Tanygrisiau to Llyn y Adar
1 SH682454 Leave the parking area, pass the waterfalls and pick up a grassy path on to the Llyn Stwlan (reservoir) service road. You could head up this road to the reservoir and pick your way up to Bwlch Stwlan, but that’s a lot of tarmac to walk and the next leg is more interesting! Walk 800m from the parking area.
2 SH676451 Where you pass the ‘Pinacl’ ridge above the road, search out a small mine opening on the road’s north side. There’s evidence of footfall to view the entrance. You can start a west-northwest ascent from here. It looks steep, but it’s rewarding to gain height above the road and emerge onto a quiet, more level area with good views. Zigzag up, pausing to view the buzzards circling from the cliffs of ‘Pinacl’. On flatter ground, pass old quarry buildings and another mine entrance, as you pick up a faint path at times, always heading west-south-west. After a flat, sometimes boggy area, ascend towards an old tramway line exiting from quarries below Moelwyn Bach (small, bare hill).
3 SH665449 It’s faster progress along this old trackway, giving great views to Moelwyn Bach and beyond, above Llyn Stwlan. Keep contouring until Bwlch Stwlan (gap/ pass of Stwlan). Rather than the ‘out-and-back’ option to the summit of Moelwyn Bach, keep to a level path contouring underneath its dark cliffs. You’ll emerge on to a grassy shoulder with airy views over Blaenau Ffestiniog, towards Trawsfynydd and even Cadair Idris. Work around this shoulder and ascend to a large quarry opening on your right. From a flattening on the grassy shoulder, at about 620m altitude, make your way through boulders to emerge at a delightful flattening beneath the summit. Ascend a final grassy slope to Moelwyn Bach’s small cairn (no wind shelter).
4 SH660437 In poor weather, take note of a north-easterly direction from the summit, to pick up a stony path at SH661438. Descend steeply (stony and loose) to Bwlch Stwlan, over smooth slate steps at times. No sooner is the flattening of the bwlch reached than the steep ascent towards Moelwyn Mawr (large, bare hill) begins. March over the rocky ridgeline
of Craigysgafn, with some rocky steps for interest, keeping the mind and legs occupied, before the final steepening to the summit, always on a good path, sometimes steep. Trig point and no wind shelter.
5 SH658448 Move away from the summit in an easterly direction, before picking up the steep, grassy descent shoulder to the north-north-east. The angle eases towards Rhosydd Quarry (and the boggy bits increase!). At SH663458 cross a stile and descend an incline to old quarry buildings, where history surrounds you. A good place to take some shelter and food.
6 SH665462 Look out for a cairned path, ascending over lumps in a north-westerly direction. This trod tracks up towards an electric (?) fence with gate at SH662465. Cross here and contour above Llyn Cwm-corsiog (lake of the marshy valley = correct!). There is evidence of footfall and a path on the ground, generally travelling north-northwest, leading you over lumps and shoulders before crossing a small stream, Afon Cwm-yfoel. Attention is needed in poor weather, though. If flowing well, water could be taken to use for boiling at camp.
7 SH658476 Cross the stream, pick up a grassy ridgeline ascending in a southwesterly direction, towards spot height 631m. This is a pleasant gain of height with views back to Moelwyn Bach and Moelwyn Mawr. At 630m join a good path to/from Cnicht’s summit and you’re now on track to reach the top of your third peak, just over 1km away. You’ll enjoy delightful ridge-walking with extensive views to Moel Hebog, Yr Wyddfa’s massif (Snowdon) and the rest of your route to the north, including Llyn y Adar.
8 SH645466 From Cnicht’s shapely summit, retrace steps back to where you joined the path at 630m height. In clear weather, you’re now in good sight of Llyn yr Adar (lake of the birds) and can descend grassy slopes to its south-west shores. In wetter weather, be canny about boggy sections towards the llyn. There is some drier, flatter ground on its south-west edge. A well-deserved wild camp awaits.