⛰️ The Hillwalking thread ⛰️

Lough ouler from glenmacanass.

Took a day off work on Thursday to go explore some hills on the Gwynedd / Powys border above Llangynog. My word, it’s tough country – almost wall to wall heather, and most of it seemed to be angled in the wrong direction to where I was walking. So I spent a lot of 11 miles high-stepping through the bloody stuff. However, that’s mid Wales for you. Apart from one bloke who must have been working in the Penllyn Forest above Bala, I saw no one all day, and to be honest I only saw his van, not the actual bloke.

Trig point on Foel Cwm-Sian Llywd, with the Arans ridge in the background:-

Absolutely typical scenery for much of the day:-

There’s definitely a potential gravel route to be had here, this track runs across the ‘ridge’ between Y Groes Fagl and Pen y Cerrig Duon for about 4 miles:-

And lastly, a bit of history. This is one of several mid 19th-century boundary stones, that formerly marked the border between the counties of Meirionydd and Montgomery:-

I think sometimes people think only Scotland has properly rough, wild, country yet I think some of the toughest I’ve found has been in Wales. Thanks for sharing.

Northern Rhinogs are amongst the worst terrain I’ve walk in. Evey step is knee to hip deep heather and rocky underfoot, the potential for a leg injury is pretty high especially if you’re backpacking with a large heavy bag. It is beautiful though

It’s been a long time (several decades, basically) since I was in the northern Rhinogs, but what you say sounds familiar. Must get back there soon.

Did anyone get up in the hills over the Bank Holiday?

Nobody?

An early Meall Corranaich and Meall a’Choire Lèith today to beat the forecast lightning…

Lovely to be out and catching up on 10 months of my son’s adventuring. Sometimes it’s the company, not the surroundings.

I forget about this thread. Was up the Cobbler week before last, a hill I’d never done or paid much attention to. We took the scrambly route for some mountaineering practise – great day.

Eldest has had a week of this on the Cullin.

Heading up to north wales early tomorrow for some easy scrambling and then three day intro to mountaineering course, mon/tue/weds. Forecast is looking reasonably friendly…

Heading up to north wales early tomorrow for some easy scrambling and then three day intro to mountaineering course, mon/tue/weds.

Great stuff, we are heading to N Wales at beginning of June to do some easy mountaineering, possibly Idwal slabs ordinary route, Cneifion arete, y gribin ridge enchainment, all in big boots.

For various reasons mrs_oab is unable to bike at present or take to the high hills/big days.

She had been up north with family for a few days, so I hopped on the train and we met in Aviemore and had a nice evening walk, then headed out on a nice 15km Feshie & Uath Lochans walk yesterday.

@B.A.Nana – have a look at Cyfrwy Arète. Cracking day out, feels big and exposed and a proper classic route

Aonach Beag yesterday.

Just back from another worldy trip to Skye and my first time in the Cuillins. It was hot, it was foggy at times making route finding tricky so we didn’t get as much done as we wanted. But did do the InPin, saw a total inversion and ticked off two munros.

Scrambled up Sron na Creise and along to Meall a’ Bhuiridh, I was very slow coming back from shingles and jings was it hot, these guys thought so too!

@jimmy – you didn’t bump into a group(s) from Heriot Watt Uni up there did you? Eldest was on the ridge most of the week, camping at Glen Brittle….

@matt_outandabout we were camped right next to them, chatted to a few. Some of them had been very productive on the ridge!

Just back from a three day intro to mountaineering course with the mountaineering company. Went up a day early and had a scorching hot solo over Tryfan north ridge and back to the campsite at the base of Tryfan Bach.

can highly recommend the course. Sam carefully guided, explained and taught us about the why and the how of choices and decisions he was making. Day 1 on Tryfan Bach and Barstow Buttress and Day 2 on Idwal slabs finishing up the epic Cniefon Arete. Weather crapped out for day 3 but learnt loads inside at the Indy wall

@jimmy – couple with the large awning as a meeting tent, a mop of hair, and gold Fabia estate was my lad and his partner.

I think we tortoise and hare’d them up into the foggy Corrie on Saturday. We both got a bit off track, then they disappeared ahead and we saw them later on the top between the two munros (dub more and nan eag?).

Magnificent day on Ladhar Bheinn last Saturday, got a boat in from Arnisdale for a cheeky shortcut. I’ve done the hill before but it goes straight to number one as my favourite hill ever.

A couple from the last few weeks. Chalamain Gap and Beinn Eighe.

Anyone else been following Bill Bailey on the Cape Wrath way?

(Sorry it’s Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Ywjq6tpL2URAhLRz/

Mates of mine saw him in the campsite at Kinlochewe.

@spin – great photos. Which mtns are they?

Sorry, Beinn Eighe. I was support runner for a friend doing the Celtman triathlon.

I’d guess Beinn Eighe and Loch Coire Mhic Fhearcair for the first photo. Big old cliffs in 2 & 3, those. They just need some good belays at the top

Far East Wall Coire Mhic Fheachair, one of the top ten mountain crags in Scotland. I don’t remember poor belays at the top but do remember the metre deep moss up there which can drain water down the crag even when it’s been dry for ages.

They just need some good belays at the top

It’s not the smooth grass slope it looks like in the photo, there’s plenty to belay on at the top.

An Casteil and Beinn a’Chroin to pay respects to a friend and complete the route in his memory. Had a moment on the bad step and understand now what must have happened. Not the first apparently. Good to be out in the hills again, but won’t be doing that one again.

Anyone done Brandon Mountain, Ireland, particularly by the Faha Ridge?

I am finding little good information, UKHillwalking has some information, but there is a real divide between ‘death on a stick grade 3’ and ‘some steep scrambling’ in the various online guides or blogs I can find…

https://www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/destinations/brandon_-_irelands_finest_mountain-13043

have you read these trip reports?

https://www.mountainsofscotland.co.uk/TripReports/20140824.htm

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=87064

Looks fab in the good weather

Yep – most follow the main path, not the ridge itself…And it is the ridge which appeals.

Creise and Meall a’Bhùiridh yesterday.

—happy emoji—

Coomloughra Horseshoe, including Corrán Tuathail/Carrantoughnhill, Binn Chaorach and Caher, the only mountains over 1000m in Ireland. Great views over Mackgilcuddys Reeks and Kerry, even over the Dingle peninsula and boggy inland.

Stunning and strenuous day out, it really felt like some of the Torridon hills in some ways. I would not want to do it in the wet – boggy start & end and slippery rock in the damp we had. A lot more up and down than some of these guides claim – my phone told me just shy of 1400m…one guide claims 800m!

The touristy routes looked universally awful, and a couple of them looked really dangerous…glad we took the bigger challenge and avoided the crowds.

Slieve Donard on a cracking day