free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Hewitts: Moel Hebog, Moel yr Ogof, Moel Lefn.
Date: 30/08/2017.
Distance: 12.5km.
Ascent: 950m.
Time: 6 hours.
Weather: Sunny with a coldish breeze. Warm in the sun, chilly out of it.
Weather looking reasonable today, so I headed to the hills with dad. He suggested Moel Siabod, but it had been longer since I last went up Moel Hebog. He was quite easily persuaded to do that instead.
Although bank holiday was over, it was still the last weekend of summer holidays, and Beddgelert was heaving. We headed to the NT carpark at Craflwyn for lunch first before going back into the village.
Moel Hebog from Craflwyn I've never failed to find a parking space there. Today we drove round in circles before sitting in the main village carpark for about 15 minutes waiting for someone to leave. Eventually someone did and we were on our way just before 1:30pm - crack of dawn where the rest of my family are concerned!
Someone has put a railway in the way since I last went up Moel Hebog (you used to start out along the old trackbed) so it took us a couple of attempts to find the new route to the foot of the hill.
Moel y Dyniewyd 
Welsh Highland Railway There is now a newly surfaced path into Beddgelert Forest that we followed for a short distance before branching off up the hill on a worn trail. The way ahead is obvious, climbing first onto the end of the ridge, then upwards to the steepening onto the summit of the mountain. There is an interesting alternative to the path called 'The Companionway', which is a rightwards-slanting rake up the centre of the cliffs. We didn't go this way as I remember a slightly awkward start followed by a lot of heather, but it is interesting to get a different perspective of the crags.
Moel Hebog 
Nant Gwynant and Moel Siabod 
Snowdon and Yr Aran 
Nantlle Ridge, eastern end 
Approaching the crags of Moel Hebog Instead we enjoyed the views looking back from the path to Nant Gynant, Snowdon and more, and at the steep section I took in a couple of optional scrambly moves for amusement, while dad stuck to the path (which goes over a little scree instead).
Interesting rock 
Trum y Ddisgl and Moel Eilio 
Snowdon Soon we were on the nose of the hill with just an easy walk left to the summit. While not particularly strong, the wind was a bit chilly so we hunkered down behind a wall for a stop.
Dad on the last ascent to the summit 
Nantlle Ridge 
South to the Rhinogs (across Moel Ddu) 
Across Moel yr Ogof and Moel Lefn to Craig Cwm Silyn and Mynydd Tal y Mignedd 
Summit wall 
Out along the Lleyn Peninsula I fancied I could spot the new bothy at Cae Amos from here - at least it one of two buildings I could see. The descent next to the wall is steep but not especially eroded, and bog doesn't really appear until you reach the col. The area felt like a drier version of the Brack and Ben Donich - very Arrochar-like without the features of the biggest Arrochar hills.
Moel yr Ogof 
Yr Aran picked out in shadow in front of Y Lliwedd The way up Moel yr Ogof goes through a memorable cleft before winding through smaller crags. I hadn't broached the idea of doing any more than Moel Hebog until just before we reached the summit, but dad was up for the rest of the traverse to Moel Lefn.
Ascending Moel yr Ogof 
Looking back to Moel Hebog The sun disappeared behind a big cloud so we decided to keep going in the hope that it would re-appear later on. Getting off Moel yr Ogof involves a bit of a slither on greasy boulders and scree, but Moel Lefn is an easy ascent. I have to admit I have never been looking for the cave that gives Moel yr Ogof its name.
Snowdon and Nant Gwynant 
Moel Siabod. Rescue helicopter to left 
Summit of Moel Lefn 
Back to Moel yr Ogof and Moel Hebog 
Trum y Ddisgl No sunshine on Moel Lefn although it was showing quite pleasantly over the Nantlle Ridge. The path winds down to some old mine workings - we found some sun and had a stop before these. Then it's into no-man's land where felling has recently taken place. In fact, as the trees have been removed completely, this is now much easier going than it used to be - old tree stumps can be used as stepping stones through the bog. Dad was convinced that beyond the first forestry track crossing, the path had been obliterated, but I spotted it, and it was fine, delivering us to Llyn Llewelyn without difficulty.
Dad descending Moel Lefn 
Snowdon from the descent 
Nantlle Ridge 
Castell 
Snowdon summit 
Snowdon and Llyn Llywelyn 
Llyn Llywelyn We followed forestry tracks back from here, Dad convinced that I was leading us up a dead end somewhere. Again, this used to be simple enough - you followed the old railway track bed behind the campsite. Now we weaved around a bit on tracks, and somehow ended up in the right place.
Cnicht and Moelwyns 
Cnicht We picked up the newly surfaced bridleway from Beddgelert that we had started on -this was quite busy with walkers and cyclists even at dusk - clearly the thing to do when staying at the campsite is to walk or cycle into Beddgelert for dinner.
