Another LDWA event took us into the snow-covered Berwyns. It was one of the group’s Social Walks, led by Mike and was a great introduction for us to this interesting area, only just over an hour’s drive away.
The forecast was pretty good for the morning as we assembled at Llanygynog, and it proved to be a really bright, crisp start just after 9am. We were a bit disconcerted to see so many ice axes among the LDWA group, and even more alarmed with the helmet and long ropes snaking out of one pack. Fortunately, the rope merchants were a pair of climbers and not part of our group!
We headed first up Craig Rhiwarth. And when I say up, I mean straight up the loose slate which had a handy covering of ice. A nice challenging start!
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| The former slate and lead mine on Craig Rhiwarth. |
En route Mike took us into the opening of the former slate and lead mine, and after a fairly precipitous clamber up the rest of the ascent we got to the hill fort at 10.30am after 2.5km with great views south and east.
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| At the top of Craig Rhiwarth having survived the icy slate climb. |
The next target was a stone circle which we reached shortly after crossing a couple of fences and the stream. An impressive avenue of stones led into the circle with around 18 stones, one for each of the group to sit on for lunch. Nice to have some Christmas cake left to enjoy on the mountain. It was now around midday and we had gone just under 7km.
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| Time for lunch at the Rhos y Beddau Stone Circle. |
As soon as we set off after lunch the weather started to turn with clouds submerging the earlier cheery sun and the first flakes of snow falling. We were also now deep in the infamous Berwyn heather which is apparently one of the bugbears of climbing this range.
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| Climbing up with the pointy Moel Sych in the distance. |
A steady tramp took us to the top of the slope where we joined the ridge path along to Moel Sych. Here the snow was almost a foot deep in places but the track may have been easier to walk than normal as the frozen surface was somewhat easier than the underlying bog. We got to the summit cairn around 1.30pm, 10.5km.
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| At the Moel Sych cairn. |
There was now a choice, head across to Cadair Berwyn and back, or go straight down towards the waterfall. The consensus was to do the latter as the weather was pretty sharp on top, and in the light of the fact that we only just got back before dark, it proved to be a good decision.
The descent from Moel Sych was again frozen over bog, but I managed to find a weak spot and sunk almost to my knee. Oh well, wet feet for the rest of the trip. Obviously that was why Mike had advised gaiters - need another trip to The Outdoor Depot.
It was fairly steady down to Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall until we got to the steps which were absolutely treacherous, made more interesting by one of the accompanying dogs running up and down with us. We stopped in the shelter at the bottom for a final cup of coffee.
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| Pistyll Rheadr waterfall. |
The route then took us over the footbridge - stopping for a couple of photos of the impressive falls - and along a woodland path. We were then lulled into a false sense of security by the level and easy path, but we then noticed those ahead of us going uphill again. Having not expected to be climbing again, this was a real trudge up a track and onto the edge of the ridge. Once it became fairly level again it was fine though and we then had a lovely descent into a beautiful valley behind Craig Rhiwarth.
All downhill and back along the lane to the car park which we reached at 4.25pm after clocking up over 21km.
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