Aran Fawddwy +

[Broggy1]

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A long and at times tiring route from Bala - going from top quality on the main Aran Ridge to wilder and harsher terrain on the peaty Eastern Aran's followed by a long road walk out (albeit a very quiet one).

I'd looked at ways of doing Aran Fawddwy from both sides but in the end an hours less drive and the thought of doing the grand looking ridge from the end of Lyn Tegid won out. Plus this route gave us the benefit of being able to tag on the wetter Aran hills after a decent dry spell.

Not a great day for photos with extremely hazy conditions and some morning mist on the tops of the higher Aran hills but very warm and muggy.

There's a good car park at Llanuwchylln and the way from there is clearly marked.

I always think this is a good idea by farmers who have a right of way going through their land. Make the route clear with markers and walkers will get off their land quickly and easily.

The enticing ridge ahead

Aran Benllyn getting closer

Unfortunately it briefly clouded over upon our arrival at Aran Benllyn summit

Erw y Ddafad-ddu appears out of the mist. An easy walk from here.

Looking back to Aran Benllyn

Erw y Ddafad-ddu summit

Aran Fawddwy Trig Point

After backtracking to Erw y Ddafad-ddu we descended to Creiglyn Dyfi and came out of the mist to see Foel Hafod-fynydd ahead

Foel Hafod-fynydd summit with the main ridge still in cloud behind

Esgeiriau Gwynion ahead - reached by a steep descent to a boggy saddle and steep climb up the other side

Llechwedd Du in view

Esgeiriau Gwynion summit

We took the detour over to Foel Rhudd - looking back at Esgeiriau Gwynion here.

Llechwedd Du summit. Rough hills these last few with bog and peat hags but nothing too testing after a dry spell.

Very similar to our local hills with my friend remarking we'd driven 100miles to do Bowland like hills!

Moel y Cerrig Duon looks a long way from here and it's a rough walk (wouldn't be pleasant after rain) to reach the high road from which things improve again

Final climb to Moel y Cerrig Duon ahead

Moel y Cerrig Duon summit

After taking a route one descent we reached the road just below Craig Yr Ogof

It's a long road walk out from here but after the rough walking it was welcomed (at first) and the views back up the valley and over to the Aran's were superb...plus the road was very quiet.

[Alteknacker]

Good to read this - I did the exact same route about 20 years ago with my brother in law, but I remembered it as being less peaty and more rocky-rough. That's what age does to your memory...

[Broggy1]

Good to read this - I did the exact same route about 20 years ago with my brother in law, but I remembered it as being less peaty and more rocky-rough. That's what age does to your memory...

Ha - I'm sure you remember correctly as certainly the main Aran's were rocky and rough - proper mountains so to speak.

It was the Eastern outliers that became peaty - decent variations to the walk though!

[ChrisW]

Good stuff Broggy, always a bit of a bugger when the summit clouds in just as you arrive...and it's guaranteed to open up again as soon as you leave