Walk 2551 - printer friendly version

Rhobell Fawr from near Rhydymain Walk

Author - Nick O'Brien

Length - 5.7 miles / 9.3 km

Ascent - 1800 feet / 545 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference SH793224
Lat 52.785637 + Long -3.7911442
Postcode LL40 2BU (approx. location only)

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.

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