Dinas
Location: 5 miles east of Dolgellau on the A470 road to Dinas Mawddwy, hence the name of the pass being called Dinas. This was probably the first place used for low level photography, and when looking down the valley from the main viewing locations you get a fantastic view of the aircraft as they snake there way through the twist and turns of this very narrow valley. From this location you can see aircraft as they zip over the countryside from Bala down to the Cad pass and then you can wait in anticipation for 4 minutes until they hopefully make a full circuit of the loop and fly past your location. The Bwlch is made up of many ledges although in theory there are only 4 main ledges, although you can shoot great images from anywhere on this rocky hill side. Above the village of Dinas and Minllyn are a few good locations , although you may need to scramble around through the bush to reach them, at the entrance to the main artery of the valley is the relatively newly named location Blue bell hill. If you venture this way in May you will see the reason why the location got its name. This is a mamouth climb and is partially on restricted property and the owner does not take kindly to photographers, so be careful that you stick within your right of way. Further up the valley past blue bell on the other side is the Spur, or ankle break ridge being another nickname. This location is really one to avoid if the sun is out, great for those grey days and some fantstic top sides can be had of aircraft as they line up through the Bulk. the final location is the exit, from here some great backdrops can be had especially if the aircraft pull topside as they turn for the Cad Pass.
The Bwlch ( the bulk)
The location at the Bwlch is probably as good a location as you could ever wish for, the sun is pretty much behind you nearly all day except during the long summer hours where the early morning light can be a little hazy to your right. It has 3 main ledges were you have plenty of flat space, the first 2 ledges are quite big and flat and can accommodate quite a few people with chairs. At this location you can usually shelter from the wind unless it is blowing from the north. Even in the summer it is windy at this location, it seems to blow all year round. The aircraft usually travel from east to west and either exit to the left and to Cad pass, straight on to Dolgellau or a right turn to Bala.
Location: 5 miles east of Dolgellau on the A470 road to Dinas Mawddwy, hence the name of the pass being called Dinas. From the Little Chef at Dolgellau, head on the A470 for approx 5 miles , where you will head up a long gradient, at the top of this gradient there is a big rocky hillside on the right and a car park for about 20 cars. Park here sensibly, because on an average sunny day it often becomes full. This was probably the first place used for low level photography, and when looking down the valley from the main viewing locations you get a fantastic view of the aircraft as they snake there way through the twist and turns of this very narrow valley. From this location you can see aircraft as they zip over the countryside from Bala down to the Cad pass and then you can wait in anticipation for 4 minutes until they hopefully make a full circuit of the loop and fly past your location. The Bwlch is made up of many ledges although in theory there are only 4 main ledges, although you can shoot great images from anywhere on this rocky hill side.
A typical pose from a Tornado, at the bulk
This guide will only deal with the bottom and top shelves. From your parked car you need to climb over the style in the corner of the car park and follow the fence line towards the massive hillside of rock in front of you. This piece of land does often get very wet and boggy, so take care with your footing, as a mistake here could see you spend the rest of the day with soaking feet. Follow the path up the hill which heads slightly to the right. About 100 ft up the path and before you get to the left hand turn you need to stop and head off the track in a 45 degree angle under the big rocky hill side, if you are lucky you will be able to see the paths of those who have travelled there before you. Keep on going until you can see right down the valley, then have a look around and you should notice a big flat area which is very warn , caused by many people using this location over time. It would be a very rare that you would be at this location alone and would take the average person 15 minutes from the car to the location.
Above a Hawk taking a different line, bringing the aircraft closer to the hillside for a low flyby
Layout Picture of the Bwlch, Click here
Approx location of the Mach Loop click map for the large image
The top shelf
To reach the top shelf, follow the guide for the bottom shelf but disregard the left turn off the path. Keep on the track as it heads slightly to the right, then you will see at the slightly steep part that it heads to the left. Follow the track as it heads up and back down the valley until you reach a fence. Climb over the fence and head in the same direction as before for about 50 yrds then taking care head towards the road on your left untl you can see the car park and also the view down the valley. This area is very grassy so take care if standing close to the edge of a steep and long drop.
A twin seat Harrier shot from the middle ledge
Whichever location you choose, make sure you arrive before 8am to make sure of a parking space
Please do not block the gate like this car and van have done in the picture above because the farmer uses that gate often to let his stock in and out of the field, see image below.
Blue Bell Hill
A strong word of caution. There is a certain part of this Hillside that is public access, the non public part belongs to a landowner who is NOT tourist friendly. We will highlight this area as soon as we possibly can.
Below, the view half way up Blue Bell.
The Spur
The spur is one of those locations that you will love or hate. If the sun is out, it is probably best avoided as you will be shooting into it, although some people can make this work and others tend to cope not so well. This location provides you with sometimes dramatic topside shots as aircraft bank with their cockpits towards you as they line up to tackle the Bwlch, and often flashing vapour. To reach this location, you can either head out of the car park and across the road, as for the north side by climbing straight up the hill and heading down the valley once you reach the top. Doing this offers you the chance to stroll to this location with your camera in your hand with the chance to capture different view points. Be careful though as the ground is very uneven.
The location to be is just above where the red dot on the above picture is placed, as you will see you will get a very good topside shot of aircraft turning into the Bwlch.
The preferred method is to park your car in one of the small pull in places as seen in the picture below, then simply climb over the fence and follow the sheep trails at about 45 degrees until you reach the point where you can see down the valley to blue bell hill. You will have to adjust your position to suit your photographic needs.
click the picture above for the larger image with details
Above, a Hawk through the spur.
The North Side(Bwlch)
Simply walk out of the Car park at the Bwlch and very carefully cross the road and over the fence and up the public foot path. There is a flat piece of ground about 200ft up which is ideal, or you may choose to position yourself on one of the rock formations lower down. From the car park to the top is only about ten minutes because every step you take is vertical as it is very steep. This means you wont waste any steps walking in another direction, there is a rickety wire fence that will provide some grip as you climb, but beware this location is for the very fit among you. A location that is best suited to afternoons if you intend going out on a Sunny day. Aircraft will give you about 3 seconds warning, if they take a wide swing before coming through the narrow pass, from here, side on and undersides are most common.
Below, taken from the flat ledge, 200ft up is this early morning Hawk at 300mm
The Exit
Above, the bwlch side of the pass from the north side, click image for larger picture with details
Another useful location in the Valley is the exit of the pass at the western end towards Dolgellau. Aircraft pass the Bwlch and often turn topside towards the Cad Pass, from this location with the light behind you can give impressive shots of the topsides as they are in the turn. A 300mm lens is more than adequate at this location, do not be tempted to climb too high here because the higher up you go the further back you are from the aircraft. From the car park walk along the bottom of the hill until you are almost at the bend in the road and then make your way up towardsthe obvious bank until you reach the first of two flat ledges. Aircraft can be seen as they enter the pass at Dinas village, then they are lost for a few seconds as they bank into the corner before appearing past the shelf's of the Bwlch. From here you can see the aircraft going into the Cad Pass more clearer. The only downside is that sometimes aircraft may give you a suprise if they enter the Dinas valley very low, you may not see them until they shoot out past the Bwlch.
A Tucano exiting the valley taken at 400mm
The Village
location. 9 miles east of Dolgellau and 3 miles down the A470 from the Bwlch(bulk). This part of the loop is probably the busiest of all the locations in the loop and it was suprising to find that 75 per cent of all traffic coming over the village of Dinas doesn't in fact come through the valley leading to the Bulk and Dolgellau. Aircraft can either pull left into the Dinas valley or go right towards the Dyfi valley, also aircraft can also turn into the Dinas valley from the Dyfi valley so be alert for aircraft in your 1 o'clock position. From the Buckley pines, walk across the road and follow on foot up the forest Track, half way up you will reach a Bin and a path on your left heading back and upwards, this is the location above the Buckley pines hotel. Carry straight on until you reach the corner where there is a clearing. From this location about 20 percent of the aircraft are low enough with the remaining 80 percent cutting the corner above you. You will also need lightning fast skills in order to lock onto the aircraft as they appear without warning to your right.
Above the Buckleey Pines at Minllyn. This is a clearing on a woodland path which can allow shots of aircraft as they are in level flight as they approach the turn towards Dolgellau. On the same track as you go to point 1 about halfway up you will come across a small lay-by with a bin, park here and follow on foot the path going up the hill until you reach a clearing before the forest begins. From here you can get a decent view down the valley to your right and see the aircraft approaching. This is an awkward position in the morning due to the sun being in front of you and might be better to winter viewing as the foliage will be better to see through. At this point the aircraft will be level or slightly above you, but the big hill with trees in front of you will provide excellent backdrops for about 30 percent of images. A slightly better advantage can be had by climbing up the scrubland about 50ft above you, the ground is very loose so be carefull. Has you have drove halfway up the climb to the position is fairly easy and should take around 5 minutes.
Above the Buckley Pines Hotel, Minllyn
Below, A hawk uncropped at 400mm above the Buckley pines
Below Taken from the Mill car park
Below, a picture taken above the Buckley Pines
