1) From Isfryn turn left, crossing the river and crossroads and go straight on up the hill into the main village, passing Pen Pentre, on your right which used to be part of the station buildings. Just past Bryn Derwen, the big house on the left, is a narrow walled lane that was the route of a tramway used to transport slate from the mines in the hills to Aberangell station opposite. Just up the hill is the Bethania Chapel; this was built in 1903 when the congregation outgrew Hebron Chapel (our house, next door to Isfryn) – Hebron chapel used to regularly overflow and people had to listen outside.

2) At the road junction at the top of the hill carry straight on passing, on your right, what used to be the school and is now the village hall. Continue on the road for ¼ of a mile.

3) Just before the 1^st house on the right, turn diagonally left up a steep farm track. Follow this, through a farm gate, to the pedestrian gate at the top of the hill. Take a moment here to have a breather and take in the lovely views of the valley. Carry on through the gate and follow the path until you arrive at the old farmhouse of Cefn Byriaeth. We think the name means something like “ridge of the brief winter”.

4) At the house turn right, uphill, on the unmetalled forestry road and follow this through the woods for ¼ mile to a crossroads. Turn left at the crossroads and follow the forestry road down to another crossroads where it meets a tarmac lane.

5) Turn left onto the tarmac lane and follow this to the T-Junction at the end. Turn left at the T-junction and follow the road through the upper village. 50m along the road on the left is one of the village springs, Ffynnon Byseiri (Carpenter’s spring), used until mains water arrived in the 1920s. It is marked with a bench and a slate sign (which translates roughly as ‘it certainly gave a drink’). Just turn the tap for cool, tasty Welsh spring water!

6) At the next T-junction turn right down the hill, passing the chapel again, to return to Isfryn.