Wales Weekend – October 2005

29 Oct 2005

Vince drove up from Kent on Friday, arriving at about 8.15pm. We departed in my car at 6.05am on Saturday morning to drive to Bala. Breakfast stop at the Little Chef, Oswestry.

We arrived at the old quarry car park (SH832393) at about 10.00am, and started our walk at 10.15am. Began with 1.5km eastward walk on the road, before turning right onto a track that lead south to the dam on Llyn Arenig Fawr. Walked across the dam, forded the outflow, and followed the obvious path over Carreg Lefan and upwards to Y Castell where we stopped for a snack and coffee (two ravens seen).  

                                          

Continued around into the cwm at Bwlch Blaen-y-nant, following the path that traverses the north-east spur, eventually turning right to ascend to the summit. Having not seen a single soul on the walk so far, we were surprised to find eight people on the summit. We took lunch in the summit shelter, which had a memorial plaque to the crew of a Flying Fortress that crashed here in 1943.

 

We dropped down to the saddle and then on up to the South Top. Severe gale and no views. The wind was causing the wire fence to make an horrendous noise. Returned to the col, and then descended steeply north-westwards to the ruin at Fridd Nant y Pysgod, where we had another break and finished our coffee. Continued on an often wet and boggy path back to the quarry where the car was parked. Drive back through Bala to the Goat Inn at Maerdy.

 

 

 

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Arenig Fawr	854		Nuttall
	Arenig Fawr South Top	836		Nuttall

 

30 Oct 2005

On checking out of The Goat, drove the few miles to Glyndyfrdwy (on the A5 between Corwen and Llangollen). Conditions not very promising; torrential rain, water flooding across the road in places, wipers on double speed. Parked in the lay by and decided to try a walk in spite of the weather. Put on our boots and waterproofs in the pouring rain, probably both of us thinking we were absolutely bonkers.

Ascended the metalled road (in continuous rain) to the northern edge of Ceiriog Forest, then westwards to SJ134393. As the rain had  now stopped had our coffee break here. Continued west to the summit of Moel Fferna, through the infamous Berwyn heather. Lunch in the summit shelter. The weather had improved and the sun was now shining. No sign of the trig pillar on the summit, even though it is marked on the OS map.

Descended north-east and then north to Carrog Plantation. We were surprised to see a woodcock on the descent, and there were also dozens of pheasants. Obviously this was a shooting estate as there were several shooting butts dotted around. Continued eastwards across sheep pasture and a muddy and slippery lane back to Glyndyfrdwy and the car.

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Moel Fferna	630		Nuttall