Jane went home this morning so I was on my own today. The weather was fabulous again.  Coming out of Harlech, the track is somewhat inland of the beach, turning off the A96 across fields then on an old road or farm track through some rather pleasant woods at Morfa Harlech. 

Back out over open farmland, the track then turns inland along Traeth Bach, which is the estuary of the Afon Dwyfryd (River). The land is marshy, but the views across to Portmeirion and Porthmadog are splendid. The path skirts around the base of Ogof Foel, but I chose to climb the peak, which is not very high, to enjoy the view.  The sunlight was hazy, but Cnicht could be seen in the near distance and the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) on the far horizon. I stopped to enjoy my lunch and contemplate life for a while.

Coming back down the slope there is an easy track over the estuary edge, a little to the west of the railway line, which takes you across the river to join the main road at Penrhyndeudraeth.

The village has had that name since the mid-nineteenth century when the surrounding swamp land was drained by David William of Castell Deudraeth. The village grew in line with the expansion of the North Wales slate industry and in the 1920s a factory for the manufacture of explosives (used to blast the slate) was situated there.  It closed down in 1995.

The day was somewhat marred by a lack of food opportunities in Minffordd, where my car was parked. Nevertheless, another gold day and an easy 11.9 miles.