The snowy tundra of the Elan Valley to hike Gorllwyn and Drygarn Fawr. (Cambrian Mountains).

Updated: Oct 3, 2020

Gorllwyn 613m and Drygarn Fawr 645m.

This was a hard day's walk, harder than it should have been. The day started good, overcast but dry and a steady first hour saw us all the way uphill to the wide ridgeline that leads to Gorllwyn. Once on the ridgeline however we had a breezy cold artic type day and after Gorllwyn there is a long 4-5km plateau walk. Today this walk was difficult because even the distinct path was a boggy, slushy, windswept tundra with footsteps annoyingly sinking through thin ice into the peaty bog underneath. The summit of Drygarn Fawr is however a bit special with its higher and lower cairns that are very large features. After this the the long downhill section began all the way back to the start albeit via a different route. The conditions today made it a hard walk, knocking off a km per hour but with great company aka Paul Summers (sorry I beasted you) it was still a great hike.

Parking and Access: Car park at start location of gpx route can fit 4-5 cars.

Route Summary: High exposed unmaintained trails that are boggy in winter. Very open but with fine views. 17.60km, 592m of ascent. Total time 4hr 50m, moving time 3hr 50m.

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.’