Summits Mynnydd Tarw 2234ft (681m) 125-113324 SJ Foel Wen South 2254ft (687m) 125-103330 SJ Foel Wen 2267ft (691m) 125-099334 SJ Tomle 2434ft (742m) 125-085335 SJ Cadair Bronwen 2575ft (785m) 125-077346 SJ Optional Cadair Berwyn 2713ft (827m) 125-072327 SJ Unnamed Peak 2723ft (830m) 125-072324 SJ Moel Sych 2713ft (827m) 125-066318 SJ Optional Moel yr Ewig 2280ft (695m) 125-081318 SJ Godor North 2215ft (675m) 125-089311 SJ Godor 2228ft (679m) 125-095307 SJ Parking There is a small parking area by the bridge on the lane that leads from Tyn-y-ffridd to Llanrehaeadr-ym-Mochnant about 100 metres down from the telephone box.
Maps Landranger 126 Explorer 255 Langollen & Berwyn It is also an area of outstanding beauty untouched by the hoards of visitors that Snowdonia has to endure. On these hills you will find a peace and tranquillity that is rarely found elsewhere in Wales. Llanrehaeadr-ym-Mochnant also played host to one of the oddest films with one of the longest names, “The Englishman who went up a hill and came down a Mountain” Starring Hugh Grant in a delightful romantic comedy that is set in Wales during the First World War. The film is based around two surveyors working for the Ordnance Survey and centres on how they become entwined in the strange quirks of Welsh names and Welsh customs of that period. The
rolling hills and the delightful countryside below the Berwyn Mountains are
most pleasing to the eye. The Berwyn Mountains are a large group of hills dominated by thigh sucking heather and peat bog. Although most of the hills do tend to blend into one another the Berwyn Horseshoe is a delightful walk of around ten miles encompassing the Best that the Berwyn’s have to offer. This Route is so easy to follow. However the same rules apply with any trip on the hills and mountains, be equipped and always carry a map and compass. Please refer to the Mountain Safety page on this site. The Berwyn Horseshoe Route. From
the small pull in by the bridge crossing the Afon lwrch, walk back up to the
hamlet of Tyn-y-ffridd. On reaching the telephone box on the right hand side
walk up the steep lane that runs directly through a small farm. After walking
through yet another farm at Maes and watching out for medley of animals in the
farm yard, continue up the lane until the lane turns right. On the corner is a
metal gate with a small information sign on the left post. Go through the gate
and diagonally across the field to the gate at the top.
Continue your march north west along the fence down to the bottom of the dip. Here the fence turns to the left up a long steady gradient, turning sharp right about half way up. Follow the fence to the top and a small pile of white quartz marks summit four. Tomle. From here continue to follow the fence down to the next col, picking your way through the large gullies carved in the peat. On reaching a metal gate with a large upright marker stone by the side of it, you now have a choice.
Once
rested retrace your steps south, back down to the gate at the bottom of the col. Go straight past the gate and head directly up the gradient in front to gain the main ridge of the Berwyns. At the top you will rejoin the path that you would have been on if you by passed Cadair Bronwyn. Follow the ridge for about half a mile south until you reach the trig point on Cadair Berwyn. This is the sixth summit but not the highest, due to confusion on earlier versions of Ordnance Survey maps that gave Moel Sych and Cadair Berwyn joint ownership of the honour of being the highest point, the actual highest point was left unnamed. This is your next port of call and it is the next rocky outcrop along the ridge just above a huge wind shelter carved out of an ancient cairn. To be honest most walkers visiting this ridge have always been convinced that this unnamed summit was higher than its two brothers on either side. You are well over half way through the walk and the wind shelter is an ideal location to have lunch.
The
path drops down onto the ridge that joins the Berwyn’s at a right angle from
the East. Here follow the
If you do take the faint track be careful when crossing a couple of deep peat gullies, these can be difficult to cross in very wet weather. Either way the track along the right hand side of this fence will lead you to your tenth summit, Godor Northwest. On reaching this summit continue east along the fence down the dip and up the next gradient, this gives you your final and eleventh summit, Godor.
Remember this is sheep country and all gates you open must be closed afterwards to insure the safety of stock. Also dogs must be kept under strict control and at certain times of the year (lambing in spring) They may be banned altogether off the pastures that lead to the Berwyn tops. This guide is free but if you wish to make a donation of any kind please give it to any of the Mountain Rescue teams around the UK. THEY GIVE UP THEIR FREE TIME TO HELP YOU IN YOUR HOUR OF NEED AND RELY ON THE GENEROSITY OF THE PUBLIC TO RUN THE SERVICE. For excellent walking guides www.cicerone.co.uk Or look on Amazon |
 Stay Safe on the Mountains Click the walking man for advice
  |
The Berwyn
Horse Shoe
strange lights in the sky.
Turn right and follow
the edge of the forest until you get to the top. On reaching the top you will
find a large
Now
use the fence heading North West away from the forest and towards the main
Berwyn ridge has a handrail. Follow the small path along the left hand side of
the fence along the ridge to the next high point, passing some impressive stone
crags on your left. Take care at the base of these as the ground here is often
wet and boggy; just pick your way through until you start going up the next
summit on the route. Once gaining the high point you have completed summit two,
Foel Wen South. Continue along the fence down the dip and up a short sharp
gradient on the other side. On top of this you have completed summit three,
Foel Wen.
You can either climb onto the main Berwyn ridge by taking the
gradient directly in front of you and bypass Cadair Bronwen. Or you can turn
right and go through the gate, following the track until it reaches another
gate at the bottom of the col between Cadair Bronwen and the main Berwyn ridge.
Here turn sharp right and take the steep gradient to the top of Cadair Bronwen
and your fifth summit. The top is marked by a large cairn of rock.
Once reached retrace your steps back down to the bottom of the col and
take the small track that heads east. This is the only point on the walk were
you need to take care, the path has quite a steep drop on its right hand side
down to the little lake, Llyn Lluncaws.
Continue
east along the fence until you reach the right hand bend. You now have a
choice, you can cross the fence and follow the faint path through the heather
or in very poor visibility you can follow the fence right until it is joined by
a fence on the left. Then follow that fence east until it joins the faint path.
In effect by following the faint path you have effectively made a short cut. 
