Rhinogs, Wales-Eric Jones Campsite & Cafe
10-12th June, 2016
Present – Dan (organiser), Beckie, Maisie, Andy D, Sarah R, Martin L, Maika
Peaks Bagged
Mynydd Graig Goch 2000ft / 610m
Garnedd Goch 2297ft / 700m
Craig Cwm Silyn 2408ft / 734m
Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd 2142ft / 653m
Trum y Ddysgl 2326ft / 709m
Mynydd Drws-y-coed 2280ft / 695m
Y Garn 2077ft / 633m
A good drive up to N Wales saw us (Dan, Beckie & Maisie ) in our tent by 9pm. Eric runs (ran, as he has now sold up & retired ) a very laid back site so it was simple a case of pitch where you like & get on with it. We escaped the midges & waited to see who else would arrive. About midnight Sarah & Andy turned up & we all waited a bit more – but soon went to bed as the only arrivals.
Next morning however, after a huge fry up in Eric’s cafe (with the man himself looking very much like Sean Connery) it turned out that Martin & Maika had arrived. Arriving late they headed straight to the bunkhouse & gone straight to bed.
Now, although the trip was advertised as a Rhinogs trip, our location meant that a traverse of the Nantle Ridge was more local. So after a car was dropped at the North end we drove to the Southern end of the ridge, parked up & hit the hills. This proved not as easy as might we thought. We headed off & found that the locals had done away with a path clearly marked on the map. This meant a possible first on an NMC trip – climbing over a fence into someone’s back garden simply to get back on the path. The owner of the house in question was un-phased, so I guess it is a regular occurrence.
So now the walk proper. We struck out almost due N over the pathless slopes of Mynydd Graig Goch & slowly ascended. 2000ft & the first hill of the day. Maisie & I were the only two who walked the 250m to bag the adjacent summit of Graig Goch. It was a bit misty & the route now needed care. We struck out East to pick up a boundary wall before heading N to the next peak – Garnedd Goch. Undulating ground took us to the next peak – Craig Cwm Silyn. The cairn here, once a fine monument now fallen & ruined. The way on meant a steep descent to the pass at Bwlch Dros Bern before a steep ascent to Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd. Folk were now beginning to wonder when the day would end. We’d covered a fair bit of country & the mist meant the way ahead was hidden. I decided to stick with ‘about 3 miles ‘and used the same quote from then on when anyone asked.
Next summit was Trum y Ddysgl which we did, despite it being ‘about 3 miles’ and then continued on in the mist to the next peak – Mynydd Drws-y-Coed. After this, the team, sensing that the day was almost over, found some extra gumption & soon were at the last peak of the day Y Garn. However the day’s end (and the pub) at Rhyd Ddu were a few miles away so it wasn’t all plain sailing. It was however, all downhill.
After a pint (or two) at the rather excellent Cwellyn Arms (note to the club – run a trip here) we collected the cars & headed off into Porthmadog for a rather fine curry. We didn’t stay up late (too many bugs & too many miles) and were tucked up by eleven.
The following day, after another large breakfast, Maika & Martin headed off early, Andy & Sarah went gear shopping and Maisie & Beckie went wild water swimming at Rhaeadr Du (wet suits essential) before an up close & personal look at the Ffestiniog Railway at Boston Halt.
