UK Mountains Expedition Report

Peaks climbed : Rhinog Fawr(720m), Rhinog Fach(712m), Y Llethr(756m), Crib-y-rhiw(670m), Diffws(750m), Craig Bodlyn(642m)

Total Distance : 24.5km, Total Ascent : 1,741m

Considering the beauty of this part of the world, it is surprising that there are not more footpaths onto Rhinog Fawr and Rhinog Fach, but I guess the remoteness of this area keeps away inexperienced and casual walkers, leaving the rest of us to forge routes to the summit and down in whatever way we see fit.

I was dropped near Nantcon which is due East of Llanbedr at the end of a very thin, but well maintained road. There is a signposted footpath towards Rhinog Fawr(720m), my first objective, but only around the cottage and onto the hillside, it then peters out to almost nothing, occasionally reappearing for a short section. I much prefer this as it gives a sense of adventure and remoteness and as I made my way upwards I began to look for interesting lines. Moving clockwise around the peak I came to a large boulder field with some good scrambling opportunities - perfect. Onwards and upwards I climbed, moving left and right to attack short walls directly or in some cases avoiding them as the mood took me. It seemed a long climb, probably because of this, but after an hour of leaving the car I was stood on the summit, enjoying the view and looking across to Rhinog Fach, trying to find a good line, again there were no obvious footpaths.

Descending down to the gap between the two mountains proved arduous and took almost an hour before I arrived at the path that runs between the two. At times I spied one or two other walkers who seemed to be having as much trouble as me negotiating the boulder fields and undergrowth as they made their way down.

Finally I arrived at the bottom, and having spotted a likely looking route upwards, began the second ascent of the day. Again the path disappeared and I was left on my own to find a way up. Similar terrain presented itself and again I enjoyed the opportunity of route finding, although my legs began to complain. Rhinog Fach, at 712m is not quite as high as its big brother, but there's not much in it and I was quite relieved to stand on the summit at last. This was going to be a long day! Two peaks only and over three hours already gone, my legs felt tired and heavy. I decided on a good rest and dived into my rucsac for a gel and goodie bar as a treat.

Setting off, another steep descent, but extreme care is required here as there are a number of false routes leading to very steep drops. Aim well left of the lake and follow the path which seems to be going to the left of the next destination (Y Llethr) but it turns in the right direction on a good, but steep path down to Llyn Hywell and another directly in front leading directly to the summit, again steeply up, but this time on easier ground. The summit of Y Llethr(756m) is nothing special, but is a relief to be there and the good path helps to bring the timetable back on track a little after the previous two epic climbs and descents.

Crib-y-rhiw (670m) is an easy bag on the way to Diffws(750m), which is a long sweeping walk with another long hard pull up, but on easier ground. From here the route shows itself as a series of lumps and bumps all the way to Barmouth, slowly descending all the way, but with some more uphill to bag Craig Bodlyn (642m) as a final test of the legs. The final mile or two can be done on almost any of the numerous paths that have now sprung up. I took a route to the left of the final rocky summit, passing a popular climbing crag before dropping down the steep staircase and into Barmouth where again, the 'Last Inn' was waiting.

Just over 7 hours of walking with five peaks bagged, four of which were new to me. Another great day out with excellent weather and views.

Peaks climbed : Y Garn(629m)

Total Distance : 9.5km, Total Ascent : 600m

Y Garn was on the way home from an earlier walk in the Moelwyns area and as I'd finished the morning walk by 1pm, there was plenty of time to get Y Garn done. The walk starts from the National Trust Car Park at Ganllwyd on the A470 and follows the well marked route firstly to the waterfalls (but not right up to them), then to the Gold Mines and heads almost directly up. There are pretty good paths right the way up to almost the summit which was great. There was not a cloud in the sky so it was seriously hot and I was getting through my water, but figured I had enough to at least get back to the stream I'd crossed just below the gold mines.

The summit is nothing special of course, being just a top, but for me it was another bag and brings me to within two peaks of completing the Rhinogs group.

Descending is just the reverse of the ascent and I was back at the car in 2 1/2 hours.

Peaks climbed : Foel Penolau(614m),Moel Ysgyfarnogod(623m)

Total Distance : 9.6km, Total Ascent : 382m

To get to the start requires driving up some very thin roads in mid Wales, so thin in fact, the car brushes the hedges on both sides of the road! Passing another car would be impossible. Thankfully I'd arrived early so didn't encounter any other vehicles on the way up. Soon parked I was away on a good path with the mountains almost immediately in view, but still some distance away. The good path lasts until the lake just below the final climb and then deteriorates into a very thin sheep track, still okay, but not brilliant. As I arrived at Penolau I initially couldn't see a way of actually summiting due to the sheer rock face seemingly all around. Following the track as it passed alongside the rock face it eventually turned behind and the mountain yielded. There was still some minor scrambling to be done but I soon scaled the last section and walked over to the small cairn that signified the high point. Just across the other side of the ascent path was another section of the mountain that looked very similar in height, but I was confident of being on the summit as my watch read the right altitude and there was a small cairn.

Pausing long enough for photos, a drink and goodie bar, I retraced my steps off the main summit and then made the short journey across to Ysgyfarnogod and was soon standing on that summit, made more obvious by the trig point. I didn't stay long and was soon on the way down, picking up the ascent path and retracing my steps back to the car. The final Rhinogs had been completed in just 2 1/4 hours!