Marchlyn Loop - Monday 16 September 2024
Route
Reservoir Access Road - Marchlyn Bach Reservoir - Gwastad Ffynnon-deg - Elidir Fach - Bwlch Melynwyn - Elidir Fawr -
Bwlch y Marchlyn - Bwlch y Brecan - Foel-goch - Bwlch y Cywion - Mynydd Perfedd - Carnedd y Filiast - Carnedd y Filiast North Top - Marchlyn Bach Reservoir - Access Road
Parking
Verge parking on the access road to Marchlyn Mawr Reservoir approximately 1.25 miles east of Deiniolen. The Grid Reference is SH 59659 63101 and the nearest postcode is LL55 3NA.
Mileage
8.7 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Warm with a light breeze and excellent visibility
Time Taken
6hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
3743ft (1141m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Walkers
Dave & Angie
Reservoir Access Road - Marchlyn Bach Reservoir - Gwastad Ffynnon-deg - Elidir Fach - Bwlch Melynwyn - Elidir Fawr -
Bwlch y Marchlyn - Bwlch y Brecan - Foel-goch - Bwlch y Cywion - Mynydd Perfedd - Carnedd y Filiast - Carnedd y Filiast North Top - Marchlyn Bach Reservoir - Access Road
Parking
Verge parking on the access road to Marchlyn Mawr Reservoir approximately 1.25 miles east of Deiniolen. The Grid Reference is SH 59659 63101 and the nearest postcode is LL55 3NA.
Mileage
8.7 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Warm with a light breeze and excellent visibility
Time Taken
6hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
3743ft (1141m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Walkers
Dave & Angie
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.
Route Map
Walshy's Kitchen was open for business prior to the start of the days walk - on the menu today were Bacon & Egg Bagels
We had walked a version of todays walk in 2018 however on that day we started from Nant Peris - a blog of that walk can be found here. The walk today started east of the village of Deiniolen and would include the summit of Elidir Fach.
We had walked a version of todays walk in 2018 however on that day we started from Nant Peris - a blog of that walk can be found here. The walk today started east of the village of Deiniolen and would include the summit of Elidir Fach.
Looking back towards Deiniolen as we head along the Reservoir Access road
To the right of the access road is a disused quarry
Anglesey in the distance over the Menai Straits with Beaumaris left of centre and Puffin Island to the right
The outflow of Marchlyn Bach Reservoir
Looking across to our return route with Carnedd y Filiast to the rear and its North Top in the foreground
Looking back to Angie on the start of the ascent up to Elidir Fach. When leaving the Marchlyn Bach outflow there is a clear path on the ground however this is not marked on the OS Map.
Elidir Fach summit now in sight as the gradient eases
The summit of Elidir Fach with Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa in the distance
In order not to upset anybody I have referred to Wales highest mountain by both its traditional Welsh name & the English equivalent. The name "Snowdon" is first recorded in 1095 as Snawdune, and is derived from the Old English elements snaw and dun, meaning "snow hill". The Welsh name of the mountain, Yr Wyddfa, is first recorded in Latin as Weddua vaur in 1284. This is probably an approximation of Pen y Wyddfa Fawr. The element gwyddfa in this context means 'height, promontory', and also appears in the Welsh name for the town of Mold, Yr Wyddgrug.
At the end of the day people should be allowed to call it by either name and should not be chastised for using one or the other.
In order not to upset anybody I have referred to Wales highest mountain by both its traditional Welsh name & the English equivalent. The name "Snowdon" is first recorded in 1095 as Snawdune, and is derived from the Old English elements snaw and dun, meaning "snow hill". The Welsh name of the mountain, Yr Wyddfa, is first recorded in Latin as Weddua vaur in 1284. This is probably an approximation of Pen y Wyddfa Fawr. The element gwyddfa in this context means 'height, promontory', and also appears in the Welsh name for the town of Mold, Yr Wyddgrug.
At the end of the day people should be allowed to call it by either name and should not be chastised for using one or the other.
Our first visit to Elidir Fach - it sits in the shadow of its loftier neighbour Elidir Fawr and the name translates as "Little Elidir"
Looking across Bwlch Melynwyn to Elidir Fawr from just below Elidir Fach. There are two paths to consider - the one on the left gets you to the ridge line sooner and negates some of the bouldery walking along the spine. Gluttons for punishment, we followed the fence line and then swung over to the left.
Looking across to the Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon range from the ascent
The view from Elidir Fach (Click Play to view)
Looking back to Elidir Fach as the gradient starts to increase
The sloping path to Elidir Fawr's summit ridge
The sloping path reaches a grassy section on the summit ridge - from here to the summit the transit is mainly over boulders
Looking over Bwlch y Brecan to Y Garn with Tryfan and The Glyders to the rear
The valley of Cwm Dudodyn with Nant Peris sitting below Llechog and Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa to the left
Elidir Fawr's summit ridge
As we were ascending the sloping path another walker was heading up the left hand route and we followed him along the summit ridge. As can be seen, the transit is very bouldery in part and would be interesting in the wet, snow & ice.
Marchlyn Bach Reservoir from Elidir Fawr
Looking back along the ridge with Elidir Fach centre right
The final approach to Elidir Fawr's summit
The summit of Elidir Fawr
The name is translated as 'Big Elidir', after a legendary warrior King of the 6th century also known as Eliffer Gosgorddfawr (Elidir of the Great Army)
The name is translated as 'Big Elidir', after a legendary warrior King of the 6th century also known as Eliffer Gosgorddfawr (Elidir of the Great Army)
The summit of Elidir Fawr with Marchlyn Mawr below and Carnedd y Filiast beyond
Looking south west along Elidir Fawr's summit ridge as Angie wanders along to join me
Looking over to the Western Carneddau from Elidir Fawr - Mynydd Perfedd is over to the right
From the summit of Elidir Fawr a rocky path leads down Bwlch y Marchlyn above Craig Cwrwgl. Mynydd Perfedd is to the left with Pen yr Ole Wen and the Carneddau beyond. In the centre across Bwlch y Brecan is Foel-goch with Tryfan beyond.
Marchlyn Bach Reservoir from Bwlch y Marchlyn
Heading along to Bwlch y Brecan and onwards to Foel-goch
Angie on the descent from Elidir Fawr
The magnificent view from above Bwlch y Marchlyn (Click Play to view)
Marchlyn Mawr Reservoir from above Bwlch y Marchlyn
Bwlch y Marchlyn
A Bwlch y Marchlyn panorama
A Bwlch y Marchlyn selfie - just missing one member of the family but we could feel his presence today
Continuing down Bwlch y Marchlyn - looks tricky but is easy enough on the ground
The lower end of Bwlch y Marchlyn with Bwlch y Brecan beyond
Near the base of the bwlch, the path becomes steeper and more stony therefore a bit of care needs to be taken
Y Garn now in view over to the right as we reach the base of Bwlch y Marchlyn
Looking back to our route down from Elidir Fawr via Bwlch y Marchlyn
Transiting Bwlch y Brecan to Foel-goch. The summit is reached via the steep ascent but can be climbed by heading along the bwlch to the right and doubling back via a gentler path.
Pen yr Ole Wen from Bwlch y Brecan
Looking back along Bwlch y Brecan to Elidir Fawr & Mynydd Perfedd
The steep ascent from Bwlch y Brecan to Foel-goch with Mynydd Perfedd beyond
The ascent to Foel-goch is short but seemed relentless
At last, up on the summit of Foel-goch with Y Garn beyond and The Glyders over to the left
The summit of Foel-goch looking to Pen yr Ole Wen and the Carneddau. Foel-goch translates as "red bare hill" or "red mountain".
A Foel-goch panorama
Yr Esgair from Foel-goch
This is one of Snowdonia's legendary ridges. Technically it's a grade 3 scramble but it is supposed to be horribly loose and vegetated, with much exposure and no rope protection. It doesn't receive many ascents and I have no wish to try it.
This is one of Snowdonia's legendary ridges. Technically it's a grade 3 scramble but it is supposed to be horribly loose and vegetated, with much exposure and no rope protection. It doesn't receive many ascents and I have no wish to try it.
Y Llymllwyd ridge
Another cracking view of Pen yr Ole Wen with the A5 snaking its way beneath - the body of water to the right is Llyn Ogwen
Looking along Bwlch y Cywion to Y Garn. It was our intention to wander over to do an out & back to Y Garn but decided not to as we had enough to do today. Instead, rather than return to Bwlch y Brecan via our outward route to Foel-goch we headed along towards Y Garn then doubled back along the lower path.
Llyn Ogwen & Tryfan from Bwlch y Cywion
The route to the summit of Y Garn (The Cairn or The Rock) - it was at this point we dropped down to the right on to the lower path
Elidir Fawr and Mynydd Perfedd from the start of the lower path
On the ascent of Mynydd Perfedd with Tryfan, Foel-goch & Y Garn to the rear
Elidir Fawr from the ascent of Mynydd Perfedd
The summit of Mynydd Perfedd - the rock spike right of centre is the highest point
Tryfan, The Glyders, Foel-goch & Y Garn from the summit of Mynydd Perfedd
Pen yr Ole Wen & The Carneddau from Mynydd Perfedd
The wind shelter on the summit of Mynydd Perfedd with Carnedd y Filiast beyond - we were off there next
Approaching Carnedd y Filiast
Atlantic Slab on Carnedd y Filiast. The slab is a large area of exposed, mostly clean rock and is a classic Grade 3 scramble route.
The summit of Carnedd y Filiast
The wind shelter on the summit of Carnedd y Filiast
Looking to Carnedd Y Filiast's North Top
Carnedd y Filiast from the col
The col below the North Top - I headed up to to visit the summit whilst Angie headed to the left
Elidir Fawr above Marchlyn Mawr Reservoir from the col
The summit of Carnedd y Filiast North Top (Y Fronllwydd)
Having rejoined Angie we headed down a rough path to meet the access road which would take us back to the start