Berwyn Quickie

Berwyn Quickie

 

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  

 

Parking

Ample car parking at the small café below the falls, there is a small charge for the parking.

Cafe / Car Park

 

Maps

Landranger 126

Explorer 255 Langollen & Berwyn

 

The Route

 

Pistyll Rhaeadr is about a mile or so north of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochant along a winding lane from the village. The actual lane is well sign posted and starts its journey just before the bridge in the centre of the village on the left if you are travelling from the direction of England. After travelling along the full length of the lane to its furthest point you will arrive at the car park belonging to the small café at the foot of the waterfall. There is a small charge for the car park but at least you have the use of the toilet facilities and the café, also as the owner is normally around your car can be left in relative safety. The Waterfall is a most impressive spectacle with the river Disgynfa plummeting over 200 hundred feet, broken only by a natural stone arch about two thirds of the way down. This then forms the river Afon Rhaeder that continues to tumble on down the valley towards Llanrhaeadr. This is also favourite haunt for rock climbers who have this insane impulse to climb the waterfall at the same time as its trying to drown them. It is also a favourite place for picnickers during the summer months, so be warned! Parking can be hard to come by during the high season.

     Though a rare sight the waterfall can look spectacular when frozen in winter, but the lane which is rarely treated can also be treacherous to drive along during severe cold weather.

     The start of the route is gained through a wooden gate at the top of the car park and starts by actually heading right up the valley on your right. After a couple of hundred yards the track turns sharp left on its self back towards the waterfall and takes you to a point just above the falls. At this point turn right and follow the grassy slopes of Trum Felen, away from the top of the waterfall. The terrain as in common with most of the Berwyn hills is heather and bracken moorland, which as a tendency to be extremely boggy in places. After walking up this Trum for a short distance you will pick up a fence on the left. This fence will act as a handrail to the top of Moel Syth.  After climbing the 430 metres required to reach the top of Trum Felen you will have reached a point just below your first summit.

     Trum Felen is 691 metres high, which is around 136metres lower then Moel Sych which lies about half a mile away to the north. The walk to Moel Sych follows a fairly worn path and drops into a shallow hollow between the two hills, this unfortunately become extremely boggy during the winter months.

On reaching the hollow, carefully pick yourself a route through the boggy grass and peat, during the winter moths avoid the temptation of walking on the ice and snow which may still be hanging around after a recent cold spell. After all who knows what was lurking under that innocent velvety white cloak, just waiting for some unsuspecting fool to trample all over it, and find themself up to my neck in water and muck.

After a fairly steep climb of about 150 metres in height you will reach the small cairn that marks the top of Moel Sych. The mountain is not what you would call very exciting, being no more than a featureless grassy hump on three of its sides, its only on its eastern side that the mountain gives way to scree and rocky crags dropping dramatically to Llyn Lluncaws below. The views from the top of Moel Syth, gives you a back drop to virtually every major mountain range in North Wales. Cadair Idris, Aran, Rhinogs, Arenig, Snowdon, Glydders and The Carnedds can all be seen on a clear day. So believe it when I say the climb is worth it for the views alone.

The ridge now continues Northwards with moorland stretching to the West and a steep craggy drop to the East. The ridge northwards is extremely boggy as it drops a little before climbing up to the new unnamed highest point on the ridge. A stone outcrop that is probably one of the best feature of the ridge. if the weather is clear and good, it's as well to follow the tracks closer to the eastern edge, as this appears to be much firmer. If the weather is bad with poor visibility stay closer to the fence that runs along the ridge, otherwise you may need a parachute if your compass reading isn't up to scratch. The strange feature of the Berwyns is that Moel Sych and Cadair Berwyn are both marked down as being 827 metres high, with the Trig point being placed on Cadair Berwyn, but the highest point on the ridge is the small rocky out crop just South of the Trig point on Cadair Berwyn. This is marked down as being 830metres high, and it's also a great place to have your lunch on a nice day. Just below this outcrop on the Cadair Berwyn side is a large windshelter carved out of a huge stone cairn, an ideal shelter on a windy day.

       After reaching the trig point on Cadair Berwyn the ridge continues northwards for about another mile to a small summit called Cadair Bronwen, which is about 780 metres high. It was here according to Welsh legend that King Arther had is round table. If this was true, all I can say is that it must have been a very draughty in the winter.

Unless you plan to extend the walk by continuing to Cadair Bronwen, Retrace your steps back over the unnamed peak and down to the col between the unnamed peak and Moel Syth. Here turn East down a small track heading east into the valley. The track descends between a small lull in the steep crags along the eastern edge of the Berwyns, it drops down past the eastern side of Llyn Lluncaws over the grass and heather on to a ridge that joins the Berwyn ridge at a right angle. Instead of continuing along this ridge, turn right down the grassy slope to the lake. The track during the winter can become quite boggy until you get to the lake. After reaching the lake the track follows the stream down the valley heading south. Looking back towards the ridge, one has a wonderful view of the mountain and the cascading crags dropping down into lake below. There are two tracks that descend down the valley, one hugs the left-hand side of the valley, and the other follows the stream at the bottom of the valley floor. The easier path is the one that runs down the side of the valley on your left. Just before the track continues around the side of the hill opposite the falls, via right down a small track that crosses the stream. You will then join the path you started out on and it will be a quick walk back to the car park.

       After unloading your gear, either spend a few moments in deep thought looking at the cascading waterfall from the small bridge which crosses the river just below the falls, or enjoy a nice cup of tea at the friendly little café watching the wild birds feeding in the garden. The view from the garden is as spectacular as you can get with the highest falls in Wales as its back drop.

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.