Aran The Holy Mountain. Aran Fawddwy 2969ft (905m) 125-863224 SH Aran Benllyn 2940ft (885m) 125-867243 SH Optional Erw y Ddafad-ddu 2861ft (872m) 125-865234 SH Optional Waun Camddwr 2037ft (621m) 125-848206 SH Parking There is space for several cars at the end of the lane. Park by the Port a loo and notice board. Please do not block the access routes. Ordnance Survey Explorer 23 (Outdoor Leisure) Ordnance Survey Landranger 125
The Aran range runs from Bala to the
The principle summit of the Arans is Aran Fawddwy, standing at 2969ft (905m) it is only 31ft short of munro status of 3000ft and almost 40ft higher then its lofty neighbour Cadair Idris. Yet this mountain receives only a fraction of the visitors that Cadair Idris receives, despite being the higher of the two. One of the problems of Aran is that of access. In effect
there are three may access routes, one from the end of Bala lake at the It is the latter route of Cwm Cywarch that this route begins. Take care in winter, Aran is a very exposed ridge and Arctic condition can be experienced during cold spells. Refer to the Mountain Safety page on this site for more information on being prepared on the mountains.
Looking towards the Aran ridge Follow the lane until you reach a stretch of open land, at the end of this open area you can park your car near to the port-a-loo by the notice board. This is the starting point of the walk.
Continue up until you get to the top of the cwm, the track will cross the stream at least a couple of times and can be a little hard to follow as it fades in places. On reaching the top of the cwm continue west using the fence
on your left as a hand rail until you come to a fence that crosses your path.
Here you will see posts pointing north sign posted for Aran Fawddwy. The area
here is relatively flat and boggy with small tarns dotted around.
Continue along the track for about a mile and on your right
the small You will now notice a significant steepness of the gradient
as you start climbing towards the The fence goes west of the summit so you will need to head east once you’re opposite the trig point of Aran Fawddwy. A clue to the approach is a wooden style ladder that you have to cross prior to the approach to the summit. The trig point made of rock stands on a huge cairn. On its eastern side are the cliffs that run along the eastern flank for much of the ridge down to Bala. Below is the small blue
If you have the energy and will power you can continue along the ridge to claim two more peaks, Aran Benllyn and Erw y Ddafad. This will however add a further two or three miles onto your walk. Once done you will have to retrace your steps back to the summit of Aran Fawddwy. Here on a clear day you can follow the tops of the cliffs
south or on a day of poor visibility go back to the wooden style ladder you
crossed on your approach. Here turn left and follow the fence down to Drws
Bach.
Just before the path continues left around the base of the
hill, turn right down a track along a hedge of This guide is free, but if you wish to give a donation of any kind. Please give one to any of the Mountain Rescue organizations. These Guys risk their lives to protect and save you in your time of need. |
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In Dinas Mawddwy at the entrance to Merion Mill you will
find one of the few examples of a pack horse bridge still standing next to the
modern bridge carrying the A470 across the Afon Dyfi (River Dovy)
From your car walk past the little footbridge that has the
sign for Aran Fawddwy pointing across it. (You will return across this at the
end of the walk) Walk on up to the farm and follow the path markers which take
you past the farm on the right. The track is marked quite clearly and there are
a number of wooden ladder styles to cross before you cross the last one on to
open ground. In front of you is the bulk of Glasgwm. The track follows the
small stream tumbling down the cwm on the right. 
At this point turn right and follow the track running along
the left hand side of the fence. At various intervals there have been planks of
wood laid down to cut down the soil erosion caused by walkers, there are very
useful for keeping your feet dry.
Here a narrow ridge supports a cairn dedicated to an RAF St
Athan mountain rescue team member, Mike Aspin who died in June 1960 aged just
18, after being struck by lightning. A small metal box and a pad and paper are
left by the memorial to leave a note and drop a few coins in to assist the
funding of mountain rescue teams.
Once you have crossed this small narrow ridge follow the
track downwards until you reach the top of the Hengwm valley, here turn right
and follow the path along the side of the valley down to its base.