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Continuing a winter run of not too high and not too popular peaks, an assault on traditionally the most notoriously grim set of Welsh 'mountains'...
Well, maybe the key is to pick a beautifully clear day, beacause this was actually a pretty enjoyable round. Granted, there isn't anything too challenging about it - most of the 'peaks' are barely even hills to the eye - and the two or three miles back through the forest wouldn't make for the most exciting hour you'll ever spend, but it's pleasant, easy walking almost throughout and - today at least - there were some stunning views.
The hardest part of the walk by far is the first climb up Foel Goch. This is fiercely steep and relentless until the gradient eases near to the (very boggy) ridge. Somehow it's much harder to climb steeply on this sort of terrain (an eroded muddy path between the heather) than to scramble over rocks or boulders, perhaps because there's rarely a moment where the ground feels steady or flat enough for a breather. Once you reach the ridge though, there's nothing difficult left to do all day. The key is to cut up towards the peak before the end of the fence, just before a deep little swale heading off down to the north - from the top of this, you can follow a clear enough path all the way across the three tops to the west of the pass. A little bit of tussock-hopping but nothing serious, and some lovely views, especially to the Aran ridge.
- Snowdonia from Foel Goch slopes
- Arenigs from Foel Goch slopes
- Arans from Foel Goch slopes
- View west in close-up
- Trum y Gwragedd from Foel Goch
- Arans from Trum y Gwragedd
- Foel y Geifr summit
From Foel y Geifr, there seem to be plenty of tempting little paths heading off downhill, but none of them really go the right way... Taking a direct line down through the heather to the summit of the pass is actually pretty easy though, and from there, you're on a clear, firm road for most of the rest of the way. I'd guess that in poor visibility this might be fearfully dull, but there's generally plenty to see otherwise as you tramp along taking little detours off to visit the peaks.
- The forest road for the next 7 miles...
- Arenigs between Trum y Gwragedd and Foel Goch
- Arans in close-up from Pen y Boncyn Trefeilw
- Penllyn Forest with high Berwyns behind
- Arenig Fawr in close-up with Snowdonia behind
- Close-up of Cadairs Bronwen & Berwyn with Moel Sych
- Arans from Cyrniau Nod; previous 5 hills visible in foreground
Very little there by way of description or image of the four peaks visited, but then there really is virtually nothing - good or otherwise - to say about them; they are just little 'pimples' barely rising above their surroundings. There is nothing difficult though, even the longest detour - to Cyrniau Nod - is along a clear path through the peat-hags (leave the road at two closely adjacent cairns). For the record, these shots are about the best that can be done to characterise them - one of each...
- Pen y Boncyn Trefeilw from Stac Rhos
- Stac Rhos
- Cyrniau Nod
- Y Groes Fagl
Enough said?
After that, it's a quick and easy downhill through the forest back to the start, taking care not to miss the turning past the cottage that takes you straight back to the start. Not sure how permanent it is, but today there was a pink ribbon hanging from a tree at just the point you need to cut off the road down to a pretty little bridge over the stream. A couple of handsome views from the base of the valley to end an energetic and enjoyable day in the hills:
- Foel Goch again
- Cwm Hirnant