Rhinog Fawr from Cwm-bychan Farm

Walk Summary

Passing Llyn Cwm Bychan on way to car park
at Cwm-bychan Farm

There were three plans for this walk:-

• there and back route through forest from Graigddu-isaf
• extension of Central Rhinogs route after Rhinog Fach
• circular route include surrounding TuMPs and Deweys of Rhinog Fawr from Cwm Bychan

The Central Rhinogs extension was abandoned due to lack of daylight last Saturday and + possibly energy and the Graigddu-isaf (original option) was replaced by the days plan to include surrounding TuMPs and Deweys, due to my own improved fitness and my preference for circular as opposed to there and back routes.

In the end, due to restriction of about 10mph drive along narrow road along Cwm Bychan to the walk start point, I was late starting and decided to gain the high ground by way of Roman Steps and in all honesty despite all of the above plans am really pleased I took this splendid option.

When you see this view at top of Roman Steps,
look for a sharpe left turn in path

One thing to watch out for is the sharp left turn in the path at the top. I did and ended up on a Grade II (I think) scramble. See route map below. I have some scrambling experience and am not an expert on gradings, however I had both hands and feet on rock, there was a slight element of exposure and there would have been risk of serious injury if I had fell. So yep "a grade II scramble"
The clear benefit in my mind, apart from some impromtu scrambling practice, was the introduction of a direct access to the east side of Rhinog Fawr North Top and the option to continue straight over past Llyn Du and up the straight forward east side of Rhinog Fawr.
On Rhinog Fawr summit I had some debate with myself about the highest point and plumped for the trig point rather than either of the two cairns to the east. In fact if there is a higher point to the east it is the embedded boulder just west of the nearest cairn. Anyway visited all three points plus the boulder just in case the area is properly surveyed in the future and I missed standing on a high point that might be 2cm higher than where I had been. Heaven forbid!

Gloy Llyn and Craig Careg y Staeth
towards Lleyn Peninsular on way down Rhinog Fawr

On the descent from Rhinog Fawr I debated with myself about going straight back down Cwm Tyddiad and the Roman Steps but was persuaded to go on for the Moel Morwynion summits. Wrong decision. I did not have time especially with the long onward drive to Rhayaer and after reaching the SW Top and bagging both high points decided to cut my losses and head back down to Cwm Bychan.
The SW Top was only a TuMP 400 which is a list I am definitely not persuing (yet), though I did take the trouble to visit both high points again - just in case. This leaves the main Dewey summit of Moel Morwynion still to do, well not a problem as I am apparently not interested in the Dewey list either.

Walk Statistics

Walk Date - 19 October 2016
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Coed-Y-Llwyn Caravan Club Site
Start Point - Cwm-bychan Farm car park (SH 64576 31452)
Start Time - 12:09
Finish Point - Cwm-bychan Farm car park (SH 64576 31452)
Finish Time- 17:35
Total Duration - 5hrs 26mins 
Overall Average pace - 1.15mph
Total Distance Walked - 6.26 miles
Total Height Ascended - 722.31metres

Peaks visited
Nuttalls (189W - 444E&W)
Rhinog Fawr (181W - 436E&W)
Hewitts (138W - 318E&W)
Rhinog Fawr (129W - 309E&W)
Marilyns (158W - 1556E,W&S)
Rhinog Fawr (100W - 268E,W&S)
Deweys (241W - 421E&W)
Craig Llyn Du [Rhinog Fawr North Top] (60W - 116E&W)
HuMPs (364W - 2975EW&S)

Rhinog Fawr (121W - 356E,W&S)
TuMPs[4] (455W - 2038EW&S)
Moel Morwynion SW Top (15W - 47E,W&S)
Historic County Tops (413E - 93E,W&S)
NONE

W: Wales. 

E,W: England & Wales. 
E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland

Other walks on this trip
2016
October
07^th Calf Top
08^th Moel Siabod
09^th Yr Aran & Gallt y Wenaullt
11^th The Manods & Moel Penamnen from Blaenau Ffestiniog
12^th The Cnichts
13^th Moel Hebog - The Beddgelert Three
14^th Moel-y-Gest
15^th Five Nuttalls of the Central Rhinogs
18^th Rhobell Fawr & Dduallt
19^th Rhinog Fawr from Cwm-bychan Farm

21^st Gorllwyn & Drygarn Fawr
22^nd Pen y Garn
22^nd Bryn y Fan
24^th Foel Goch and the four Deweys from Bala C&CC campsite
25^th North West Arans
Route

GPX can be downloaded from

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More Photographs

Looking back leaving Cwm Bychan car park at the end of the days walk after dropping a couple of quid in to the honesty box

Click on photograph to view slide-show