| May 2022 |
| Waun Garnedd y Filiast (650m) |
| Carnedd y Filiast (669m) |
| Carnedd Llechwedd-llyfn (643m) |
| Arenig Fach (689m) |
| Foel Boeth (616m) |
| Gallt y Daren (619m) |
| June 2022 |
| Rhobell Fawr (734m) |
| Dduallt (660m) |
| Foel Goch (611m) |
A number of peaks in this region were climbed well before it ever occurred to me to keep a diary. On a glorious New Years Eve in 2005 I ascended Arenig Fawr(854m), Pen y Diocyn(836m), Moel Llyfnant(751m) and Moel Merddwr(712m). The day and the walk are now lost in the mists of time apart from my Mountain Tables book that simply records the date of ascent.
Peaks climbed : Waun Garnedd y Filiast (650m), Carnedd y Filiast (669m), Carnedd Llechwedd-llyfn (643m), Arenig Fach (689m)
Total Distance : 21.5km, Total Ascent : 870m
A good drive up saw me parking near Lyn Celyn at one of the many parking areas. Actually it was the last but one heading away from Bala. From there it was a short walk to the bridleway on the right hand side and up onto a thin track which soon leaves the forest to open ground. Hopping over the fence I headed straight up to follow the fence line then head off at an angle to the right to pick up the main track. This track winds its way encouragingly upwards at a good steady gradient but just after the path junctions heads downhill! Disappointing but still the easiest way of gaining the summit of Carnedd y Filiast which remains well hidden until the final few hundred metres. I decided to do 'Waun' first as it was an outlier and I would have to return to the summit anyway. Waun summit is a very poor show with just a stick and a few stones as a marker. Back to Filiast which had a trig point, shelter and much better summit feel.
As it was mid-day and I'd had breakfast at 6am I decided it was lunchtime. A fine view with miles of visibility made for a great stop. So far, the weather had behaved, cloudy yes, but warm and no rain, so ideal.
Lunch done, I packed away and set off for Arenig Fach, detouring to the summit of Llyfn on the way, then returning to the fence to continue on my way. As I approached the path began to disappear and I was forced to take a direct route. Soft heather and no path made for a very tough ascent and I was well pleased to crest the ridge and the final 50m or so to the actual summit. The view from the summit was excellent and made it all worthwhile.
Not wanting to stop long I soon set off to meet the descending fence which I followed down to a big stile. Crossing it I headed down on a good track and eventually came to farm buildings. There is no obvious path so I made my way directly down crossing a single fence to meet the main A4212. To get back to the car I had no choice but to follow the road for a couple of tedious miles but it was soon over.
Peaks climbed : Foel Boeth (616m), Gallt y Daren (619m)
Total Distance : 2.5km, Total Ascent : 125m
To bag Foel Boeth (616m) and Gallt y Daren (619m) took far longer to drive to and from than it did to climb them, but after the previous walk I figured I deserved it. The road reaches a height of over 400m and there is a superbly convenient parking place which just requires fifteen minutes of, admittedly steep ascent to gain the first summit, then five minutes for the second and about twenty minutes back to the car again.
From there I drove over to the campsite near Abergynolwyn. Rather foolishly I followed signposts from my parking place to Dolgellau which took me on about 10 miles of the narrowest roads ever made, which made progress extermely slow. Thankfully I didn't encounter any traffic, heaven knows how we would have passed each other as there were very few passing places.
Finally I arrived at Ferm Cedris campsite around 6:30pm.
Peaks climbed : Rhobell Fawr(734m), Dduallt(660m)
Total Distance : 18km, Total Ascent : 823m
I parked at Rhydymain just by the church and headed up the path that goes behind it. Soon it reaches a narrow lane which is followed until it becomes a farm track, then on through the forest until it becomes a stony forest track. It is steep uphill right from the start, but the going is firm underfoot so is a great way to gain height for the mountain to come.
At the foot of the ridge up to Rhobell Fawr, it is necessary to leave the good path and head even more steeply upwards on very thin, but not bad tracks in the direction of the summit. I have to say, whilst it is steep, the path is always good, right up to the summit which finally comes into view after what looks like the summit, turns out to be a false summit, the true summit being 50m of so further on.
The guide describes a fire break track through the woods to Ddualtt, so as I started my descent, I looked out for it and fancied I could see something, but the best route down was back the way I came so I would need to walk some distance along the forest track to reach what looked like the way through. With a few minor detours to avoid very steep ground, I found myself back on the forest track and turned left in search of the fire break. To my pleasant surprise, not only was there one, but it was much earlier and signposted to the mountain!
I followed it through and whilst it had its moments with very damp sections, on the whole it wasn't too bad. On the far side of the forest, I emerged onto a reasonable path which took me in the correct direction, but deteriorated as before into a non existent path to the summit. Fighting my way up, I finally summited, exhausted from my efforts. Taking some water and Jelly Babies I felt a little better and soon was able to begin the descent. It was basically a reverse of the route up, I'd considered an alternative, but decided to go with the route I knew.
Finally back at the car, two more Arenigs completed, leaving just one to go.
Peaks climbed : Foel Goch(611m)
Total Distance : 7.5km, Total Ascent : 290m
Obviously I misread, or mis-remembered the parking instructions and drove to Pentre. This was a huge mistake! It is a very narrow road and a dead end. I had to reverse back the entire length as there was no possibility of turning around! I drove up the road a short way and found a small pull in that would just about take one car. It would have to do. Quickly off I picked up the path that headed up the valley. I was on a paper map for this route as my electronic OS Maps didn't cover this area and I was not on the Outdoor Active route anyway. Oh well, it's good practise from time to time!
As it turned out, navigation was straightforward and it was a simple case of following the stream valley up and then breaking off left for the final assault, the mountain having been in view for much of the walk. There are intermittent paths up and I was soon on the summit. Not wanting to stay long, I had a quick drink and was on my way down. It took a little while to locate the downward path but I headed back towards the stream and soon came to it. I then followed it back to the car.
