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An implausibly summery February day for an out-of-the-way route to the far north of the high Welsh mountains.
There's a small on-map free parking square at the top of the very minor road west of the Aber Falls carpark. Hack up the gorsy hillside from there to meet a reservoir track and then it's very easy peaceful walking for a couple of miles up the valley on firm grass to the lakeside. The first part is well above the tumbling Anafaon river and with hindsight there looks to be a clear and perhaps better path close to the north bank, although without an obvious start. Llyn Anafon, with its rather obvious dam, may not be the grandest of the lakes around here – the steep slopes around are green rather than craggy rock and parts of it will only briefly see much winter sun – but it's still a good spot with a very remote feeling for something reached so easily.
- Looking back to Foel Dduarth
- Cwm Anafon reservoir track
- Yr Orsedd
- Llyn Anafon
Other than having read enough to know it was possible, I didn't really have much of a route in mind to climb Llwytmor from the lake, and thre's nothing in the way of evident paths. The most obvious route on the map, south-west following the stream, looked a very steep and damp green trudge, but the north-east ridge – easy to get a first foothold on from the end of the dam – didn't look too intimidating, a lot greener than the craggy preconception. And although there's never anything more than sheep-tracks to follow, it works well - steep enough and tiring but never too difficult, good views to the lake and the nearby coast, and half a sense of exploring new ground. There are plenty of simple little rock scrambles to keep the interest up, but it'd be possible to go all the way on grass if preferred. Llwytmor hasn't got much of a summit, just a broad plain, but it's stony and set apart and feels rather more of a mountain than some of the higher Carneddau.
- Llyn Anafon from Llwytmor north-east ridge
- Ascent terrain
- Yr Orsedd & Conwy Bay
- Llwytmor summit
After the first short descent, it's all gentle slopes and very easy going over Foel-fras (a notable hill with 3000ft status and presumably consequent amounts of visitors, but a bit of a lump really) and down to Drum. Nothing like a normal February day, other than a little reminder in a few surprise patches of snow surviving the short-sleeve heat, and the boggy patches between the hills all firmed up. All the peaks to the south were lost in a sunny haze, but plenty of wide views the other way and an increasingly tempting view of the way down.
- Llwytmor
- Bera Bach & Bera Mawr
- Hazy views from Foel-fras
- Drum
- Llwytmor & Llyn Anafon, ascent route to the right
- Sea views from Drum
Another clear and stoned track forms just below Drum and could be followed all the way back – the first few clusters of fellow-walkers seen all day were finding routes based on this - but it's definitely worth a detour to take in the ridge of lower hills north of the valley, fine little pointy peaks topped by Yr Orsedd, before rejoining it.
- Foel-fras from Yr Orsedd
- Foel Lwyd
- Ponies on Foel-ganol
- Foel Dduarth
Enough afternoon light left not to eschew taking in the broad tourist path (a bit more distance and ascent in this than might suite some of its targets really) to Aber Falls – after a rather lazy drive down to the main parking. Better seen a little out of season, I imagine, with the viewing areas quite busy even late on a February Wednesday, but still very impressive and beautifully set.
- Aber Falls
- Llwytmor Bach