Pistyll Rhaeadr

 Walks from the Falls

Walk three: the Old Lead and Silver Mines

From the café, Tan-y-Pistyll, go through the gate leading to the base of the waterfall. From here, cross the iron footbridge to the far bank - a great vantage point from which to view the falls.

Follow the path through the trees, keeping the river on your left-hand side. As you move further down the side of the valley the trees open up to reveal open fields of the valley floor on your left-hand side. In the centre of one field are three huge boulders which, legend has it, were left by giants.

Continue on this path until you reach a fence running across it. From here, cross one of two stiles and continue on the path, keeping an eye out on your right for the old lead, slate and silver mines and their associated remnants. The path continues on up through the old East Llangynog silver mine, slag workings, until it hits a second fence line.

From here you turn right up along the fence. Rapidly gaining height you soon meet the farm track which zig zags its way up the valley.

At the top of the track, it turns back on itself to lead you along the ridge back towards the falls. With the crags of Craig y Mwn on your right and Moel Mawn on your left, follow the track back towards the top of the waterfall (north west).

Continue on this track to a gate where you find the farm track turns back to a path. You should be above and in sight (400yds) of the wood copse at the top of the waterfall. The path now follows a boundary fence which takes you down through fields to the stream (Afon Disgynfa) crossing.

Find a suitable place to cross - shoes and socks off is the norm. Please be aware that this river floods easily - during or after heavy rain you will not be able to cross. Without retracing, there is no other way back down to the base of the falls.

Follow the path back along the river towards the falls, cross the stile into the walled area of the top of the falls, and make your way through the cascading mini-waterfalls for about 200 yards until you reach the edge of the waterfall.

From here you can take in the whole valley whilst hearing water plummeting 240ft into the pools below. The path back down to the base of the falls leads out on your left between the two fenced-off copses, over the stile and onto the farming road. You are soon led onto the steps, on your right, which lead you back down. At the bottom of the steps, cross the stile through the wood and out into the car park at Tan-y-Pistyll.

(Special note: new bridge built 1 mile upstream from topside of waterfall)

Distance 4¾ km. Height gained 250 metres. Start grid: SH SJ 074 295 End grid : SH SJ 074 295

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