I'm working next time your going down Rob but will be in Wales early April.
A few things I want to check
Aran Benllyn we tended left towards the wall near the top and got on rough rocky ground (both last year and on recce) but if you head slightly right there is a grassy line through the rocks.
We did a bit of zigzaging last year on the way to Erw y Ddafad Ddu looks like a nice trod keeping more direct (we went this way on recce)
On the descent of Aran Fawddwy a good looking path runs parallel with our way off is it quicker to drop onto this path and follow it round to Drws Bach monument?
Going from Gwaun y Llwyni to Glasgwm there looks like a trod through the tussocks 200m South of the line we've been taking.
I'll also check the forest section to Pen y Brynfforchog to check your handiwork![]()
I see a path roughly on the line we took in July and (maybe, who knows) in the snow on Sat. Quite runnable I thought after the first 20m. There's a grassy line which detours quite a way R (NW) - is this what you have in mind?
Yes I see these, I think. I'll see if I can post a kmz later for you to check.We did a bit of zigzaging last year on the way to Erw y Ddafad Ddu looks like a nice trod keeping more direct (we went this way on recce)
On the descent of Aran Fawddwy a good looking path runs parallel with our way off is it quicker to drop onto this path and follow it round to Drws Bach monument?
I have our line from Saturday on Google Earth now but can't see this one. I can't even see the (faint) trod we ended up on before meeting the main path. Can you post an image or kmz?Going from Gwaun y Llwyni to Glasgwm there looks like a trod through the tussocks 200m South of the line we've been taking.
I can see the longer faster route David Waide had in mind, back and across to the main path. Should be mostly runnable ...
Rob
I'll send you some kmz over the weekend when I'm on my home computer
(its like looking through a telescope backwards using web based maps on this pc![]()
)
Not sure which path you have tried, but the times I've run it I've always gone straight down the old fenceline (mainly fenceposts but no fence) across the stream, up the other side and then hit the main drag. Chose this route from visual decision only as looking the best (can follow a trod all the way) and not tried any alternatives.
Planning to drag these old bones out of bed tomorrow and head up there to look at that forestry section after Glasgwm (with pruning saw), see what I can find. My first proper excursion back onto the hills since...... last June
. A very gentle potter planned, I shall report back if I can get up there
.
Bill - I've attached a KMZ. A bit rough and ready between Benllyn and Fawddwy as my KML to ARF translator fell over after the Fawddwy-Monument section and needs reloading. But close enough for you to see on GE the trod(s) I'm trying to follow. Could be one or two fence crossings involved...
Moley - looking forward to your findings. The attachment has the roundabout route. We went fairly direct on Sat - a reasonable line but no trod until near the main path.
Rob
Ok Rob I've done a kmz with three variations on it
Mission accomplished through the forestry. Bloody freezing up there today and I really struggled to reach the top of Glasgwm. A bitterly cold and strong wind, clag, sleet and everything iced (on me). Forecast showed a pretty bright sun all over mid-Wales .....yeah, right.
Followed the forestry fenceline looking for sign of any old rides through. No stiles, think it's been re-fenced since Yiannis went through. My map doesn't show the rides and I was far too cold to look at it anyway, but saw a slight gap in the trees that from memory seemed about right and dived in to get out the wind. Went through it pruning as I went and hoping for the best, bit tricky to follow in places due to snow cover and tree felling, but everything about it seemed like an old neglected ride in the right direction. Eventually came to a T junction with the main ride through (one with the little bridges), turned right and straight through to the exit below Brynfforchog.
Everything pruned so you should be able follow it, even pruned over the couple of fallen trees. Placed two large fir branches sticking up in the fence wire to show where the entry is.
One other thing, pruning done to enable a 5'6" Moley to scuttle underneath, anyone taller enters at own risk.....