#34.TRYFAN,Y FOEL GOCH + GALLT YR OGOF.25-5-12.

Today's walk was a visit to my favourite mountain,Tryfan and it was my 31st visit to climb it.Having travelled up with Howie and Clive we met Glyno and Julian at the long lay-by near Gwern Gof Uchaf Farm.

It was very hot and hardly a cloud in the sky and after applying sun cream we set off.

We took the path through the farm and skirted below Tryfan Bach and headed for the North Ridge.The pace was slow due to the heat but we were all enjoying the scramble.About half way up to the cannon we saw lot's of soldier's ascending below us and one of them shouted up to us enquiring the whereabout's of it,we told them the way and they followed us up anyway as we were going that way.

We reached the quartz covered rock's and i knew we were a short distance from the cannon,scrambling over and around a few more outcrop's we had reached it,and we crawled up it to pose for photo's.

The soldier's soon arrived so we set off for the summit leaving them to pose on it.Reaching "Piccadily Circus" i made the decision to take Clive around the Traversing path on the east face thus avoiding the hard scramble over the false summit's,Howie came with us and Glyno and Julian opted for the tougher route.On the path we chose i kept glancing up and could see the boy's high above us waving.Below is Clive and soldier's on this path.

We let the soldier's pass and watched them scramble up one of the gullies but we carried on round to Little Gully where Julian had dropped down to meet us.The soldier's were now on the summit and jumping Adam and Eve above us.

We scrambled directly up to the famous rock's and met up with the other's on the summit,and about 80 soldier's as well.They provided us with some great entertainment with their antic's on Adam and Eve,even "planking" it.

After having a break we set off down the South Ridge and Clive made the decision to walk back to the car leaving us to take the Miner's Path over to Y Foel Goch.

A short climb up through rock's and we reached Llyn Caseg-fraith,this lake with Tryfan behind provides a great photo opportunity.

We soon reached the summit of Y Foel Goch and here we had another break.Heading north a short distance away is Gallt yr Ogof which we soon reached and after a few photo's we carried on along the ridge until we picked a fence up that Julian had followed previously.We followed this fence down to Nant yr Ogof and then followed this stream down to the old A5.Passing Gwern Gof Isaf we followed this track back to Gwern Gof Uchaf and then back to the car's and a waiting Clive.The distance walked was 6 miles with 2,800 feet of ascent.

MILEAGE      235.5
ASCENT       57,300
TOPS            60.

#33.MOEL MORFYDD.23-5-12.

Parking by the Hebron Chapel in Rhewl i met Howie and Clive for a short walk on a blisteringly hot day.Leaving the village i was again dismayed to see another of my favourite boozer's shut down,The Sun.

At the fork we generally go right and aim for the drover's lane but today we went left to visit the small hill of Graig-ddu,seen below.

It was only a short steep pull up but on this hot day we were soon sweating a lot.The view's weren't the best as it was very hazy but with the sun behind us we had a decent view across to Moel Morfydd,our high point of the day.

One of Howie's friend's had said there might be some low flying today and within 5 minutes of leaving Graig-ddu a Hercules Transported flew low behind the hill,we would of had a great view of it had we still been on top of it.Skirting below Moel Morfydd a farmer was out feeding his flock of sheep and we had to wait as dozen's ran off the hill across us to where the farmer was putting the food out.Passing a large walking group we sat above Cwm-tydi and had a break with a great view down the Dee Valley and a glimpse of the Llangollen Steam Train chugging along.Picking up the Bryneglwys to Glyndyfrdwy road for a short distance we now hit a very steep section of rutted path that lead's to the summit of Moel Morfydd.As we gained height we could pick out lot's of other mountain's,the Arenig's,the Berwyn's,Yr Wyddfa,the Glyder's,Tryfan and the Carneddau.Soon we reached the summit and it's trig point.

We walked down and over Moel y Gaer and at the col turned left and headed back to Rhewl.This lane gave us a great view to the hill's we had just walked.

Maesyrychen Mountain from the lane.

Once we changed at the car we drove to the Chainbridge Hotel for a drink passing the large group we had seen earlier,they even had a drink with us when they too turned up at the hotel as it turned out i knew some of them from year's ago.We walked 6 mile today with 2,000 feet of ascent.

MILEAGE          229.5
ASCENT           54,500
TOPS                57.

#32.HOPE MOUNTAIN.16-5-12.

After Julie had finished work and with the sun shining we had a short walk on Hope Mountain.Parking at the Waun y Llyn Country Park we walked back down the lane toward's Caergwrle and then turned left on a bridle path skirting below the mountain.

From this path you get a great view east.

Before we started to gain height we happened upon a field of bluebells.

Leaving the bridal path we walked up to the north side of the mountain and got our first view of Moel Famau.

Next up we passed the small disused quarry.

We now picked up the bridal path on the west of the mountain for our return.

Nearing the car park.

A quick change of clothes at the car and off for tea in the Hollybush in Cefnybedd.We walked 2 mile with 350 feet of ascent.


MILEAGE     223.5
ASCENT       52,500
TOPS             55.

#31.WORLD'S END.13-5-12.

After a heavy night at the brother-in-law's birthday party on friday night and being hung over all day saturday we decided to get out of the house and do a local walk on sunday as the weather was set fair.Parking below Castell Dinas Bran (Crow Castle) we followed the Offa's Dyke path with good view's down to the Dee Valley.

And to the Llantysilio Mountain's.

Passing Tan-y-castell Farm the view back to the castle is nice.

On this beautiful morning the lane was a hive of activity,lot's of cyclist's and walker's setting off,load's of sheep and rabbit's feeding,lot's of bird's chirping away and i was amazed at the wild flower's on the grass verges,the Early Purple Orchid which was abundant taking my eye.

Passing Dinbren isaf we got our first glimpse of Eglwyseg,the limestone cliff's that we would be walking above on our return.

The Offa's Dyke path leaves the road and skirt's above Rock Farm on a lane and lead's to a scree path that contour's below the Eglwyseg.

Below the next photo's are all taken from the scree path.

Ty Canol below.

The path now enter's a small wooden area near World's End with our first view of Craig y Forwyn.

Arriving at World's End we had a break on the bench and i found my 500th geo-cache here the other side of the ford.

We left the Offa's Dyke path and followed the small stream uphill to reach the cliff's above Craig y Cythraul.

We now followed a faint path that stay's close to the cliff edge for our return to the car.

Looking across to the Llantysilio Mountain's and the Ponderosa Cafe i could clearly see the high mountain's of Snowdonia so i zoomed in on Tryfan which is 35 miles away as the crow flies.

Julie's Plantar Fasciitus was hurting so we descended via the boulder field down to Rock Farm and picked up the Offa's Dyke Path for our return back to the car.

Below,looking back up to our descent route.

View to Castell Dinas Bran on our return.

This cracking little walk was 8.5 mile long with 2,150 feet of ascent.

MILEAGE       221.5
ASCENT        52,150
TOPS             55.