Hiking Hero
ITINERARIES
Forced skyward by cataclysmic volcanic eruptions, scooped out by glaciers an revered by ancient Brittonic people. These mountains will stay with you long after you've departed. The Old Vicarage B&B has also been awarded the 'Walkers Welcome Award' for 2023.
Here at The Old Vicarage B&B we also partner with a number of local businesses to bring you private activities as 'Bolt-on's' to your existing booking, or special discounted experience holiday stays,
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We also do multi- day hiking holidays with a private guide, so why not have a look at those as well?
We also offer in-room sports massage by qualified sports massage therapist.
We are always happy to create personlised itineraries, so if theres a particular theme you'd like suggestions on, just ask us at breakfast and we'll happily print you off a list in the same format
The primary hiking destination when visiting The Old Vicarage is to scale Cader Idris. We have detail on whats involved here, or keep scrolling for other hiking ideas.
Advanced
Dôl Idris Car Park, Tywyn LL36 9AJ, UK
Travel Time
5 min
Approx Price
Free
Cader Idris
Climb Cader
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
Not a casual stroll, this big beauty is where the real hikers come. Also option to do some wild swimming in the lake so pack a towel.
Intermediate
Coed-y-Brenin, Dolgellau, UK
Travel Time
30 min
Approx Price
Free
Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park
Coed y Brenin
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
A mixture of picture perfect walking trails and world famous MTB opportunities.
WALKING TRAILS
Three waymarked walking trails start from Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre car park. The Afon Eden Trail is an accessible trial which leads you through woodlands down to the Afon Eden. Cefndeuddwr Trail is an easy short trial which guides you gently up a hillside to the Cefndeuddwr viewpoint and picnic area. The Gain Waterfall Trail is a strenuous trail which climbs over the Cefndeuddwr ridge, before descending to the confluence of the Afon Gain and Afon Mawddach rivers with their twin waterfalls.
More walking trails start from our other car parks within Coed y Brenin Forest Park.
MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS
The Visitor Centre is the starting point for 8 mountain bike trails ranging from a relatively easy low level route of Yr Afon, through to a moderate route of MinorTaur with a choice of 4 loops ranging from 3 to 12 kilometres. You can then progress to the more difficult trails of Temtiwr (9km) and Cyflym Coch (12.6 km) and finally onto the severe MBR (17.7km), Tarw Du (20.1km) and the Beast (35km) trails.
Y Ffowndri is our skills area which is also present on site, with four zones of different abilities for you to test your own level and improve skills. It can also be used a zone to either warm up or wind down, before or after a ride on one of the trails.
All trails are waymarked and have information panels at the start of the trail. Please read this carefully before setting off.
RUNNING TRAILS
Five waymarked running trails leave from the visitor centre and go through some of the best scenery in Coed y Brenin Forest Park. The trails vary in length and have been designed for novice to more experienced runners. They include a mixture of singletrack, forest roads, rough unmade public rights of way and occasional sections of tarmac road.
Be prepared for roots, mud and rocks with steep ascents and descents.
GEOCACHING
Hunt for the geocaches hidden in the forest on one of the two geocaching trails from the visitor centre. Each geocache is a small container with an information sheet about the history of the location and a log book to record your visit. The geocache may also contain small items left by other visitors that you can swap for something you have brought with you.
The geocaching trails are designed for walkers and there is no access for vehicles or bikes to the geocache sites.
Intermediate
Various
Travel Time
1 min
Approx Price
Free
Tarren y Gesail
Tarren y Gesail
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
One of the Marilyns of the Cadair Idris group. Possible to walk from the front door on the footpath behind the vicarage. Ask us for the map.
Easy
Dôl Idris Car Park, Tywyn, UK
Travel Time
10 min
Approx Price
Free
Cader Idris Walks
Dôl Idris Path
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
A 1.25km peaceful route through a beautiful parkland at the foot of Cader Idris. 'Accessible for All' Certified
Intermediate
Arenig Fawr, Bala LL23 7PB, UK
Travel Time
45 min
Approx Price
Free
Arenig Fawr
Climb Arenig
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
A great walk and you can also fit in exploring around Bala
Advanced
Rhinog Fach, Llanbedr LL45 2PL
Travel Time
40 min
Approx Price
Free
Rhinogydd range
Climb the Rhinogau
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
Utterly uncompromising the Rhinogau are famously among the wildest and roughest hills in Wales. 6 Marilyns
Easy
Cregennan Lakes Car Park, Arthog, UK
Travel Time
35 min
Approx Price
Free
National Trust
Cregennan Lakes
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
Llynnau Cregennen / Cregennan Lakes in southern Snowdonia are owned by the National Trust and are a renowned and often photographed beauty spot. There are tremendous views of the Mawddach Estuary and Barmouth Bridge from near the lake. The lakes are situated on the northern slopes of Cadair ldris, some 800 ft. above sea level, overlooking the beautiful Mawddach Estuary, with car park, just 5 miles from Dolgellau.
You can take a walk around these natural lakes, or head up to Pared y Cefn Hir to enjoy spectacular panoramic views over the mountains and Mawddach Estuary.
The lakes are home to a number of rare species so wild swimming and paddle boarding on the lakes is prohibited.
There is a car park and toilets by the lake. - Grid Reference: SH657143
FISHING AT CREGENNAN LAKES
There are two natural lakes that are ideal for both families and serious anglers. Fishing is permitted between 8.00 am. and 1 hour after dusk.
Large lake with beautiful small island, 27 acres, wild brown trout only. Fly spin/worm.
Small lake, 13 acres, regularly stocked with blue & rainbow trout, plus a good head of wild brownies. Fly only.
Dark Skies / Stargazing
Snowdonia National Park is a recognised Dark Sky Reserve and Llynnau Cregennen is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a Dark Sky site based on data from the VIIRS satellite.
Advanced
Ang. Snowdon
Climb Yr Wyddfa
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
You don't need us to tell you how famous this mountain is!
Moderate
Dinas Mawddwy, Machynlleth, UK
Travel Time
20 min (10 min back from end point)
Approx Price
Free
Dyfi Forest
Waen-oer Ridge
Kirsty & Gareth Recommend
During this 6-hour journey, you will reach the summits of Maesglase, Craig Portas, Cribin Fawr and Waen-oer, as well as ascending the slopes of Mynydd Ceiswyn and Bwlch Llyn Bach. 14km. Be mindful this is not a circular so you will need to arrange transport from your end location.