Last Alteration: Sunday 07 April 2013
Cwm Bychan
Cwm Bychan
Llanbedr, Gwynedd
Cwm Bychan is a lake in the Snowdonia National Park, formed by glaciers. The area, known as the Harlech Dome, is made up of some of the oldest rocks on earth, around 350 million years ago.
How to get here:
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Road: A5 - Follow the A5, and then head south on the A470 towards Blaenau Ffestiniog. Turn right onto the A496, and then right onto the A487 and then left back onto the A496. Follow this to Harlech, then turn left up the hill, crossing the B4573 and up until you reach a crossroads, turning left. Follow this, bearing right not long after a standing stone, and this then heads down a valley to a river. Make a sharp left and then follow the road as it head up to the lake. (28 miles, 49m) +
There is a car park at the end of the lake (fee payable)
Access: publicStatus: recognisable Road Pass
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Doctor drives Bessie through the landscape.
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Doctor stops Bessie as he hears the Master's call.
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Master calls out to the Doctor.
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Doctor and Master discuss why he's there.
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Master runs as bolts blast the ground near him.
Access: publicStatus: recognisable "Tangle Trees"
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Doctor drives along the road in Bessie.
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Doctor drives along the road in Bessie.
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Doctor explains The Death zone to Sarah.
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Doctor drives on through the Death Zone.
Access: publicStatus: recognisable Woods
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
The Five Doctors
Filmed: 15 Mar 1983
Routes to more distant locations:
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Portmeirion (The Masque of Mandragora). Road (12 miles, 29m) : Head down the road from the lake, then turn right, up the hill. Follow the road, turning left at the end, and then at the crossroads turn right towards Harlech. At the turn, continue across the B4573 down to the A496, turning right. Follow the A496 towards Maentwrog, then either turn left and cross the toll bridge to Penrhyndeudraeth, or continue onto Maentwrog and then turn left onto the A487 to Penrhyndeudraeth (8 miles, 10m longer). Following the A487 to Minffordd, turn right onto the road that leads to Portmeirion.
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Cwt y Bugail Quarry (Rigcycle) (The Five Doctors). Road (19 miles, 43m) : Head down the road from the lake, then turn right, up the hill. Follow the road, turning left at the end, and then at the crossroads turn right towards Harlech. At the turn, continue across the B4573 down to the A496, turning right. Follow the A496 towards Maentwrog, then turn right onto the A487 and left back onto the A496 towards Blaenau Ffestiniog. Turn right onto the B4391 (Allt Goch) and head to Ffestiniog. Once in town, head northeast on the A470, then turn right, heading under the railway and on towards Cwm Teigl. The quarry is eventually at the end of the (steep?) road.
Additional locations as the crow flies:
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Plas Brondanw (The Five Doctors): 6.95 miles. 
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Carreg Y Foel Gron (The Five Doctors): 9.51 miles.
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Nant Ffrancon Pass (The Abominable Snowmen): 18.04 miles. 
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Powis Castle (Warriors Gate): 39.07 miles.
Related Stories
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The Five Doctors [15 Mar 1983]: The Third Doctor drives through the Death Zone
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