Craig Eigiau & Pen Llithrig y Wrach - Thursday 10 March 2016
Route
Trasbwll - Cefn Tal-llyn Eigiau - Craig Eigiau - Cwm Eigiau - Bwlch y Tri Marchog - Pen Llithrig y Wrach - Hafod y Rhiw - Trasbwll
Parking
The parking area at Trasbwll - roughly 3 miles SW of Tal-y-Bont (Free) - Grid Ref SH732663
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Deep snow covered the paths above the snow line at 400m making conditions & navigation tricky over the terrain. The transit from the mine workings to just below Bwlch y Tri Marchog was very steep in places and the deep snow made progress difficult.
Weather
Gloriously sunny with very good visibility. Temperatures were mild in the valleys but cold on the ridges & summits.
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3031ft (924m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & The Conwy Valley
Trasbwll - Cefn Tal-llyn Eigiau - Craig Eigiau - Cwm Eigiau - Bwlch y Tri Marchog - Pen Llithrig y Wrach - Hafod y Rhiw - Trasbwll
Parking
The parking area at Trasbwll - roughly 3 miles SW of Tal-y-Bont (Free) - Grid Ref SH732663
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Deep snow covered the paths above the snow line at 400m making conditions & navigation tricky over the terrain. The transit from the mine workings to just below Bwlch y Tri Marchog was very steep in places and the deep snow made progress difficult.
Weather
Gloriously sunny with very good visibility. Temperatures were mild in the valleys but cold on the ridges & summits.
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3031ft (924m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & The Conwy Valley
|
GPX File
|
| ||
If the above GPX file fails to download or presents itself as an XML file once downloaded then please feel free to contact me and I will send you the GPX file via e-mail.
Walk Description
After a few days of low cloud we were promised better weather for this walk today. MWIS (link here) had the day down for cloud free summits and sunshine therefore we made the journey via Tal-y-Bont to the remote parking area at Trasbwll - our aim today was to walk in an area of Snowdonia we had never been to before therefore were really looking forward to an excellent day out - and so it proved. We were joined today by a friend of ours, Howie, who knows Snowdonia pretty well therefore we set off ready for a super day in the mountains. We were to take in 2 Welsh Nuttalls today although the route is pretty flexible and could also be extended over the other side of Llyn Cowlyd to visit the 3 Nuttalls of Craiglwyn, Creigiau Gleision and Creigiau Gleision North Top. Additionally a detour could also be made to the North West to visit Pen yr Helgi Du and Carnedd Llewelyn, therefore lots of other options to think about.
Leaving the parking area, the route headed north west on a track to rise gently around Clogwynyreryr. Reaching a stile, it was time to turn south on a good path to handrail a fence to begin the gradual incline to the summit of Craig Eigiau. As we gained height we reached the snowline and the going became tougher - deep snow made for an interesting transit over pathless terrain. Leaving the fence we made steady progress and soon arrived at the rocky summit of Craig Eigiau, which provides magnificent views over to the Carneddau. Moving on, it was now time to make a gradual descent down to the old quarry workings at the head of Cwm Eigiau. It was soon readily apparent that this descent would not be easy - there was no visible path and although the descent was gradual, it was made more difficult by the depth of snow we encountered in isolated areas. The quarry workings cannot be seen until near the end of the descent therefore it is best to use Pen yr Helgi Du as a marker and head straight for that.
Resting briefly at the quarry workings it was now time to make our way up to Bwlch y Tri Marchog (Pass of the Three Horsemen) from where we would make our way to Pen Llithrig y Wrach. The route slanted along the lower slopes which made progression difficult therefore we made a decision to head uphill to reach the Bwlch as quickly as possible. The route was steep and transited through deep snow in places but after about an hour of toil we reached the Bwlch where we made a gentler ascent via an intermittent path to the summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach. From this flat plateau summit there are fantastic views to the Glyderau, Tryfan and Moel Siabod as well as over to Creigiau Gleision and back to the Carneddau.
Departing the summit, we had originally planned to drop down to the shores of Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir and walk back from there via Hafod y Rhiw but time was pressing on therefore we made the decision to drop down to the right of Gallt Cedryn. As before, in places the snow was deep but it was not too onerous a transit. We soon reached the valley floor of Cwm Eigiau where a track led us to the cottages at Hafod y Rhiw and the impressive breached dams of Llyn Eigiau before a gently rising path delivered us back to the parking area.
This was a superb day out over challenging terrain at times but thoroughly enjoyable. At only 9 miles, it is not the longest of walks however we took our time today, as the terrain was quite unpredictable at times. We saw one person all day, and that from a considerable distance away. The mountains around Cwm Eigiau are simply beautiful and really are worth a visit as the vistas and panoramas from them are glorious.
Leaving the parking area, the route headed north west on a track to rise gently around Clogwynyreryr. Reaching a stile, it was time to turn south on a good path to handrail a fence to begin the gradual incline to the summit of Craig Eigiau. As we gained height we reached the snowline and the going became tougher - deep snow made for an interesting transit over pathless terrain. Leaving the fence we made steady progress and soon arrived at the rocky summit of Craig Eigiau, which provides magnificent views over to the Carneddau. Moving on, it was now time to make a gradual descent down to the old quarry workings at the head of Cwm Eigiau. It was soon readily apparent that this descent would not be easy - there was no visible path and although the descent was gradual, it was made more difficult by the depth of snow we encountered in isolated areas. The quarry workings cannot be seen until near the end of the descent therefore it is best to use Pen yr Helgi Du as a marker and head straight for that.
Resting briefly at the quarry workings it was now time to make our way up to Bwlch y Tri Marchog (Pass of the Three Horsemen) from where we would make our way to Pen Llithrig y Wrach. The route slanted along the lower slopes which made progression difficult therefore we made a decision to head uphill to reach the Bwlch as quickly as possible. The route was steep and transited through deep snow in places but after about an hour of toil we reached the Bwlch where we made a gentler ascent via an intermittent path to the summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach. From this flat plateau summit there are fantastic views to the Glyderau, Tryfan and Moel Siabod as well as over to Creigiau Gleision and back to the Carneddau.
Departing the summit, we had originally planned to drop down to the shores of Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir and walk back from there via Hafod y Rhiw but time was pressing on therefore we made the decision to drop down to the right of Gallt Cedryn. As before, in places the snow was deep but it was not too onerous a transit. We soon reached the valley floor of Cwm Eigiau where a track led us to the cottages at Hafod y Rhiw and the impressive breached dams of Llyn Eigiau before a gently rising path delivered us back to the parking area.
This was a superb day out over challenging terrain at times but thoroughly enjoyable. At only 9 miles, it is not the longest of walks however we took our time today, as the terrain was quite unpredictable at times. We saw one person all day, and that from a considerable distance away. The mountains around Cwm Eigiau are simply beautiful and really are worth a visit as the vistas and panoramas from them are glorious.
The start of the walk is from the Car Park at Trasbwll near the North Eastern tip of Llyn Eigiau
A good track leaves the Car Park leading to Clogwynyreryr ahead
Looking back down the path as it zig zags up the hill. Pen Llithrig y Wrach sits above Llyn Eigiau
Heading up to the right of Clogwynyreryr. Foel Fras and Drum are in snow on the skyline with Pen y Castell to the right
Handrailing the fence to the right of Clogwynyreryr up the ridge of Cefn Tal-llyn-Eigiau as we head to Craig Eigiau
Carneddau panorama
Fudge was loving all this snow as we near the summit of Craig Eigiau. The beautiful Carneddau is in the background.
Another superb Carneddau panorama
Llyn Dulyn peeps out as we near the summit of Craig Eigiau
The summit of Craig Eigiau ahead
Dave & Fudge on the summit of Craig Eigiau
Craig Eigiau summit panorama looking south to Pen Llithrig y Wrach, Pen yr Helgi Du & Carnedd Llewelyn
Descending off Craig Eigiau - we are making a beeline straight for Pen yr Helgi Du in the middle of shot.
The crags of Craig yr Ysfa are to the right
The crags of Craig yr Ysfa are to the right
Sastrugi - sharp irregular grooves or ridges formed on a snow surface by wind erosion
Pen Llithrig y Wrach
Pen yr Helgi Du
.... and in mono
Pen Llithrig y Wrach, Pen yr Helgi Du, Craig yr Ysfa & Carnedd Llewelyn
Craig yr Ysfa & Carnedd Llewelyn
Just superb conditions today as we near the head of Cwm Eigiau
Fudge leading the way as we head down to the old quarry buildings at the head of Cwm Eigiau...
... and from the other direction
The quarry workings at the head of Cwm Eigiau with the crags of Craig yr Ysfa providing a dramatic backdrop.
Quarrying ceased here in 1870.
Quarrying ceased here in 1870.
Having rested, Howie leads us out of Cwm Eigiau
The impressive craggy face of Craig yr Ysfa
Cwm Eigiau from near Bwlch y Tri Marchog
Nearing the top of the ascent at Bwlch y Tri Marchog looking to Pen Llithrig y Wrach
A Cwm Eigiau panoramic from Bwlch y Tri Marchog
Moel Siabod
Dave at the bottom of Bwlch y Tri Marchog
Looking back to Pen yr Helgi Du & Carnedd Llewelyn
Glyder Fach & Tryfan
Another look back to Pen yr Helgi Du, Craig yr Ysfa & Carnedd Llewelyn
A Glyders, Tryfan & Carneddau panorama
Nearing the summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach - the cloud was starting to come in now
The summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach looking to The Glyders & Tryfan
A moody Glyders, Tryfan, Y Garn & Pen yr Ole Wen
Creigiau Gleision across the snowy edge of the summit
Zooming right in on Glyder Fach & Tryfan - Snowdon can be seen peeping out to the left
Our route down from Pen Llithrig y Wrach
On your knees boy - the snow was quite deep in places resulting in some comedy walking
Dave, Howie & Fudge heading down the steep descent
The remote cottages at Hafod y Rhiw
One of two sections of Dam wall which was breached in 1925 resulting in major flooding down the valley to Dolgarrog killing 16 people