As on the last trip from Roman Bridge, we took the lane westwards and the public footpath via Gorddinan farm, crossing the railway to follow the Afon Lledr to a minor road and the access track to Hendre farm. Walking through the farm, we continued to the second rail underpass where the track continues around the hillside, crossing an old preserved clapper bridge, to meet the Afon Lledr by the heavily vegetated ruined buildings of the former Cwm Fynhadog slate mine.

The track winds easily aloft towards Moel Dyrnogydd, passing the Blaenau tunnel air shaft and curving around to its eastern side where the remnants of an old quarry are seen above. The old quarry incline is one possible ascent line from the track, the fence is another, but on the last visit here we noted an excellent water source farther along. We stocked up with water and knuckled down for a direct ascent from there: a steep and totally trackless line of coarse moorland grasses among the rocky outcrops, nowhere difficult but arduous and very slow in the heat.

Our aim was good, as the gradient eased the summit rocks were just a few strides away in the welcome cooling breeze. There were clear views all around and the air shaft in Cwm Lledr could be seen far below. We made our first pitch here.

We descended south-westwards by the fence on a thin path of sorts, clearly this hill is rarely walked and usually only by peak baggers. Llyn Dyrnogydd soon comes into full view, an attractive location marred by the ugly line of tall poles marching across its western end. The path drops quite steeply around the western rock cliffs to the lake shore where a stile is provided (the fence is barbed wire).

The best onward line from the lake was not obvious, but with no discernible path we ascended due south on rather marshy ground towards a fence line where we met the good path coming up from the Crimea Pass car park. This path traverses Iwerddon, previously a Dewey 500m top but now demoted, to arrive at the foot of Allt-fawr looming ahead. This time our aim was to follow the traversing path across its flank, but first the path climbs a few contours to reach the branch point.

The flanking path is clear enough and gradually ascends towards the lake at the foot of Moel Druman, another fine location somewhat marred by the fence. A short ascent gains the summit, the highest point of the trip. The descent north-westwards passes another attractive small pool.

Joining the ridge fence and passing Llyn Coch, we turned westwards at a junction and hugged the fence into the trackless valley of rock battlements and rough grasses leading down to Llyn Cwm-corsiog. Rarely walked and a little marshy at times, we experience a splendidly wild feel to this landscape. Nearing the lake there is a fine view to Moelwyn Mawr and Cnicht. Our pitch spot on the last visit here was too calm to dispel the midges and we climbed to higher ground nearby that yielded a welcome stiff breeze later.

We broke camp and continued south to join the path towards Rhosydd Quarry, initially clear but quickly turning vague and diverging on the descent. We have never followed the same line twice in this very confusing area, this time we found ourselves on a line near the rocky stream that crosses some boggy ground and emerges on the main approach path to the quarry buildings.

The onward line is a short distance right of the large main building, it leads to an obvious quarry incline, passing an interesting pool en route. A second longer incline then climbs above the main quarry area and heads south-eastwards past more buildings and spoil heaps to more open country. Where the main path swings westwards towards Moelwyn Mawr, we left it for a grassy, damp path heading for Moel-yr-hydd. From the scanty summit rocks on the flat top there is a fine view towards the Moelwynion.

Another thin grassy path descends WSW to join a fence above some rocky outcrops leading back to the main Rhosydd path. Passing through a small metal gate, we turned right a short way to find the start of the obvious Stwlan mine track, an excellent engineered track that traverses the steep slopes around to Llyn Stwlan. There is a striking view back to Moel-yr-hydd that shows the sharp contrast between the gentle grassy side and the rugged, heather-clad rocky battlements of the southern side.

The stony track traverses some very steep slopes of spoil at times but is solidly banked. It may seem like just an alternative walk when the tops above are swathed in clag but it's far too good to relegate to a dank grey day, this is very fine walking with the cliffs of Craigysgafn above and a grand view around to Moelwyn Bach. For a short stretch it becomes a simple hillside path before reverting to a banked stony track where an old mine entrance is now blocked off. A very low Llyn Stwlan was in view below.

We descended on a thin slanting path across marshy ground on the southern side of the dam to gain a better path picking its way through the scrappy terrain to reach the dam wall. The wall is well rounded and smooth with stones placed to assist a crossing, which we did fairly easily, then we noticed a very non-obvious concealed little gap at the wall end that presumably allows the public footpath to pass through!. Once across there is a slate step stile leading to a waymark pointing down to the access road.

Mindful of the time, we followed the access road down to Tanygrisiau and decided to take the valley road route to Blaenau. We had plenty of water with electrolyte tabs at the ready, nevertheless the fierce debilitating heat was still taking its toll. Walking slower and slower, we were almost zombie-like as we arrived at the Co-op in Blaenau to the comfort of the air con and cooling tubs of chilled fruit.