A stone farmhouse standing on a hillside above a low stone bridge. — The 16th-century farmhouse of Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, Conwy | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Wales

Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant and Cwm Wybrnant walk

This walk takes you through the natural and social history of this Welsh upland valley. At its centre is Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, who translated the Bible into Welsh. You'll walk through traditional upland farmland, along forest roads and an old drovers' road.

Toilets

The toilets at Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant are open when the farmhouse is open. Please check our opening times before setting out.

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Total steps: 6

Start point

Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant car park, grid ref: SH771523

Step 1

Walk to the entrance of the car park and turn left down the tarmac lane towards Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, a 16th-century farmhouse.

Ancient fields

The fields on your right are marked on an 1838 map. The building near the south-east corner housed cattle in winter and the hedge near the stream marks the parish boundary between Dolwyddelan and Penmachno. The sunken areas in the lower field are peat diggings, used for fuel in upland areas. The soft rush (canhwyllfrwynen, Welsh for candle rush) was used as candles until the late 19th century. Their light was dim and they were often dipped in animal fat, so had an unpleasant smell.

Step 2

As you reach the entrance gate at Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant, you're welcome to stop off and explore the grounds, before continuing along the track over the river and to your right. Take the gate on your left and begin ascending a rough path.

Birthplace of William Morgan

A bright boy, at 10 years old, William Morgan was educated with the local landlord's children, at Gwydir Castle. William went on to St John's College Cambridge, leaving with a degree in divinity and speaking nine languages. He then translated the Bible into Welsh for Queen Elizabeth I, which took a decade. In 1588 a thousand Welsh bibles were printed, which helped standardise the Welsh language and ensure its survival.

Step 3

Continue up a steep path. Pass through a small gate before turning left past a large smooth rock on your right. Keep the dry-stone wall on your left.

Drovers' road

Here you come to a section of the old drovers' road that runs between stone walls. This ancient path to Dolwyddelan was the main road between Machno and Lledr valleys. Along this road, small black or speckled cattle raised locally were driven to market. Before the railway opened at Dolwyddelan in 1879, the cattle were shod at Dolwyddelan before leaving on foot for England, where they provided the main source of beef. Porthmyn (drovers) led these cattle on foot to the Midlands, Essex or Kent. Travelling over 14-16 miles (22.5-26km) a day, it was a long journey.

Step 4

Walk along the drovers' path until you come to the junction with the forestry path. Turn left. You'll soon reach seats that overlook the Wybrnant valley.

Tŷ Mawr

From here you gain a vantage point down over Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant and can only imagine what life must have been like here in Tudor times. A huge oak lintel over the fireplace at the far end of the main hall dates the first floor to 1565 (the year William went to Cambridge). It would replace a central open fire with smoke dissipating through a thatched roof, a sure sign that the drovers' inn was doing well, with more privacy for the family, who until then would have shared the main living hall with passing drovers. Cattle would overwinter in a room at the other end of the house.

Step 5

Continue along the forestry road.

Step 6

At the fork, bear right to continue along the path and return to the car park.

End point

Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant car park, grid ref: SH771523

Trail map

Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant and Cwm Wybrnant walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Penmachno, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, LL25 0HJ

01766510120

eryri@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant and Cwm Wybrnant walk

Toilets

Total steps: 6

Total steps: 6

Start point

Step 1

Ancient fields

Step 2

Birthplace of William Morgan

Step 3

Drovers' road

Step 4

Tŷ Mawr

Step 5

A home for nature

Step 6

End point

Trail map

Address

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By road

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Toilets

Total steps: 6

Total steps: 6

Start point

Step 1

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Step 2

Look out for...

Step 3

Look out for...

Step 4

Look out for...

Step 5

Look out for...

Step 6

End point

Trail map