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Post Gwyn is never going to win any prizes for being an interesting mountain, but it provides an extra focus for a pleasant short walk taking in the highest waterfall in England & Wales, Pistyll Rhaeadr.
The walk starts from the head of a single track road which winds for a few kilometers west from the village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (watch out for the sharp right turn in the centre of the village). At the roadhead there is some rough free parking just before the Tan-y-pistyll farmhouse or you can pay £2 to park next to the café.
We took the track signposted to the top of the waterfall. This zigzags quite steeply at first with a nice view back down the valley and then cuts through a small plantation. First you see some minor falls and you then emerge at the top of the main one.
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- Smaller cascades
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- Looking down the valley from the top of Pistyll Rhaeadr
It’s a sheer drop and very difficult to see the bottom of the falls – this was my best effort and I wasn’t going to lean out any further!
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- It's a long way down
After heading back through the trees we picked up a rough track heading west and roughly following the Afon Disgynfa. This soon petered out and then it was a case of following the best sheep trod available, usually on the border of the dryer bracken-covered slopes and the wetter ground bordering the stream. There was no-one else around now – I always like it when you have the whole landscape to yourself.
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- Heading west
We crossed a couple of streams coming down from Cwm-Rhiwiau and Cwm yr Eithin and then Avon Disgynfa itself. Carrying on a bit further, towards the end of a large reedy patch, there was a clear path up to the ridge. Considerably wider than just a sheep trod – it must be their main route to the top – and has the advantage of avoiding all the heather. From there it was just a short distance to the top, which is surprisingly grassy and dry and makes a good lunch spot.
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- Top of Post Gwyn
The return route, keeping to the top of the ridge, is a bit boggy in parts but not too bad and you get improving views of the profile of Cadair Berwyn. Then, rather bizarrely considering this was about the hottest day of the year so far, it rained quite suddenly for about 4 minutes. It seemed to come from nowhere and was only the briefest of showers but took us unawares before moving on swiftly to the higher Berwyns.
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- Looking across to Cadair Berwyn
On reaching the corner of the plantation a farm access track made for easier going. We followed this as it started to descend but then left it to head for the clifftop at SJ073289. It’s quite important to get this point to find the route down.
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- From the Craig Mwn cliffs looking north
From here we picked up the faint narrow path which slants down the cliff to the old mine workings below. It was then a simple return to the start following the line of an old leat, but the waterfall is hidden from view until you get quite close and then the first sighting through the trees is really quite impressive.
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- That waterfall again
60 meters higher than Niagara allegedly, so no wonder the place was busy with folks enjoying the sunshine.
A nice excursion for a summer’s day, and with ice-creams at hand when you finish.
