I went on this backpack in June but thought I'd write about it now to cheer me up now we're in the short days.
TR – Rhinog Ridge Solstice BackpackI started near Barmouth in the early afternoon (sea level just to make it a bit harder!) and walked the long ridge over Craig-y-Grut in perfect weather to Diffwys; it’s a long way! Cader Idris is always in view and very spectacular from this angle, the sea is on the other hand.
View of Cader
The ever-present wall
View to the Lleyn
Diffwys top
East Face of Diffwys & Mawddach
By 7 I’d had enough so started looking out for a camp.
Camped by a little pool near Llyn Dulyn and enjoyed several more hours of bright sunshine on solstice night.
Late view from the tent
Next day up to the football pitch summit plateau of Y Llethyr and an encounter with several horses. The views are said to be some of the best in Snowdonia, and a large part of that must be having Rhinog Fach in the foreground, I walked around the top taking in the views – though the wall does get in the way a bit.
View back to Diffwys
Mug shot – buff for sunburn protection!
More wall
First views of Rhinog Fach.
Not many more photos for a while here as it’s a very steep up and a long arduous way down to Bwlch Drwy Ardudwy (taking the path that heads NE to begin and ends with a real steep struggle down a heathery slope). Rhinog Fawr looks a bit formidable from the Bwlch but with care a tiny path can be followed – thanks to the helpful people for the small cairns to guide. At one point I had to crawl through a big hole in a wall pushing the rucsac in front of me.
Rhinog Fawr top
Rhinog Fawr view
These hills are tough! The descent to the Roman Steps took ages, scrambling past Llyn Du was interesting and then a lumpy path.
Bog Asphodel
I found Bwlch Tyddiad a bit forbidding, and the descriptions of the Badlands made me tiny bit nervous but I did want to get to one of the lakes near Craig Wion. A solitary Bog Asphodel cheered me up. The Badlands lived up their reputation and next time I think I’ll tackle them without having been up Rhinogs Fach & Fawr first! I found a scrape of a path several times. There’s always a temptation to try and skirt round the platforms of rock but that just lands you in deep heather and rocks so it’s up and over every time. Not many pictures as I was pretty boxed by now. A last effort and I found Llyn Perfed, an ideal spot to camp.
Badlands
Spot the tent
Up early next morning as I had to get back to my car somehow and do the long drive home. Easy going to Bwlch Gwylim and up to the ridge Craig Ddwrg, then it was more of the Badlands, at least I wasn’t so tired and could appreciate the extraordinary rock formations.
More Badlands
Moel Ysgyfarnogod may be the acme of unpronounceable Welsh hill names but it’s a cracking little hill, I got up it via the very steep south ridge (there are probably more sensible ways up). The view north is excellent.
Moel Ysgyfarnogod top
Finally a scramble over Foel Penelau and down to a track and Trawsfynydd.