CAMBRIAN WAY - JUNE 2015 - WALK ONE

THE ASCENT OF RHINOG FAWR 720 METRES

Tony Drake's Cambrian Way runs from Cardiff to Conwy across some of the wildest and toughest terrain in Wales. http://www.cambrianway.org.uk/

 

Once again I returned to Wales to complete another section going north, This mountain is described in the guidebook as probably the rockiest mountain next to Tryfan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinog_Fawr

 

Accompanied by Tracey and Jim we set off to it from a parking area near Graigddu-isaf at the end of a long minor road from the A470. GR 684 303. A footpath traverses a forest that has to be crossed to get to the base of the mountain.

A view of the mountains at the northern end of the Rhinogs where the path crosses a forest road. GR 673297.

The Fawr viewed from ladder stile at the exit from the forest at GR 671291.

 

View from a stile over a fence at GR 669289. A path runs towards the pass between Rhinog Fawr (Fawr = large) on the right and Rhinog Fach (Fach = small) on the left. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinog_Fach

As advocated by the late Tony Drake we started up from near a wall at GR 665283 and then on reaching a terrace worked north gradually climbing on a lightly cairned route. This is the view north east back across the forest we had traversed.

After about 500 metres we headed more directly towards the stony summit visible above. We found a minor track that enabled better progress. This is the Fach off to the south.

Picnic lunch was taken in this stone shelter out of the wind.

View south from the summit with Rhinog Fach on the left, Y Llethr in the centre and Lyn Hywel between them.

View north from the summit. The Cambrian Way descends to the green valley of Cwm Bychan on the left and then follows the ridge via Clip in the background.

In the background is the estuary where Porthmadog is located to the north-west.

The descent down the north side to Llyn (lake) Du was difficult as the path was very stony and steep before it was eroded by walkers. As per the guidebook we made for a wall off to the west and followed that down to the lake

We chose to traverse the lake via its north shore and then descended to follow the Nant Llyn-du (Nant = brook) back through the forest to the car. It was only 7.22 miles but it took us all day.