Trip report : Pen Plynlymon Arwystli

Pen Plynlymon Arwystli
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

There is something about Plynlymon in the snow, perhaps its the central location with the extensive views or perhaps it just so easy to get to a point you can walk from. Whatever it is it a gem.

Route descriptions are superfluous on this occasion as the route from Eisteddfa Gurig has featured before but for a change I cut back and dropped into the valley far higher up than normal.








Other photos from this trip

Trip Report: Cader Idris

Llyn Cau
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

If you asked most people to name two Welsh Mountains most would say Snowdon and then be stumped but a few would add Cader Idris as an immediate second choice.

Cader is an old friend for me I first climbed in in 1988 as a student leading a group of local scouts and its now almost reached the list of summits I have visited in every month of the year.

Today it had a few surprises for me, the first a whacking great £4 parking fee at Minfordd. Exit straight away and park in the layby halfway up the pass.

The next was how much fun it is to walk with a dog having been joined by a fried with a gorgeous pointer. The walk itself was classic Cader. Its a while since I climbed Gau Graig first and and this and Mynydd Moel were the aim for the day I left the layby and cut across hillside to the fence leaving two well wrapped up plane spotters on the ridge. From here its a straight climb up to the summit along the fence for the most part but occassionaly veering off to the right most notably at the obvious talus pile as you find a track thought the rocks.

The track finally bring you out on the much underrated Gau Graig, a little pimple walked the other way but a great viewpoint and sense of achievement after an hour.

The walk now unfolds before you heading West along the northern Cader scarp. This is a walk not to be rushed but neither one that overstresses the body despite appearances.

Passing the cairns of Mynydd Moel the trigpoint finally bursts into view against a foreground of white powder snow.

The other benefit of walking this way is that you are almost always facing the sun and at -9degress C on the way to the start that was more than welcome today. However sooner or later you have to drop into Cwm Cau and its shadow and sheets of ice on the hanging valley part of the path.

The final descent is via the woodland on the hillside wooden steps were added several years ago but they are starting to show signs of wear. For some the wood is broken and for many the gravel and soil has been washed out leaving an inch or more to trip the unwary descentant.

All told it was nice to revisit an old friend and nicer still to take a direction that I have tended to ignore in the past


More images from today


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Trip Report: Arenig Fawr

Southern Ridge of Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

The traditional route for the central Arenigs is from the north as access and parking are far more abundant. However finding myself starting in Bala I opted for the link road across the mountains to Trawsfynydd and a pair of southern loops.

A wet day and masses of water in the previous week is not the best agenda for this walk but having left the car at SH805335 and picking up the first of three Deweys at the 518 spot height it was a simple case of heading to the wet col and going out and back to Llyfnant before climbing the main ridge.

The cloud lifted at this point as I headed back south and cut across over thick heather to Moel Ymenyn and the final dDewey of Foel Boeth.

This last leg of up is far from easy firstly you need to head for the col NW of the final top taking care not to get into the green (and wet) stream valley that abuts the woodland. Then there is the case of reaching the top itself. Eschew the western approach for a strike from almost due south where a track is hidden about 10m into the forest and uses a natural cut in the landscape to bring you onto the summit area.

Returning to the car left the final challenge with water levels so high the innocent little Afon Erwent was in full flow forcing a half mile walk upstream until a fence crossed it that just held my weight.

A tiring day all told but rewarding none the less


Other photos from trip

Trip Report : Foel Goch, Arenig

Foel Goch, Arenig from Cwm Da
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

Tucked away on its own above Bala this is one of the least frequented summits in Wales. Before CROW only one right of way offered a line of ascent but with open access its open game on how to get here.

Looking for a change I stopped further north than usual by the entrance to Coed y Bedw (this is more open than the usual stopping point as per Nutall and may be safer)

Curving round behind the farm and little knoll I dropped down to Cwm Da then climbed the rough ground up to the col between FG and Moel Darren. Usually a hard but dry bet in summer this was a boggy slog today and only the constant views kept things going. the going eases at the col but the trig point was still a welcome sign.

From here the path east (care on the electric fences) takes you first to Orddu then beneath Bryn Bras before collecting the track I left at the start.

All told a nice variation on the direct ascent up the wet path of Cwm Da but the next visit to this route will most definitely be done in reverse.


Other photos from this walk

Trip Report: Cader Berwyn

Upper Afon Lwrch from Mynydd Tarw
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

There is really only one walk in the Berwyns for the peak bagger. Leave llanrhaeadr and the waterfall to the coach parties and head east into the upper part of the Afon Lwrch valley. Parking for three to four cars can be found by the river near T'yn y Ffridd then its a simple direct climb up to the top of Mynydd Tarw.

Don't be tempted to rush this section though the climb is direct and steep and eases only in the final 50m once up though the fenceline and easy path lead you onward for the rest of the ridge.

Despite being August the ground is amazingly wet today more like the end of winter than summer and I am left feeling we are in for some bad flooding if there isn't a dry spell soon (edit prophetic words as the first autumn storm reacked havoc across mid Wales a few weeks alter).

With the cloud down there is nothing left but the wet slog over Bronwen, Berwyn and Moel Sych before the return on the ridge over Godor.

Only blessing on yet another cloudy day is the rain more or less held off

Trip report: Ysgafell Wen

Across Llyn Coch to Cnicht, Moelwyns, North Wales
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

The group of hills north of the Crimea Pass have always struck me as a bit of a Curates Egg. Easy walking between the tops but a messy boggy circular to get back to the start if you take the Nutall route.

So for a change I tried something a little different. The Crimea Pass layby was still closed but a bit of the old road forms a new parking place about 200m west of the crest at the start of the track leading towards Llyn Iwerddon. The initial incline is gentle and provides a nice warming up before the climb to the right of the stream up to the lake, pass over the dam and round the left side to gain the standard route across the tops to Ysgafell Wen.

The headwaters of the Ledr is the usual return but instead I retraced a couple of tops keeping away from the fence for a while thenturned Druman to the west and south and cut across the face of Allton the north side. Short on time I returned the way I cam at this point however a continuation of the redge is as possible and makes a nice and far less strength sapping figure of eight.

Trip Report : Eastern Arans

Aran ridge Panorama
Pete Roberts

There is much that can be said in the negative about the hills that fall to the east of the main Aran Ridge but one view and one photo should be enough to tell you why they are a must do for a clear day.

Nowhere outside of central snowdonia does one ridge so dominate the day yet still leave scope to see other ranges or stunning valleys around and about.

The problem is the walk itself. No matter what you do for a circular at some point you need to bite the bullet of the Bwlch y Groes road and at others you have to face 3km of soft spongy peat.

Today I got the peat out the way first with cloud forecast I opted for the top of the pass expecting a wet slog back up. leaving the car park and keeping mainly to the right of the fence it is a long wet walk to the firt peat hag top. The views keep you going however and on reaching the summit the main Aran ridge lies before you. Turning right the track is immediately visible and much drier to the col. Keep on up the slope before cutting across the face of Esgeirion aiming for the top of AfonTwrch where a visible drainage cut runs across the face of Foel Rhudd follow this up to the fence if the weather is bad otherwise cut up on any one of the other smaller ditch lines to the summit.

Take in the northern view here before a simple following of the fence to the peaty top of Esgeiriau Gwynion.

Now the hard work begins a steep descent to the col and a steeper climb to Foel Hafod Fynydd provide a close up of the main ridge and a welcome breather and ideal late lunch stop.

Care is then required by all means follow the ridge and fence due east to the river but its a stiff 40m climb back to the track or steep descent and wider crossing further down. Far better to cut north about 200m down from the fence split on easy ground to a white walled abandoned sheep pen near the point the three northern rivers meet.

From there it is back along the track taking in the ever changing view to the road and the long steady climb to Bwlch y Groes. The tired can now return on the road to the start point but if you still have some energy left the final top of Moel y Cerrig Duon beckons along with its distant vista of Lake Vyrnwy.

Not a day for the wet but great on a clear day like today

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Trip Report : Northern Carneddau

(22-02-08)
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

Putting together a visit to these hills is always a challenge in a day especially in Winter so the prospect of a conference in Llandudno was not to be missed out on.

The forecast was shaping up spot on as the weather cleared on the drive north but I had forgotten what 40mph in wind really means. Parking at the roadhead car park, I know Nutall suggests pull ins on the way up but they really passing spaces without the sign, I opted for Tal y fan first and a clockwise circuit from there this is a good choice especially if you follow the stream up that takes you onto Penygadair and direct to Pen y Castell as it saves a real road slog back to the car.

With the wind picking up Foel fras and Llwytmor were discarded and boy was I glad of it as I was pinned to the fence on numerous occasions as I walked off Drum to the pass.

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Trip report : Away in the Hirnants

(16-02-08)
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

There is something about the Hirnants that can bring out the worst in you. Its really a no mans land between the Berwyns and the Aran ridges that struggles to peek over the 200ft level.

Its saving grace is a road that splits it in two and a forestry track that turns 8km of heather each way into something far more palatable.

Today however was a great day for the walk cold but no wind and the kind of hazy view that is the curse of the photographer in the hills but actually gives better results when looked at on screen at home. As normal I opted for the clockwise loop. I prefer a steep descent of Foel Goch not a slog climb up.

Not the greatest of walks better in the heather season but for a long stretch out after a frustratingly wet few months it was a great day

Trip Report : Cader Idris

There is something about Cader that has the old friend about it. Possibly the fact that I only have a July visit left to see its trig point in every month of the year has something to do with it but today was not one of its crowning moments. The week long forecast for today being the best of the weekend broke on Sun evening and the high level cloud though "dry" was not clever and the wind was biting.

The loop from Minffordd is the obvious choice if taking in all 5 tops with only one driver and the and the stiff climb up though the woods is a great way to start the day. The path is easy and visible once you leave the trees behind but care is needed as you approach the large rock short of Llyn Cau else you miss the track up onto the ridge.

Path repair is ongoing with focus currently about 500m from joining the ridge as it steepens, its expected to take a while I think give the wooden hut that has appeared complete with tools and benches for the staff.

Diving off for one of 6 Geocaches immediately on the route the summit of Craig Cwm Amarch is the first stop. Onward again and after the col bear off at the fourth cairn to traverse under the main summit for Cyfrwy and another cache. A retrace and its on to the main summit and across it via 3 caches to Mynydd Moel.

Care is required in mist on leaving here initially to avoid walking off a cliff then a little later to ensure you don't cut into a valley instead of reaching the ridge to Gau Graig the final summit. remember as you approach to cross over the stile onto the right of the fence to get firmer ground.

Descent is easily off the end and round or the steeper right turn and aim direct. Either way you hit the road and the final cache before diving off on an old alignment back to the car

Photos

Crimea Pass fun and games

My oh my they are making a mess of the top of the pass. The car park is still closed by orange plastic though I can't see why, it's not as if its being used to store things in. However the working is such that at weekends you can park by the stile just to the Blaenau side.

The sad news is that the last really twisty stretch of road is about to go to fast flowing.

update : since posting a friend has told me there is now a temp diversion on the footpath to Moel Dryman and parking is now a non starter up here