Plynlimon

[poppiesrara]

On a ferociously windy May Day holiday, it was a sensible decision to keep well away from anything too tall, or with too narrow or exposed a path; possibly rather less sensible to pick a hill that is the highest point for many miles around! But Plynlimon was a pleasant walk, probably very easy going on a better day, around high land rather different in character from Snowdonia to the north.

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This route starts from a lovely quiet spot on the shores of the Nant-y-Moch Reservoir, before heading up firm thick-grassed slopes to the summit of Y Garn. Perhaps it was made harder by heading into the teeth of the fierce easterly, but this climb seemed much longer and tougher than expected this day; in all conditions it would be fairly featureless and navigable only by compass. Higher up, views start to open up to Plynlimon and across the reservoir, and the going eases as you head along the clear undulating ridge path. Conditions nearing the open top of Plynlimon were at their most inhospitable - it was impossible to stand still without being knocked sideways, and it seemed prudent to forsake the better path in order to keep the fence on the leeward side. Never has a summit wind-shelter felt more welcome...

Nant-y-Moch Reservoir

Y Garn

Plynlimon

Nant-y-Moch Reservoir & Irish Sea from Y Garn

Drosgol from Y Garn

Plynlimon ascent ridge

Drosgol & Nant-y-Moch Reservoir

Once down from the summit and onto the easy path east over Plynlimon's subsidiary summits, conditions eased. The next top hardly seems more than a rise on the ridge - hard to think of it as a 'mountain in its own right - but out of the worst of the wind, it became possible to appreciate the views north to the Cadair Idris range in the far distance. Pen Pumlumon Arwystli is a decent enough little peak though, quite a steep rise up through some rocky teeth to two unfeasibly large cairns.

Pen Pumlumon Llygad-bychan summit

Tarrens & Cadair Idris in close-up from Pen Pumlumon Llygad-bychan

Pen Pumlumon Arwystli

From there you can take a comfortable enough pathless route east over a little rise and then steeply down to the shores of Llyn Llygad Rheidol. This is a really beautiful spot, with clear blue waters beneath the impressively craggy northern faces of Plynlimon; it was hard to believe that - just a couple of miles up the easy contouring track that takes you back to the road on the shores of the reservoir - there was no-one else to be seen here on a bank holiday.

Cwm Gwerin

Plynlimon

Plynlimon & Pumlumon Fach over Llyn Llygad Rheidol

Plynlimon over Llyn Llygad Rheidol

Llyn Llygad Rheidol

Llyn Pen-Coer-Maen

Nant-y-Moch Reservoir

It's only half an hour or so south from here to the isolated little peak of Pen y Garn. This is about as easy as it gets; park car, tramp straight up the clear track to the summit (although unmarked on the map, there is a direct route straight up the last half-mile from the fence SSW), and then, eschewing a possible circular return through the extremely gloomy and regimented-looking conifer plantations, turn and head straight back down again! But it's quite a pleasant hill really, especially if you don't mind (or can look away from) the windfarm next door, with lush green rural views replacing the rocks and moorlands you become used to seeing. Probably not worth much of a detour unless you're already going to Plynlimon, but a perfectly good way to spend an hour or so if you are.

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Cwm Perfedd on slopes of Pen y Garn

View south from slopes of Pen y Garn

Pen y Garn summit

Plynlimon (and wind farm) from Pen y Garn

[skuk007]

Great place to spend your bank holiday, especially when you get it all to yourself.
Nice photos, especially 35. Looks really interesting from that side.

[Hantswalker]

Nice report and nice pics. I hope to do the same walks tomorrow (Sat 2 July)