Garnedd Uchaf
Garnedd Uchaf and Foel-fras, Carneddau, Wales.
Height – 926 metres and 942 metres.
Map – OS Landranger 115.
Climbed - 3 November 2010. Time taken – 5.75 hours.
Distance – 17 kilometres. Ascent – 850 metres.
Trip Report Details:
The forecast was for another wet and windy day in North Wales so we decided to climb the two Northern Carneddau 3000 feet mountains, starting from the small village of Gerlan, above Bethesda. The roads were quite narrow here but I did find a parking space just beyond the now closed down Spar shop.
On leaving my vehicle we walked up the narrow street called Ciltwillan past several houses and eventually to the road end where we crossed a stile and entered a field containing numerous sheep. They appeared to be gathered here for the tups. We walked through the sheep and headed uphill crossing a couple of stiles.
This led to the open hillside and an ascent of Gyrn Wigau, where it was raining quite heavily. A short descent was followed by some more climbing to reach a vehicle track which ran below the south side of Drosgl and Berra Bach. This track became quite wet and boggy before a path was followed below Yr Aryg still on the south side. The cloud occasionally broke to give us views of the mountains we had climbed three days earlier, Carnedd Dafyyd, Carnedd Llewelyn, Yr Elen and Foel Grach.
Eventually we reached the rocky summit of Garnedd Uchaf where we stopped in the rain for a coffee break before following a rather wet path towards Foel-fras. A stone dyke was reached but it didn’t afford much shelter from the rain and also now a strong wind. The trig point was reached but there was no value in lingering here so we returned by the outward route stopping on Gyrn Wigau for lunch as the rain had ceased. From here we had views of Bethesda and out to Conway Bay.
Unfortunately the weather was to deteriorate over the next few days so that was the end of our trip to Wales. Another visit will be required to climb the 3000 feet hills of Snowdon.
Photos taken on walk.
