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
