A short 2-day variation of a Northern Arans circuit, approaching up the familiar north ridge and circling round to the Llaethnant valley for a pitch by Creiglyn Dyfi and returning on a new line directly down Cwm Llwydd and Cwm Croes to Pont Talardd and Llanuwchllyn.
The forecast had predicted a quiet day for Saturday with quickly deteriorating conditions from the north over the course of Sunday, particularly with regard to the wind where mobility would be very difficult towards the end of the day.
An Aran backpack fitted the bill at short notice, a pitch cradled in the arc of cliffs would provide enough shelter from the developing westerly blast. As it turned out Saturday was very breezy and the wind around Creiglyn Dyfi was blowing from just about every direction, but the pitch was a grand one and I had no problems as it strengthened overnight, unlike a couple of campers not far away apparently, as I discovered the next morning.
23 Comments
Hi Geoff, I was trying to comment on your Aran backpack but it seems to be scrambled with your Etive trip.
Geoff - all seems fine here - this comment has come through correctly attached to the Arans post.
Above and below any particular post, the blog shows forwards and backward links to the next and previous post where applicable:- this Arans post is the most recent and therefore shows backward links above and below to the Etive trip - maybe it looks a bit confusing.
Ok Geoff thank’s for that, maybe I was just having a senior moment!
The rather battered tents were they occupied, had they been abandoned or were the owners on the hill somewhere?
Hi Geoff, another super trip report, you’re my number 1 source of route info when im looking for something a bit off the radar, keep up the great work.
ive used your descent route as a means of getting up there before now, quick, easy & the views of the cliffs of Aran Benllyn are stunning.. the ridge of Braich yr hwch too is fine climb to the summit of Foel Hafod fynydd - one of my favourite spots in the best mountain group in Wales.
Geoff - a couple of walkers passed by my tent in the evening without rucksacks, they almost certainly pitched those tents earlier and strolled down to the lake afterwards. I couldn’t tell for sure if they were in them next morning when I passed quietly by - they didn’t seem to be, no sign of movement and not much room left in the collapsed structures!.
stu - Thanks very much. I’ve noticed that Braich-yr-hwch ridge from a distance, it looks very inviting - definitely on the cards for yet another variation on the circuit.
A good plan to keep sheltered in the wind Geoff with that camp location. Great photos of what looked like great hills. I say it a lot. But I should go to Wales.
You can’t go wrong with a backpack in the Arans Geoff and especially a wild camp at Creiglyn Dyfi. Great photos as usual. I was out at exactly the same time on Pumlumon, Sat was breezy and I managed a high level camp at 680 metres. The wind actually dropped in the evening and it was totally still when I went to bed. However woke pre dawn to a gusty wind and hill fog, turned out lovely on the Sunday and thankfully wind was at my back most of the day.
The wind must have been quite localized. I was camped up on the summit of Pen yr Helgi Du on Saturday and there was just a gentle, but very cold, breeze. Sunday morning was very clear, also with just a gentle breeze. Don’t know if the forecast gales arrived later, as I had to leave Wales mid morning.
Ian.
Hi Geoff, cracking photos as usual. Brings back some good memories from a few weeks ago when I was up there. Creiglyn Dyfi looks like it was a bit rough in the morning also those tents, very strange with no one around.
Martin - that was a superb spot with the added benefit of shelter, a quiet area I never tire of.
James - the Arans always draw me back, superb backpacking. Strange that the conditions were so different there (I’ve just seen your posted photo), Pumlumon isn’t so far away.
Ian - now that is weird, I would never have attempted a summit pitch on Saturday (I pitched on Helgi Du summit back in Oct 2010 - fantastic spot). I wonder if the wind was being funnelled into greater strength near Creiglyn Dyfi than up on the ridge.
Phil - thanks very much, it was quite rough but not as bad as I thought it might be. Those tents sure had a ‘Mary Celeste’ atmosphere of mystery about them, no signs of anyone around.
Fabulous photos as ever. Inspiring stuff.
Mark - thanks very much, these ranges like the Arans and Arenigs have always been an inspiration to us for quiet backpacking with few people.
The Arans are one of my favourite areas, and this has reminded me that I’ve been away from them too long. I’m literally just back home from camping high in the Carneddau last night, waking up to a couple of cm of snow on the Scarp…
Many Thanks Geoff for your continued inspiration ( and perspiration probably!) Your report reminded me of my last trip in the hot days at the end of March this year. We camped by the small tarn above the crags of Pared yr chain at about 600meters on the west of the ridge. We came up from Esgair- gawr and had a wonderfull couple of days. Inspired by your reports that was my third wild welsh backpack in the past year. Keep up the good work!
Roddy - I can believe the snow on the Carneddau, we had some brief sleety snow even here on the Cheshire plain one morning this week. I’ll watch for the report.
Cracking pics Geoff. Superb as usual. Gotta admit those flattened tents look a very very sorry sight! Just goes to show how localised the weather really can be in the hills.
Mick - I think that’s the first time I’ve heard of someone ascending from the west side, never tried that approach. The small tarn looks inviting on the map with a broad flat area nearby.
Terry - fine clear air again, very good for photos. The tent on the right is a Vaude Power Lizard (or Tokee) I reckon, it appears that one of the end-pegs came out, that’s just how it would look. Don’t know about the other larger tent, maybe one of the Vangos.
Geoff,
Yes it is a nice approach and pathless directly onto the ridge from our camp. I took quite a few pictures they can be viewed on Geograph if you put the grid square ref in. I was going to ascend by the route you descended but I was not sure about car parking on the valley road so opted for the west side. Nice sunset over the Rhinnogs.
Mick - I looked at the Geograph photos, very nice camp there. Geograph is an excellent resource, we have some photos there too.
Great photos Geoff.
I’ve had two camps on the slopes below Benllyn. The first was an appalling night with wind and rain lashing me, still at play in the morning. The second however was idyllic, blue, and calm.
I’ve not camped down at the lake though clearly its the most sheltered spot in that area.
James - thank you. We all see a vast range of weather on these mountain pitches, that’s for sure. Back in 2006 we failed to reach the top of Aran Benllyn at all from the north due to overwhelming fatigue in knee/thigh deep snow, a great pitch though lower down on the north ridge.
Great trip report Geoff and a superb outing. Craiglyn Dyfi looks like a great spot for a wild camp and it would make a decent stop for a circuit from the south (easier for me as I live in Herefordshire). Same weekend as I was out in Wales. I would have waved from Cnicht and the Moelwyns if I’d known you were out there :). I was on the Rhinogs on the Sunday and I can vouch for the fact that it was astonishingly windy - reeport to follow soon
Andy - Thanks again, The environs of Creiglyn Dyfi are perhaps becoming a little too well known I think, enough for me to avoid it on a fine weekend in future at any rate. I look forward to the Rhinogs report.
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