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Cadair Bronwen

Cadair Bronwen


Postby poppiesrara » Wed Jul 13, 2011 1:07 am

Hewitts included on this walk: Cadair Bronwen, Moel yr Henfaes

Date walked: 10/07/2011

Time taken: 3.5

Distance: 17 km

Ascent: 830m

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On an oppressively grey day, a peaceful stroll on generally easy paths through green valley countryside to the bleak high Berwyn moors.

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


From the pretty village of Llandrillo, a broad vehicle-track climbs gently for the best part of four quick miles up to the col by the Wayfarer memorial, first through farmland and then after bridging the Afon Llynor into wilder terrain. It’s a short and easy detour from there up the fence to the summit of Pen Bwlch Llandrillo top / Moel yr Henfaes. Hard to think that - had the Hewitt measurers missed it - anyone would have thought this little out-of-the-way rise a ‘mountain’ worth visiting, but it’s a pleasant enough spot with rocky crops on top, and the treads are clear enough to show that plenty do so now. Interesting, and quite cheering, to learn from a glance through the visitor book at the memorial that those climbing to this point are at least as often prone to teenage ‘exuberance’ as sober reflection...
1 Dee valley ascending from Llandrillo.jpg
Dee valley ascending from Llandrillo

9 Cadair Bronwen.jpg
Cadair Bronwen

10 Track to Pen Bwlch Llandrillo.jpg
Track to Pen Bwlch Llandrillo

15 Cadair Bronwen from Pen Bwlch Llandrillo top.jpg
Cadair Bronwen from Pen Bwlch Llandrillo top

18 The Wayfarer Memorial stone.jpg
The Wayfarer Memorial stone

After a long stretch on the easy track, the climb up the ridge to Cadair Bronwen is, frankly, straight through a wide bog. The path tends to pick a pretty decent way through, but it is rather a full-concentration slog until the very top slopes firm up - not really the nicest mile or so, especially with stormy skies restricting the views. This is quite a steep peak for the area, but doesn’t really have the dramatic cliffs and mountainous demeanour of Cadair Berwyn just down the ridge – very much the little sister.
21 View back down ascent path across Llynor valley.jpg
View back down ascent path across Llynor valley

24 Cadair Berwyn & Cadair Bronwen.jpg
Cadair Berwyn & Cadair Bronwen

26 Cwm Llawenog.jpg
Cwm Llawenog

29 Arans in the stormy distance from Cadair Bronwen.jpg
Arans in the stormy distance from Cadair Bronwen

The going is easy again from Cadair Bronwen onwards, with a very gratifying duckboard ‘path’ bridging the wetter parts on the southern descent – this is clearly much more walked than the northern approach. From the bwlch a surprisingly clear and well-used track, on firm grass and stone throughout, heads across Moel Pearce and through the lower hills back to Llandrillo – easy if undramatic going through pleasant half-cultivated country.
38 Path down to Moel Pearce.jpg
Path down to Moel Pearce

40 Moel yr Henfaes.jpg
Moel yr Henfaes

42 Trum y Wern.jpg
Trum y Wern

44 Pen Bwlch Llandrillo top.jpg
Pen Bwlch Llandrillo top

48 Dee valley across Coed y Glyn.jpg
Dee valley across Coed y Glyn

50 Track down towards Llandrillo.jpg
Track down towards Llandrillo

Nothing spectacular about this route – and a bit of a challenge to find a way to illustrate it... – but a decent enough few hours of airy hill-walking.
Last edited by poppiesrara on Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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poppiesrara
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Re: Cadair Bronwen

Postby Red Peak » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:20 pm

Your photo of Moel yr Henfaes reminded me just how un-dramatic a peak it really is. Still, it's not a bad spot for a bit of peace and quiet on a nice, sunny day. Looks like the weather held out nicely for you, despite a few ominous-looking clouds around.

You can't have many Welsh Hewitts left to do now, poppiesrara. What's next after that, the English Hewitts? :D
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Re: Cadair Bronwen

Postby mountain tortoise » Wed Jul 13, 2011 2:41 pm

Cadair Bronwen is near enough my bakc garden, Cadair Berwyn is better to be fair.
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Re: Cadair Bronwen

Postby poppiesrara » Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:42 am

You're very lucky, Tortoise, especially since you presumably have those terrific Rhug Shop breakfast rolls on the doorstep too then! And, yes, Cadair Berwyn is definitely a cut above, and this walk would be a lot better extended to take it in.

Slowing down a bit afterwards, I think, Red Peak! But maybe the Lakes/Dales Hewitts eventually. And at least a few Scottish peaks...
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Re: Cadair Bronwen

Postby mountain tortoise » Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:04 pm

YRhug is all to tempting everyday of the week. Yes a full circuit of the Berwyns is the way to go but it is a long walk. My husband did it a few weeks ago with a friends. From Cynwyd around the tops and back is 18 which is a bit far for a tortoise. i do it over two days and camp on the top.
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