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the Degree Confluence Project
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United Kingdom : Wales

4.8 km (3.0 miles) WNW of Blaenau-Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom
Approx. altitude: 518 m (1699 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 53°S 176°E

Accuracy: 2.2 km (1.4 mi)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: As close as you can get in a car #3: The wiggly road to Stwlan dam #4: The dam and the intake towers #5: Aerial view of Tanygrisiau Stwlan reservoir and the CP

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  53°N 4°W (visit #5) (incomplete) 

#1: Some 2.2 km away from the confluence

(visited by Paul Phillips, Rita Phillips, Katharina Phillips and Maximilian Phillips)

08-Jul-2004 -- An unsuccessful attempt perhaps only half hearted attempt! I've since been accused by friends of being a fair weather CP hunter! Perhaps fairly true but ...

Anyway the day started off with just me and Rita planning to do the CP the kids would stay with their grandparents! That was the first problem the kids refused so it would be a slower walk but if the weather held out it would be OK.

We finally left Criccieth around 11:00 and made the 40 minute drive to Tanygrisiau our intended starting point, weather in Criccieth was sunny if a little chilly with a slight breeze. By the time of our arrival in Tanygrisiau the weather had changed to light showers with a very stiff breeze and decidedly chilly!

At this point the decision was made not to try the CP in these conditions as previously stated in my plans for the confluence I wanted to get to this one during the Summer and in Dry conditions something that nobody has yet done, may not be so easy as average rainfall for the area is 3m!

Anyway we decided to get as close as possible to the CP using the car! This we did by paying 3.50 GBP at the visitor centre of the first hydro-electric power station in the UK for a key that let us through a locked gate and enabled us to drive to the Stwlan dam which holds the Stwlan reservoir in place that feeds the power station below.

The road is very steep and very bendy as can be seen in Pic 3

Walking across the dam the wind was now so strong that I was genuinely afraid of having my spectacles blown off! Definitely not the weather I'd planned for.

Didn't have another opportunity to make a dry attempt this year during my holiday. Ah well maybe better luck next year!


 All pictures
#1: Some 2.2 km away from the confluence
#2: As close as you can get in a car
#3: The wiggly road to Stwlan dam
#4: The dam and the intake towers
#5: Aerial view of Tanygrisiau Stwlan reservoir and the CP
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
In the Snowdonia National Park.