Hi everyone, here goes my first trip report, and my first full outing this year.
I've been thinking about a long distance back packing route from Llangollen down to the cost near Tywyn, linking up my three favourite areas: The Berwyns, Arans and the Cadair ridge. I know the routes up to the peaks well, but I've seldom walked between them. So my day walks for this year are going to do just that. The first: a look at the western end of the Cadair ridge.
I started by trudging up the pony path to the main ridge. But once there, I turned west towards the coast, instead of heading east for the main summits. For a while on the way up, it looked gloomy, but it brightened up quickly.
The path along the ridge is an easy walk, mostly flat, and the few boggy sections are easily skirted. The views are huge: the ridge to the east, the southern Rhinogs to the north and the Mawddach estuary below.
Further on, the views open out to the south, over the rolling Tarrens, and to the west, over the Dyffryn Dysynni.
Finally, the view along the cost.
As the ridge subsided into smaller and smaller foothills, the ridge path meets a very old mid level route, and I followed this east. The landscape here is littered with cairns and standing stones.
Eventually, the old road reaches the lakes at Cregennen. Photographers flock here, and it's easy to see why.
I had planned a walk up Pared-y-Cefn Hir, but tiring legs encouraged me to head back home, so I rejoined the old route towards Dolgellau.
A quick walk up the gully of Islaw'r Dref, following the impressive stream through the woods, and I arrived back at the car park.
This walk is up in my top 3, mainly for the sheer variety of the landscape and the views. The low level route along the ridge and the area around the lakes was a revelation and fine justification for heading off the well worn tracks. The evening sun probably played a part too.
There are more pictures on my Flickr page if you want to see more of the walk.
I hope you enjoyed my first report!
