Meet Report: 6-8 October 2017.

Seventeen members and guests assembled at the Corris Hostel, a renovated Victorian school building formerly owned by the YHA and now run independently, with a relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and a comfortable lounge area having an open fire.  Another advantage is that the village pub is conveniently situated within 150m of the hostel.

Most members made the most of the decent weather on the Friday. Kjetil, Ann-Karin, Michael and Helen arriving from Betws-y-Coed, stopped off at Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog to traverse Moelwyn Mawr.

Richard and Paul broke their journey at Commins Coch and walked over Celn Coch to Gader Goch, enjoying fine views over the surrounding hills, the Dovey valley and out to the estuary.

Mick, Iain, Ian, John and Dave arrived in time to fit in a short walk above Dolgellau – the original Precipice Walk as recommended in Bob Allen’s guidebook.  This afforded fine views over the river Mawddach and down to the Barmouth estuary finishing with a walk around the shore of Llyn Cywach with plenty of autumnal colour.

Christine and Jim drove a couple of miles from Corris to Ceinws and completed a walk circling Mynydd Pant-coch taking in Cae-cwta, Ysgubor Fraithwen and Maesycriau, with good views, though not always well waymarked.

All groups got back to the hostel just in time to complete our party for a pre-ordered meal in the welcoming Slaters Arms, enjoyed with a well-kept pint of real ale or two.

Saturday was true to the weather forecast, with mist settled on the tops and light rain for most of the day. Any thoughts of scrambling on the Cyfrwy Arete were quickly abandoned. Despite the conditions, Cader Idris was naturally the focus of most peoples’ attentions and various routes were ascended from the Minffordd car park. One party of Tim, Mick and John Sutcliffe tackled Mynydd Pencoed on the way. Helen, Michael, Kjetil and Ann-Karin took the back of Cwm Cae direct.

These two groups met on the ridge above Lyn Cau and proceeded across to the Penygadair summit and into the small building for shelter to eat lunch, with several other parties.  After parting from the Smith-Tveranger group at the edge of Lyn Cau, Jim and Christine followed the Minfford path to the cairn near Craig Cwm Amarch and returned to the car the same way. David and Alan caught up Paul and Richard just before the main ridge with Iain Gilmore, who decided to retreat. They followed the ridge over the summit to Mynydd Moel and descended to the car park via Moelfryn.

Ian and John Jenkin enjoyed a visit to the Talyllyn historic narrow-gauge steam railway. 

Richard Gowing drove to Cwrt on the Aberdyfi road about 4 miles down the valley from Machynlleth. He walked 1½ miles up the Happy Valley road to take a bridle track ascending below the mist-shrouded ridge of the Tarrens, descending via a track to Dysyrnant farm to follow the Happy Valley road back over its pass to the car.

After stocking the drying room to capacity, we sat down to a splendid four course dinner, the highlight being Hilary’s home-made terrine of pork, chicken and duck with smoked bacon and pistachio nuts. Kjetil introduced several members to the pleasures of Norway’s prized aquavit as a digestif.

Sunday brought better weather than the forecast suggested. Richard and Paul had to leave bright and early to catch a flight, enjoying a fine sun-rise en route. Mick, Iain and Tim drove over to Abergynolwyn village and walked up through the rocky gorge of the Nant Gwernol river admiring the cascades and the superb ancient semi-natural woodland with its oak trees cloaked in moss and ferns. Their objective was to explore the extensive remains of the abandoned Bryn Eglwys slate quarries.

At its height, 300 men worked two veins of slate, known as the Broad and Narrow Veins. At nearly 2 square miles, the site is extensive and we wandered around the spoil tips, inclines, drum houses, wheel pits, tramways and open quarries for some time but did not find an open adit to explore, they were too well hidden in the fenced-in undergrowth.

Jim, Christine, Helen, Michael, Kjetil and Ann-Karin enjoyed a ‘stroll’ on the New Precipice Walk including an old tramway built to serve the long-abandoned workings of the Voel Goldmine high above Llanelltyd, followed by a rather good Sunday lunch at the Cross Foxes.

Richard visited the excellent Talyllyn Railway museum at Tywyn Wharf, then drove to to Dolgoch where he walked up Nant Dol Goch past the lower falls as far as the upper falls, all in fine flow after Saturday’s rain, stopping for lunch on the way back down.

The meet continued on Monday with Michael, Kjetil and Ann-Karin ascending Snowdon via Crib Goch in variable weather. Tim had his dog with him so he scrambled up the side of Crib Goch and met the other three at Bwlch Coch. Sunshine in the morning but rain by the afternoon.  Tuesday saw Kjetil and Ann-Karin beside Adam and Eve on Tryfan’s summit, returning by Heather Terrace.

Participants

Mick Borroff (President) – Leader, Ian Crowther, Paul Dover, Richard Dover, Iain Gilmour, Richard Gowing, Christine Harrison (G), Jim Harrison, David Hick, John Jenkins, Tim Josephy, Alan Kay, Helen Smith, Michael Smith, John Sutcliffe, Kjetil Tveranger, Ann-Karin Tveranger (G).