walkhighlands

Monty bags the Arans.

Hewitts: Aran Benllyn, Aran Fawddwy, Erw y Ddafad-ddu, Gwaun y Llwyni, Pen yr Allt Uchaf

Date walked: 09/04/2015

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 16km

Ascent: 1200m


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


For all sorts of feeble reasons this was the first time Monty and I had ventured into Wales this year, and for that reason I didn’t want to push the little chap too hard.
As the sun started to come up there were little pockets of mist in the hollows of Shropshire and into Mid Wales, but sadly the prospect of a misty Cwm Cywarch didn’t materialise. Still, the weather was clear and dry, with a slight chill in the air as we set off from the car park, and over the footbridge onto the footpath up the side of Pen yr Allt Uchaf. The lambs back home in Worcestershire are already getting big enough to fear the whiff of mint sauce, but they are still tiny in these Welsh Hills. Not too far along the path I decided to make a bee line for the ridge above. I have to say it is a steep grassy slog up to Pen yr Allt Uchaf, but I was in part towed up the hill by a Terrier on a string, as Monty seemed to be very keen to see what was at the top.
The view over Drysgol to Aran Fawddwy from the soaring peak of Pen yr Allt Uchaf was rather splendid, the summit being marked by a combination of old fence post and a couple of lumps of white quartz.
View from Pen yr Allt Uchaf.jpg

Onwards towards Drysgol, we found that the dread bog of Waun Goch was in fact fairly benign today, but there were the signs that the peat hags might be more unpleasant in soggy weather.
We stop for a ‘Strategic Photographic Pause’ at the top of Drysgol, and Monty posed like a true Mountaineer with Aran Fawddwy in the background.
Monty conquers Drysgol.jpg

By the time we get to the RAF memorial on the Drws Bach the air is getting distinctly hazy, due to all the pollution being blown in from grubbier parts of Europe.
Gwaun y Llwyni.jpg

Now for the best bit of the walk, onto the rocky slopes of the Arans themselves. Monty is clearly enjoying himself bounding up the boulder hillside and we reach the summit of Aran Fawddwy in no time. This is his highest mountain to date, and he is absolutely loving it.
View north from Aran Fawddwy.jpg

The air is getting murkier still, so no sweeping panoramas today. Northwards we go, first down the rocky steps then over the almost level ground out to Erw y Ddafad-ddu. The big cairn just south of the top is usually one of the best viewpoints in the Arans, looking south back towards Aran Fawddwy and over the Creiglyn Dyfi, but despite the sunbeams, this B&W was the best I could manage.
Aran Fawddwy.jpg

It’s a short hop to Aran Benlynn from here, and usually the views northwards are expansive – ah well, it’s still good to be out.
Aran Benllyn.jpg

We retrace our steps back over Erw y Ddafad-ddu and Aran Fawddwy, and onwards almost as far as the RAF cairn, before heading off left to the last hill of the day Gwaun y Llwyni. We keep high to avoid any possible boggy patches around the headwaters of the Camddwr, but there wasn’t much likelihood as it is pretty dry up here today.
Approaching Gwaun y Llwyni.jpg

I had thought of dropping straight down from Gwaun y Llwyni, following the fence line all the way to the track at the bottom, but having slogged up one long steep grassy slope I decided against descending another one. Instead I decided to follow the Camddwr down to meet the normal descent path to Cwm Cywarch. This route was steep, loose and there was a band of gorse that I had to help Monty negotiate, but we were rewarded by some pleasant little waterfalls.
17096736386_6ec76f1c5b_o small.jpg


Monty greatly appreciated a long drink of mountain spring water after his exertions, particularly as it was now baking hot.
Craig Cywarch.jpg

All in all a grand day out!

Click to mark this as a great report. Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Comments: 8



Winter Wonderland - The other Snowdon Horseshoe

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa
Date walked: 28/12/2014
Distance: 14km
Ascent: 1090m
Comments: 4
Views: 4321


Wales goes blue, finally....

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Moel Fferna, Tal y Fan
Date walked: 14/09/2014
Distance: 15km
Ascent: 800m
Comments: 14
Views: 7409


A watery wander.

Attachment(s) Date walked: 19/08/2014
Distance: 7km
Ascent: 258m
Comments: 5
Views: 3063


Manod: A mountain missing a snooker table or two,… or three

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Manod Mawr, Manod Mawr North Top, Moel Penamnen
Date walked: 27/07/2014
Distance: 15km
Ascent: 780m
Comments: 7
Views: 5462


A fine pair of Corbetts

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Sgòrr nan Lochan Uaine, Sgùrr Dubh
Date walked: 03/06/2014
Distance: 14km
Ascent: 1060m
Comments: 4
Views: 4158


Solitude by the seaside, Camus Mor

Attachment(s) Date walked: 02/06/2014
Distance: 17km
Ascent: 500m
Comments: 5
Views: 6082


A weary scrabble - Beinn Bhan

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Beinn Bhan
Date walked: 31/05/2014
Distance: 12km
Ascent: 690m
Comments: 6
Views: 5798


We are not amused....

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Dduallt, Rhobell Fawr
Date walked: 18/04/2014
Distance: 11km
Ascent: 580m
Comments: 7
Views: 5152


500 up, and Monty's 1st!

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Carnedd y Filiast (Arenigs), Foel Goch (Arenigs)
Date walked: 30/03/2014
Distance: 14km
Ascent: 680m
Comments: 9
Views: 5673

clivegrif


User avatar
Location: Worcester
Activity: Rambler
Pub: Walter de Cantelupe
Mountain: An Teallach
Place: Torridon
Gear: Rab Summit sleeping bag
Camera: Nikon D5200

Munros: 282
Corbetts: 37
Fionas: 15
Donalds: 3
Wainwrights: 50
Hewitts: 194
Sub 2000: 6
Islands: 3



Filter reports


Statistics

2015

Trips: 1
Distance: 16 km
Ascent: 1200m
Hewitts: 5

2014

Trips: 10
Distance: 125 km
Ascent: 7248m
Corbetts: 4
Hewitts: 10

2013

Trips: 14
Distance: 186 km
Ascent: 11442m
Munros: 1
Corbetts: 4
Fionas: 1
Hewitts: 15

2012

Trips: 8
Distance: 105.5 km
Ascent: 6969m
Munros: 4
Corbetts: 2
Hewitts: 14

2011

Trips: 3
Distance: 55.5 km
Ascent: 2650m
Hewitts: 10

2010

Trips: 2
Distance: 166 km
Ascent: 5914m
Hewitts: 2

2009

Trips: 2
Distance: 28 km
Ascent: 2685m
Munros: 3

2008

Trips: 3
Distance: 33 km
Ascent: 3160m
Munros: 4
Fionas: 1

2005

Trips: 1
Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 1095m
Munros: 1

2002

Trips: 1
Distance: 52 km
Ascent: 4150m
Hewitts: 13

1998

Trips: 1
Distance: 55 km
Ascent: 2450m
Hewitts: 8


Joined: Nov 28, 2010
Last visited: Jan 08, 2024
Total posts: 1452 | Search posts