3.2.2020 - Gallt Y Darren 619m and Fel Boeth 615m.
Both of these Nuttalls are close together and in the Arenig mountain range in Southern Snowdonia. I parked on an unclassified road that was very narrow with few passing places coming in from the Bronaber direction. There is a large piece of rough ground at the start point (a bridge) that can easily take 3-4 cars.
The route is simple enough. Head NE along the road until it runs out after that things get a tad boggy, well a bloody swamp really. Just head for the obvious gate on the fence line ahead and pick up a wide track and keep on this track that goes steadily uphill in a right hand loop until you hit the fence line. After this pick you own way up through a boggy water table and up quite steeple to the obvious col just below Moel Yr Wden.
From here you can go up Wden or simply head south along the ridge for 1.5kms until you get to the summit of Gallt Y Daren, Not long after that you get to Foel Boeth. Both of these summits are quite unremarkable but the views are pretty decent all around.
After Foel Boeth you head generally south and head in the basic direction of the road over rough pathless terrain. Once at the road you hang a right and head off on a longish 3.5 kms trudge through the forest back to the start point.
Nothing spectacular about this hike but it’s an easy two Nuttalls and you get some solitude. I saw nobody all day.
Parking and Access: There is not much here apart from where I parked which is ample enough even for a van (mine is a MWB Sprinter) but this is not a popular walk so there should be no problems.
Route Summary: Road, wide tracks, feint tracks, boggy water tables and some rough terrain.
Route Statistics: 11.7km with 455m of height gain done in 3 hours.
5.2.2020 - Rhobell Fawr 734m and Dduallt 662m.
I had not been that keen to do this route actually. Anything with a forestry in it does my little brain in. Due to access Dduallt is also quite difficult to get to. Anyway I parked in the village of Rhydymain just off the A494 Bala to Dolgellau road. There is a large lay-by at the start point for parking.
Head north out of the village by following the path that goes up behind the church. Simply follow this track until it joins the road and then follow the gpx trail along the road and into the forestry. Even in the forest the road is still tarmac. After going into the forestry 700m you hang a left and after another 500m there is a wall and gate, you are then at the base of the mountain proper. Now for this next section if you follow my gpx trail you will either hit all the wall styles or any gaps in the rather tall walls hereabouts.
At the wall at the edge of the forest turn left and shortly after you will hit another stone wall going steeply uphill in front of you. Follow this wall for about 1km (N). It is steep and in a few places I had to use my hands but eventually after about half an hour and 250m of height gain you get to a style. Pop over the style and make your way over to the summit which is still about another 500m away. You have to negotiate some pretty damp terrain in places.
When you get to the trig pointed summit, two hours from the start for me, there are fine views of Cadair Idris, The Arans and the Mawddach estuary. After this head back in the general direction you came but slightly north. You will hit a gap where the walls are down and then you start to handrail another stone wall steeply downhill back to the forestry road. Now this downhill section is very steep and there was at least one place where I had to scramble (easy) and turn inwards to grab at the wet rock.
The next bit was the forestry section. Anyway not to labour on to fine a point this section sucks. They have cut most of the forest down so apart from the first section heading east into the forest I would give everything heading north where I went into the woods a miss. The paths marked on the map now literally don’t exist and the whole place looks like it has been nuked. I would actually use my down route both ways from here. Either way the climb to Dduallt is going to be steep, spongy and along feint paths if any. At the summit there are fine views again but no trig point this time. It took me four hours to here.
After the summit simply retrace your steps to the forestry road and follow it back all the way back to Rhydymain. A bit of a trudge but there you go.
Parking and Access: Big lay-by at the start.
Route Summary: Farm track, road, tarmac, steep rough mountain terrain, occasional scramble, boggy open country. Few marked trails.
Route Statistics: 18km with 900m of height gain done in 6 hours. In regard to timings I really took my time today as I was carrying a knee injury.
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.’
Ascent Entry on Peakbagger: Gallt Y Darren and Foel Boeth
Rhobell Fawr and Duallt
Route Overview using ViewRanger
Ample parking at the start point.
Not the best of views and routes but you have solitude.
Route overview for Rhobell and Dduallt using ViewRanger.
Ample lay-by at the start point.
Beautiful views on the way round the route.