1 00:00:03,309 --> 00:00:05,969 KATE MARTIN: Welcome to the National Trust Podcast. 2 00:00:08,020 --> 00:00:12,159 I'm Kate Martin area ranger at Formby on the beautiful Sefton 3 00:00:12,170 --> 00:00:14,619 Coast and a full on nature lover. 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,549 I'll be taking you on some amazing walks delving into the 5 00:00:19,559 --> 00:00:24,750 stories and characters that make each place so special. We'll be 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,030 traveling all around the country from hilltop to seaside. 7 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,970 We'll tread sandy paths and the polished wooden floors of 8 00:00:32,979 --> 00:00:37,869 country homes. Delight in birdsong, sublime views and 9 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:39,860 exceptionally good cream teas. 10 00:00:40,950 --> 00:00:44,779 So come and join me on this journey and immerse yourself in 11 00:00:44,790 --> 00:00:46,860 the wonders of the National Trust. 12 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:57,029 It is glorious. Just opening the curtains and looking out over 13 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,770 this gorgeous Welsh countryside with a rushing river and 14 00:01:01,779 --> 00:01:03,720 beautiful old trees. 15 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,269 Today, I'm staying at one of the lovely chalets at Hafod y Llan, 16 00:01:11,279 --> 00:01:14,080 which is a National Trust campsite just outside 17 00:01:14,089 --> 00:01:16,940 Beddgelert, which is in the fantastic National Park of 18 00:01:16,949 --> 00:01:21,239 Snowdonia in North Wales. It really is a perfect spot for 19 00:01:21,250 --> 00:01:23,860 those who want to get away and explore this part of the world. 20 00:01:24,129 --> 00:01:27,910 So whether you're after a short amble or an epic hike, the 21 00:01:27,919 --> 00:01:31,410 variety of National Trust routes offer something for everyone and 22 00:01:31,419 --> 00:01:32,839 that goes for the accommodation too. 23 00:01:32,839 --> 00:01:34,720 So, as I've said, I've been staying in one of the really 24 00:01:34,730 --> 00:01:38,389 comfy chalets here. But there's also space for seasoned campers 25 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,739 who can pitch their own tents and a cottage for those seeking 26 00:01:41,750 --> 00:01:46,900 a more luxurious stay. 27 00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:51,069 Outside the chalet, I'm in this beautiful oak woodland. There's 28 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,110 birch trees, there's sycamores, there's ash trees and they're 29 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,230 all covered in moss and then a beautiful steep bracken hillside 30 00:01:58,239 --> 00:02:00,819 going up to the foothills of Snowdon and just in the 31 00:02:00,830 --> 00:02:03,889 background, you can hear the rushy tumbling of a fantastic 32 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:05,750 river that's just running down the side. 33 00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:11,949 So an absolutely perfect place to start today. And luckily 34 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,020 where we are here at the chalet, the Watkin path, which is one of 35 00:02:15,029 --> 00:02:18,960 the main paths up Snowdon is just over the river. So for 36 00:02:18,970 --> 00:02:22,100 those hardened walkers, you can head straight up into the 37 00:02:22,110 --> 00:02:25,740 fantastic foothills, then up to the peak of Snowdon and around 38 00:02:25,750 --> 00:02:26,899 the Snowdon horse shoe. 39 00:02:29,419 --> 00:02:32,440 Today, we're going to be heading to some of the more accessible 40 00:02:32,449 --> 00:02:34,399 paths that there are in this beautiful area. 41 00:02:35,729 --> 00:02:38,889 And although these walks may be less challenging than some of 42 00:02:38,899 --> 00:02:41,820 the more famous walks around here, what they lack in 43 00:02:41,830 --> 00:02:44,869 distance, they certainly make up for in beauty and also the 44 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:46,149 mythology of this area. 45 00:02:47,460 --> 00:02:50,320 I'm taking a short walk from the campsite to the shores of Llyn 46 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:54,139 Dinas to meet Rhys Thomas, the countryside manager who's going 47 00:02:54,149 --> 00:02:57,470 to show us what's being done to make Snowdonia more accessible. 48 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,199 Hi Rhys, it's nice to meet you. 49 00:03:02,199 --> 00:03:02,720 RHYS THOMAS: Hi Kate how are you? 50 00:03:02,839 --> 00:03:05,429 KATE MARTIN: I'm fine. Thank you. What a glorious day to be 51 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:06,130 in Snowdonia. 52 00:03:06,130 --> 00:03:07,399 RHYS THOMAS: Isn't it fantastic? 53 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,199 We knew you were coming. So we brought the sun out. 54 00:03:11,899 --> 00:03:14,169 KATE MARTIN: So tell me about this path we're going to go on 55 00:03:14,179 --> 00:03:14,610 today. 56 00:03:14,789 --> 00:03:18,800 RHYS THOMAS: Yeah. Well, we installed this aggregate path a 57 00:03:18,809 --> 00:03:20,929 couple of years ago in partnership with the Snowdonia 58 00:03:20,940 --> 00:03:24,940 National Park. It's about a mile long. It's going to form part of 59 00:03:24,949 --> 00:03:27,820 the Snowdon circular, which is basically a path that's going to 60 00:03:27,830 --> 00:03:30,850 go all the way around the foot of Snowdon. So, shall we? 61 00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:32,389 KATE MARTIN: I think so, why not? 62 00:03:37,039 --> 00:03:40,289 So this path, what's it all about? And how has it come to 63 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:40,660 be? 64 00:03:41,070 --> 00:03:43,949 RHYS THOMAS: This is a public right of way. So there's always 65 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,940 been a path here but it's been fairly poor, it's been wet, it's 66 00:03:47,949 --> 00:03:50,229 been slippery, it's just been bare mud. 67 00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:54,389 So it's all to do with getting more people outside and, you 68 00:03:54,399 --> 00:03:58,100 know, providing opportunities for people to actually enjoy the 69 00:03:58,110 --> 00:03:58,720 countryside. 70 00:04:00,009 --> 00:04:02,089 KATE MARTIN: It's easy for me to get out and get up into the 71 00:04:02,100 --> 00:04:06,059 hills and get that experience. But if you've got limited 72 00:04:06,070 --> 00:04:10,669 mobility or you've got a push chair, it's quite, or it has 73 00:04:10,679 --> 00:04:13,029 been in the past, quite difficult to access this 74 00:04:13,039 --> 00:04:14,070 beautiful place. 75 00:04:14,580 --> 00:04:18,019 RHYS THOMAS: Yeah, it's not possible, is it really? So, you 76 00:04:18,029 --> 00:04:21,269 know, but by putting these kinds of paths in, in appropriate 77 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,130 places, you know, you're just- you're just opening the door, 78 00:04:25,519 --> 00:04:27,339 you know, for so many people. 79 00:04:27,619 --> 00:04:31,209 You know, if you've got older people who have spent their sort 80 00:04:31,220 --> 00:04:34,649 of youth walking on the mountains and they can't do that 81 00:04:34,660 --> 00:04:35,329 anymore. 82 00:04:35,609 --> 00:04:38,070 You know, this still provides them with an opportunity to get 83 00:04:38,079 --> 00:04:43,079 outside. This path is suitable for sort of tramper vehicles. So 84 00:04:43,089 --> 00:04:46,609 sort of, you know, 4x4 off road mobility scooters. 85 00:04:47,899 --> 00:04:49,899 KATE MARTIN: The pathway walk along here obviously is a very 86 00:04:49,910 --> 00:04:52,519 well defined path. How is it constructed. 87 00:04:52,690 --> 00:04:56,570 RHYS THOMAS: From slate waste below. And this is sort of 88 00:04:56,579 --> 00:04:59,609 fairly soft ground. So there's quite a quite a depth of slate 89 00:04:59,619 --> 00:05:04,420 waste into this. And the the capping is mint forth granite 90 00:05:04,429 --> 00:05:04,799 type. 91 00:05:05,579 --> 00:05:07,359 KATE MARTIN: The word accessibility in relation to 92 00:05:07,369 --> 00:05:12,279 paths often build this idea of something very, very tame 93 00:05:12,290 --> 00:05:17,160 through a very, very sort of low level, quite dull area of 94 00:05:17,369 --> 00:05:18,160 countryside. 95 00:05:18,170 --> 00:05:21,950 But here, you know, we've got the spectacular mountain views 96 00:05:21,959 --> 00:05:25,040 to either side of us. We're just at the edge of a beautiful 97 00:05:25,049 --> 00:05:29,869 broadleaf woodland got the Llyn Dinas as just in front of us, 98 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:34,890 the lake to our right. It really is spectacular here Rhys. 99 00:05:34,890 --> 00:05:37,920 RHYS THOMAS: Oh Kate. It's, you know, it's it's one of the the 100 00:05:37,929 --> 00:05:41,989 nicest and the most fantastic valleys in in North Wales, 101 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:42,440 really. 102 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,269 KATE MARTIN: Walking along here through this woodlands and we're 103 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:49,250 just towards the end of September. So the leaves are 104 00:05:49,260 --> 00:05:52,049 starting to turn and on the birches in particular as they go 105 00:05:52,059 --> 00:05:56,320 beautiful sort of bright gold colour. And then the bracken 106 00:05:56,329 --> 00:05:59,459 underneath, starting to be a lovely russety brown and there's 107 00:05:59,470 --> 00:06:02,799 that real rich earthy smell that you get, particularly in this 108 00:06:02,809 --> 00:06:04,500 sort of autumn going into winter. 109 00:06:04,609 --> 00:06:07,779 There's an almost a spice to it that you get through, through 110 00:06:07,790 --> 00:06:11,329 this time of year. And again, looking out to the right over 111 00:06:11,339 --> 00:06:14,649 the mountains on the far side of the- of Llyn Dinas- of the lake, 112 00:06:14,890 --> 00:06:18,089 again, the whole area is going in a lovely sort of bronze 113 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:20,950 colour whereas all the heather is starting to die back. 114 00:06:24,450 --> 00:06:27,170 Coming to the end of the lake. Now, coming there, heading 115 00:06:27,179 --> 00:06:30,130 towards the Beddgelert. And I just want to say thank you Rhys 116 00:06:30,140 --> 00:06:32,869 for just showing me this great path in this beautiful area. 117 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:33,980 You're very welcome, Kate. 118 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:40,350 I've got a couple of options. Now, I can either take the path 119 00:06:40,359 --> 00:06:43,730 that that runs along the riverside, pass the copper mine 120 00:06:43,739 --> 00:06:44,480 into Beddgelert. 121 00:06:44,489 --> 00:06:47,910 But today, I now I'm not sure I want as much exercise. So I'm 122 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,420 going to take the Sherpa bus which runs through the valley 123 00:06:50,429 --> 00:06:53,709 between April and November. And it will help me get to 124 00:06:53,739 --> 00:07:10,859 Beddgelert that little bit quicker. 125 00:07:10,859 --> 00:07:16,089 And I've landed in Beddgelert. I have spent so many happy summer 126 00:07:16,100 --> 00:07:16,579 holidays. 127 00:07:16,589 --> 00:07:19,739 We used to spend every August bank holiday at a campsite just 128 00:07:19,750 --> 00:07:23,079 at the end of a Llyn Gwynant Lake at the foot of Snowdon. And 129 00:07:23,089 --> 00:07:26,109 it was always our first day on the Saturday, we used to come 130 00:07:26,119 --> 00:07:29,709 into Beddgelert, go and have an ice cream, go and have a little 131 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,510 bit of walk around the local area. 132 00:07:31,519 --> 00:07:37,230 And, it really is a beautiful little village there in, nestled 133 00:07:37,239 --> 00:07:40,440 in the sort of mountains of Snowdonia, these lovely little 134 00:07:40,450 --> 00:07:42,089 sort of quaint cottages. 135 00:07:44,750 --> 00:07:47,470 Right, I think I can see the gentleman. I'm here to meet so- 136 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:51,500 Dave Smith, the lead ranger for this area, just, standing over 137 00:07:51,510 --> 00:07:54,589 by the National Trust shop over here. Hi, Dave. It's really nice 138 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:55,040 to meet you. 139 00:07:55,190 --> 00:07:57,190 DAVE SMITH: And you morning. Nice morning. It is too now 140 00:07:57,209 --> 00:07:58,109 KATE MARTIN: Glorious, isn't it! 141 00:07:59,309 --> 00:08:01,989 Dave, I believe you're going to take me to another one of the 142 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,489 sort of easier, more accessible paths in this area. 143 00:08:04,959 --> 00:08:07,559 DAVE SMITH: Yeah, this one's actually surfacing concrete. So 144 00:08:07,570 --> 00:08:11,779 it's easier for wheelchairs and baby prams and all the rest of 145 00:08:11,839 --> 00:08:11,859 it. 146 00:08:14,500 --> 00:08:16,910 KATE MARTIN: We're here at the start of the Gelert's Grave 147 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:21,720 Walk, going through a gate with a beautiful dog's paw print in 148 00:08:21,730 --> 00:08:23,850 the middle of it, which I'm sure Dave's gonna tell me the 149 00:08:23,859 --> 00:08:27,309 significance about as we get further on. And the beautiful 150 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,160 river Glaslyn running alongside. 151 00:08:30,049 --> 00:08:34,280 DAVE SMITH: This route here to the Gelert's Grave very, very 152 00:08:34,289 --> 00:08:38,919 busy path and the surface was very poor. It was just- just 153 00:08:38,929 --> 00:08:43,250 dirt. There's a bit of gravel on it, but the river periodically 154 00:08:43,260 --> 00:08:48,869 floods comes across the path, scours away the gravel. And so 155 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,049 the only option we had really was to put some kind of hard 156 00:08:52,059 --> 00:08:52,750 surface on. 157 00:08:53,590 --> 00:08:57,210 And after thinking long and hard and talking to consultants and 158 00:08:57,219 --> 00:09:01,669 doing a lot of liaison with the community, we came up with this 159 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:06,000 surface. So it's, it's concrete, but it's a special concrete, we 160 00:09:06,010 --> 00:09:09,599 had mixed, including a lot of slate aggregate. 161 00:09:09,599 --> 00:09:14,570 And it's sprayed with a chemical once it's laid and that leaves 162 00:09:14,580 --> 00:09:17,510 the aggregate exposed. So it looks like a gravel path, but 163 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:20,390 it's actually hard standing, hard concrete. 164 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,549 So it doesn't wear away. It's a very good surface for walking 165 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,739 on. And very soon after putting it in, we saw people from the 166 00:09:27,750 --> 00:09:30,599 village walking around in the slippers in it, which could 167 00:09:30,609 --> 00:09:32,190 never have happened before. 168 00:09:32,950 --> 00:09:35,440 At the time, it was quite controversial. And people would 169 00:09:35,450 --> 00:09:37,979 say, well, what's the point of building a wheelchair path? 170 00:09:37,989 --> 00:09:40,630 There's no one with wheelchairs come here. But of course, once 171 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,869 you built it, people will come and it's not just people with 172 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,640 wheelchairs, it's families with buggies, people bring their 173 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,450 elderly parents and grandparents for a walk on a weekend. 174 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,940 And we found that the path was busy previously in the summer 175 00:09:56,950 --> 00:09:59,880 weeks, but now it's busy all year round. 176 00:10:07,750 --> 00:10:10,619 KATE MARTIN: Just walked through a field full of sheep and Welsh 177 00:10:10,630 --> 00:10:14,859 black cattle. And we've come across a sort of standing stone. 178 00:10:14,869 --> 00:10:20,000 I would say that sort of fenced off and with some slate plinths 179 00:10:20,010 --> 00:10:23,729 in front with the says Gelert's Grave on the top. So what's all 180 00:10:23,739 --> 00:10:24,609 this about Dave. 181 00:10:25,250 --> 00:10:30,030 DAVE SMITH: This is the legend of Gelert's hunting dog. Well, 182 00:10:30,140 --> 00:10:32,109 what do you want me to tell the story? Or we could even read it 183 00:10:32,119 --> 00:10:38,163 out off the, off the slate if you like. [ 184 00:10:38,163 --> 00:10:38,685 Yn Gymraeg/In Welsh] Yn y drydedd ganrif ar ddeg roedd gan 185 00:10:38,685 --> 00:10:41,873 Llywelyn tywysog Gogledd Cymru blas ym meddgelert. 186 00:10:41,873 --> 00:10:45,784 Un diwrnod aeth y tywysog i hela heb Gelert. "Ei gi ffyddlon". 187 00:10:45,784 --> 00:10:48,962 Pan ddychwelodd Llywelyn neidiodd y ci yn waed... [Yn 188 00:10:48,962 --> 00:10:50,429 pylu i'r Saesneg/Fading to English] 189 00:10:50,859 --> 00:10:53,969 In the 13th century Prince of North Wales at a palace at 190 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,679 Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert the 191 00:10:57,690 --> 00:11:02,236 faithful hound who was unaccountably absent. On 192 00:11:02,236 --> 00:11:05,880 Llwelyn's return. The truant stained and smeared with blood 193 00:11:05,890 --> 00:11:07,690 joyfully sprang to meet his master. 194 00:11:08,479 --> 00:11:12,880 The prince alarmed hastened to find his son and saw the infants 195 00:11:12,890 --> 00:11:17,210 cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood. The 196 00:11:17,219 --> 00:11:20,650 frantic father plunged his sword into the hound side thinking it 197 00:11:20,659 --> 00:11:24,030 had killed his heir. The dog's dying yell was answered by a 198 00:11:24,039 --> 00:11:24,929 child's cry. 199 00:11:28,340 --> 00:11:32,380 Llywelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed but nearby lay 200 00:11:32,390 --> 00:11:36,229 the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain. 201 00:11:37,780 --> 00:11:41,020 The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled 202 00:11:41,030 --> 00:11:41,400 again. 203 00:11:42,690 --> 00:11:46,940 He buried Gelert here the spot is called Beddgelert and that is 204 00:11:46,950 --> 00:11:50,099 literally in Welsh. Bedd means graves. Gelert's grave is the 205 00:11:50,799 --> 00:11:51,729 name of the village. 206 00:11:51,799 --> 00:11:59,020 Yeah, this kind of grave was put here by the guy who built the 207 00:11:59,030 --> 00:12:02,330 goat hotel in the village. So it was to bring tourists to the 208 00:12:02,340 --> 00:12:02,869 area. 209 00:12:03,159 --> 00:12:06,309 No one really knows about the the root of the story. The 210 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,950 village was called Beddgelert. Obviously, when he made the goat 211 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,950 hotel, he was just kind of publicizing it in a way. 212 00:12:13,219 --> 00:12:17,760 Some people think the name Beddgelert comes from Celert who 213 00:12:17,770 --> 00:12:21,479 was a kind of dark ages saint. So that would be Celert's grave 214 00:12:21,489 --> 00:12:24,299 rather than he was some kind of Ascetic monk. 215 00:12:24,369 --> 00:12:25,919 You know, one of the early Christians. 216 00:12:26,309 --> 00:12:31,460 That exact story of the hounds saving the child and all that. 217 00:12:31,469 --> 00:12:34,500 It- Apparently there's versions of it throughout Europe. So it's 218 00:12:34,510 --> 00:12:38,349 a common story whether or not you believe it- It's true, It is 219 00:12:38,359 --> 00:12:39,440 up to you. 220 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:43,599 And we get a lot of people leaving- I think the pets ashes 221 00:12:43,609 --> 00:12:44,770 around the grave as well. 222 00:12:46,289 --> 00:12:49,969 We can see from where we're standing here by Gelert's grave. 223 00:12:50,390 --> 00:12:54,479 There's the remains of an old cow shed on the path leads us 224 00:12:54,489 --> 00:12:58,309 that way. And if we go up there, there's a bit of a surprise 225 00:12:58,320 --> 00:12:59,880 waiting for us in the cow shed. 226 00:13:02,729 --> 00:13:05,960 So here we go inside the cow shed. We've got a lovely 227 00:13:05,969 --> 00:13:08,049 sculpture of Gelert the dog. 228 00:13:08,700 --> 00:13:12,770 And you can see from the polished bronze of his head and 229 00:13:12,780 --> 00:13:16,309 his back, the lots of people come and pat him on the head or 230 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,390 they put the kids on his back to take pictures, 231 00:13:28,979 --> 00:13:32,219 KATE MARTIN: We've just come to a bridge over the river Glaslyn. 232 00:13:32,460 --> 00:13:33,440 So where next? 233 00:13:34,130 --> 00:13:36,309 DAVE SMITH: Well, if we wanted to, we could cross the bridge 234 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,469 and head back to Beddgelert. The accessible path is a circular 235 00:13:39,479 --> 00:13:41,909 route about two kilometers and take you back to the village. 236 00:13:42,619 --> 00:13:46,969 If we turn right, we go into the spectacular aberglaslyn path 237 00:13:46,979 --> 00:13:48,530 along the fisherman's path. 238 00:13:49,250 --> 00:13:51,150 KATE MARTIN: When I walk- remember walking along this 239 00:13:51,159 --> 00:13:56,390 path, I just remember just a sea of Rhododendrons going up the 240 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,770 hill and, you know, you couldn't see what you see now, you know, 241 00:13:59,780 --> 00:14:02,400 that you couldn't see the, the outcrops of the rock. 242 00:14:02,409 --> 00:14:06,440 You couldn't see, you know, any vegetation really apart from 243 00:14:06,450 --> 00:14:08,250 just this wall of rhododendron. 244 00:14:08,820 --> 00:14:12,210 And, you know, it can be really controversial removing 245 00:14:12,450 --> 00:14:15,809 rhododendron because people see it as an attractive shrub. But 246 00:14:15,820 --> 00:14:19,349 on a mountain side where it just obliterates everything else, it 247 00:14:19,359 --> 00:14:24,599 can be a real hazard and a real pest. So it's fantastic to see 248 00:14:24,609 --> 00:14:26,450 this area back to the way it should be. 249 00:14:27,609 --> 00:14:31,830 DAVE SMITH: Now, what we see mostly heather, there's some 250 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,289 bracken down at the bottom, but there's a lot of trees, an awful 251 00:14:34,299 --> 00:14:39,450 lot of natural regeneration. A lot of birds, rowan, oak all 252 00:14:39,460 --> 00:14:42,559 growing. The change is quite amazing really. 253 00:14:46,130 --> 00:14:50,830 KATE MARTIN: So we've moved from a relatively easy going sort of 254 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:56,419 slate aggregate path to a much more challenging path. Now, 255 00:14:56,429 --> 00:15:00,099 going along with big rocks, big boulders and we are now really, 256 00:15:00,109 --> 00:15:03,130 really close to the river Glaslyn and you can probably 257 00:15:03,140 --> 00:15:08,179 hear the difference in the waters. 258 00:15:08,179 --> 00:15:10,859 And it's really important for anybody who is thinking about 259 00:15:10,869 --> 00:15:14,489 this walk is you really do have to be aware of the conditions. 260 00:15:14,500 --> 00:15:17,130 You need to take local advice, you know, talk to the tourist 261 00:15:17,140 --> 00:15:19,750 information. Look at the weather forecast before you do it to 262 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,400 make sure you have a good safe walk along this gorge. 263 00:15:24,179 --> 00:15:28,210 I mean, this is for me has got to be one, if not my favourite 264 00:15:28,219 --> 00:15:31,409 walk. I love it. I think it's just, it's just got that mixture 265 00:15:31,419 --> 00:15:34,700 of everything in this area. It really is spectacular. 266 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,359 DAVE SMITH: It's my favourite. One of my favourite circular 267 00:15:37,369 --> 00:15:41,359 walk is to walk down the fisherman's path and then on the 268 00:15:41,369 --> 00:15:45,780 opposite side of the Aberglaslyn pass, we've got a Bryn Du walk. 269 00:15:45,789 --> 00:15:48,260 It goes, it's like an upland walk. It goes through a woodland 270 00:15:48,270 --> 00:15:51,460 and over a sort of heather moorland and down back to the 271 00:15:51,469 --> 00:15:53,270 village. And it's the best walk in the area. 272 00:15:53,289 --> 00:15:56,219 KATE MARTIN: I think the area where we, we are in the gorge 273 00:15:56,229 --> 00:15:59,570 now, the river Glaslyn that in front of us is really picked up 274 00:15:59,580 --> 00:16:02,940 its pace and it's a lot of white water going on. So I believe 275 00:16:02,950 --> 00:16:06,489 that a lot of people come here for slightly more extreme sports 276 00:16:06,500 --> 00:16:07,669 than what we're doing today. 277 00:16:08,260 --> 00:16:11,609 DAVE SMITH: Well, the kayakers tell me that this is iconic 278 00:16:11,619 --> 00:16:15,530 kayaking spot. It's a what they call a grade five. So one of the 279 00:16:15,539 --> 00:16:17,799 most difficult, kayaking sections. 280 00:16:18,179 --> 00:16:21,320 KATE MARTIN: And, I also hear this is a spot that has a 281 00:16:21,330 --> 00:16:25,010 slightly more sinister appearance about it. Possibly a 282 00:16:25,039 --> 00:16:26,130 white lady. 283 00:16:26,929 --> 00:16:29,919 DAVE SMITH: So I'm told I was approached last year actually by 284 00:16:29,929 --> 00:16:33,469 a gentleman who was telling me that, there's a rock formation 285 00:16:33,479 --> 00:16:37,989 up above us where you can clearly see a kind of shrouded 286 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,270 white lady in the rock. 287 00:16:44,159 --> 00:16:46,799 KATE MARTIN: It was something that I'd heard as a child was 288 00:16:46,809 --> 00:16:50,330 that there was a ghost of a white lady in the gorge. 289 00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:56,309 They- some of the ones that I'd heard was that she'd been killed 290 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:01,780 in an accident or that she'd, possibly been drowned by a 291 00:17:01,789 --> 00:17:07,209 jealous lover and that she sort of walked the gorge to wail and 292 00:17:07,219 --> 00:17:10,670 bemoan her life or to worry others of the impending danger 293 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:11,930 of falling in the river. 294 00:17:13,959 --> 00:17:15,380 But there's no sign of her today. 295 00:17:17,739 --> 00:17:21,619 We've come to the end of the Aberglaslyn Gorge path now and 296 00:17:21,630 --> 00:17:24,619 we're standing on Pont Aberglaslyn or Aberglaslyn 297 00:17:24,630 --> 00:17:28,069 Bridge for those of us, not of the native tongue. And there's a 298 00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:31,479 few options now for, for getting your way back to Beddgelert, you 299 00:17:31,489 --> 00:17:33,469 can obviously go back the way we've come. 300 00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:37,060 If you want a slightly more sedate way, then if you come out 301 00:17:37,069 --> 00:17:40,420 of the, the gorge and go left, you can head up to Nantmor and 302 00:17:40,430 --> 00:17:42,810 get the Welsh Highland Railway back to Beddgelert. 303 00:17:43,319 --> 00:17:48,564 My chosen route would be to go up past Nantmor up to Cwm 304 00:17:48,564 --> 00:17:52,540 Bychan. Is that right, Dave? And then come down to Llyn Dinas as 305 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,530 where we were and then back along past the copper mines back 306 00:17:55,540 --> 00:17:56,180 to Beddgelert 307 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:08,369 Well, I've done a couple of walks today and although I might 308 00:18:08,380 --> 00:18:12,020 not have hiked up Snowdon, I'm pretty sure I deserve an ice 309 00:18:12,030 --> 00:18:15,599 cream. So I know exactly the place to go to right in the 310 00:18:15,609 --> 00:18:18,390 heart of Beddgelert. In my opinion, one of the best ice 311 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,569 cream parlours in the world. This used to be a real treat for 312 00:18:22,579 --> 00:18:24,010 me when I was a kid. 313 00:18:24,020 --> 00:18:27,979 Me and my brother and my mum and dad as well would all come down 314 00:18:27,989 --> 00:18:31,949 pile into Beddgelert on a Saturday to get our, get our ice 315 00:18:31,959 --> 00:18:35,550 cream. And if I was really lucky, I might get one at the 316 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,449 start of the walk and one at the end. But today just gonna have 317 00:18:39,459 --> 00:18:42,729 one, but maybe I'll get an extra big one just to make up for it. 318 00:18:47,810 --> 00:18:51,369 Oh, look at this. So I've come to the end of my day in 319 00:18:51,380 --> 00:18:51,922 Beddgelert... 320 00:18:51,922 --> 00:18:57,660 Can I have a sugar cone, please with dark chocolate and wild 321 00:18:57,670 --> 00:18:58,140 cherry. 322 00:19:00,099 --> 00:19:02,890 And it's really nice speaking to the rangers and the countryside 323 00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:06,060 managers who are working here now, who are opening this area 324 00:19:06,069 --> 00:19:08,160 out to so many more people. 325 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,839 When I was young, you know, it was predominantly mountain 326 00:19:10,849 --> 00:19:15,089 climbing and hiking and which is great if you're young and fit 327 00:19:15,099 --> 00:19:18,680 and you're able to do that. But for so many people and for so 328 00:19:18,689 --> 00:19:21,530 many different reasons, there wasn't that accessibility into 329 00:19:21,540 --> 00:19:23,229 this beautiful landscape. 330 00:19:23,364 --> 00:19:26,535 They've now opened this area up to so many different people, 331 00:19:26,545 --> 00:19:30,155 whether it's people with, you know, young children that can't 332 00:19:30,165 --> 00:19:33,775 maybe get up into the hills or people with mobility issues or 333 00:19:33,785 --> 00:19:36,805 maybe people who have enjoyed the mountains and the youth and 334 00:19:36,814 --> 00:19:39,104 just can't quite manage it now and they can still get out and 335 00:19:39,114 --> 00:19:41,344 enjoy this spectacular landscape. 336 00:19:41,464 --> 00:19:44,545 So it really has been a wonderful day and it's reminded 337 00:19:44,555 --> 00:19:46,505 me to come back to Beddgelert again very soon. 338 00:19:49,729 --> 00:19:52,770 That is so good. That is so good. 339 00:20:03,729 --> 00:20:06,000 Thank you for listening to this week's podcast. 340 00:20:09,390 --> 00:20:12,469 For more information on Beddgelert and to download maps 341 00:20:12,479 --> 00:20:15,780 and information on today's walk, you can visit the website 342 00:20:15,790 --> 00:20:21,020 nationaltrust.org.uk/Beddgelert 343 00:20:21,030 --> 00:20:23,280 For more information about the accommodation where we started 344 00:20:23,290 --> 00:20:25,459 this morning at Hafod y Llan visit, 345 00:20:25,469 --> 00:20:32,650 nationaltrust.org.uk/beddgelert- -chalets for our next full 346 00:20:32,660 --> 00:20:33,219 episode. 347 00:20:33,229 --> 00:20:37,099 I'll be walking on my home turf in Formby, Liverpool. That 348 00:20:37,109 --> 00:20:39,939 episode will be available in the next couple of weeks, but there 349 00:20:39,949 --> 00:20:43,479 will be a mini episode available next week. 350 00:20:43,479 --> 00:20:46,530 To make sure you never miss another episode, subscribe on 351 00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:48,910 iTunes or your chosen podcast app. 352 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,979 And please do let us know what you thought of this episode or 353 00:20:51,989 --> 00:20:54,890 share your suggestions for future episodes on Facebook, 354 00:20:54,900 --> 00:20:58,040 Twitter or Instagram. You can also email us at 355 00:20:58,050 --> 00:21:03,300 podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk. Until next time from me, Kate 356 00:21:03,310 --> 00:21:04,550 Martin. Goodbye.