A short 2-day circuit of the north eastern sector of the Arenigs, a compact group of hills north of Bala whose luminary Foel Goch just breaks the 2000′ contour.
Weatherwise this was the first decent couple of days for weeks following the wettest June and July on record, it was also a weekend at the start of the holiday season: even the relatively little trodden areas would be suspect now. Time to peruse the map and seek out a really forsaken corner of Wales that hardly ever sees visitors, and this isolated group containing a few unclimbed Dewey 500m tops was ideal. A simple flexible route plan was quickly devized beginning at the small village of Llanfor, and our expectations were fulfilled: the whole area was totally deserted.
The first day was quite dull and the poor light drained the landscape of contrast, but the clarity improved greatly overnight and the dawn skies all around at the tent pitch were superb.
10 Comments
Wow, the clouds from your pitch look amazing. I hope that the huge wind farm planned for Mynydd Mynyllod across the valley never gets the go ahead as this lovely area and the Berwyns will be truely buggered.
Its that time of year again when you have to be inventive to seek out the quieter spots. I may take the van to the Radnorshire hills near Aberedw this weekend for some quiet bimbling.
Superb Geoff, As James has already mentioned the clouds look amazing.
Peace and quiet away from it all in the height of the summer hols… Lovely.
My feet they itch so and this blog is such a wonderful source of inspiration when I’m stuck behind a computer all day. Thanks for that Geoff. Those clouds really are impressive.
James - a gorgeous sky, and yes let’s pray that we don’t see a row of turbine silhouettes polluting it. Aberedw Hill and Carneddau were virtually deserted when we backpacked there a few years back, a good choice.
Phil - thanks, wonderfully secluded, just the job for a short summer backpack.
Alistair - thanks very much, that spectacle was a marvellous way to greet the day.
An excellent, imaginative summer-friendly route there and wonderful clarity by the look of the photos. I’m not surprised it was deserted.
I took a risk with a short trip up Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant a couple of days ago. It paid off though - deserted hill, windless high pitch, a gorgeous inversion and even a broken spectre. Probably used up all my holiday season luck there though!
Jim - thank you, a deserted haven for that weekend.
The Arenig Fawr / Moel Llyfnant area is among our favourite haunts, another good choice and an excellent pitch by the sound of it. Pitched on Moel Llyfnant a few times, grand views to the Rhinogydd.
I looked across at these hills when I was on Arenig Fawr last November and thought they looked a good bet for a quiet reflective day. And so you proved! Great post and some stunning dawn imagest to go with it. I keep saying this but I MUST get out for some impromptu backpacking. Your reports alone have given me almost limitless ideas in my own backyard
Cheers
Andy
Andy - thanks again, a wonderful dawn vista. The compact Foel Goch group makes a rewarding and extremely quiet day circuit, on joint trips we stretch out these routes to two days of late.
Awesome post, I want to get out on a wildcamp soon. though it looks like I won’t be going anywhere soon until things warm up. I’ve bought the book of Bivvy (http://www.aboveandbeyond.co.uk/.cicerone-the-book-of-the-bivvy_9781852845612.htm)and it is making me want to go bivvying. Also have you seen the northern lights when out?
K
Kris - Thanks very much. It’s definitely advisable to make your first trip in better and warmer weather!. We have seen some gorgeous sights on the hilltops - sunrises and sunsets, spectacular inversions, but never the northern lights so far.
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