Wales Trip: Day 7. Stwlan Dam & Diphwys Casson Quarry, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog. Stunning!

Wales Trip: Day 7.
Saturday 25th June 2022.

Stwlan Dam & Diphwys Casson Quarry are both located in the village of Tanygrisiau in an area within Blaenau Ffestiniog - the upper end of the Vale of Ffestiniog in the county of Gwynedd, north-west Wales.

The nearby Ffestiniog power station, the high Stwlan Dam and Llyn Ystradau, colloquially known as Tanygrisiau Reservoir, are part of a pumped storage hydroelectricity installation. Much nearer the railway station is a waterfall on the Afon Cwmorthin and below the falls, and powered by a different water source, is a very small hydro-electric power station.

The road up to the dam is a steep climb which is favoured by cyclists and appears on many lists of must cycle routes to tackle! Some passed us on the way up between the heavy showers we encountered ALL day! The views at the top of both the dam and adjacent quarry offer some stunning landscapes of which a photo cannot give any justice. Hopefully though you can get some sort of idea of just how beautiful the area is.

Fab birthday hike with plenty of food and drink waiting for us back at the cabin! Did just under 9 miles in total.