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Welsh 3000's day 2 - Foels

Welsh 3000's day 2 - Foels


Postby RTMcB » Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:05 am

Hewitts included on this walk: Carnedd Gwenllian (Garnedd Uchaf), Drosgl, Drum, Foel Grach, Foel-fras

Date walked: 30/09/2014

Time taken: 6.75

Distance: 21.8 km

Ascent: 1513m

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Day 1 here http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=46372

MWIS forecast said eastern Snowdonia would have the best of the weather. Sure enough this was true, had to crack out the sunblock 8) Parked at the first car park you reach after leaving Abergwyngregyn for Aber Falls. £2 to park for the day. Mistook the road for the second car park as the start of the walk! Quick retrace of our steps and we made good progress up the track to the third and final car park underneath Foel Dduarth.

Picked a track though the gorse bushes to reach the remains of an enclosure. You can see a track leading up to Foel-ganol. You could stay on the North Wales Path but we decided to gain some height and views! Here we found the first of the wild ponies that inhabit the Carneddau. A good track leads over the tops before rejoining the main path heading up to Drum. Had a quick bite to eat inside the massive shelter cairn before embarking on the trudge upto Foel-fras. A lot of effort has been put into the track on the lower slopes through the bog. Makes for quicker progress than if you had to wade through the bog.

The summit of Foel-fras is littered with boulders. Thought about heading over and bagging Llwytmor but with SMRussell complaining that these hills were little better than those in the Borders decided against it. Anyway the clouds were darkening over Foel-grach. Belted along to Garnedd Uchaf and upto Foel-grach to marvel at the bulk of the Carnedd's and ridgy profile of Yr Elen. Another wee bite to eat before heading back past the rocky outcrop of Garnedd Uchaf - good place to hide if Cerbain were after you! - and down to Bera Mawr. Plenty of scrambling fun can be had here. Drogsl was a quick km away and then off toward the Aber Falls. Our route took us quite near the cliffs, I would recommend making a beeline for the "settlement sheepfolds" on the map. We had to cut down through heather, not easy to see where our feet were going.

Crossed the stream with the help of some boulders and then followed the narrow track down across the steep hillside and then across a bank of scree. Make sure you visit the Aber Falls, they are stunning! :clap:

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
If you can see this waterwheel then you are on the wrong track!

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-2 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Thought we were in deliverance country for a minute!

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-4 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
No sheep apparently

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-12 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Foel Dduarth

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-17 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Remains of an enclosure

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-19 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Views opening up across Anglesey

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-22 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
First wild pony

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-24 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Yr Orsedd

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-32 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Path across lower slopes of Foel-fras

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-35 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Foel-fras

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-37 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Garnedd Uchaf

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-43 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
More wild ponies

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-44 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Foel-grach

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-48 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Yellow chopper

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-54 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Yr Aryg

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-60 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Bera Mawr

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-65 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Looking west

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-67 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Chilling

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-71 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Plenty scrambling oppertunity

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-75 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Drogsl

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-81 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Ponies

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-84 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Heathery track!

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-92 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Crossing the stream

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-95 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Path high up above the falls

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-98 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Scree

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-99 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
There's a path here somewhere

ImageSeptember 30, 2014-3-110 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Aber Falls
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RTMcB
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Re: Welsh 3000's day 2 - Foels

Postby Broggy1 » Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:38 am

Nice report.

This was the walk (albeit in reverse) that we attempted earlier this year before my mates ankle gave way near Bera Mawr forcing a hasty retreat.

It's gnawed away at him since so think we'll be attempting it again in the not so distant future so nice to see the route in full here.
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Broggy1
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Re: Welsh 3000's day 2 - Foels

Postby Alteknacker » Wed Oct 01, 2014 11:25 pm

Great pics! It makes me realise what I've missed through only doing the 15s in a oner, which gives you no time to enjoy the stuff around you (unless you're superfit!!)
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Alteknacker
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Re: Welsh 3000's day 2 - Foels

Postby RTMcB » Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:08 am

Alteknacker wrote:Great pics! It makes me realise what I've missed through only doing the 15s in a oner, which gives you no time to enjoy the stuff around you (unless you're superfit!!)


Was thinking about that as we enjoyed our stroll out through the Coedydd Aber Nature Reserve. All Welsh 3000's in one go is an epic and serious undertaking :clap: But the plateau of the Carneddau is pretty boring aside from the ponies, especially if you have Snowdon behind you. And not much opportunity up here to fill up on water.
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RTMcB
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Re: Welsh 3000's day 2 - Foels

Postby Sarah86 » Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:47 pm

What a beautiful area, looks a cracking walk and that waterfall is lovely.
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Sarah86
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