This was a walk I had looked at doing for a few years but never got round to it until last year when we camped out near to LLYN TEGID ( Bala Lake). I was hoping to do it last year but again, things got in the way, then this year, along came Covid so again it was put back. Luckily things changed when we were allowed to travel more freely so a date was set to tackle this there and back ridge walk . Not a ridge that is narrow with steep drops on either side, more of a large area of good ground to walk on, a couple of very mild scrambles that can be missed out, two major summits, a few smaller ones and excellent views all round. I had looked at doing a circular but as this is the first time I have been on the high ground around here and with the weather being another good clear day, I opted for the there and back route, taking my time and enjoying being high up for the day. The walk starts from the small car park just through the small village of Llanuwchllyn at the Southern end of Bala, where the narrow gaugeBala Lake Railway runs from and next to the Afon Twrch. Across the road and through the gate following the tarmac farm track before turning right at the Aran Ridge Path sign and heading for the first viewpoint on the rocky outcrop of Garth Fach. A good little viewpoint offering a great lookback over Llanuwchllyn, the surrounding countryside & Bala Lake on this fine blue sky morning.
Coming off Garth Fach I headed to the next minor top and viewpoint of Garth Fawr. You can easily miss these tops out if you wish by following the main path that skirts below and round them but I intended to do all the ridge and all the lumps and bumps associated with it to get the most out of the day. Garth Fawr is marked by a small stone built cairn and again offered some great views back over towards Bala Lake and the surrounding countryside.
Garth Fawr
Follow that fenceline
Coming off Gath Fawr I picked up the main path that followed a fenceline that went all the way to the high tops. I did have to cross it once or twice and in places there was some boggy ground and a wooded walkway has been put in place to help get over some bad bits of bog. As it was a good dry day and it has been dry for a few days, it wasn't as boggy as I imagaine it could be, especially after a good downpour. My next objective was the summit of Moel Ddu following the fencline before turning off at a style in the fenceline and heading straight up to the summit cairn. Now this is where I had a mishap and was wondering around for about half an hour after I realised that I had lost my camera!!. It was only when I had reached a rocky outcrop where the path went through it that I had realised my loss so I retraced my steps trying to find the camera but to no avail. It was quite heathery here and quite pathless, apart from the odd sheep track here and there and I could of searched all day and not found it. I also looked again on my return but it just seemed to of disappeared into thin air. Oh well, at least I had my phone to record the day in pictures
Moel Ddu summit view down to Bala Lake
There's a lost camera in there somewhere!
One lonely tree
After failing to find the camera it was on to the next summit, Moel Ffenigl @ 603Mtrs. Again following the fenceline through rocky, soggy ground with the boards to assist you with the fine views opening up the higher you get. With the loss of the camera, all photos are off my phone, hence not many up to now. Although it was a good blue sky day, there wasn't that many people about on the ridge and up to now I had only seen about half a dozen others out enjoying the fine scenary.
It can quite boggy here but the wooden boards help a bit
Moel Ffenigl summit views
The day had really warmed up nicely now and tee shirts were the order of the day especially as there was little wind. Quite tough going as the way forward was up, up and up, winding through the rocky outcrops but still following the fenceline. It must be a really hard job putting these in, marking out the bounderies while navigating them round all the rock obsticles. Onwards and upwards, passing over the crags of Craig y Llyn as I get up to the summit plateau of ARAN BENLLYN @ 885Mtrs, the 2nd highest summit on the ridge and of the day.
Looking down on Llyn Lliwbran
Llyn Pen Aran
Summit views towards Erw y Ddafad Ddu & Aran Ffawddy
Aran Benllyn Summit
Summit view towards Cadair Idris & Barmouth
Getting to the summit of Aran Benllyn you certainly get some fine views of the surrounding mountain area's and down to the coast with Barmouth coming into view. The views over to the rounded hills towards the distant Y Berwyn Nature Reserve reminded me of the rolling hills of the HOWGILL FELLS in Cumbria. All looking like a gentle rollercoaster of the same height as they fade into the distance, not quite what I was expecting to see as the more higher and rockier mountains dominate the Northern outline of Snowdonia. I ventured on to the highest point of the day, ARAN FAWDDWY @ 905 m (2,969 ft) just failing to reach the magic 3000ft mark by around 30ft. It is the only peak in Wales outside North Snowdonia above 900m, and
higher than anywhere in Great Britain outside Northern Snowdonia, the
Scottish Highlands (and islands) and the Lake District. Still following the fenceline, I passed over another summit, ERW Y DDAFAD-DDU @ 872 m (2,861 ft), which lies in the col between Aran Benllyn and Fawddwy and is the descent route taken to FOEL HAFOD-FYNYDD @ 689 m (2,260 ft) and a circular route back to the car park. Reaching the only trig point of todays walk saw me seeing a few other walkers who had come up from GLASGWM (779 m 2,556 ft) as this is another circular route from Cwm Cywarch end of the Arans. I headed to the end of the ridge, the lower South summit of Aran Fawddy for a bite to eat and rest taking in the views towards CADAIR IDRIS and down to Barmouth where we have spent numerous days camping and having days out in this lovely seaside town
Erw y Ddafad Ddu Summit view towards Aran Ffawddy
Erw y Ddafad Ddu view towards Northern Snowdonia
The descent route off Erw y Ddafad Ddu towards Foel Hafod
Aran Ffawddy Trig Point
Looking down on Creiglyn Dyfi
Towards Aran Ffawddy South Top
View back to the main summit from Aran Ffawddy South top
The rolling hills and valleys
The rolling hills and valleys
After hanging around the summit for about 45 minutes enjoying the views and fine weather on offer, I made my way back the same way but this time using the main path instead of sticking to the edge clambouring over the rocky outcrops, seeing a different angle on the sceneary. For the first time that I have been up here, it was a great day all round and will certainly be here again and probably use a circular route. The rounded hills and valleys also look appealing and worth a longer look round that I'll have to find time for.
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