Wales Weekend - November 2007

Sat 10 Nov 2007

Started the walk from the car park in Blaenau Ffestiniog at 09:40. Walked north from car park into Maen-offeren Quarry and followed the road to the bottom of an old incline. The public footpath was completely blocked by rhododendrons, so we stayed on the quarry road to top of the incline. From the drum house a land rover track led us up to another incline which we followed up to a fence. A ruined wall led us for a further 300m, then across pathless moor, boggy in places. Followed a feint but obvious track up to the summit of Moel Penamnen. Very windy (but dry) on the summit. Noted that the southern Llynnau Barlwyd Reservoire had dried up.

Followed the ridge east to Foel-fras, and then the fence south-east down from this. Disturbed a wader as we passed a small pond. We thought this was possibly a jack snipe at the time, but on checking bird books later I think this is unlikely. Cut across the boggy moor south-east to the fence which we followed all the way to the summit of Manod Mawr North Top. It began raining as we ascended this mountain. Lunch on the summit – cheese, ham and pickled onion sandwiches were excellent.

Navigation to the next summit was tricky as the quarry had been extended and the Ordnance Survey did not have any detail on their map. Descended east following a fence for 300m, then south on a new bulldozed quarry road, past a small pond, then onto a right-of-way. At the ring contour at 728453 we paced a further 150m and then headed south to locate the lake (higher up than us). A linear feature at the pond pointed directly to the summit. Followed this direction for a while, and then ascended an obvious ridge up to the summit. Twix break in wind shelter.

Descend on 350° bearing to the Graig-ddu Quarry and located the drum house at the top of another incline (again tricky due to lack of detail on the map). Followed the incline down to the ponds, and then two more inclines leading down to the A470 in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Walked along this road back to car park, arriving at 15:40.

Summit	Height (m)	Status
Moel Penamnnen	620	Nuttall
Manod Mawr North Top	658	Nuttall
Manod Mawr	661	Nuttall

 

Sun 11 Nov 2007

After checking out from The Goat, drove to a lay by on A4212 next to Llyn Celyn. About 300m of road walking before turning onto a track through the forest and onto the moor. This track led us almost to the summit of Carnedd y Filiast. Light rain began to fall just before fording the Nant y Coed. Soon after crossing the stream we had to stop and put on waterproofs. It rained for the rest of the walk.

Banana break at the col between Brottos and Carnedd y Filiast. Followed a fence to Waun Garnedd-y-filiast. A post and a few stones marked the summit. Retraced our steps and continued to summit of Carnedd y Filiast. Followed a fence west for 850m to another fence, then continued for 500m to find a pile of stones.  Turned south and found summit of Carnedd Llechwedd-llyfn. Continued on 142° to Llechwedd-llyfn, then down to the col and ascended Foel-boeth. Descended south to pick up the track used on our ascent, which we followed back to the road. Arriving very wet we changed in the car and had lunch.

Summit	Height (m)	Status
Waun Garnedd-y-Filiast	650	Nuttall
Carnedd y Filiast	669	Nuttall
Carnedd Llechwedd-Llyfn	643	Nuttall

More photos here

Wales Weekend – August 2007

Sat 4 Aug 2007

We could not park in the Forestry Commission camping site so we had to use a lay by just outside the entrance. The railway line had been re-laid (for the new Welsh Highland Railway), so we could not use this as our route as recommended by Nuttall. Also the path they said goes up by the side of the forest was impenetrable, so we used a forest road up to SH573485, where we found a feint path that led up to the corner of the forest (the trees there had been felled). Afon Glochig was in torrent and was not crossable at this point, so we remained on the right hand side as we ascended looking for a crossing point. Rain continuous since we set off from the car. After a couple of hundred metres walking we found a point where we could get over the wall (collapsed section) to a narrow section of the river that we could cross in one stride. Soon after crossing we stopped for a banana break and a coffee.

Ascended to the ridge and located the path leading up to the summit. As we ascended it became quite windy (Vince estimated force 6 at times). There was some nice scrambling on the ascent that was great fun. The rain had made the rock quite slippery though and Vince slipped and fell back towards  me at one point, luckily without any injury. Lunch on the summit in the shelter of the wall (wet & windy). Located only one of the “volcanic bombs”.

Descended north-west, following the wall, to Bwlch Meillionen and then ascended to Moel yr Ogof. Because of conditions, and as we were behind schedule, we did not attempt to find Owain Glyndwr’s cave. Summited Moel yr Ogof, and then continued to Moel Lefn, having to use compass for navigation due to poor visibility.

 

It was a bit tricky to follow Nuttall’s directions for the descent, but we eventually found an obvious track to follow, which brought us to Princess Quarry. We spent ages trying to to locate our exact position – we were both confused as to our precise location. We became separated for 10-15 minutes as Vince searched for our route – I had a Kit-kat whilst waiting.

The path in Beddgelert Forest was extremely wet and boggy and so we only followed it until it met a forest track at SH555496. We followed this track north-east for 400m, and then  followed a stream through the forest for 150m east until we met another forest track. Followed this track past Llyn LLywelyn to Hafod Ruffydd. Large sections of the track were deep under water, but we had no choice but to wade along them. Followed track/road out to the main road, which we followed for the last 600m back to the car.

Very wet / windy day – soaked to the skin and wet feet.

Summit	Height (m)	Status
Moel Hebog	782	Nuttall
Moel yr Ogof	655	Nuttall
Moel Lefn	638	Nuttall

 Sun 5 Aug 2007

Checked out of the pub and drove to the Cae-garnedd picnic area at the western end of Llyn Celyn. A glorious sunny morning which looked promising for a good walk compared with yesterday. Followed the road west for 400m and then turned right onto the path to Fridd Uchaf. The path was indistinct and difficult to follow – we were crossing fields with bracken and no discernible path. Finding a point to cross the wall onto the open hillside was tricky – there did not appear to be any stile. We eventually crossed where a stream went through a gap in the wall, where an old pallet had been fixed to prevent sheep from getting through (SH838408). Ascended to the crest of the Clogwyn Du ridge and followed it north-west to the lake below Arenig Fach. Stopped by the shores of this (Llyn Arenig Fach) for banana break. A very peaceful spot.

Continued around the eastern side of the lake, crossed the outfall (which had dried up) and then ascended the north-east ridge. A new fence had been erected (probably earlier this year), so we could not follow the path until we had ascended quite some way. We were pioneering a new trail through the steep heather slope.

 

The weather had clouded over somewhat by the time we reached the summit, but was still a very pleasant spot for our lunch in the summit shelter. It had become quite blowy on the top.

Descend south-east following the fence – heather bashing! Descended over Bryn Du, south of the fence (only posts, no wires), back to the gap in the wall at the stream that we used on the outward journey. Found the track this time, so we did not have to walk through the field.

Summit	Height (m)	Status
Arenig Fach	689	Nuttall

View more photos here

Winter Hillwalking – Scotland 2007

Sun 11 Feb 2007

Started at Glenmore Lodge. Took the path leading to Ryvoan Bothy, but turned off to Bynack Stable about 400m past An Lochan Uaine. Bynack Stable was no longer there – apparently it was blown down a couple of years ago. Continued on the path to near the 818m spot height and then headed south for the summit. Stopped just before 1.00pm and used a bothy shelter to have some lunch and coffee, and put on an extra layer. Nice to get some food eaten as we had not stopped since the off and my body felt like it was running out of fuel. Very nice in the shelter out of the wind, which was quite fierce.

It was a surprisingly rocky ridge ascending to the summit – not apparent on the 1:50,000 OS map. Returned from the summit by  more or less the same route, but actually went over the 818m spot height. Glimpse of red grouse on the way back and a small herd of reindeer approached us at Bynack Stable.

This is the Munro that Vince and I attempted on 4 Feb 2002, but had to turn back due to high winds.

 

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Bynack More	1,090		Munro

Mon 12 Feb 2007

Drive to Glen Shiel in the minibus and park at the Cluanie Inn. Take the path over the western end of Loch Cluanie, skirting south of Cluanie Lodge then south to 097085. Short elevenses break here (11.20am). Cross fence and ascend hill side south-west to Coirean Eich Bhric. Follow crest of ridge south-south-west to the summit of Creag a'Mhaim (13.25). Food and coffee. Conditions overcast, but cloud clear of the tops. Just before the summit the snow was very hard and Sandy had to cut steps with the axe for a short distance - the only occasion this week when this was necessary.

From Creag a'Mhaim we headed north-west along the ridge to Druim Shionnach. A tricky, narrow section of very rocky ridge for the final pull up to the summit. Nice! Arrive at the summit at about 14.20.

Descend north ridge. Very steep in one section and had to dig in the pick of the ice-axe for security, but it was really in the ground not snow. Picked up the path below Loch a' Mhaoll Dhisnich back to the Cluanie Inn.

A possible golden eagle seen in the distance from near Cluanie Lodge at the beginning of the day, and several ptarmigan seen on Creag a'Mhaim.

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Creag a’Mhaim	947		Munro
	Druim Shionnach	987		Munro

Tue 13 Feb 2007

Drive towards Ullapool and park by the Loch Droma dam for a walk in the Fannaichs. We set off at about 10.15 and followed the track and then a path south-west to Loch a'Mhadaidh.      

                                                                             

Occasional spells of light rain. Vince saw snow bunting above Loch a'Mhadaidh, but I missed them as I had removed my specs because of the rain. Ascended to the col (very slow, tedious plod through heather for a lot of the way). Arrive at col at 13.20, near the top had to cut steps with boots in steep, icy snow. Very windy and cold at the col - put on an extra layer and my new mitts over fleece gloves. Ascend north-west to the summit of Meal a'Chrasgaidh (second time Vince and I have done this Munro). Summit at 13.40.

Retraced our route back to the col, and then continued over Carn na Criche (a Munro Top), down to another col and then ascend Sgurr Mor (15.20). Descended steeply east to the next col and then ascended north-east to Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich (16.20).  Descended north then north-east down a very steep, snowy slope, becoming a plod through heather, back to the bridge at 231748. A long trudge back to the minibus. It was dark when we got back to it.

 

Very windy on the tops with snow showers, but probably just above freezing all day.

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Meall a’Chrasgaidh	934		Munro
	Carn na Criche	961		Munro Top
	Sgurr Mor	1,110		Munro
	Bienn Liath Mhor Fannaich	954		Munro

Wed 14 Feb 2007

 

A day off from walking. Met up with Nick and drove up the east  coast to John o’Groats (it was closed!). Had lunch in the Castle Arms at Mey and then visited Dunnet Head before returning to Inverness.

After dinner went to the Snow Goose with Tina and Andy.

 

Thu 15 Feb 2007

A low level walk today as wind was forecast to gust to 85mph at high levels - far too dangerous. So a drive out towards Ullapool again for a walk near An Teallach to the Shenavall Bothy.       

Parked up by the road (A832) at NH114850 and followed a track south-west to Loch Coire Chaorachain. At a fork in the track followed the right-hand path. Very windy up to this point and some rain, but not too much. Followed this path all the way to Shenavall  Bothy, where we had a leisurely lunch. Left the bothy in a south-easterly direction past Achneigie (a private hunting house, not a bothy), and then followed a land rover track northwards to eventually join up with the outward path.

During this walk we saw raven, kestrel, many red deer and several black feral goats.

 

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	None

Fri 16 Feb 2007

A long drive to the start by Loch Quoich, last 10 miles or so along a narrow, winding road. Ascended by a well made stalker's path which lead virtually all the way to the summit of Gleouraich.  Continue east along the ridge over Craig Coire na Fiar Bhealaich (a Munro Top) and Spidean Mialach West Top (a sub-Murdo, whatever that is) to Spidean Mialach (the second Munro of the day). Descended south-west to pick up another stalker's path which returned us to the road a couple of hundred metres from the bus.

 

A great ridge. The weather was a bit drizzly and overcast at the start, but by the time we arrived at the first summit the weather had cleared and cloud lifted so we had great views, especially to the ridge we did on Monday.

Two buzzards, three ravens and a ptarmigan seen during the day.

 

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Gleouraich	1,035		Munro
	Craig Coire na Fiar Bhealaich	1,006		Munro Top
	Spidean Mialach	996		Munro

Walking Companions

Vince Beaney, Sandy Murray, Bryn Rees, Judith Wilden, Barbara Yule, John (from the Isle of Man).