Ibex returned to the Stafford Mountain Club hut at Bryn Hafod in the Cwm Cywarch valley about 5-6 miles north of Dinas Mawddwwy in southern Snowdonia. The hut is nestled, off road, on 3 sides by green hills with access routes up onto the Aran Mountains.
The group was 11 strong which was a great number for the hut; 10 women and 1 man and he didn’t seem to mind.
On Saturday Kylie and David had left for their mammoth training day on and around Cader Idris before the rest of us were up for breakfast in preparation for their Cullins Traverse, 2 days of scrambling point to point (camping in the hills) in a few weeks.
The rest of us mere mortals split into 2 groups who tackled the Aran Fawddyy shorter circuit from different ends.
Ann, Judith, Mags and Jane took the clockwise circuit going west to east. They ascended steeply above Bry Hafod to Aran Fawddwy. At 905m this provided wonderful views of the surrounding landscapes and further hills. That team, minus Ann, decided to push on to bag an additional peak, that of Aran Benilyn at 884m with an additional 1.5 hour return hike to boot. That team then continued their planned southeasterly descent and then back to the hut.
The rest of the group, Cathy, Claire, Julie, Geena and Karen ascended the route anti-clockwise.
With various serious injuries most of the group were very pleased to reach the RAF memorial erected for someone that was struck by lightning at that point only 30-40 mins hike from Aran Fawddwy, with the hardest part of the ascent completed.
Luckily the weather was good and held no risks of electrocution. Karen, being injury free, continued on to ascend the rocky top of Aran Fawddwy and returned the same route as the others.
Stunning views, beautiful clear skies but not too hot temperature wise. The entire group had perfect walking days and then enjoyed a scrumptious 3 course meal prepared by Jane, Claire, Mags and Julie. Kylie and David returned from their big hike day just the right side of daylight and were grateful for the set aside meal.
The planned Sunday hike was only undertaken by Judith and Mags, others variously bumbling up low level tracks, going for coffee and craft shops, stopping off for a swim in a lake and driving directly back to London. But stalwart walkers Mags and Judith tackled Glasgwm, whose crags loom over Bryn Hafod. After a stiff climb they were rewarded with an attractive tarn and superb views of Cadair Idris, plus half the mountains in Wales it seemed. A lovely moorland path leading across the summit gave plenty of time to soak up the panorama. They then zigzagged steeply down the side of the hill on a stony track, which gave an equally good view down the whole length of the Bryn Hafod valley. Unfortunately, the footpath that was supposed to go off to the valley floor had vanished! After casting about waist-deep in the ferns trying, without success, to locate it, our intrepid heroes found a way down over a fence and a field to a track that took us to the car. Phew!
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