40th Anniversary Walk
It seemed a good idea at the time – a walk along the Offa’s Dyke Path section along the Clwydian Range on a nice summer’s day to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of our wonderful National Landscape – or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as it has been known for most of its existence. We chose a Sunday in July but, a few days before, a ridge of high pressure brought a spell of exceptionally warm weather to the UK. After very careful consideration, and given the total lack of shade on the route between Bwlch Pen Barras and Bodfari, we reluctantly took the decision to postpone.
We rearranged for a Sunday in mid-October in much cooler temperatures but, as the day approached, the weather forecast was anything but kind. This led to some late withdrawals but, come the day, there were 12 hardy walkers meeting the bus at the school in Bodfari for the trip to the start at Moel Famau’s upper car park. Friends Chair, Martyn Holland and organiser, Mike Smart were there to see us off, both of them recovering from problems which meant they were unable to join us on foot. Off we went in good spirits, with Mike’s partner Lynda taking the lead, a good humoured group determined to enjoy the day. Just as well as visibility on our first and highest summit, Moel Famau, was down to 20 yards! It was raining and windy too!
Enough of the negatives. The rain soon eased, the wind was at our backs, and visibility improved too as we made our way over Moel Dywyll and Llys y Coed. There were no distant views to Eryri, the stamping ground of our special guests, Director of the Snowdonia Society, Rory Francis and his wife Kathy. They were unperturbed and quite happy with the views across the Vale as Moel Arthur and Pen y Cloddiau were added to our list of conquests. By the time we dropped down towards Bodfari there was even a tiny patch of blue sky! We had all enjoyed a day of varied scenery and weather in great company, arriving at Bodfari School, where we’d received permission to park, having walked over 10 miles with 2000 feet of ascent.
There to greet us were Martyn and Mike – but best of all Julie, carrying on the tradition of the ODP 50th Anniversary walks with delicious cakes and drinks –local Welsh gin for the non-drivers, which brought the day to a splendid conclusion. Many thanks to Lynda, Julie and Mike for all their hard work with the arrangements – and to all my fellow walkers for their companionship and good humour.
Taith Gerdded Pen-blwydd yn 40 oed
Roedd yn ymddangos yn syniad da ar y pryd – taith gerdded ar hyd Llwybr Clawdd Offa ar hyd Bryniau Clwyd ar ddiwrnod braf o haf i nodi 40 mlynedd ers sefydlu ein Tirwedd Genedlaethol ryfeddol – neu Ardal o Harddwch Naturiol Eithriadol fel y’i gelwir am y rhan fwyaf o’i bodolaeth. Dewisom ddydd Sul ym mis Gorffennaf ond, ychydig ddyddiau ynghynt, daeth crib o bwysau uchel â chyfnod o dywydd eithriadol o gynnes i’r DU. Ar ôl ystyriaeth ofalus iawn, ac o ystyried y diffyg cysgod llwyr ar y llwybr rhwng Bwlch Pen Barras a Bodfari, gwnaethom y penderfyniad i ohirio’n anfoddog.
Aildrefnwyd ar gyfer dydd Sul yng nghanol mis Hydref mewn tymereddau llawer oerach ond, wrth i’r diwrnod agosáu, roedd rhagolygon y tywydd ymhell o fod yn garedig. Arweiniodd hyn at rai tynnu’n ôl yn hwyr ond, pan ddaeth y diwrnod, roedd 12 o gerddwyr caled yn cyfarfod â’r bws yn yr ysgol ym Modfari ar gyfer y daith i’r man cychwyn ym maes parcio uchaf Moel Famau. Roedd Cadeirydd y Cyfeillion, Martyn Holland, a’r trefnydd, Mike Smart, yno i’n gweld ni’n gadael, y ddau ohonyn nhw’n gwella o broblemau a olygai nad oedden nhw’n gallu ymuno â ni ar droed. I ffwrdd â ni mewn hwyliau da, gyda phartner Mike, Lynda, yn arwain, grŵp hwyliog yn benderfynol o fwynhau’r diwrnod. Yn ogystal â hynny, roedd y gwelededd ar ein copa cyntaf ac uchaf, Moel Famau, i lawr i 20 llath! Roedd hi’n bwrw glaw ac yn wyntog hefyd!
Digon o’r pethau negyddol. Tawelodd y glaw yn fuan, roedd y gwynt yn ein cefnau, a gwellodd y gwelededd hefyd wrth i ni gerdded dros Foel Dywyll a Llys y Coed. Nid oedd unrhyw olygfeydd pell i Eryri, man cychwyn ein gwesteion arbennig, Cyfarwyddwr Cymdeithas Eryri, Rory Francis a’i wraig Kathy. Roeddent yn ddigyffro ac yn eithaf hapus gyda’r golygfeydd ar draws y Dyffryn wrth i Foel Arthur a Phen y Cloddiau gael eu hychwanegu at ein rhestr o goncwestau. Erbyn i ni ddisgyn i lawr tuag at Bodfari roedd hyd yn oed darn bach o awyr las! Roedden ni i gyd wedi mwynhau diwrnod o olygfeydd a thywydd amrywiol mewn cwmni gwych, gan gyrraedd Ysgol Bodfari, lle roedden ni wedi cael caniatâd i barcio, ar ôl cerdded dros 10 milltir gyda 2000 troedfedd o ddringfa.
Yno i’n cyfarch roedd Martyn a Mike – ond yn bwysicaf oll Julie, yn parhau â thraddodiad teithiau cerdded 50fed Pen-blwydd ODP gyda chacennau a diodydd blasus – jin Cymreig lleol i’r rhai nad oeddent yn gyrru, a ddaeth â’r diwrnod i ben gwych. Diolch yn fawr i Lynda, Julie a Mike am eu holl waith caled gyda’r trefniadau – ac i’m holl gyd-gerddwyr am eu cwmni a’u hiwmor da.