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Nestled in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, Dolgellau is a haven for walking and photography enthusiasts, the perfect base for our weekend and the place your hosts love to call home!Over the course of the weekend you’ll enjoy a sunset walk/photo shoot, full day walk with evening slideshow, and a photography workshop.
Come along, practise your photography skills with our experienced and professional hosts and enjoy the company of likeminded people.
This break is suitable for complete novices, and those more experienced. You can bring your professional camera if you have one - if not being your smart phone!
We will keep our group small, around 6 people.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
· 2 nights shared accommodation in Plas Isa guesthouse
· Continental breakfast each day
· Friday evening sunset walk /photography shoot
· Saturday full day guided walk with qualified mountain leader and photography instructor
· Saturday evening slideshow
· Sunday morning photography walk
· Transfers to walks on day 1 and 2 (on the Sunday you can take your car as you’ll depart after the walk).
YOUR HOSTS
no-mad Adventures and Helen Iles Photography
HOLIDAY DETAILS
Accommodation: Plas Isa, Dolgellau
Board: Continental breakfast
Date: 28-30 March 2025
Price: £265 per person (based on 3 people sharing a room*)
If you want to share with 1 other person, or have a room to yourself please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate that.
YOUR BASE
Dolgellau, nestled in the embrace of Snowdonia National Park, is an exceptional base for walking enthusiasts. This charming market town serves as a gateway to an array of diverse walking routes, from leisurely strolls along the picturesque Mawddach Trail to more challenging hikes up the mighty Cader Idris. The area's trails offer a stunning variety of landscapes, including serene riversides, ancient woodlands, and rugged mountain paths. Dolgellau itself, with its historic stone buildings and welcoming atmosphere, provides the perfect starting and ending point for your walking adventures, making it an ideal spot for both seasoned hikers and casual walkers alike.
Plas Isa is a comfortable bunkhouse, with 5 rooms sleeping a total of 19 people in single beds and some bunkbeds. Rooms can sleep 3, 4 or 5 people, and our pricing is based on shared rooms, with 3 to a room. If you strongly prefer a room to yourself, or for 2 people, we will do our best to accommodate that, or find alternative accommodation for you nearby.
Your bed will be fully made, ready to dive straight in, all bedding including a towel is provided. There are ample bathrooms & toilets throughout the house. They have a comfortable dining room, lounge and fully equipped kitchen for everyone to use. They also have a small drying room, free wi-fi and unlimited tea and coffee. Outside there is a large garden with seating areas for you to enjoy.
You can park in a nearby long stay car park. Plas Isa have a set amount of free parking permits to give guests, but this is subject to availability and cannot be booked in advance.
ITINERARY
Day 1:
4pm: You can check in from 4pm.
4.30pm-6.30pm: Join us for a sunset /photography walk. We’ll pick you up at 4.30pm and drive you to Llyn Cynwch car park.
Walk around the edge of the lake and onto the southern side of Foel Faner to view the Mawddach estuary as the sun sets. The walk is approximately 3-5km along a relatively flat path. The photography emphasis will be on the light across the estuary and the wider landscape. You are welcome to bring tripods, long lenses and perhaps if you have them, filters. A head torch will be useful for returning along the path.
6.30pm onwards: Meet in the local pub for dinner and social.
Day 2:
Today is about vistas and walking, the emphasis will be on the journey. If you are bringing a camera today, please keep it lightweight, consider a compact smaller camera.
7.30am - 8.30am: Continental breakfast is included at Plas Isa. If you’d like something more substantial we can recommend some cafes nearby.
8.30am - 5.30pm: Transfer as a group to the Minffordd Car park. We will start walking up the Minfordd Track alongside the Nant Cadair Spring. This is along a path that rises to a glacial lake called Llyn Cau. From here we will climb up a steeper section of path to Penygadair - the top - which is at 893m. From here there are incredible 360’ vistas over Eryri. We will descend via the Pony Path into Ty Nant car park where we will pick up transport back into town. The journey is approximately 9 km and has an ascent of around 870m. This is a truly spectacular linear walk, with views over ridges and rolling hills. We will talk to you about the myths and legends, glaciation, geology and folklore of the area.
You will need a packed lunch, drinks and full kit for the day.
6pm – 7pm: Meet at the local pub for dinner and social.
7pm – 8pm: Slideshow – a short visual story of the amazing local landscape and mountains, complete with chat about ice ages, myths, legends, giants, madmen and drovers. Helen will also chat about composition and balance when taking landscape photographs.
Day 3:
Please allow yourself time to get breakfast and vacate your room before your pick up for today’s walk.
9.15am – 11.30am: Rhaeadr Ddu. We’ll pick you up from your accommodation at approximately 9.15am, and drive to Ganllwyd Car Park. Ascend via the track to the spectacular Rhaeadr Ddu Waterfalls, stopping in many locations to take photos and admire the cascading water. We can chat about long exposure photography if you have tripods, or fast speed photography to capture the sparkles in the water.
(Alternatively we will take you to Pared Y Cefn Hir, a lovely 5 km walk, with panoramic views over Cardigan Bay and the breathtaking Cregennan Lakes. This involves an ascent of around 250m.)
Weather and Itinerary:
The weather in March in Wales offers everything, snow showers, rain, sunshine… you name it. Please be prepared for everything - bring sturdy walking boots, waterproofs, warm layers etc. Our planning is meticulous, we will be watching the forecasts for the best weather and conditions, and as such our itinerary may adapt to take this on board.
Important bits to note:
A £75 deposit is required to secure your place, and the remaining balance is due by 16th Feb (6 weeks prior).
All travellers must complete our booking form, and confirm you have read and understood the booking conditions.
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Dolgellau,North Wales, Machynlleth, United Kingdom
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