Arans from Rhydymain

At 905m, Aran Fawddwy is the highest peak in southern Snowdonia, outstripping its more famous neighbour, Cadair Idris, by some twelve metres. Despite this, it doesn’t attract the crowds which flock to Cadair Idris and provides a much quieter option for an exhilarating mountain walk. Our route today is a linear one, starting from Rhydymain and heading up the western flanks of the mountain. Reaching the main ridge, our path climbs quite steeply to the rocky summit of Aran Fawddwy and its trig point, from where there are amazing views over to the more distant mountains and down to the little lake of Craiglyn Dyfi far below. To the north the next summit, Aran Benllyn (885m), rather more than a mile away across a broad plateau, beckons us onwards. From here we continue along the north ridge, gradually descending to reach the end of our walk in the village of Llanuwchllyn.