Sky blue day at Nant Y Moch on Y Garn, Llechwydd Mawr and Drosgol (Cambrian Mountains, Aberystwyth).

Updated: Oct 3, 2020

Garn 684m, Banc Llechwydd Mawr 560m and Drosgol 550m

Well I knew today was going to be a long day in the isolated but beautiful reservoir area of Nant Y Moch. To be bagged was a nuttall (Garn 684m) and three Marilyns (Banc Llechwydd Mawr 560m, Drosgol 550m and Disgwylfa Fawr 507m) if time and speed permitted for the intended 28km circular route along with 1,300m of ascent…but I like long tough days! With all this in mind, along with my hiking buddy Paul, we went up the night before to stay in the car park at the head of the dam (SN 756 862) and had a very pleasant night with a bottle of port that was left empty!

With an irritating six am iPhone alram reveille we got ready and at just after seven set off East up the road passing over an icy skid pan section we didn’t even notice in our vans the night before (luckily!). Anyway after the first k you come to a road junction and we headed SE across country making our way steadily uphill in between a convergence of three small forestries. What I haven’t mentioned yet is that it was already blowing 35-40kph at this low level and icy cold. We continued steadily uphill over rough tussocky ground with no distinct footpath as such and yes the higher we got the windier it obviously was but the sky was blue and the scenery simply stunning. I just love this part of the world. It was blowing a good one though but eventually we got to the cairned top of the Garn at 684m. It was only 3.5km from the start with around 350m of ascent but the conditions underfoot along with the wind had slowed us considerably and it took us 1hr and 20minutes.

Shortly after the Garn we started to head north along Pen Y Drawsallt ridge for the 2k slog to Plynlimon Fawr summit. It was biting cold by this time and the wind had got to around 50kph. At the summit we didn’t hang about and swept off steeply downhill to Plynlimon Each and onwards to a footbridge that crosses Afon Hengwm at SN 77963 89122. Now I have given a ten figure grid as the footbridge is not marked on the map (1:50 OR 1:25) but it is definitely there and it is a substantial well constructed one at that. After this it was a rather steep pull up Banc Y Llechwedd Mawr (560m) to eventually head downhill SW to the valley that holds the Afon Llechwedd. Here, in the middle of nowhere, is a new build house complete with solar panels that appears to be used as a holiday let of a sort so here next to this building and in the relative calm of the valley we took our mid hike break which was at about the 14k/4hr mark.

After this well deserved feeding frenzy was another steep pull up Drosgol (540m) but only after crossing the river Llechwedd. Here again the footbridge is not marked on the map but it is definitely there at SN 76634 88810. The wind by now had abated to about half its morning strength which was appreciated but all the while, as it had been all day, we were surrounded by clear skies and stunning rolling hill vistas. After the cute cairn of the Drosgol it was then a sharp downhill North West to Nant Y Baracs. By now however Paul was beginning to feel poorly (might have had something to do with the port) and we decided to cut out Disgwylfa Fawr and simply circumnavigate the reservoir for the last six km’s to the dam. This we did and within the hour we were back at the vans and within the next hour we were in Llangurig enjoying a well earned mixed grill before we went our separate ways. Good old Paul, he is great company on the hills!

Parking and access: There is a big free car par at the dam head. There is enough room for about ten vehicles but it is a popular spot and gets full on weekends in the summer.

Route Summary: A stunning circular tour of Nant Y Moch reservoir over tussock grass and heather for about half the time otherwise on footpaths and road. A real up and down day of shear beauty where we did not see another hiker all day. If you are a peak bagger anorak (like me) and do our original route and include a flat 5k (total) out and back detour east on Plynlimon Fawr you can pick up a total of three Marilyns and five Nuttals during the course of a longer extended day. This would be very feasible in the summer. As it was ours was long enough at 26.5ks with 1,300m of ascent done in 7hrs 15mins. I highly recommend this route.

GPX files: For gpx files go to the Peakbagger website by following this link and go to the bottom right hand of the page and click ‘Download this GPS track as a GPX file.’