UK Mountains

UK Mountains Expedition Report

Climbing the Elan Valley 2,000 foot peaks Report
UK Mountains
Peaks Climbed
Gorllwyn (613m)
Drygarn Fawr (645m)
Pen y Garn (610m)
Gorllwyn and Drygarn Fawr

Peaks climbed : Gorllwyn (613m), Drygarn Fawr (645m)

Total Distance : 18km, Total Ascent : 592m

It was an ambitious plan; a two hour motorbike ride from home to the Elan valley, climb two peaks, another half hour on the bike for the final peak and a two hour ride home. What could possibly go wrong?

View over Caban Coch reservoir

The ride down was nice, although I was pleased when night turned to day and I could see where I was going! This was November and I'd left at 6:30am. Daylight arrived around 7am, by which time I was well on the way to Hereford. The ride to Rhayader is extremely popular with motorbikers and it is easy to see why, plenty of National Speed limit roads, good sweeping bends and some great tight turns. Unfortunately for the majority, there are some riders who like to, shall we say, push the limits, which means there is often radar checks and police presence along the main roads into Rhayader.

My first parking point was at the far end of the Caban Coch reservoir at the small car park, and once changed into my walking gear set off along a track opposite the car park to the cottage at the end, then turned uphill on a very thin track which then faded to nothing. I knew the Gorllwyn summit was leftwards so made my way across in the general direction, hoping to spot it. The Nuttall guide is somewhat brief in the description of the route. In reality I should have stayed lower initially and closer to the reservoir which would have bought me onto a good path which, although not direct, would have been easier than the route I did take which was to head in the right direction but from one thin sheep track to another which eventually made me descend to the actual path then climb up again to the summit. Finally I arrived just in time for the mist to descend to 2,000'! Not wanting to wait long as it was also quite cold, I had a quick drink of hot blackcurrant, then set off for peak number two

Summit of Gorllwyn

There is a thin path and also wooden and concrete marker posts which are in the correct direction, either deliberately or by a coincidence. Either way, they were useful as by now, the mist was well below 2,000' which meant that seeing the next peak would be impossible. Walking in these conditions always makes it seem further than it actually is and I spent a lot of time checking my location and direction, using latest technology in the form of a 'Compass and Grid Reference' app on my phone. I'd also added the route to 'View Ranger' so that I could use that as well if necessary. Both apps were a little unreliable to be honest, View Ranger giving my location some distance away and the Grid Ref app being well off at times. My backup was map and 'gut feeling' of walking in the correct direction. The combination of all of those worked well and I found myself on the lower slopes of Drygarn Fawr.

One of the benefits of climbing the highest peak around is that, when you are on it, going uphill is generally a good idea. Close to the summit there are two huge cairns, standing some 10-12 feet high and reminiscent of the Beehive cells on Skellig Michael. Quite why they are there is a mystery (to me anyway), but the higher one is at the top of Drygarn Fawr, with the trig point being a few metres away and slightly lower. I visited both to be on the safe side. On a clear day, they would make excellent aiming points.

Beehive on Drygarn Fawr

Retracing my steps was straightforward with the two beehives being good waypoints, although neither was visible in the mist until quite close. I soon picked up the main path which led me all the way down. There is a slight detour near the bottom to get onto a farm track which then leads around the hillside and back to the car park, although it is not until the last minute that the car park comes into view.

Changing and eating my lunch I considered whether to do the final peak. I was about 30 minutes later than planned and time was tight. I decided to go for it.

Pen y Garn

Peaks climbed : Pen y Garn (610m)

Total Distance : 9.5km, Total Ascent : 275m

It should have been a straightforward ride past the Garreg-ddu reservoir and up the valley to Cwmystwyth but fate had other ideas. The road was closed due to tree felling so I had to ride back into Rhayader and around the top to join the road well past the reservoirs. The road gets quite thin in places and I was pleased I was on the motorbike. Arriving in the hamlet of Cwmystwyth, my bike Sat Nav showed the car park being slightly further, but as I rode, there was no sign. I had to stop and check with View Ranger on my phone. Locating my position, it showed I still had a mile or so to ride to the car park, marked as it is by a huge stone arch, so not hard to find if you know that!

The Arch

The arch, apparently was built in 1810 to mark the Golden Jubilee of George III and was once the gateway to the Hafod Estate.

Changing again, I was soon off and walking up a forest trail. The mist was even lower now so the entire walk was in mist with no views. Oh well, I was on a mission! Just short of 5km later the forest disappears on the right and this was my cue to break off and head up.

The forest trail disappears into the mist

There is no real path and again the Nuttall guide not particularly helpful as it makes massive assumptions; through the gate and 300 feet of ascent. Well this is true, but there are several barbed wire fences to negotiate, or at least there were after the gate I went through. It is really tough going here with soft moss underfoot causing each footstep to sink into the ground. I slogged on and eventually came to the summit, or so I thought, but checking with my altimeter showed me I was a few metres short. In good visibility it would have been easy, but in the mist I had to resort to checking my exact location electronically. I was a short way away so soon summited.

Pen y Garn summit

There is a good shelter at this summit but I had no plans to stay long so after a quick drink and goodie bar, attempted to retrace my steps back to the forest track, which I almost did. The marked path soon vanishes but I figured downwards and slightly left would do it. The rest of the walk was just following the forest track back down which, due to the lack of a view and the unchanging nature of the forest seemed much further than it actually was and I was pleased to be back at the car park.

I had done it! All three peaks conquered in a single day. By the time I left the car park it was dark so I had a long ride home, initially along roads with no lighting and no cats eyes, but then improving as I reached civilisation. I arrived home 13 hours after leaving, exhausted but satisfied that I had ticked off another mountain group.

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