Cad East

           

                                                                                           Click map above for large detailed map

                                  

                         click the above image for larger sized picture 

       Starting point is the little chef services east of Dolgellau. From here head east on the A470 until you meet the A487 which is on your right side. Once on the A487 you will pass the Cross foxes Pub, keep going for a couple of miles and you will see before you the narrow entrance to the valley, this is the best location for photography, keep driving until you reach a big lay-by on your right hand side. Park in here, as of December 07 it is still free parking. If you look down the road to the south you will see the Tal y llyn( lake ).

                            

                                                                  

Cad East is one of the very few locations that you can actually drive 95 per cent of the way to the top, you can either go straight up the footpath opposite the small quarry on the bend to the north of the car park or you can drive around the back of the big hill and have a slightly easier climb. To walk from the roadside locate the path and follow it up the old slate path/dried stream which curves to the right near the top. Once at the top you should walk south a little further until you can see the end of the Dinas/Bwlch pass. From this position here you will mainly be getting bottom side shots and the sun will be behind you most of the day. If you walk up the hill to the south up near the tallest part of the valley from here you will get the aircraft as they straighten out again as they continue in level flight down the valley. To go round the back in your car you need to locate the gated track near the entrance to the valley (remembering to close the gates as you pass through them). If you keep going until the third gate you will see a small lay-by for around half a dozen sensibly parked cars, from here you can walk across on fairly even terrain for about 100yrds until you reach the edge of the hill. Or if you follow the fenceline up towards the summit which is a five minute steady climb. Climb is probably not the correct word as it is only a gentle slope. there tends to be some boggy parts on this hill so tread carefully.

                                              

       Try not to be put off by those who have been before to this location telling you its only good for underside shots, its a fantastic place to spend a day especially the view from the top of the hill. From Cad East you can see aircraft in other valleys and over the tops of the hills. One thing you will soon notice when at the Cad locations is that Dinas always seems busier than Cad, and when your at Dinas, Cad seems to get more traffic. 

                            

                  Above and Below, the 2 types of Tornado in RAF service, Gr4 (Top) and the F3 below and both shots were from the same piece of hillside

                            

                                                                                                                                                  

You can sit in the parking up place and watch the aircraft as they come through the pass unfortunately you will be below them. If you are able to walk and navigate across bumpy grass terrain etc. you might be able to reach the position for cad east. simply walk across the field towards the valleys edge as mentioned previously Cad west is not suitable unless you are in shape to tackle the very steep climb, this is even a test for able bodied people With RAF Valley being so close it wont suprise you to find that hawks make up a large proportion of the traffic. The guys from the lowfly.net forum have proved that with team work a person in a wheel chair can use this location. Click here for further details