Diffwys

A walk up this under-rated Welsh peak from Dyffryn Ardudwy

Route: Cors y Gedol Hall - Pont Scethin - Diffwys (returning same way)

Distance: 10.5 miles

Classification: Hewitt, Nuttall

Weather: Glorious

Having walked in this area twice before in poorer weather, staying low visiting Llyn Bodlyn and Llyn Erddyn, I looked towards Diffwys and awaited the return of good weather to get to the top of this 750 metre peak. 

Be careful what you wish for! This was a good walk with stunning views, but was tainted slightly by plagues of hangingflies (?), along with midgies and other insects. It was the hottest day of the year so far and they were all out! If you can, try to get up this one in cooler but clear weather, the views make the stiff climb worthwhile, and I'm sure you'll avoid being attacked by all manner of insects.

The order of the pictures may seem a little strange, this is because the hangingflies strangely disappeared on the return journey, giving me more opportunity to take pictures.

Immediate views of Snowdon

Memorial

High altitude cows

Handy cairn with Moelfre in the background

The cairn marks the wall to follow to the summit, making navigation a doddle

The wall all the way to the summit

The Mawddach Estuary

Diffwys trig - 750 metres

A view of Cadair Idris

Llyn Bodlyn below

Today's lunch spot on Pont Scethin, pork pie on the wall

Pen Y Fan

A short, sharp climb up Pen Y Fan from the Storey Arms

Distance: 6 miles

Highest Point: Pen Y Fan - 886 metres

Classification: Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall, County Top (highest in Powys), Highest in Southern Britain

Weather: Glorious, cloud on top

Looking back down the start of the path up

Getting higher

First glimpse of Corn Du

Clouds behind me now

The path up to Corn Du

Looking back at the path up

Go away

Shy Pen Y Fan

A look down the valley

Final climb to the top of Corn Du

Corn Du cairn with Pen Y Fan in the distance

Short climb now to Pen Y Fan

Hooray!

Pen Y Fan - 886 metres

The cloud rolls in, time to go

Above the clouds - great views up here

The twin peaks of Pen Y Fan (left) and Corn Du (right)

Tommy Jones Obelisk

Waterfall Country

A stunning waterfall walk in the Brecon Beacons

Length: 11.5 miles

Route: Cwm Porth Car Park - Pont Melin-fach - Pontneddfechan - Craig y Ddinas - Sgwd yr Eira - Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn - Cwm Porth Car Park

Weather: Glorious

Although there is no real high ground on this walk, this is one of the toughest walks I have done so far. The ground is nearly all loose rocks and tree trunks, and requires some scrambling if you want to get up close and personal to the falls, and get the best viewpoint to take pictures.

A pleasant start through woodland

The bluebells are out

First waterfall of the day, Sgwd Clun-gwyn

Sgwd Gwladus

Higher up now, and a look down the valley

Odd looking tree

The stunning Sgwd yr Eira (Fall of Snow)

The beauty of this waterfall is that the pathway actually passes behind it

Behind Sgwd yr Eira

Back behind one more time

A last look at Sgwd yr Eira

Sgwd yr Pannwr

Above Sgwd yr Pannwr

Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn

A snake in my path, turns out it's not a snake after looking on the internet but a  slow worm, which is a limbless reptile.