[1] The walk starts at the War Memorial between the Chapel and Church in Bethesda.
(A) Bethesda is one the few remaining slate quarrying centres in North Wales. One of the last of the large quarries dominates the town, The town itself is made up of smaller communities who are linked together by a network of public footpaths.
With your back to the Memorial turn right and walk away down the High Street. Take the first road, Penybryn, on the right. At the mini roundabout take the left fork - signposted Ysgol Penybryn . Go past the school,on your right, to arrive at Penybryn Place - a wide space with much red road markings. Where the main road bends to the left turn right into Frydlas Road. Almost immediately turn left up the steps at the footpath sign. Continue to the next road. Turn right and then left up Cilfodan Terrace. Follow this road as it climbs steadily going first left then right. The road narrows passing the low terraced houses at Tanyfoel. Continue until you reach open country.
[2] You are now in open country and an area that was exploited for quarrying. Make your way up the hill ahead crossing over the leat. This is Moel Faban. Continue up to the summit. Pass to the right of the cairn shelter and follow the path, which gradually curves right down to the pass. Cross over a stream and then pick up a broader green road and turn left, uphill, along it.
This was the access road to the last quarry on these hills which closed about 70 years ago.
After about 150 metres take the lower track and follow this past the now disused quarry. Once past the quarry the track narrows to a path. Continue to follow it as it goes away from the quarry. Eventually you arrive a junctions of paths with several going off left.
[3] Take the track with the stonier surface and follow up hill and into the pass.
[4] The track levels out and just before it starts to go downhill take the path (created by the graziers quad bikes) right up hill to the summit of Moel Wnion.
At the summit there is a stone shelter surrounding the remains of a Trig Point. Continue ahead along the well defined footpath going slightly right. This path becomes less distinct eventually disappearing altogether. Continue on your existing line, passing a patch of rushes to reach a more distinct path alongside a ditch. This is the public right of way indicated on the map.
[5] Go left along this distinct footpath as it contours around the side of the mountain. Ignore minor paths going off to the right of the path. The path fades but is still distinct. You will eventually reach derelict sheep pens in a relatively sheltered spot. From here head down to the wall and turn left to walk along another distinct green track over the stream. Once across the stream head down towards the wall and then walk with it on your right hand side. The wall bends distinctly right and, before the wall bends left again, go to the ladder stile on your right.
Do not go over this stile!
[6] With your back to the stile you can see a well defined footpath going between two stones across the side of the mountain. Follow this path ahead and across another distinct footpath going left to right downhill. After crossing this path, continue in roughly a straight line.
(B) The Priests Footpath links the communities of Abergwyngregin, Bethesda and Nant Peris. It is reputed to have been used by priests, hence the name. It is also known as "The Lord's Path" because it crosses land owned by Lord Penrhyn. Legend has it that there was a chapel in this area. There are the remains of a possible structure in this area. The location is though disputed by a local historian who maintains that it was further west.
You join a green track which goes diagonally right where before becoming stony and crossing a stream. Leave the track at this point going off left along a faint footpath. This path quickly becomes more distinct. The next section is likely to be wet and muddy with small streams crossing the path. Go down into a small gully and cross a stream. Continue towards the corner of the wall ahead. The path now curves left, then bends right. As you come out of these bends leave the main footpath and take the fainter footpath going left slightly uphill.
[5] Follow this path as it goes along the side of Moel Faban to reach the access gate you walked through earlier which led you on to the open access. Retrace your steps back to the centre of Bethesda.