Progress so far

English and Welsh Hewitts completed: 9/317

Sunday 9 June 2013

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

2 comments:

  1. Living fairly close to Pont Scethin car park (51miles from Llandudno) it's an area of Snowdonia rarely visited by the walker,simply because its remote and off the beaten track.

    The Rhinogs attract the mist like the Carneddau,and are notoriously difficult to navigate in poor visibility.

    Weather like the anticyclone just at the start of June is not common,and when the sun does shine I usually walk the Carneddau,but the Rhinogs are wild and special.


    I will walk them again someday soon.

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  2. Hi Peter, it's amazing how different this area of the Rhinogs can look in different weather. It looks so appealing and a relatively pleasant walk in summer, but you wouldn't catch me anywhere near the summits of Diffwys, Y Llethr and Rhinog Fach in poor weather, they look treacherous just looking up from Pont Scethin. I dread to think what they'd be like on top.

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