- Update 20 Jun 2005
Times, Routes, Call for Numbers
The routes are up - follow the short and long walk links above - please note that timings are provisional - depending on who is coming on the long walk the start time may be delayed a bit, also the short walk start time has to be ratified by the "Little Chef Posse"Please let me know about your party... It would really help for me to know the following
- Lead Name
- Mobile Phone Number - if you think I don't already have it
- Barbeque on Friday Night?
- Number staying in the cottage Friday Night
- Number camping at the cottage Friday Night
- Number of Long Walkers
- Number of Short Walkers
- Number of Non Walking Helpers - very useful in case of retirements
- Number eating with us on Saturday Evening*
- Any special requests - for example - only walking the first of second half of the long walk
*I will need to have a fair idea of how many about 7 days before the walk so that I can pre-warn the restaurant, obtain copies of the menu. If we are large in number we will phone through the order during the afternoon
- Update 5 Apr 2005
First Site Visit
I have been out to check the parking, access, routes, accomodation and restaurant... and here is all is...Venue
Both walks will pass along the main ridge of Aran Fawddwy: "Aran Fawddwy falls short of the magic 3000 by just 31 feet and provides the basis for a quality walk. With outstanding scenery, superb crags and a route that can be followed in either direction it is a perfect candidate for those wishing to avoid the crowds and "bag" a big one"
Friday Night Barbeque & Accomodation
I recently discovered that on old college friend has inherited a cottage - on the slopes of Cadair Idris. Dref Gerrig (literally 'Home of Rocks') is a unique 17th century dry stone cottage. It has a house barn (attached to the main house), and a detached barn. It can sleep up to 20 people depending on the level of comfort - there are 3 shared rooms in the main house - the bunk beds - sleeping a total of 10 and then everyone else goes in the barn! All will need to bring own linen/sleeping bags. It is also possible to camp in the garden. The owners stress that the rustic atmosphere has been deliberately maintained.
Dref Gerrig is used by Scout parties and visiting families and is run on a non-profit basis. We have the run of the place from Friday afternoon through to Sunday - for around £150 - all in including cleaning and electricity (I have checked - there is a 10kW power shower!)
If you want to stay overnight on Friday or Saturday - please contact me soon to reserve a place. - it should cost around £20 total for two nights
Accommodation is Dolgellau is limited, fills up fast - and last time I was paying £45 a night for a single in the town centre.How to get there:
The cottage is about 2 miles south from Dolgellau at (SH745167)
Heading from the Centre of Dolgellau - head east - and when you see the hospital signs - turn right (South) - go straight up the hill , after you cross the river (very sharp bends) continue up the steep and narrow lane - until you see a a gate in the wall on your left and a big yellow "Grit Bin" and a slate sign saying Dref Gerrig.
The track up to Dref is all weather but narrow - not suiable for camper vans or caravans. You will need to pass through two gates on your way to Dref - please close both of them after you.
Alternatively from the A470 at the Cross Foxes Inn - take the small road towards Tabor, and continue on until you join the route described above.
There will be a DIY Barbeque on the Friday evening - please come prepared with fuel, cooking devices and so on...
Travelling Times
Note that these are "best, brisk driving, very early on a Saturday morning" times!Distance Time Bournville to Dref Gerrig 108 miles 2 hrs 20 min Bournville to Short Walk Start - Direct via Vyrnwy 94 1hr 55 min Bournville to Short Walk Start - Via Welshpool and Dinas Mawddwy 106 miles 2hrs 10 min Bournville to Long Walk Start - Direct via Vyrnwy 106 miles 2hrs 15 min Dref Gerrig to Long Walk Start 13 miles 24 min Short Walk Start to Finish - by Car 7 15 min Dref Gerrig to Fronoleu Country Hotel 2 miles (car), 900m (foot) 8 min (car) 10 min (foot)
The Long Walk
18.5miles and 5000ft of climb - the same length as last year.The start will be in Cwm Cywarch at Fanog Fawr (SH854184) near Dinas Mawddwy
the route travels along the Aran ridge
Stopping for lunch at the Short Walk Start Carpark (SH913232) and then following the skyline/watershed
all the way back to Dinas Mawddwy (SH859149) and "The Red Lion" (see below)
This is a challenging walk - but with the chance to see the sunrise from the Aran Ridge and explore places where no one else ever goes... also there are 3 places where you can drop out and await a pickup.
Start 05:00 Finish 17:30 The short walk will start at Five O'clock
You will need "Explorer OL23 Cadair Idris & Llyn Tegid" at 1:25000. Here is the route...
The Long walk is in Magenta for the first part and Green for the second. Most of the route follows walls or paths - but be very careful in mist - if you cannot navigate - do not get separated! If it is windy stay away from the cliffs. The second half of the walk is terra incognita - there are some off path sections where I have never been - so it might be a little rough.
We will arrange for water, your drinks, your food and your spare clothes to be transferred to the Short Walk Start - If you are staying at the cottage on Friday night then we hope to run your stuff up from there, otherwise you will need to get it to Bill Holmes at Bournville on the Friday
Please note that you walk at your own risk and you are responsible for your own safety
The Short Walk
10.5 miles 2000ft climb - just a little shorter than last year
After last year's whingeing the short walk will start from the HIGHEST CARPARK* in the whole of North Wales (SH913232) and it will then pass over all these hills
before finishing here in Dinas Mawddwy (SH859149)
Yes this year the finish is at a Pub...
The SHORT walkers will travel from East to West along the ridge and the LONG from West to East - I will run a book on the grid ref of where the advance parties meet.
Start 10:00 Finish 17:00 The short walk will start at ten o'clock sharp (ha! ha! ha!) - or the best you can manage and, at the rate you walked last year, should take about 7 hours -
You will need "Explorer OL23 Cadair Idris & Llyn Tegid" at 1:25000. Here is the route...
The Short walk is in Magenta and runs from top left to bottom right. Most of the route follows walls or paths - but be very careful in mist - if you cannot navigate - do not get separated! If it is windy stay away from the cliffs - the walk leader may decide to take the alternate route down the hill - depending on advice from the long walkers - who will be going in the opposite direction. The long walker cars will be parked at the foot of the hill - see long walk details, the tired may rest here - we will transfer a key.
Please note that you walk at your own risk and you are responsible for your own safety
*by the way - do take the little mountain road from Vyrnwy to Bwlch-y-Groes - it is BRILLIANT! - and some very nice views:
The Arans and Dogs
Update: I have checked with the CCW and they have pointed me at the correct website: - "Access Land" maps are now published and according to the available information there are no permanent or impending restrictions on our route - you can check here
Access to the Arans has always been a problem - there is no public right of way - and notices say that dogs are not permitted on the permissive path
On the other hand from May 25th the whole of the area will be 'open access land' under the recent 'Right to Roam' act and various websites say"The new law provides a right of access for walkers only, and does not confer any additional rights for cyclists or horse-riders (though where additional rights are currently allowed or tolerated, they will continue). Dogs are permitted on some areas of open country, but must be kept on a lead on access land between 1 March and 31 July and at any time in the vicinity of livestock. Furthermore, dogs may be banned temporarily or permanently from some areas of land."
I have not been able to find out if there will be any dog bans in effect - I have emailed the local planning office - no reply so far!
Saturday Eating
My friend recommends the Fronoleu Country Hotel (website) located at (SH748175)
"Secretly secluded, surrounded by wild Welsh beauty and overlooking the magnificent Mawddach estuary, this unique country hotel emanates a warm and friendly atmosphere, and is deeply embedded in local history and culture.
Ideal for large formal events or for cosy meals to the sound of a local harper. Fronoleu means 'Light From Within'. It is a name associated with the early quakers who lived here; it probably arose from the quaker doctrine of the 'inner light'.
It still remains a working farm, but in its role as country house hotel and restaurant it has established a great reputation for fine food and comfortable accommodation."
I have checked out the hotel - and have reserved a large private room for us - I have also checked out the menu - bar snacks or a la carte - looks pretty scrummy to me. If you want to know what will be availalble - I have a copy of the menu down in Manufacturing Techincal at BournvilleSaturday Accomodation
If memory serves - it was quite difficult to find rooms in Dolgellau - if you are not going to join us at Dref Gerrig then there are still a few rooms available at the Fronoleu Hotel - mostly doubles, the owners have further accomodation in Dolgellau.Note the Fronleu seems particularly dog friendly - every guest there seemed to have at least one dog with them...
Links
Here are some links:A hiking guide to Dinas Mawddwy - Mid Snowdonia
And this year there will be
NO VOMITING
on Glasgwm (779m)
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