A return to the hills after a few weeks layoff, this was a 2-day circuit of the Northern Hirnant hills to pick up a couple of new Dewey 500m tops, also visiting several familiar 2000-feet summits. The outward route towards Foel Goch and the return from Bwlch y Fenni are the same as our Hirnants trip, as are some fragments of the core of the route, and a few bits of description have been taken from that trip.
Two dry days in a miserable August were just right for this short trip. The views on the first day were plagued by very hazy grey humid air that obscured the neighbouring hills until mid morning but conditions improved on the second day. The route is a mixture of very hard rough moorland and easy paths and tracks.
After slopping through some very wet stuff on this backpack I think my much loved Berghaus Pro-Rush Mids have started to leak: a test is in order now before the dreaded hunt for replacements. In the meantime I have an old pair of Stratos to test as well, they just might still be waterproof.
9 Comments
That’s an interesting route Geoff - I’ve never heard of the area but well done on finding it. Sounds like not many other people know about it either?
Some parts are (relatively) well known, at least among peakbaggers, due to the 2000-feet tops but they are little walked generally. I think most walkers do those tops once and never return.
Some writers refer to these hills as the western fringe of the Berwyns, which are well known by name, but I’ve taken the division adopted by Peter Hermon in his Hillwalking in Wales volumes which separates them as the Hirnants.
Great trip report Geoff, good to see you back out on the fells!
Gary,
Thanks Gary,great to be trekking the heights again.
Good to see you got out and found two decent days to walk this August. Nice high wild camp as well. Need the weather to be decent to enjoy times camping high. Also I would rather avoid deep heather and tussock in bad weather.
Geoff - I don’t know this area for walking at all. I have not walked that much in Wales - tend to go to the Lakes and the North Pennines mostly but this could be a rewarding area - as I guess it is fairly quiet year round.
Mark
Martin,
A brilliant camp, the only flat spot on the mountain and good distant views. The weather was just right, a stiff breeze for ventilation and cooling but not wild - just as well, it couldn’t be more exposed.
Mark,
It is rewarding when you’ve climbed all the usual suspects in Wales, most of them several times, and want to avoid the summer hordes of people in much quieter surroundings. I didn’t see anyone the whole two days, which is typical for most of that route.
The Hirnants are quiet for a reason Geoff, they can be pretty tough. I have been up there during an August Bank Holiday and had the place to my self. I can confirm that the crossing to Foel Cwm Sian Llwyd is waist deep heather hell, I hated it! The only consilation being when the heather is in full bloom. On the trip I did my boots were stained red from Bilberries and the rest of me was covered in heather Pollen. Just a couple left to bag which are near the track for me now. Some nice colourful photos there Geoff, especially considering that they are not the most spectacular hills in Wales.
James,
That’s the last time I do that crossing, I think I’m rapidly becoming less hardy with the really rough stuff, I found that tough. It’s true you need the vibrant heather on these hills to cheer them up.