LLYN ALWEN and LLYN BRENIG.21-6-12.

The plan for today was to walk up Snowdon with Glyno for the sunrise on the summer soltice but heavy rain coupled with low cloud scuppered that walk so a few phone calls later i arranged a walk with Clive with no real plans on what or where to walk.Driving along the A5 none of the mountain tops were clear so i suggested a walk around Llyn Brenig and so we turned in Cerrigydruidion and parked by the visitor centre.Whilst Clive was getting changed i walked over to the notice board to check out the mileage of the Llyn Alwen and Brenig circular walk,it was 14 miles as opposed to the 10 mile Llyn Brenig walk so i asked him if he fancied walking around both lakes and he said yes.Leaving the visitor centre car park we walked to Brenig's dam and turned right away from the lake and up to the B4501 which we crossed and followed the markers through the pine forest.

50 minutes later we had reached the dam at Llyn Alwen.

We crossed the dam and walked anti-clockwise around the lake.I was hoping it was going to brighten up but the skies stayed leaden all day.The path has had a lovely new surface recently layed on this side of the lake.We left the tree's and the path went steeply up on the lower flanks of Mwdwl-eithin and we got our first glimpse of the wooden bridge across the far end of the lake.Crossing it i was amazed at the lichen that was growing on it.

Walking up to the lonely house of Pen-y-ffrith the markers were not clear,i didn't know wether to go straight on or turn right.We turned right and walked about half a mile and didn't see any markers so i decided to turn around and retrace our steps back to the house.Here we turned right and immediately hit upon the markers again,i wish there was one at the last junction.We followed this rough track all the way to the B4501 which we then crossed again and continued to Gors-Maen-llwyd where we had a break.Our path now turned away from the road and headed to Llyn Brenig and we soon reached the Ring Cairn.

Continuing past Hafodty Sion Llwyd we entered the trees for the last time only for a short stretch and when out of them we saw Brenig's dam.

It started to rain lightly so we picked the pace up and hurried back to the car as the rain was getting heavier.This cracking circuit was 15 mile long,with our little detour,with 400 feet of ascent.

MILES WALKED     288
ASCENT                   69,100
TOPS                         65.