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Carnedau horseshoe from Ogwen valley

Carnedau horseshoe from Ogwen valley


Postby al78 » Fri Mar 29, 2024 1:47 pm

Hewitts included on this walk: Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewelyn, Pen yr Ole Wen

Date walked: 26/03/2024

Time taken: 5.25

Distance: 14 km

Ascent: 920m

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Day 2 and the last opportunity to get in a decent hill day before the weather regressed back to January. I have not climbed the Carnedau for a long time and was interested in doing a route which took in the highest summit, which is the third highest summit south of the highlands. I thought about a route from the end of the tiny road at Trasbwll but I recall my attempt to do a full route involved a lot of hideous pathless heather bashing of the type that is labelled as character building, so I decided to have a go from the south.

A straighforward path follows the Afon Lloer to the cwm housing Ffynnon Lloer from which it is a steep hike with very occasional hands-on bottom end grade 1 scrambling stuff to get to Pen yr Ole Wen, in the clag again. Came across a couple who had attempted the horseshoe but decided to retreat as they couldn't see where they were going. The cloud lifted enough to give me fleeting views of the ridge to Carnedd Dafydd and the ridge was just below the cloud so navigation was easy. Some nice views down to the cwm and out along the Ogwen valley eastward towards Capel Curig.

After having lunch in the clag I decided this was a good opportunity to practice map and compass navigation as this area reminds me of the Cairngorms. Big broad hills which look featureless in the mist and where going along the wrong ridge could leave you a very long way from where you want to be. Took a bearing and aimed for a rock feature in the distance and was soon out of the clag and heading around a ridge towards Carnedd Llewlyn. This is where I was really taken aback by the superb geological scenery along here with the big glaciated valley towards Bethesda and the view east across to the ridge, col and the reservoir which would be my route back down. Carnedd Llewelyn was of course in the cloud so didn't stay long, and after taking another bearing headed downhill along a narrowing ridge towards Pen yr Helg Du. A really nice view of a big empty valley on my left which I didn't know what it was at the time, and turned out to be where the Trasbwll car park is on the north-east side. From here I dropped down to a col and picked up a steep zig-zaggy path which required concentration to stay upright and got me down to the valley floor, then followed the path along the reservoir from where a tarred access road took me back down to the main road. This descend really hammered my quads and I had DOMS for a couple of days. Really good views of Tryfan's shark-fin profile from here, then it was a mile and a half walk along the road to the car.

I would like to do this route again in clear weather and knock off a couple more of the outlying summits as this area looks to have some really nice ridge and valley scenery which I can appreciate from a high vantage point.
Attachments
routeCarnedau.png
IMG_20240326_162755068.jpg
Near the road, view of Tryfan/Bristly ridge
IMG_20240326_150230110.jpg
A big empty valley looking NE.
IMG_20240326_150822781.jpg
Panorama from high ridge.
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Looking along valley towards Bethesda and Menai Strait.
IMG_20240326_134903135.jpg
Heading around head of valley which comes up from Bethesda.
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View east along Ogwen valley.
IMG_20240326_123716811.jpg
Heading for first summit, the cwm.
IMG_20240326_115459634.jpg
On the way up, view of Tryfan.
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al78
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Re: Carnedau horseshoe from Ogwen valley

Postby gaffr » Sat Mar 30, 2024 9:02 am

Although living in Scotland for most of my days I did have some very enjoyable visits to the big Welsh hills in the sixties and seventies..
For these hills I took the opposite way from yours to approach them. I was interested in the classic climb in Craig yr Ysfa corrie that at that time had a Diff. rating....a fine wee classic....then onto the higher tops for a return to the valley by your ascent route.
A grand out and of course with Tryfan dominating the scene in descent.
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Re: Carnedau horseshoe from Ogwen valley

Postby HelenO » Mon Apr 22, 2024 5:09 pm

If you have a bit more time when you return it’s worth continuing to Pen Yr Helgi Du and descending the very pleasant grassy ridge rather than the relentless tarmac road. You come out at the same point
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