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