This walk takes in part of the beautiful Mawddach Trail which is a 9 mile (15km) walk from Dolgellau to Barmouth, and also the lovely woodland at Abergwynant.
The Mawddach Trail follows the track bed of the old railway line from Barmouth to Ruabon. The line was opened in 1865 and proved to be very popular with visitors. The line was also used briefly to carry slate. As cars became more popular, the line became less cost-effective and was closed in 1965. On the northern side of the track is the river Mawddach which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation because of the salt marsh and lowland peat habitats.
Abergwynant Woods has been an ancient woodland since at least the 17th century. During the 1960s conifer trees were planted there and most of the native trees were cleared. The site was acquired by the Snowdonia National Park Authority in 1996 and since then, work has been done to bring the rhododendron ponticum under control, remove the conifer trees and restore the native trees like the sessile oak, birch and holly. Soon after the clearing of the rhododendron began, more birds were heard in the area.
As the track follows the Gwynant river you will come across a great example of an old lime kiln. Ships and boats would carry limestone here from the Gogarth area in Llandudno, and the limestone would then be burnt in the kiln to create lime to be spreaded over the land to fertilize it.