The Meirionnydd Ramblers are a friendly and welcoming group. We offer regular and varied walks in the wonderful countryside in and around southern Snowdonia.
We start out heading north on a forest track until we reach a footpath leading to Hafod Gynfal. This was a casualty of the Forestry Commission’s early view that land it bought should be used exclusively for conifer plantation and farmhouses like this were emptied of occupants and left to rot. Depending on the weather we may make a detour past the farmhouse to an open spot with an all-round view from the Arenigs to Cadair Idris. Returning to the forest track we will start walking southwards until we reach Nant Llyn-du. Here we will make a detour to the waterfall, Pistyll Gwyn. Returning again to the track, we continue southwards until we come to a made-up footpath through the woods which will take us out to the Rhinog Nature Reserve. Here we follow a very narrow path, which is stoney or muddy in places, towards Bwlch Drws Ardudwy, eventually joining another path to reach the cairn at the top of the pass. If we are lucky we may see wild goats or ravens. Turning round at the cairn we head back down into the (now cleared) forest to join a forest track and follow it past Craigddu Isaf and back to the cars.
Group grade C
Weather notes:
If the weather is bright, sunglasses or a peaked hat are recommended to more easily see where you are putting your feet, as our ascent will be towards the low winter sun.
Conversely, if the weather is bad we will not take the footpaths leading to the nature reserve and the Bwlch but continue on forest tracks. This will shorten the walk by about a mile but at least ensure we don’t finish up with muddy feet!
Parking area near Graigddu Isaf
