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Rhobell Fawr from near Rhydymain

Snowdonia/Eryri Walk

Nat Park - Snowdonia - Arenigs

County/Area - Gwynedd

Author - Nick O'Brien

Length - 5.7 miles / 9.3 km    Ascent - 1800 feet / 545 metres

Time - 4 hours 40 minutes    Grade - moderate

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL23Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL23Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 124Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 124Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Rhobell Fawr from near Rhydymain
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

This Snowdonia (Eryri) walk takes in the rarely visited summit of Rhobell Fawr. The start is reached by taking the A494 Bala to Dolgellau main road and turning north at a junction (grid ref. SH799216) marked Aran Hall School. Follow this lane past the School. At the next junction continue straight ahead, descend into a valley, cross a bridge following the road around to the right. Continue across a cattle grid and uphill to reach an area of open ground where there is space for a few carefully parked cars (grid ref. SH793224).

After parking continue up the lane. Where the lane bends sharp left continue ahead through the metal gate along a drive. Pass the house on the left and continue along the drive as it bends to the left ignoring the track on the right. Almost immediately turn right off the drive on a feint path between the trees to enter a field. Aim for the far corner and a gate. In the next field head half left. You will soon see Rhobell Fawr ahead with pine woods on either side. Continue to another gate after which a track leads beside the stream, Afon Melau. The track climbs steadily to the eastern corner (Grid ref SH786241) of a plantation that is on your left. Climb the stile and continue through the woods to reach a track.

Turn right along this track and head roughly north east. The OS 1:25000 map shows four walls crossing this track, two of which are encountered just after joining the track. Continue along the track to the fourth wall from the plantation (Grid ref SH791247). Turn north off the track and Follow this wall in northerly direction encountering a few short scrambles in a rocky landscape as you climb higher. Views to the Arans to the south and Cadair Idris open up as you gain height.

Following the wall up you reach a stile where you turn sharp left from where the trig point on Rhobell Fawr soon becomes visible. Climb over the stile to the top where the views are outstanding to the Rhinogs and north to Snowdon. From the summit head southwest over another stile following the wall until reaching another wall to the left which you follow down to the track. On reaching the track turn right and then retrace the route back to the start point.

This walk ascends an obviously seldom visited mountain which offers good climbing and superb views. It is the first time I have seen nobody else during a walk in Wales.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2811 Rhobell Fawr and Ddualt from near Rhydymainmoderate8.5 miles
Walk 1499 Rhobell Fawr and Dduallt from Llanfachrethmoderate12.0 miles
Walk 2937 Aran Fawddwy northern approachmod/hard8.4 miles
Walk 1646 The Precipice Walk easy3.5 miles
Walk 2334 The Torrent Walk near Dolgellaueasy1.6 miles
Walk 1107 Waun Oer and Maesglase near Dinas Mawddwymod/hard11.0 miles
Walk 1190 Aran Fawddwymod/hard7.5 miles
Walk 3055 Glasgwmmoderate4.5 miles
Walk 1255 The Aran Ridgehard11.2 miles
Walk 1400 The Aranshard14.0 miles

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