddynt i lithro i lawr y mynydd ar draciau rheilffyrdd ar gyflymder o hyd at 50 m.y.a. Yn uchel yng nghanol nunlle efallai y cewch gyfle i weld adfeilion barics cerrig lle’r arferai’r chwarelwyr fyw, - ar wahân i’w teuluoedd, heblaw ar y Sul. Os ydych chi’n gwybod lle i edrych gallwch ddod o hyd i nifer o ganonau cerrig, llechfeini carreg gyda thyllau cysylltiedig, a fyddai’n cael eu llenwi gyda phowdr du a’u tanio ar adegau penodol. Efallai y byddwch yn ddigon ffodus i ddod ar draws ysgubor sy’n dyddio yn ôl i’r traddodiad o ffermio alpaidd pan fyddai’r ffermwr, ei deulu a’i dda byw yn treulio’r haf yn yr hafod cyn dychwelyd dros y gaeaf i’r brif fferm is law yn yr hendre. Beth am wneud rhywbeth tipyn yn wahanol? Yn hytrach na cherdded dros ac o gwmpas y mynyddoedd gallwch gerdded yn eu crombil, ar deithiau tywys wedi eu trefnu yn chwarel ddofn Llechwedd ac mewn mannau eraill dan law arweinwyr arbenigol.

Beyond Blaenau

by Huw Jenkins

Llan (church) is the ancient settlement, a stopping place for cattle drovers, whilst Blaenau (uplands) is the comparatively new town built on rich seams of precious slate that roofed the world. Getting here is an adventure itself, across the wild moors, over the mountains via the ‘Crimea’, beneath them in a tunnel, or on a steam train – and in the future there are exciting plans whereby you can arrive by Velorail, a bit like a pedalo on rails, or at breakneck speed on a downhill mountain bike. Lower down the valley, kayakers can paddle in on the tide as far as the old village of Maentwrog. Along with Gellilydan, Tanygrisiau and Trawsfynydd these, and the secluded farms and cottages, make up the greater community of Ffestiniog.

It’s a place of legends and atmosphere used as a location for films such as First Knight.

But real history is all about us with bronze-age standing stones alongside the track that pagans would travel along from Ireland to Stonehenge.

The Romans built a fort, complete with a small amphitheatre for training new recruits, and the Normans placed a motte and bailey in the middle of it. The carved stone, that commemorates the stretch of wall built by Marcus and his troops, has been recycled and found its way into the doorway of the pub in Maentwrog.

Shifting plates and volcanic action created these rugged mountains, weathered for millions of years and scoured by melting glaciers. Streams, waterfalls and mountain rivers race down to the valley through humid and technicolor gorges converging into the mighty estuary that flows out past Portmeirion. Man’s signature on the landscape; the dry stone walls, flat top mounds of rock and precipitous inclines down which wagons of slate were lowered. Slowly but surely nature is reclaiming it as a wild place with encroaching lichen and wildlife.

For walking there are countless routes in which to explore the rich heritage, every turn a new story and view: the dome shaped mountain of Manod within which Britain’s art treasures were stored, secretly safe from bombing; or the inclines down which quarrymen commuted home on their ‘wild cars’ (ceir gwylltion), skimpy pieces of wood and metal sliding down the mountain on railtracks at speeds of up to 50 mph. High up in the middle of nowhere you might see a derelict stone barracks in which quarrymen lived, away from their families, apart from Sundays. If you know where to look you can discover the many rock cannons, slabs of rock with connected holes, that would be filled with black powder and fired on special occasions. Maybe an old barn dating back to the alpine farming tradition where a farmer, his family and livestock might spend the summer (hafod) before returning for winter in the main farm below (hendre). It’s not just walking over and around the mountains but inside them too, with deep mine tours organised at Llechwedd and elsewhere led by specialist guides.

29

Y Tu Hwnt i Blaenau gan Huw Jenkins

Mae’r dirwedd hon yn cynnig arlwy o lwybrffyrdd cylchol, ond gallwch gyfuno eich taith gerdded gyda thro ar y trenau stêm. Mwynhewch daith gerdded ar hyd ymyl y llyn yn Nhanygrisiau, ^ sef y rhan isaf o gynllun pwmpstorio trydan dwr cyntaf o’i fath ym Mhrydain, a thu hwnt i hynny hefyd drwy’r coedlannau derw ac efallai y cewch gyfle i weld y geifr gwyllt wrth lwc! Neu efallai y dewiswch fynd i weld y clogwyni serth sy’n amgylchynu Cwmorthin ac yna mynd ar i fyny a thros y Moelwyn Bach a dal y trên yn ôl o Dan y Bwlch. Neu ewch ar y trên i gychwyn ar daith o gwmpas Portmeirion neu mwynhewch daith gerdded ar hyd yr arfordir. Mae gennych opsiynau di-ri.

Pe baech yn cario gwialen bysgota yn eich llaw yn hytrach na ffon gerdded dyma le godidog i gyfuno’r profiad o bysgota’r brithyll brown gwyllt a gwerthfawrogi’r mynyddoedd, achos mae digonedd o lynnoedd pellennig a diarffordd yma, ac mae’r uchaf ohonynt (y Conglog) 2,000 o droedfeddi uwch law lefel y môr. Neu fel arall mae yna lynnoedd sy’n cael eu llenwi hefo digonedd o bysgod fel Llyn Ffridd ac mae pwyntiau mynediad hawdd ar gyfer y rhai llai abl. ^ Ceir digon o gyfleoedd i gaiacio a chanwio ^ gwyn i herio’r rhai mwyaf gyda dyfroedd a dwr profiadol hyd yn oed ac mae’r opsiwn i chi fynd ^ ar ddwr llonydd cyfagos heb son am y milltiroedd o arfordir a’r gwyntoedd sy’n chwythu ar y tir yn bennaf. Os ydych chi am i’r gwaed bwmpio o ^ gwyn, dim ddifri mae yna ganolfan rafftio dwr ond hanner awr i ffwrdd, gallwch gymryd rhan ^ neu wylio yn y caffi cyffyrddus drws nesaf i’r dwr gwyn.

30

Nid dim ond chwaraeon a gweithgareddau awyr agored sydd ar gael yma ond ardal sy’n gyfoeth o gelf a diwylliant. Gall Blaenau Ffestiniog ymffrostio yn y ffaith fod ganddi ddau gôr

meibion. O ran cerddoriaeth gyfoes mae’r dref wedi meithrin nifer o fandiau llwyddiannus ac mae plant a phobl ifanc yn heidio i’r Cell, sef yr orsaf heddlu gynt, lle mae’r celloedd yn dal i fodoli ac yn cael eu defnyddio ar gyfer storio offer drudfawr a defnyddir y llys ei hun ar gyfer cyngherddau.

Heb son fod bardd cenedlaethol Cymru gynt ac un o gerflunwyr coed enwocaf y byd yn byw yn y dref. Mae’r dref yn ysbrydoli artistiaid ac ymwelwyr.

Cewch ddigon o ddewis ar gyfer bwyta ac yfed gan gynnwys tafarndai traddodiadol a ddechreuodd weini cwrw pan oedd y cwsmeriaid yn cyrraedd gyda choets a cheffyl, bistros cyfoes sy’n gwneud y gorau o gynnyrch lleol, arlwy Asiaidd a chaffis â chymeriad. Ar gyfer y rhai sy’n symud o un lle i’r llall mae yna wastad y car bwffe ar Reilffordd Ffestiniog neu nifer o siopau a delicatessen lle gallwch brynu cynhwysion i wneud pryd ar glyd - o’r becws gallwch gael unrhyw beth yn amrywio o gacenni cri Cymreig traddodiadol i bastis Cwrdaidd sbeislyd, sy’n cyfuno’n fendigedig gyda photelaid ^ Piws heb fod yn bell o Gwrw Eryri o Fragdy’r Mws i ffwrdd.

Mae Ffestiniog yn gyrchfan penigamp lle gallwch gael blas o ddifri ar harddwch a phleserau Eryri – byddwch yn agos at y cyrchfannau prysur ond yn y fan hon cewch heddwch a llonyddwch.

Beyond Blaenau

by Huw Jenkins

more contemporary music the town has spawned, several successful bands and youngsters come to Y Cell, the former police station, complete with cells for secure storage of expensive equipment and a courtroom for concerts. The former national poet of Wales lives in the town as does one of the world’s most famous contemporary wood sculptors. This is a place of inspiration for both artists and visitors.

The geography lends itself to circular routes, but for longer distances, walking can be combined with a ride on the steam trains. Maybe a walk alongside the lake at Tanygrisiau, the lower half of Britain’s first pumped storage hydro scheme, and beyond through the oak woodlands possibly seeing the wild goats along the way. Or maybe through the steep sided cliffs surrounding Cwmorthin then up and over Moelwyn Bach and catching the train back from Tan y Bwlch. Or use the train to begin an excursion around Portmeirion or a walk along the coast. The options are countless.

If you take a fishing rod instead of a walking stick this is the ultimate venue to combine wild brown trout and mountains with many secluded peaceful lakes, the highest of which (Conglog) is 2,000 feet above sea level. Alternatively there are well stocked lakes such as Llyn Ffridd with easy access points for the less mobile.

There is a wide range of options for eating and drinking including timeless pubs that first started serving when customers used to arrive by horse-drawn coach, modern bistros maximising local ingredients, Asian cuisine and cafes with character. For people on the move there is always the Ffestiniog Railway buffet car or several shops and delicatessens from which to make a packed lunch – from the bakery you can get anything from traditional Welsh cakes to spicy Kurdish pasties, perfect washed down with a bottle of Snowdonia Ale from the Purple Moose Brewery just down the road.

Ffestiniog is the perfect backdrop and destination from which to sample the beauty and pleasures of Snowdonia – close to the hotspots but with peace and quiet.

Kayaking and canoeing are served well with waters and rapids to test the most experienced and still water options available nearby not to mention miles of coastline with predominantly onshore winds. For an adrenaline rush there is the national white water rafting centre, just 30 minutes away, either for taking part or watching from the comfort of the cafe next to one of the rapids.

It’s not just sport and outdoor activity but an area rich in art and culture. Blaenau Ffestiniog boasts not one but two male voice choirs. As for

31

Rheilffordd Ffestiniog

Mae Rheilffordd Ffestiniog yn rhan bwysig o orffennol Blaenau Ffestiniog - yn ogystal â’i dyfodol. Cwmni Rheilffordd Ffestiniog yw’r un Annibynnol Hynaf o’i fath yn y Byd, ac fe ddechreuwyd cludo llechi o’r Blaenau yn 1832.

Yr oedd ceffylau yn tynnu wagenni gwag i fyny’r lein, ond yr oedd y trenau a oedd wedi cael eu llwytho yn teithio yn ol i lawr tua’r môr trwy gyfrwng nerth disgyrchiant - gyda dim ond cwpl o ddynion yn rheoli’r brecs er mwyn eu cadw dan reolaeth! Gwelwyd dyfodiad stem yn 1863 ac mae rhai o’r un cerbydau neu locomotifau hynny yn parhau i gael eu defnyddio heddiw, yn cludo teithwyr i ac o’r dref trwy Ddyffryn golygfaol Ffestiniog. Achubwch y cyfle i archwilio strydoedd y dref hanesyddol ac unigryw hon gyda’i threftadaeth gyfoethog a’i diwylliant Cymreig cryf.

O’r Blaenau, tuag ar i lawr mae’r trên yn rhedeg yr holl ffordd i lawr i Borthmadog, - a oedd unwaith yn harbwr prysur ac sydd bellach yn gyrchfan wyliau poblogaidd. Gallwch dorri eich siwrne ar y ffordd, yn Nhan-y-Bwlch - gorsaf sydd hanner ffordd ar hyd y rheilffordd ac sydd wedi ei lleoli yng nghanol coedlan yn y Parc Cenedlaethol – ac mae’n ddewis hynod o boblogaidd. Mae caffi’r orsaf, y lle chwarae i blant a’r llwybrau coedlannol yn gwneud y fan hon yn lle ardderchog i dreulio dwyawr o’ch amser.

Mae’r trenau yn rhedeg gydol y flwyddyn gyda gwasanaeth rheolaidd rhwng Y Pasg a diwedd mis Hydref. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r trenau yn cael eu ^ tynnu gyda phwer stem ac mae ‘Tocyn Dydd’ yn eich caniatáu i deithio ar unrhyw drên a gwneud y gorau o’r ymweliad o ddifri.

32

Am ragor o wybodaeth am ein gwasanaethau, ffoniwch 01766 516000, neu ymwelwch â’n gwefan www.festrail.co.uk neu gafaelwch mewn amserlen.

Ffestiniog Railway

The Ffestiniog Railway is an important part of Blaenau Ffestiniog’s past - as well as its future.

The Ffestiniog is the Oldest Independent Railway Company in the World, and started carrying slate from Blaenau in 1832. Horses pulled empty wagons up the line, but the loaded trains descending to the sea by gravity - with just a couple of brakesmen keeping them in check! Steam was introduced in 1863 and some of those same locomotives are still in use today, taking passengers to and from the town through the picturesque Vale of Ffestiniog. Take some time to explore the streets of this historical and unique town with it’s

rich heritage and strong welsh culture.

From Blaenau, it is downhill all the way to Porthmadog, once a bustling port and now a popular holiday destination. You can break your journey along the way, with Tan-y-Bwlch - halfway along the railway and situated in the heart of National Park woodland - a popular choice. The station café, children’s play area and woodland trails make it a great place to spend a couple of hours.

Trains run all year round with a regular service between Easter and the end of October. Most trains are steam hauled and a ‘Day Ticket’ allows you to travel on any train and make the most of your visit.

For information on our services, telephone 01766 516000, visit our website www.festrail.co.uk or pick up a timetable.

33

Teithiau Trên Golygfaol

Y ffordd orau, yn ddiau, o fynd i Flaenau Ffestiniog yw ar Reilffordd Dyffryn Conwy, sy’n eich cludo ar daith o gyferbyniadau dros 30 milltir, o fae godidog Llandudno ar hyd Afon Conwy i dref farchnad hanesyddol Llanrwst a chanolfan ymwelwyr boblogaidd Betws-y-Coed.

Mae mynyddoedd Eryri’n eich gwahodd atynt wrth i’r trên ddringo Dyffryn Lledr i fyny i oddeutu 790 troedfedd uwch lefel y môr, heibio i Ddolwyddelan a’r Bont Rufeinig, trwy’r twnel hiraf yng Nghymru, sy’n ymestyn dros 2 filltir a 333 llath ac yn dod allan ym myd llechi Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Fe gyrhaeddodd llinell y rheilffordd y dref ym 1879 a’i diben oedd cludo cynnyrch llechi ein hardal i fodloni anghenion datblygiadau diwydiannol Lloegr yn ogystal â marchnadoedd y byd. Mae wedi ateb y diben hwnnw i’r dim, ac wedi goroesi trwy’r ffawd newidiol, a heddiw mae’n gyswllt hanfodol i’r cymunedau a wasanaethir ganddi, ac mae’n hynod bwysig i dwristiaeth.

Mae gorsaf Blaenau Ffestiniog yn gyfnewidfa â gwasanaethau bws sy’n teithio i ardal ehangach de Gwynedd o Sgwâr Diffwys a rheilffordd stêm gul Ffestiniog ar gyfer Porthmadog sy’n enwog trwy’r byd i gyd. Mae’r ddwy reilffordd yn rhannu’r orsaf a gafodd ei hagor ym 1982 ar safle hen orsaf derfynol Ganolog llinell o’r Bala sydd wedi cau ers peth amser. Gellir dysgu am yr hanes cyfoethog o gloddio llechi yng Ngheudyllau Llechi Llechwedd, ac os dangoswch chi eich Tocyn Rheilffordd, fe gewch ostyngiad ar y pris mynediad.

34

Mae Trenau Arriva Cymru yn rhedeg y gwasanaeth ar y rheilffordd, ac mae amrywiaeth o docynnau i’w cael am brisiau rhesymol i chi gael mwynhau eich taith. Mae tocyn “North Wales Rover” yn rhoi i chi’r hyblygrwydd i deithio’n ddigyfyngiad am ddiwrnod ar y trên a’r bws am bris sy’n dechrau o £7 i oedolyn a £3.50 i blentyn.

Dyma un o deithiau rheilffordd gorau Cymru, ond peidiwch â chymryd fy ngair i am hynny, dewch i weld drosoch eich hunan.

Larry Davies, Menter Rheilffordd Dyffryn Conwy

Gwybodaeth bellach: www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk www.conwyvalleyrailway.co.uk www.nationalrail.co.uk (08457 48 49 50)

Scenic Train Journeys

Llechwedd Slate Caverns and production of your Rail Ticket will give you a discount.

Arriva Trains Wales operate the service on the line and a range of attractively priced tickets are available for you to enjoy your journey. The “North Wales Rover” ticket allows you the flexibility of a days unlimited travel on both the train and buses from as little as £7. adult and £3.50 child.

There is no better way to reach Blaenau Ffestiniog than by a trip on the Conwy Valley Railway that takes you on a 30-mile journey of contrasts from the glorious bay of Llandudno along the River Conwy to the historic market town of Llanrwst and the popular tourist centre of Betws –y- Coed.

The mountains of Snowdonia beckon as the train climbs the Lledr Valley

to some 790 feet above sea level, through Dolwyddelan and Roman Bridge to pass through the longest tunnel in Wales at 2 miles 333 yards and emerge into the world of slate at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

This is one of the great railway journeys of Wales but don’t take my word for it, come and see for yourself.

Larry Davies, Conwy Valley Rail Initiative

Further information:

www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk www.conwyvalleyrailway.co.uk www.nationalrail.co.uk (08457 48 49 50)

This railway line reached the town in 1879 and its purpose was to convey the slate products of our area to satisfy the needs of industrial development in England and indeed world markets. It has served that purpose well and survived the changing fortunes and by today is a vital link to the communities it serves and is extremely important to tourism.

Blaenau Ffestiniog station is an interchange with bus services serving the wider area of south Gwynedd from Diffwys Square and the world famous Ffestiniog narrow gauge steam railway for Porthmadog. Both railways share the station which was opened in 1982 on the site of the old Central station terminus of a long closed line from Bala. Much of the rich slate mining history of our town can be experienced at the

35

Pengwern Cymunedol

Mae tafarn wedi bodoli ar safle’r Pengwern yng nghanol Ffestiniog am bron i dri chan mlynedd.

Arferai’r Pengwern fod yn lleoliad pwysig i yrwyr gwartheg oherwydd byddai’n cael ei ddefnyddio fel lle ar gyfer pedoli’r anifeiliaid cyn iddynt groesi’r Migneint.

Saif pentref hynafol Ffestiniog dair milltir i’r gorllewin o Flaenau Ffestiniog. Yn ychwanegol at ei safleoedd ôl hanesyddol a Rhufeinig, dyma leoliad Sarn Helen a hanesion y Mabinogi, ac mae tyddynnod a ffermydd y pentref yn gysylltiedig â’r dref chwarelydda gyfagos. Yr oedd yr hen lwybrffyrdd o gyfeiriad y môr dros y mynyddoedd yn gwneud yr anheddiad hwn yn lle delfrydol i gael llymed i dorri syched.

Caeodd drysau’r dafarn ym mis Chwefror 2009.

Mae’r gymuned leol wedi sefydlu cwmni o’r enw Pengwern Cymunedol, gyda’r bwriad o brynu a rhedeg y gwesty fel tafarn rydd, a gwneud y Pengwern yn gyrchfan poblogaidd unwaith eto, ar gyfer ymwelwyr yn ogystal â’r trigolion.

Mae gweledigaeth Pengwern Cymunedol yn cynnwys •

• • •

36

Bod yn fenter gymunedol gynaliadwy

Annog gweithgareddau cymdeithasol a diwylliannol lleol gyda’r pwyslais ar ddefnyddio’r iaith Gymraeg.

Annog twristiaeth werdd a chynnig croeso Cymreig cynnes i ymwelwyr.

Rhoi pwyslais ar ddefnyddio cynnyrch a gwasanaethau lleol o safon.

Bydd codi gweddill y £185,000 y mae ei angen arnom i wireddu ein breuddwyd i fod yn berchnogion lleol yn golygu y bydd haf 2010 yn unigryw oherwydd fe fydd yn bla o weithgaredd cymunedol. Bydd y rhaglen yn cynnwys corau enwog a cerddorwyr lleol, a bydd hanes llafar traddodiadol na welwch chi byth yn eich llyfrau hanesyddol yn cael eu hadrodd yn y fan hon. Ein nod fydd sicrhau ein bod yn defnyddio rysetiau lleol trwy ddefnyddio cynnyrch sydd wedi cael ei dyfu a’i fagu yn yr ardal a bydd y bwyd fydd yn cael ei weini o geginau’r Pengwern yn cael ei ganmol yn chwedloniaeth y dyfodol!

Am y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf a’r amseroedd agor ewch i weld www.pengwerncymunedol.btik.com

Pengwern Community

There has been a pub on the site of the Pengwern in the centre of Ffestiniog for nearly three hundred years. The Pengwern used to be an important location for the drovers as it was used as a place to shoe the animals before crossing the Migneint.

Raising the remainder of the £185,000 we need to realize our dream of community ownership will mean that the summer of 2010 will be a unique hive of community activity. The programme will include famous male voice choirs and other well known musicians and oral history in the tradition of storytelling you won’t find in your history books. We aim to ensure traditional local recipes using produce grown and reared in the area will make the fare from the Pengwern kitchens mentioned in the legends of the future!

For the latest information about events and opening times visit www.pengwerncymunedol.btik.com

The ancient village of Ffestiniog is three miles south west of Blaenau Ffestiniog. In addition to its prehistoric and Roman sites, this is Sarn Helen and Mabinogi country , its smallholdings and farms linked to its neighbouring quarry town. The old routes from the sea over the mountains made this settlement the ideal location for a refreshment stop.

The pub shut its doors in February 2009. The local community has set up a company, Pengwern Cymunedol, to purchase and run the hotel as a free house, and to make the Pengwern a popular venue once again, for visitors as well as the locals.

Pengwern Cymunedol’s vision incorporates • • • •

Being a sustainable community venture

Encouraging local social and cultural activities with the emphasis on the use of the Welsh language.

Encouraging green tourism and offering a warm Welsh welcome to visitors.

Placing an emphasis on the use of quality local produce and services.

37

Adfywio Canol Tref Blaenau Ffestiniog Beth sy’n rhan o’r gwaith?

•

•

•

Pegwn y Gorllewin. Datblygu darn o waith celf gan yr artist lleol, Howard Bowcott ar y ffordd i mewn i’r dref.

•

•

Cystadleuaeth Gelf. Bydd cystadleuaeth gelf ar gyfer darnau o waith celf ar hyd a lled y dref. Blaenau, tref diwylliant a chelf.

Pwy ?

•

Canol y Dref. Newidiadau sylweddol i “ganol y dref” gan gynnwys mae parcio’r orsaf a maes parcio Diffwys.

•

Gwell Marchnata. Mae’n fwriad i wella marchnata’r dref gan osod arwyddion gwell o amgylch y dref. Bydd cyfleoedd i ddehongli hanes hefyd yn cael eu datblygu, a bwriedir datblygu gwefan i hyrwyddo’r dref.

•

Busnesau Newydd. Byddwn yn annog ac yn cefnogi busnesau newydd i fentro am y tro cyntaf. Rydym am weld y Stryd Fawr a Stryd yr Eglwys yn fwrlwm o fusnesau bychain a gwahanol.

•

38

Pam?

Cynllun Gwella Tref: Cynllun i wella siopau yn y dref. Cymhorthdal hyd at 75% i wella cyflwr allanol adeiladau’r dref, gan gynnwys arwyddion a ffenestri newydd. Byddwn yn annog “canopiau” ac arwyddion lliwgar.

Iaith, Diwylliant a Threftadaeth.

Byddwn yn dathlu hanes, iaith, diwylliant a threftadaeth drwy gydol y cynllun. Darperir asesiadau ieithyddol i fusnesau trwy gydweithio gyda Bwrdd yr Iaith, a darperir gofod ar gyfer cynnal digwyddiadau cerddoriaeth, celf, cerddi a llawer mwy.

• •

Mae’r cynllun yn cael ei gydnabod yn rhaglen o arian Ewropeaidd, cyd-gyfeiriant.

Am fod poblogaeth yr ardal yn gostwng 2.5% yn flynyddol.

Er mwyn plethu gyda cynlluniau adfywio eraill yr ardal.

Er mwyn manteisio yn llawn yn economaidd ar yr ymwelwyr sydd yn dod i’r dref ar hyn o bryd.

Criw gwirfoddol Blaenau Ymlaen sydd wedi datblygu’r cynllun. Bellach mae Cyngor Gwynedd a Llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn arwain ar y gwaith mewn partneriaeth gyda Blaenau Ymlaen.

Pryd ?

Mae’r cynllun ar y gweill ers blynyddoedd lawer, bu ymgynghori ar y gwaith yn 2008 a 2009, cafwyd sicrhad o’r arian i gynnal y gwaith yn 2009 a bydd cais cynllunio yn cael ei gyflwyno yn 2010. Y bwriad yw cychwyn y gwaith adeiladu yn 2011 a’i gwblhau yn 2013.

Beth arall sydd ar y gweill?

Cynlluniau cyffrous gan gwmni Antur Stiniog i ddatblygu llwybrau beicio ym Mro Ffestiniog, cynlluniau i adfywio’r Parc, cynlluniau a gwaith i ddatblygu Tref Werdd, Theatr Bro, Gwyl y Glaw a llawer mwy!

Gwybodaeth:

Am fwy o fanylion ewch ar wefan y cynllun, www.gwynedd.gov.uk/blaenauymlaen neu cysylltwch yn lleol gyda: Bob Cole 07720040518 neu cysylltwch gyda’r Swyddog Adfywio Bro, Pryderi ap Rhisiart ar 01766 512499.

What’s involved?

Blaenau Ffestiniog Town Centre Regeneration Why?

Town Improvement Scheme; a scheme to improve shop fronts in the town centre. This includes 75% support for improving exterior shop fronts, including signage, doors, windows and colourful canopies.

•

•

Western Gateway. The Western entrance into the town will be developed to ensure that people notice Blaenau, visit and explore.

•

•

Artwork Competition.

An open art work competition for arts will be held in the town. Blaenau will be a town for culture and the arts.

A voluntary community group, called Blaenau Ymlaen identified the need for the project and developed it initially. The work was then developed

by Gwynedd Council and the Welsh Assembly in partnership with Blaenau Ymlaen.

•

•

Town Centre.

Significant changes to the town centre will include the station car park and Diffwys car park.

•

Marketing. We aim to improve the marketing of the town with better signage in and around Blaenau. There will be opportunities to learn about the history as well and this will include a new website for the town.

•

•

New Businesses. We’ll encourage new businesses to start new enterprises in the town. We’re eager to see Church Street and High Street bustling and full of energy.

Language, culture, and heritage. We will celebrate the history, the language and the heritage throughout the work. Working with The Welsh Language Board, we’ll provide language assessments for shops and businesses, and we’ll create spaces for cultural events and interpretation opportunities.

• •

Scheme recognised in the European convergence programme.

Because the population of the area was declining at a rate of 2.5% per annum Scheme links to and supports other regeneration activities in the area.

To maximise the economic effect of existing tourism in the area.

Who?

When?

The work has been in development for years, and detailed consultation took place in 2008 and 2009. Funding to develop the work was secured in 2009 and a planning application will be submitted in 2010. The aim is to start the work in 2011 and for it to be completed by 2013.

What else is happening?

Existing plans for outdoor activities are being developed by Antur Stiniog, plans to regenerate the Park, work to reduce the towns carbon footprint

by Y Dref Werdd, Theatr Bro, Gwyl y Glaw and much more!

Information:

For more information visit the website; www.gwynedd.gov.uk/blaenauymlaen or contact Bob Cole 07720040518. Alternatively contact the Regeneration Officer, Pryderi ap Rhisiart on 01766 512499.

39

Tyddyn Du Farm Holiday Suites

• 5 Star GOLD AWARD ~ luxuriously appointed barn suite conversions • Bathrooms have a jacuzzi bath & shower • Located amidst spectacular scenery • Snacks preparation areas • WiFi & mobile phone reception Portmeirion 10 minutes drive away Coed-y-Brenin forest walking & biking centre 10 minutes drive away See full website www.snowdoniafarm.com for more info & winter offers, etc...

Gellilydan, Near Ffestiniog, LL41 4RB Paula & Meredydd Williams www.snowdoniafarm.com

Tel: 07867 577 522 & 01766 590281

Pisgah Guesthouse

Maenofferen Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3DH Tel: 01766 831 285

www.bandbinsnowdonia.co.uk

40

THE DON

147 High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog

The Don is a family run bed & breakfast in the heart of Snowdonia. We offer recently refurbished, comfortable accommodation in Blaenau Ffestiniog with a traditional breakfast. There are four rooms all en-suite rooms. We do have one room accessible from the ground floor, suitable to the less mobile guest.Evening meals and pack lunches are provided on request. And well behaved dogs are welcome to visit The Don.

Tel: 01766 831 032

THE OAKELEY ARMS HOTEL Tan-Y-Bwlch, Nr.BlaenauFfestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3YU Tel: 01766 590277 | Fax: 01766 590346 | E-mail: info@oakeleyarms.co.uk

www.oakeleyarms.co.uk Proprietors: Chris and Ann-Marie Vanstone

Llechrwd Riverside Camping

A friendly family run site on the River Dwyryd in the beautiful vale of Ffestiniog. There are pitches for tourers, motorhomes, trailer tents and tents, with some camping pitches situated adjacent to the river.

Electric hook ups are available for some pitches.

There are toilets , free showers , a washing up room & a chemical disposal point. Pets are welcome on leads.

Tel. 01766 590 240 llechrwd@hotmail.com

www.llechrwd.co.uk

Bryn Elltyd 3 star ECO guesthouse Heart of Snowdonia info@brynelltyd.com Te: 01766 831 356 Mob: 0790 5568127 Solar arrays Green electric Wood Fires Reused rainwater Own ducks Turf roof

Gwesty’r Frenhines

QUEEN’S HOTEL The Queens Hotel is a family run business catering for families set in the heart of Blaenau Ffestiniog next to the Ffestiniog railway, national railway line and bus stops for convenience. All rooms en-suite with Sky television and internet. We have a fully licensed bar / restaurant and games room with Sky sports. We welcome coach parties to our restaurant. We hope you enjoy our warm and friendly welcome.

1 High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3ES Tel: 01766 830 055 www.queens-snowdonia.co.uk

41

JOHN’S COACHES, TAXIS & SELF DRIVE HIRE 81 MANOD ROAD, BLAENAU FFESTINIOG GWYNEDD LL41 4AF

TEL: 01766 831 781 Gwesty Bach Isallt Guest House a/ and Ty Coffi/ Coffee Shop

Bistro Moelwyn 10 High Street Bwydydd lleol o’r ansawdd gorau For fine local food Ar agor/Open For ‘lite bites’ at lunch time Evening meals from 6pm

Tel 01766 832 358 www.bistromoelwyn.co.uk

42

From a cup of coffee to a bed for the night – you’ll find a ‘croeso cynnes’/warm welcome at Isallt

All rooms en-suite.

Terrace with superb views over the Moelwyns and the Ffestiniog Railway.

Speciality teas & coffees Homemade soups, snacks & light lunches Take-aways

Church Street (opposite McColls) 01766 832488

www.isallt.com

De Niros Licensed Café 36 High St Tel: 0790 1825 270

Lakeside cafe Lakeside cafe, Tan y grisiau power station, Blaenau Ffestiniog

01766 830 950

Great food at low prices Extensive vegetarian menu Fresh coffee & Homemade cakes Great local steaks & more Available every evening

The Alam Tandoori Exquisite Bangladeshi Cuisine Licensed Restaurant

best breakfast for miles!!

38 High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3AE

open every day 9 til 4

Beautiful location..specialising in greek food.. parties for any occasion catered for well worth a visit

Tel/Fax: 01766 831 806

Passionately devoted to quality and innovation Overall, we manufacture and sell great products across many food categories including fresh bread, cakes, confections, sandwiches, home cooked roast ham, meat pies and traditional homemade Cornish pasties etc…

We also boast a range of unique quality products that no other bakery offers that are enjoyed by locals, people all over north wales as well as the tourist, all homemade labour intensively and recipes invented by the owner on the premises from KURMANGE’S SPICY KURDISH PASTIES ® which is very popular and ideal for a hike in the surrounding mountains to HONEY AND OLIVE OIL SWEET SPICY GRANARY BREAD (orders taken for Wednesday) to delicious BLAENAU SPECIAL VEGETARIAN PUFF PASTRY PASTIES etc….

We also bake fresh bread daily both white and wholemeal and granary on Wednesdays and take orders for bread for any day of the week.

We also provide a wide selection of cakes and confectioneries from homemade iced buns and doughnuts and shortbreads etc….to birthday cakes ( a week notice required).

COME AND ENJOY THE MOUTH WATERING PRODUCTS AND WONDERFUL AND SCRUMPTIOUS DELIGHTS THAT WE OFFER. Open for business Mon To Sat 16 High street, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. On the high Street next to the post office Tel: 01766 832308

43

Wide Range of Kebabs - Pizzas - Burgers etc The Grapes Hotel at Maentwrog is a 4 ‫ ٭‬Coaching Inn dating back to the 17th Century.

Open 12noon - 12 midnight 5 Church Street Tel: 01766 832 445

With good Wholesome Home Cooked Food, locally sourced wherever possible and fine ales from the Award Winning Evan Evans Brewery in Mid Wales, a warm welcome awaits.

“Arlwyo Symudol o Safon”

Quiz Night every Tuesday and entertainment periodically.

See our website for further details or call 01766 590365.

Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 4HN Tel: 01766 590 365/590 208 Fax: 01766 590 654 Email: reception@grapes-hotel.co.uk www.grapes-hotel.co.uk Part of the Wales Estates Family of Hotels & Inns

Ty^ Coffee & Sandwich Bar

Unrhyw achlysur cysylltwch a “Bwydle Nia” Pellter ddim yn broblem Nia o Ffestiniog Tel: 01766 762 355 Mob: 07717212003

Caffi Bont - Bridge Café Opposite the Ffestiniog Steam Railway

Hearty Breakfasts, Lunches, Homemade Cakes & Cream Teas…and lovely views of the Moelwyn Mountains

6 High Street Speciality Coffees, Teas and Cold Drinks.

Light Snacks, Hot Pies and Homemade Cakes.

Mail Order for Welsh Cakes andBara Brith.

Tel: 01766 831 382 Mob : 0751 323 9947

44

We also feature…

Mikes Dream Ice Cream …a modern twist on a 50s ‘Hot Rod’ Ice Cream Parlour!

Enjoy your morning coffee and cake alfresco in The Mirage Garden! Watch the fish and listen to the bird song Studio-Biz! Internet at £1.50 per hour

Maricraft

Local Slate Welsh slate sourced around Blaenau for your bespoke items for weddings, nameplates, anniversaries, birthdays, key fobs, placemats, garden ornaments and flowerpots. Specialised coasters with your name or logo – a great gift from Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Tel: 01766 831460 Wrysgan Fawr Tanygrisiasu LL41 3SB CLOGAU GOLD TY BEANIES WELSH LOVE SPOONS SLATE GIFT

Siop Y Gloddfa GIFT & CARDS Large Range of Welsh & English Cards 40-42 Church St | Blaenau Ffestiniog | 01766 830 248

Y SIOP WERDD 18 Y Brif Heol, Blaenau Ffestiniog Gwynedd LL41 3AE

CARWYN JONES

Bwydydd Iach a Bwydydd Cain

‘Epicure’ ‘Bwydydd Arbenigol Cymreig’ ‘Cottage Delight’ Remediau ‘Bach’ Aromatherapi Homeopathig

01766 831 891 neu 07979 233 493 E-bost:menajones@tiscali.co.uk

LARGE SELECTION COASTERS, PLAQUES, CLOCKS SLATE TABLE MATS ALL SIZES SLATE HOUSE SIGN MADE WHILE YOU WAIT OPPOSITE QUEENS HOTEL, BLAENAU FFESTINIOG Tel: (01766) 831 028 www.slatecraft.co.uk

Factory Prices

Slate World

EIFION STORES General Hardware | Housewares | Gardening Electrical | BERGER Paint Mixing | Key Cutting 9 Church Street Blaenau Ffestiniog Gwynedd LL41 3HB Tel: 01766 830 423 | Email: chrisfosbury@msn.com

ROLAND .L. GEORGE - SCULPTOR Contemporary work in stone and wood, inspired by Geology, Landscape, Nature, weather and History.

Style : Abstact - Avant Garde.

Works are usually made in Granite, with some in Slate, Limestone or Sandstone. Wood pieces are usually made in “Green” Oak, Ash, Sycamore, Yew and Holly.The wood Sculptures are carved in “green” wood to allow the making process to continue after the carving is finished. Some monumental works are undertaken. The most recent being the Quarriemens Memorial at Nant Gwrtheyern.

Work can be viewed and purchased from Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw, Llanbedrog, North Wales, or directly from myself.

Contact details ebost: celticrascal@hotmail.co.uk Tel : 01766830568 Mob : 07723358505

Siop Lyfrau’r Hen Bost Llyfrau Newydd ac Ail Law New and Second Hand Books O/S Maps CD’s / DVD’s Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3AA Ffôn/Tel: 01766 831 802 E-bost/Email: henbost.blaenau@virgin.net

45

46

www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk 01766 830306 quarrytours@aol.com

Eglwys Dewi Sant The Church by the roundabout! We are part of the Church in Wales (the Anglican Church) and worship bilingually. We offer a warm welcome to everyone. Services are normally held on Thursdays and Sundays.

Once a month we have Morning Prayer on a Sunday morning, otherwise we tend to celebrate the Eucharist. We also organise social evenings from time to time in the Church Hall which is next door to the Church. Please, see our Facebook page or the notice board on the Church gate for more information.

We are fortunate to have a lovely building. It was built in 1842 for the quarrymen with a £2,000 gift from Mrs Oakley. In 1942 a beautiful window ‘The Quarrymen Window’ was added.

Services: 1st Sunday: 9.30am Holy Eucharist 2nd Sunday: 9.30am Holy Eucharist 3rd Sunday: 9.30am Morning Prayer 4th Sunday: 11.15 Family Service (Holy Eucharist) 5th Sunday: 10am Holy Eucharist somewhere in the Benefice (St Madryn’s Church, Trawsfynydd; St Michael’s Church, Llan Ffestiniog or St David’s Church) Thursdays: 10am Holy Eucharist Contact Information: Rector: 01766 831536; rheithorstiniog@gmail.com Facebook page: Eglwys Dewi Sant / St David’s Church Blaenau Ffestiniog

47

48

Canolfan Hamdden BRO FFESTINIOG Leisure Centre Neuadd / Hall 01766 831953 Pwll / Pool 01766 831066 Mae mynyddoedd y Moelwyn yn gefndir i’r ganolfan hon yn nhref y llechi sydd yn gartref i Reilffordd enwog Ffestiniog. Mae’r dref yn llawn hanes a thraddodiad a gall y Ganolfan Hamdden gyfuno addysg a phleser.

Byddwch yn siŵr o gael eich denu yn ôl eto.

The Moelwyn mountain range provides the backdrop for the leisure centre and its facilities within this slate mining town, home of the famous Ffestiniog Railway. Full of historic culture the Leisure Centre and its facilities can combine both education and pleasure in one visit although you may find yourself being drawn back many times.

• • • •

Pwll Nofio / Swimming Pool Neuadd Chwaraeon / Sport Hall Ystafell Ffitrwydd a Ystafell Codi Pwysau / Fitness Room & Weight Room Cae Bob Tywydd / All Weather Pitch

Nev’s

Gwasanaethau Trais yn y Cartref De Gwynedd Domestic Abuse Services

01766 830878 nevs taxi and minibuses 4 to 16 seat vehicles all your transport needs friendly and reliable service

01766 762465 07768 221709

Oriel Moelwyn Gallery 33 High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog Paintings, Prints & Artist Cards.

Wide Range of Local Crafts. Jewellery & Gifts

o o Stretching & Framing Service for Tapestry Cross Stich, etc o Picture Framing

Box Framing for Decoupage, Coins, Medals etc

01766 830 124

49

50

>

Canol y Dref

7

Betws Y Coed

Town Centre

Ceudyllau Llechwedd Llechwedd Slate Caverns

Inclein igam-ogam Zig-zag incline

Cofeb Rhyfel War Memorial Cae Rygbi Rugby Field

yd d Afo

nB

arl w

G/N

Rhiwbryfdir

Parc sglefro Skateboard Park Glanypwll

Cae Chwarae Playing Field

Oakeley Square

Trefeini A470

A496

Fron Fawr

Bwlch y Gwynt

Heol Yr Englwys

^ Ty Unicorn

i

£

P

P

Str

Queen’s Hotel

yd

Faw

r

4 5

P

2

3

Maen-offeren

1

A470

Ysbyty Hospital

6

Cwmorthin P

Bethania

Tanygrisiau

Y Fynwent Cemetery

P

Afon Ystradau

>

P

Harlech Porthmadog

Cae Chwarae Playing Field

Manod

Llyn Ystradau Tanygrisiau Reservoir

A496

ALLWEDD / KEY Gwybodaeth i Dwristiaid (McColls)

i

Rheilffordd Ffestiniog Parcio

Ffestiniog Railway ( 01766 516 000)

P

Toiledau

Gorsaf Betrol Addoldai Swyddfa’r Post

Parking Toilets

Tafarn Peiriant Arian

Tourist Information Point (McColls)

Pub £

Cash Machine Petrol Station Place of Worship Post Office

Adeliad

Building

Rheilffordd

Railway

Gorsaf

Station

Gwylfa

Viewpoint

11 11 2 2111 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 4 5 4 5 4 5 5 5 6 5 6 5 6 6 6 7 6 7 6 7 7 7 7 7

Llyfrgell / Library 01766 830 415 Heddlu / Police A470 01766 607 1002 Y Ganolfan Iechyd / Medical Centre 01766 830 261 Y Ganolfan Gymdeithasol / Community Centre Cae Peldroed Football Field 01766 831 953 Congl-y-wal Pwll Nofio / Swimming Pool 01766 831 066 Melin Pant-yr-Ynn 01766 830 540 Llechwedd Slate Caverns 01766 830 306 Rheilffordd Dyffryn Conwy / Conwy Valley Line 0870 6082 608 Gwasanaeth Bysiau / Bus Servic 0870 6082 608 Côr y Moelwyn ( Choir ) 01766 831 691 Côr y Brythoniaid ( Choir ) 01766 512 863

P

51

Nid glaw a chymyla Ydi Blaena’ Ond harddwch Cymru Ar ‘i ora’ www.blaenauymlaen.org www.bowyddarhiw.com www.dyff.co.uk / www.voff.co.uk www.stiniogphoto.com

Lluniau gan / Photography by: Alwyn Jones, Ann Hall, Visit Wales © Argraffwyd ar bapur wedi’i ailgylchu / Printed on recycled paper Dylunio gan / Design by: