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(approximate route)
I started from Blaenau Ffestiniog. The path up towards Manod Mawr was quite difficult to follow at first, until I got to the incline which leads up to the quarry.
Manod Mawr is probably Britain's most industrialised mountain, with a big chunk having been taken out of it by a slate quarry.
- Manod Mawr ascent
- Incline
From the top of the incline I walked across to the edge of Llyn Manod, and then followed a path which headed straight up. This turned out to be quite steep, but reached the summit fairly quickly.
- Llyn y Manod
- Blaenau Ffestiniog
- Manod Mawr summit
From here it's an easy walk through the quarry to the North Top.
- Quarry and Manod Mawr north top
- North Top summit
Some very boggy ground has to be crossed to get from here to the 586m summit of Foel Fras, and then there's a nice grassy ridge leading up to the top of Moel Penanmen.
- Moel Penamnen from Foel Fras
- Manod Mawr from Moel Penamnen
- Moel Penamnen summit, view of Snowdon
I then went back along the ridge before dropping down onto an indistinct path which heads toward the Barlwyd reservoirs. From the bottom of the reservoir there's a track which leads down through another large quarry to the main road just north of Blaenau.