Mynydd Mawr & the Nantlle Ridge
Sunday 28th August
Today the weather was much worse than yesterday with strong winds that often knocked you over and clouds that descended lower and lower as the day progressed. But I still enjoyed myself much more than I did yesterday; guess I was in a better frame of mind. Todays walk was split into two sections, both starting from Rhyd-Ddu. For the first one I set off through the village and onto a forest track until I picked up the footpath to Bwlch y Moch on the edge of the wood. Crossing the stile and turning right I followed the fence to the start of the steep, but short pull onto Foel Rudd. From there on it was a relatively easy, highly enjoyable walk along the ridge above Craig y Bera and up into the clouds onto the summit of Mynydd Mawr. The walk to the top was great fun, enjoying a lightness of spirit I hadn't felt yesterday, I felt that I had just walked up a good mountain. Turning around I descended the way I had come, enjoying the awe-inspiring, vertiginous views from the of Craig y Bera.
Back in Rhyd-Ddu I began the second walk and much longer walk of the day, this time on hills I've walked before, exactly one year ago. Heading out westwards I followed the footpath to the foot of Y Garn and began the steep, seemingly never ending climb. Last year this climb was plagued with appalling weather but this year the clear (below 2000 feet!), dry conditions of the morning persisted. After lunch in the shelter I headed south along the ridge attempting to stay on the top of the ridge all the way even while scrambling on the rocks up to Mynydd Drws-y-coed. It was funny seeing people gingerly making their way down the ridge some metres down the slope while I was standing on the top. I was totally ignoring the clouds and wind as I breezed along the ridge, having enormous fun as passed over Trum y Ddysgl and Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd.
It was during the descent to Bwlch Dros-bern when the fun stopped. It was very steep, wet from the mist and it seemed even windier. The descent was treacherously slippery and I was going to have to come back this way! Once safely down, but still being heavily buffeted I approached Craig Pennant and attached it head on scrambling up the steep cliff face as if the weather was perfect (which it was when I got here a year ago!). Despite the bad weather I succeeded in getting to the top of the cliffs and began the walk along the top up to the summit of the unnamed hill above Cwm Silya, which is the highest point on the ridge. By now I was getting fed up with the strong wind blowing me over every couple of minutes so turned around and started on my way back. Unfortunately the only way down eastwards is a ridge running south from Trum y Ddysgl (half way back along the ridge) so I returned to Bwlch Dros-bern (this time following the footpath) and climbed up to Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd, once again taking my life in my hands (often literally!) on the slippery rocks. Safely up I passed below the obelisk topped hill and crossed the narrow col to the ridge below Trum y Ddysgl and began the descent. Relieved I was now off the tricky sections of the ridge I was able to enjoy myself as I descended to Bwlch-y-Ddwy-elor where I joined the bridlepath passing through Beddgelert Forest and on below Y Garn to join the ascent path back to Rhyd-Ddu.
Today the weather was much worse than yesterday with strong winds that often knocked you over and clouds that descended lower and lower as the day progressed. But I still enjoyed myself much more than I did yesterday; guess I was in a better frame of mind. Todays walk was split into two sections, both starting from Rhyd-Ddu. For the first one I set off through the village and onto a forest track until I picked up the footpath to Bwlch y Moch on the edge of the wood. Crossing the stile and turning right I followed the fence to the start of the steep, but short pull onto Foel Rudd. From there on it was a relatively easy, highly enjoyable walk along the ridge above Craig y Bera and up into the clouds onto the summit of Mynydd Mawr. The walk to the top was great fun, enjoying a lightness of spirit I hadn't felt yesterday, I felt that I had just walked up a good mountain. Turning around I descended the way I had come, enjoying the awe-inspiring, vertiginous views from the of Craig y Bera.
Back in Rhyd-Ddu I began the second walk and much longer walk of the day, this time on hills I've walked before, exactly one year ago. Heading out westwards I followed the footpath to the foot of Y Garn and began the steep, seemingly never ending climb. Last year this climb was plagued with appalling weather but this year the clear (below 2000 feet!), dry conditions of the morning persisted. After lunch in the shelter I headed south along the ridge attempting to stay on the top of the ridge all the way even while scrambling on the rocks up to Mynydd Drws-y-coed. It was funny seeing people gingerly making their way down the ridge some metres down the slope while I was standing on the top. I was totally ignoring the clouds and wind as I breezed along the ridge, having enormous fun as passed over Trum y Ddysgl and Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd.
It was during the descent to Bwlch Dros-bern when the fun stopped. It was very steep, wet from the mist and it seemed even windier. The descent was treacherously slippery and I was going to have to come back this way! Once safely down, but still being heavily buffeted I approached Craig Pennant and attached it head on scrambling up the steep cliff face as if the weather was perfect (which it was when I got here a year ago!). Despite the bad weather I succeeded in getting to the top of the cliffs and began the walk along the top up to the summit of the unnamed hill above Cwm Silya, which is the highest point on the ridge. By now I was getting fed up with the strong wind blowing me over every couple of minutes so turned around and started on my way back. Unfortunately the only way down eastwards is a ridge running south from Trum y Ddysgl (half way back along the ridge) so I returned to Bwlch Dros-bern (this time following the footpath) and climbed up to Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd, once again taking my life in my hands (often literally!) on the slippery rocks. Safely up I passed below the obelisk topped hill and crossed the narrow col to the ridge below Trum y Ddysgl and began the descent. Relieved I was now off the tricky sections of the ridge I was able to enjoy myself as I descended to Bwlch-y-Ddwy-elor where I joined the bridlepath passing through Beddgelert Forest and on below Y Garn to join the ascent path back to Rhyd-Ddu.
posted by David Keates at 8:04 pm
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