Moel Siabod & Moelwyn Mawr
DAY 1
1 SH720582 Buses will stop nearby to 3-way junction and Joe Brown shop. If leaving a vehicle in the car park, be mindful that it will be here for a number of days, so best to leave some information to confirm this. From the junction, head south-west towards Play y Brenin National Outdoor Centre, where a Public Right of Way heads towards Moel Siabod, crossing the outflow of Llynnau Mymbyr. Heading steeply up through forest initially, a good path trends uphill towards Moel Siabod’s summit slopes. It’s a fairly steep initial ascent, before the summit ridge eases, at the culmination of the north ridge. Easier going west and south-west slopes descend gradually towards Bwlch clorad before the next summit of Clogwyn Bwlch-y-maen; gateway to the rest of the Moelwynion range.
2 SH676542 At Bwlch Rhiw’r Y chen there is a distinct corner of fences/stiles and you can handrail a fence line, on your left, for most of the journey across grass, rocky outcrops and boggy hollows. A series of heather and rocky tops parade generally southwards, with the Paddy Buckley route visiting the summits of Carnedd y Cribau, Cerrig Cochion, Moel Meirch (rocky summit area!) and the vague and undulating Ysgafell Wen. Keen navigators will hunt out Paddy Buckley’s interpretation of ‘Mynydd Llynnau’r Cwn’ at SH663485/669m and ‘Three Tops’ at SH667481/672m before descending to the delightful Llyn Terfyn.
3 SH668479 Some faint trods work their way through grass and rushes, heading south-west towards a mapped right of way that hugs the west shores of Llyn Cwm-corsiog. This stronger path leads quite logically down to the expanse of disused Cwmorthin and Rhosydd quarry areas, where a southerly route progresses onwards through a shallow valley of slate workings, with Moel-yr-hydd up to the left. Cross a fence line at SH667452 to descend onto an old, quarry tramway route above Llyn Stwlan – a good path, that traverses to Bwlch Stwlan between Moelwyn Bach and Moelwyn Mawr. This route heads north, straight up the rocky spur of Craigysgafn towards Moelwyn Mawr (an out-and-back effort to Moelwyn Bach can be made here, but that’s personal choice!). Some steeper steps and quartz intrusions and are enjoyed before the final grassy steepness of Moelwyn Mawr’s summit.
4 SH658448 Initially heading off steeply to the east, drop off Moelwyn Mawr’s grassy shoulder and use a good path to make progress downhill. As the ground flattens at 640m, head left round some rocky
Clogwyn Bwlch-y-maen. features on the ridge; this will open up a grassy slope descending more steeply to Llyn Croesor, picking up a good path as it crosses the old damn of this small quarry works reservoir. Follow this path for approx 400m only before dropping into a grassy hollow on your left (boggy at times) to meet a wide, quarry track at Bwlch y Rhosydd SH661462. Cross the track and head uphill on soft ground, with numerous faint paths to pick up. Upon reaching the highest ground, just about 500m, head more northerly towards the twin waters of Llynnau Diffwys. Finding a wild camp spot here will rely on finding some height above more boggy ground – approx SH660470.