A moderate walk through farmland above Capel Garmon with stunning views to the mountains of Snowdonia.
The option of visiting the viewpoint of Mynydd Garthmyn with its panoramic views of Betws-y-Coed and the Conwy Valley is also included.
Start: Begin the walk at the tiny hamlet of Garthmyn, situated on the lane which climbs steeply from the A470 near Betws-y- Coed to Capel Garmon. Park in a small layby beside a terrace of cottages just as the lane levels.
Grid ref: 807 557 (Ordnance Survey Explorer OL17).
Distance: 3¾ or 4½ miles
The walk
1. Walk east along the lane (towards Capel Garmon) and take the field path immediately after the stone house ‘Garthmyn’. Head diagonally-left across the field to a kissing gate in a section of wall and cut through the centre of the following field to an access road. Cross the access road, go through the metal gate opposite and keep straight ahead towards a group of trees.
A kissing gate and stepping stones take you into the next field. As you approach cottages bear right along the wall and at the end of the wall turn left up a sloping field to the top corner where there is a kissing gate. In the next field turn right along the hedge and walk towards the church and cemetery. Just before the cemetery turn left along the wall to a kissing gate into the lane.
Turn right along the road passing the church and turn left immediately before the ‘White Horse Inn’. In a few yards, turn left onto a signed paved path which passes in front of four small bungalows. Go through a kissing gate at the end of the path which leads into a small field.
Keep to the right-hand field edge and walk towards a stone cottage. Immediately in front of the cottage turn right and rise up the hillside to a stile in the top corner of the field. Cross the stile and bear half-left across a small field (below overhead cables) to a ladder stile and gateway.
Cross the stile and head left again to a third stile which leads onto a sloping bank with a few pine trees to your right and superb views leftwards down to Capel Garmon and out across the Conwy Valley.
Walk along the bank through the trees trending right to a kissing gate and fingerpost. Go through the gate but don't follow the signed footpath which goes half-right across the field, instead keep to the left-hand field edge to a large gate in the far left-hand corner (you may have to detour around a wet area just before the corner). Go through the gate to reach a farm track in a few yards.
Cross a ladder stile almost opposite with the ruins of Pen-y-ffridd (meaning ‘head of the mountain pasture’) to the left.
Walk directly up the field now keeping beside the left-hand fence.
2. Near the corner of the field there is a ladder stile beside a large metal gate. Cross the stile and walk diagonally-right across the following field (with an area of rough grass and marsh to your right) to a ladder stile which leads over the fence. Cut directly across the next small field aiming for two hawthorn bushes in the far fence. Beyond the bushes, a stile leads onto a farm track. Turn left and walk down the track with a deep valley to your right.
Continue down the track until it rounds the hillside to give a wide view north into the Conwy Valley. Here the track steepens and after a couple of bends there is a kissing gate on the left which leads into fields again. Go through the gate and walk directly through the first field to a kissing gate by a large metal field gate, then take a similar line through the following field to a gate.
Walk beside the fence now to pass through another gate in the far corner. Continue ahead soon rising towards ‘Tan y Foel’, a large stone-built hotel directly ahead.
As you approach the hotel, cross a stile and follow the footpath over the stream, then beside it and rise to a kissing gate which leads into a field on the right. Walk directly through the field keeping just to the right of centre to a gate in the far right-hand corner.
Walk through the centre of the next field aiming for a stone farmhouse (‘Gwinger’). Don’t follow the signed footpath into the farmyard, immediately before the farmhouse turn sharp right and walk diagonally down the sloping field to pass through a gap in the hedge by a stream.
Walk beside the stream to where a track crosses over on the left. Turn left here passing a stone house (‘Pentre-mawr’) and walk down the driveway to the lane.
3. Turn left along the lane and continue to two signed footpaths on the right immediately after an access track. Take the second footpath which drops to a ladder stile and footbridge over a small stream. Take the path ahead and slightly left through a small wood to a ladder stile over the wall under overhead cables. In the following field head half-left to a second stile beside a large gate. Keep left again to a smaller stile over the wall which leads onto a track. Follow this track back to the layby at Garthmyn.
It is worth making the short detour to the viewpoint of Mynydd Garthmyn. This is reached by turning right onto the signed footpath which leaves the layby immediately in front of a row of stone cottages. The path goes up steps in front of a stone house to join a driveway. Turn left along the drive and keep ahead through the gateway to ‘Pen y Foel’. Shortly the drive curves left – bear right here on a signed footpath through an area of rough gorse and scrub.
Eventually a stile leads into open grazing fields. The path seems to disappear here but the right of way continues ahead before bearing right to the highest point.
There is also an excellent viewpoint to the left overlooking Betws-y-Coed. Return by the same route.