Wales Weekend – July 2004

Fri 9 Jul 2004

Vince arrived at about 8.00pm having driven up from Kent. We set off for Wales at about 8.15pm, arriving at the Doleinion campsite at around 11.30pm. Erected the tent by the light of the car’s headlights. Finally turned in at about 12.20am.

Sat 10 Jul 2004

Rose at 8.00am for breakfast etc. There was a light drizzle, so we sat in the car to drink our tea. Finally began walking around 9.15am.

Followed the Minffordd path that initially ascends through woodland past waterfalls before emerging onto the open hillside. Continued on this path  to the edge of Llyn Cau, where we stopped for a break.  Retraced our steps for a short distance and began climbing steeply to the top of a

 

rocky ridge. At the top turned right and followed the crest of the ridge to the summit of Craig Cwm Amarch. A short descent, then ascended a well cairned path to Penygadair (the summit of Cadair Idris). We had our lunch here in a well made shelter (not the building). 

Dropped down in a north-easterly direction to level ground, keeping to the northern edge of the ridge. A walk of about 2km brought us to the summit of Mynydd Moel. The plan was to follow the ridge south-east for 250m and at the 820m contour turn right onto a bearing of 171deg mag and descend to a path that should become distinct after about 500m. This was found to be too steep, so we contoured around further east and descended to a wall which we followed until we found our intended path. A short break here before descending through the woodland we walked through on the outward journey. Got back to the camp at about 3.30pm.

We had our evening meal in the Minffordd Hotel, just five minutes walk from the camp site.

Summit	Height (m)	Status
Craig Cwm Amarch	791	Nuttall
Cadair Idris	893	Nuttall
Mynydd Moel	863	Nuttall

 

Sun 11 Jul 2004

Rise at 7.30am, breakfast, and then pack away the tent. Drive round to Cwm Cywarch for today’s walk.

Walked north for 600m on the metalled road, then took the path that follows the wall to Bryn Hafod. Followed the wall west for a short distance then turned north-west and headed uphill towards an obvious ravine. Crossed the river and ascended on the north bank. Eventually the ground levelled out and we arrived at a small pond where we stopped for a break. Continued north-eastwards, following a fence, towards Aran Fawddwy. The ground was quite boggy, but large planks of wood had been placed over the worst bits.

Followed the fence to the southern top and then continued to the northern top (the actual summit). No views as the summit was shrouded in cloud. This was supposed to be our lunch stop, but because of wind and mist we decided to descend back to the southern top. Unfortunately the mist had descended on this as well by the time we got back to it, so we continued on our route down the Drws Bach arête, where we eventually stopped for our break.  

                                                                  

The route continued over Drysgol to the saddle (571m) between it and Waun Goch, where we picked up the path that gently descends the north-west flanks of Pen yr Allt Uchaf. Arrived back at car at about 2.30pm.

Summit	Height (m)	Status
Waun Camddwr	620	Nuttall
Aran Fawddwy	905	Nuttall