Nantlle Ridge - Tuesday 7 April 2015
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Route
Parking Mileage Terrain Weather Time Taken Total Ascent Map |
Rhyd Ddu - Y Garn - Mynydd Drws-y-coed - Trum y Ddysgl - Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd - Bwlch-y-Ddwy-elor - Rhyd Ddu
Rhyd Ddu Station (Charge) - Grid Ref SH571526 7.3 miles Good mountain paths for the most part. The scramble to the summit of Mynydd Drws-y-coed is on exposed rock and care should be taken. Crisp & clear day with very good visibility 5hrs 20min 2933ft (894m) OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley |
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GPX File
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Walk Description
Up in Snowdonia for a couple of days during the Easter period therefore we were looking for a walk off the beaten track which would not be too overly populated with people. The Nantlle Ridge is the name given to a range of mountains which runs south west from the village of Rhyd Ddu for a distance of about 6 miles, ending above Nebo in the Nantlle valley. The ridge offers excellent hill walking with fewer crowds than on the more popular parts of Snowdonia. It can be started from either end, but the Rhyd Ddu end tends to be the most popular. We have often looked over the inviting Nantlle Ridge from other walks therefore took a punt and headed over to Rhyd Ddu to walk part of the ridge to take in 4 of the 7 recognised summits.
As expected Rhyd Ddu was busy and normally we would have arrived nice and early in order to grab a parking space on this busy day. However we had driven up from home and did not arrive until the early afternoon therefore were lucky enough to grab the last available space in the car park. The route started by crossing the road, passing through the ornate gate and making our way along the fairly new path before heading off right to the first of todays summits, Y Garn. The path was on a gentle incline at first but steepened as the summit was gained. From the summit, to the south the full extent of the scramble up Mynydd Drws-y-coed could be seen and to the north Mynydd Mawr provided a superb backdrop.
Leaving Y Garn, we kept to the western side of the wall before readying ourselves for the scramble up the northern ridge of Mynydd Drws-y-coed. The way up looks intimidating but like any scramble, in good weather, with little wind and a cautious approach is an enjoyable and exhilarating climb. All too soon we were at the summit and with visibility this good, the views over to Snowdon, Moel Hebog and the rest of the ridge were superb. Departing the summit, there appeared to be another knife edged route up to Trum y Ddysgl but the path keeps away from the edge and it is in fact a delightful, yet steep rise up to the summit plateau. We were greeted at the top by the sight of a large mast which was being manned by a chap who was somewhat lacking in inter-personal skills which was a shame.
The ridge then continued over to Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd and we enjoyed a gradual descent on a good path towards what looked like a thin grass bridge, before which was a tricky but short scramble. Once we had negotiated this, we made our way up a short steep incline to reach the impressive obelisk at the summit. It was now a question of heading back the way we came and sloping across the southern flank of Trum y Ddysgl to follow a clear, steep path down the spur south to reach a stile at Bwlch-y-Ddwy-elor that led us into Beddgelert Forest. It was now a simple matter of following forest tracks to reach Cwm Marchnad that in turn brought us back to the outward route from Rhyd Ddu.
This was our first time on the Nantlle ridge but certainly will not be the last. Superb mountain walking on good paths with some exhilarating scrambling - oh and the views over Snowdonia were exceptional too!
The walk started from the Car Park at the Welsh Highland Railway Station in Rhyd Ddu
This ornate gate over the road from the station leads to the path
Mynydd Drws-y-coed and Y Garn - the path can just be seen zig zagging its way up the front of Y Garn
Further up the path approaching Y Garn
Snowdon & the Allt Maenderyn ridge with Yr Aran to its right
Close up on Yr Aran
Moel Eilio to the left with Moel Cynghorion right
The path to Y Garn steepens as the summit is neared - looking back to Yr Aran and Llyn-y-Gader
Who are you laughing at?
The eastern crag face of Y Garn
Just before reaching Y Garn's summit, this large boulder field is reached - the path moves to the left then heads right to reach the summit
The edge of the boulder field is near this wall - once leaving the summit of Y Garn the wall is followed south, keeping to the right side of it
The summit of Y Garn
Mynydd Mawr from Y Garn
The inviting but slightly intimidating scramble up Mynydd Drws-y-coed
About half way up
Mynydd Mawr, Moel Eilio & Y Garn from the ascent of Mynydd Drws-y-coed
Almost there. Fudge stops still in his tracks if there is anything he thinks is beyond his limitations - hence his helping hand here!
The summit rocks of Mynydd Drws-y-Coed
Nice table for lunch with a view of Snowdon thrown in
Moel Hebog, Moel yr Ogof & Moel Lefn
Trum y Ddysgl
The summit of Mynydd Drws-y-coed
From Mynydd Drws-y-coed heading to Trum y Ddysgl
Mynydd Drws-y-coed from the summit of Trum y Ddysgl
Whatever floats your boat
Heading for Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd - the large obelisk can be seen on the summit
The path over to Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd isn't as straightforward as it looks - there is a bit of cheeky scrambling to be done here
The steep ascent to the summit of Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd
The impressive obelisk on the summit of Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd. The obelisk was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
.... and off we go back to transit down the southern spur of Trum y Ddysgl which is to the right
The southern spur from Trum y Ddysgl - this was a good path and a pleasant descent with good views of Moel Hebog on the way down
Close up on Moel Hebog
Leaving the spur at Bwlch-y-Ddwy-elor, the route path heads north west to reach Beddgelert Forest
All aboard - Rhyd Ddu station and Snowdon in the evening sun
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