About

The Ann Griffiths Trail is a 7 mile linear walk that  follows closely the bank of the River Vyrnwy for most of its length with the Berwyn mountains forming a splendid backdrop. The path runs from Pont Llogel, Llwydiarth to Pontrobert with scenery including river valley and gorge, meadow, woodland and forest.

The walk is named after the 18th Century hymn writer Ann Griffiths who lived in the area. You will pass locations associated with her life including her home at Dolwar Fach and her memorial chapel at Dolanog.

Start your walk from the picnic site at Pont-Llogel in the Dyfnant Forest. From this point a footpath leads down the road below the church of St Mary. Entering the lower car park encounter the first waymarker for the Walk. A loosely surfaced path, ideal for wheelchairs, runs downstream alongside the turbulent waters of the River Vyrnwy.

Follow the Ann Griffiths walk to cross the little stream and observe the water's cascade into the River Vyrnwy. Proceed along a sheep path beside the river, passing through an open larch grove into a long meadow with attractive rocky constrictions. Cross a stile below a cottage. At the meadow's end, angle left to a stile/gate. Walk past Rhyd yr Abadau, a notable crossing point on an old pilgrim's route or monastic droveway.

Pass through gates and cross a sleeper footbridge into woodland via a stile. The path ascends with steps, providing views of the river. Cross a stile partway up, contouring out of the woodland past a sheep pen to a gate onto a farm road. Opposite stands Plas Dolanog, a period farmhouse built in 1664. Turn left to the road junction. The walk turns left, following B4382 northwards, until the white and black gateway of the lane to Dolwar Fach comes into view. Leave the road at a stile/gate onto the open common. Optionally, take a short diversion to see Ann Griffith's home at Dolwar Fach. The Ann Griffiths Walk ascends beside a track to a signpost. From there, you can see Cadair Berwyn, Arans Fawddwy, Benllyn, Maesglasau, and Cadair Idris. Reach Allt Dolanog, which holds the Iron Age hill fort Llys-y-cawr. Descend to join a track, then detour right to Pont Dolanog, a village with amenities including the Ann Griffiths Memorial Chapel.

The path passes through a gate and rises above a pasture to a track junction. Follow the waymarking to reach a footbridge over Nant Dolwar. The path continues, sweeping up left to a track junction, where you go right under conifer woodland. Emerge onto a track near a wooden garden chalet and proceed to the road, turning right to Pontrobert. Passing Coed Lletty'r-aderyn and a long meadow, you can observe the River Vyrnwy. Oak woods filled with bird song surround you. The road crosses Nant y Pandy, which cascades into the river. Enter the village, turn left at the first junction, and left again up the lane to Hen Gapel John Hughes, where the Ann Griffiths Walk concludes.

Who was Ann Griffiths?

Ann Griffiths (1776 - 1805) was a Calvinistic Methodist hymn writer who died at the young age of just 29 years old. Ann lived the majority of her life in Dolanog, near Welshpool any many people travel to the area to visit the places associated with her life and work.

Ann’s hymns are regarded as one of the highlights of Welsh literature and she created just over 70 stanzas in the Welsh language which contain some of the great Christian poetry of Europe. Since the mid-nineteenth century she herself has become a prominent icon in Welsh-speaking Wales and is increasingly well-known to students of hymnology and spirituality outside Wales – not least following the inclusion of an English translation of one of her hymns in the service of enthronement of Dr Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury in February 2003.