Tuesday 14th May 2024
I’ve missed blogging and had never intended to create such an absence between posts on this site. As my previous post was one of the walks from last year’s trip to Snowdonia; I find it fitting that I’ll start now with writings of my first walk up in Snowdonia from 2024.
I’d wanted to get away much sooner than May but the weather in March and April was truly awful. In 2023, I was soaked through to the skin on a couple of walks and had to remain patient until this point.
If you’d like to see all of my photos from this walk, please click here.
If you’d like to see the route I followed on OS Maps, please click here.
This walk up to Arenig Fawr was one I’d postponed in 2022, due to the forecast of snow and wintry conditions. I’d located what I thought would be a perfect car park (OS grid reference SH 829 392) on Google Street View… But the entrance has since been closed off with large rocks. I opted to park in front of these rocks yet still set back from the road.
Along the road, I walked west towards the Afon Tryweryn, where I’d meet a footpath sign, guiding me through a gate to the left.
Following a route I’d found on OS Maps, I soon joined a dismantled railway line. There’s no ‘right of way’ here on the maps. But kissing gates and waymark arrows were a sight of reassurance.
Up through the trees and to my left, I could see what I assumed to be the two summits of this walk: Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant.
(I’d later discover that I was half-right.)
I stuck to this old railway route as far as the next river crossing, where I then turned south to follow a surfaced vehicle track. There was no waymarking to guide me in the same direction. I had to trust that I wasn’t about to end up stuck in some farmer’s yard.
Beyond the woods, I soon passed this building undergoing restoration and repair. Otherwise, it looked as though it was uninhabited. Yet good to see that it won’t fall in to a state of ruin, for whatever purpose it may hold.
Looking across to the east, I felt as though I was a great distance from Arenig Fawr with still some elevation to cover before I’d arrive at the first summit.
I stuck with that gravel track until I met its end. Beyond which, I met mud and grass as the incline suddenly decided to make itself known! My calves were burning from here on, due to a lack of walking through much of 2024 thus far.
Others had ‘lowered’ the stock wire fence before me and so, the task of hopping over to head up to the stone marking the summit was far easier.
(Perhaps I have That Bloke Mick to thank?!)
Views from up here were incredible. It should go without saying that, on such a fine day, I sat down and took a well deserved break before continuing on.
Sadly, neither Arenig Fawr or my car were going to make their way over to me. I’d have to lace my boots up again and solider on towards the centrepiece of this walk.
Handrailing along the field boundary made the navigation easy, as I started to descend. As before, Some Bloke had also trodden heavily on the stock fence to allow a human to pass over. I’m not sure the farmer would be best pleased.
Descents are never enjoyable, I find. Especially when they take an age and you know you’re only going to have to climb steeply back up hill or mountain before your knees have had a chance to recover!
Near the bottom, I found myself standing amongst cottongrass – a strong indicator to be aware of boggy conditions under foot! I’ll leave it here for now and continue with my ascent of Arenig Fawr in Part 2!
Thanks for reading.
Walks With Olly 