Walk 1646 - printer friendly version

The Precipice Walk Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 3.5 miles / 5.7 km

Ascent - 400 feet / 121 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference SH745211
Lat 52.7728610 + Long -3.8617782
Postcode LL40 2NG (approx. location only)

This short Snowdonia (Eryri) walk provides some great views and plenty of interest with very little effort. The Precipice walk is on private land and as such the paths are permissive and closed one day per year which at the time of writing is on the 1st February. The start is a small free car park (grid ref. SH745211) which is reached from the minor road runni9ng roughly north from Dolgellau to Llanfachreth. Note there are a couple of books stating the route starts in a completely different place so don't always believe what you read! The car park also has public toilets. This walk could also be combined with the The Torrent Walk nearby.

To start the walk take the path running behind the toilet block. This leads west beside a minor road which is followed for a short distance. A signed track leads off to the left. This leads past a solitary house after which you turn left following the signs to the "Precipice Walk". The path leads you past woodland on your left to reach an open space with a good view along the length of Llyn Cynwch.

Bear right here alongside the wall walking slightly uphill and follow the sign. This leads you onto a well maintained path that is quite narrow in places. Almost immediately the views open up initially to the north. The path swings round to head southwest and soon becomes a narrow trod high above the valley below to your right. The ground drops away quite steeply and sufferers from vertigo might find this a little worrying. However the path is quite safe and the exposure is not severe. Ahead you get a wonderful view down to the sea along the Mawddach Estuary as far as Barmouth.

The path eventually reaches less steep ground and the view ahead changes. Reaching a solitary bench you get a great view of the Cadair Idris ridge with its many summits. The path then turns east and descends once more to the shores of Llyn Cynwch. Turn left along the lake and follow the pleasant path through trees. Reaching the northern end of the lake retrace your steps back to the car park.

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