Wales Weekend – July 2006

Sat 15 Jul 2006

Vince arrived at 11.15pm on Friday night (after doing an evening inspection of cadets at Erith). We departed for Wales at 6.40am on Saturday morning, stopping at the Little Chef at Oswestry for breakfast. Departed from there at 9.45am for the final leg of the journey.

 

We began the walk near Tyn-y-fridd in the Berwyns at 10.45am (once we had found a spot to park the car, as the place recommended by Nuttall was not suitable). Followed road, byway and then western edge of woodland to the first summit of the day, Mynydd Tarw. Very hot and lots of flies. We thought we heard a wood warbler in the wood to our right as we ascended the first hill. Once on the first summit, we followed the fence north-west to Foel Wen South Top and Foel Wen (banana break). Continued along the fence to Tomle. A hen harrier put in an appearance here. Many skylark, meadow pipit and raven about.  The fence continued to lead us up to the main Berwyn ridge, where we stopped for lunch looking west to the Arrans, Arenigs and  Snowdonia (views a bit hazy). A path along the top of the cliffs brought us to Cadair Berwyn. Very hot, but stiff breeze on cliff edge.

Continued south to the highest point (Cadair Berwyn New Top), then on to Moel Sych. Retraced our route back towards the New Top, then descended a steep path through the cliffs to Moel yr Ewig. Followed a fence south-east to Godor North Top, and then on to Godor. Follow more fences to a sheepfold, then down to the track leading out to the road, and the car parked at a small bridge over the Afon Lwrch. Drive back to The Cross Keys, Llanymynech.

 

A brilliant walk on a very hot day, completing ten Nuttalls. The only downside was that I finished the day with sun burnt legs!

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Mynydd Tarw	681		Nuttall
	Foel Wen South Top	687		Nuttall
	Foel Wen	691		Nuttall
	Tomle	742		Nuttall
	Cadair Berwyn	827		Nuttall
	Cadair Berwyn New Top	830		Nuttall
	Moel Sych	827		Nuttall
	Moel yr Ewig	695		Nuttall
	Godor North Top	675		Nuttall
	Godor	679		Nuttall

 

Sun 16 Jul 2006

Rise at 7.30am for breakfast at 8.00am. After checking-out from the Cross Keys, drove to Pistyll Rhaeadr and started our walk at 9.45am.

Firstly we ascended to view the top of the falls, and then followed the Afon Disgynfa westwards. Very tough walking through bracken and reeds, not helped by the path being difficult to locate in places. Also very hot. We got so fed up with struggling through bracken that we crossed the river sooner than intended and headed straight up Post Gwyn. A tough and hot climb through the infamous Berwyn heather. Lunch on summit, accompanied by some rather gruesome  looking flies (which we identified later as Tachina grossa).

Heading eastwards, we passed south of the woodland, down to Moel Mawn and Cwm yr Ast. Descended an airy path through cliffs to the old mining road, then followed an old leat back to the falls. The fine  weather had attracted hoards of people to the falls. Rounded off the day with a well deserved ice cream before embarking on the long drive home.

 

Summit	Height (m)	Status
Post Gwyn	665	Nuttall

 

More pictures here