Last Sunday I went to Cwm Cywarch for a round of the Arans with a bit
of an extension northwards along the ridge. I've put a few photos
to go with the TR on http://users.aber.ac.uk/ruw/album/050501.html .
The forecast was warning of rain, but the sun was out when I got to
the car park, and it was quite warm as well. There were about 15 cars
at 11am; some climbers were sorting out their gear to go straight up
the cliffs. The main path for walkers is to the north of the cliffs
at the top of the valley, but I felt like trying something new and went
up Cwm yr Ychen to the south of the rocks, where there is a rough track
going all the way up. That makes it a bit more monotonous on the legs
than the usual path, but Glasgwm (oddly, that's a grey hill rather than
a green valley...) makes it quite worthwhile. From the pass below
Glasgwm, I could see where the predicted rain went: Cadair Idris was
covered in very wet looking cloud. At the top of Glasgwm there are
two small lakes, a huge cairn, and (then) a group of four walkers.
I didn't stop as I wanted to be past the steepish north side before
the rain. The way down looks a bit confusing from above with lots of
loose rock all over the place, but from below it is clear that the
best way is just to stick to the fence. Having reached the pass that
separates Glasgwm from Aran Fawddwy, i.e. where the usual path from
Cwm Cywarch joins, I got lost in a boggy section but the four walkers
I met earlier put me back on track.
The way up Aran Fawddwy is boggy most of the way. Wooden planks are
placed across the worst sections. The erosion of the bits between
the planks suggests that that is probably quite a good idea in terms
of environmental protection. As I was approaching the top(s) of
Aran Fawddwy, the grey skies turned a little friendlier, with the hills
to the west keeping the weather at bay. It seemed a waste being on
Aran Fawddwy and not making the detour to Aran Benllyn at the north
end of the ridge and back, especially now that there were some good
views to be had. Just under the summit of Aran Benllyn is a sort of
natural armchair - really inviting for a good rest having lunch while
peering down at Bala and Llyn Tegid with a bit of blue sky above it.
Then back to Aran Fawddwy, turned left just under the summit to get
onto the ridge towards Drysgol. Near the memorial cairn to a mountain
rescuer, there are excellent views into Hengwm, a very steep valley
head with a few suicidal sheep in it and traces of ancient quarrying.
What a job that must have been!
A faint path skirting the top of Drysgol was just too tempting, so
I dodged its summit and went straight down the east side of Hengwm,
looking back into the steep valley head seen from above previously.
At the bottom end, I unintentionally scared the [censored] out of a two lambs
who were playing on the wrong side of the fence. Their attempt to hide
behind a tree wasn't entirely convincing!
Great day out with more than a bit of luck weatherwise. I think I
owe Cadair Idris a visit for taking the load!
--
Rudi Winter, Aberystwyth, Wales