About the Author
Peter Hermon was brought up in Nottingham and was a frequent trekker on Kinder Scout in his school days. He remembers youth hostelling over the Hard Knott and Wrynose passes in the Lake District when they were still rough farm tracks.
For most of his working life he was an executive with BOAC and British Airways but, despite travelling the world – and a particular affection for the Grand Canyon – the lure of the British hills never paled and he has scaled the peaks of Lakeland, Wales and the Pennines many times.
Other Cicerone titles by the author
Hillwalking in Wales – Vol 2
HILLWALKING IN WALES: VOLUME 1
ARANS - DOVEY HILLS
by
Peter Hermon
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
© Peter Hermon 1991, 2006
Second edition 2006, 2010 (with updates)
ISBN-13: 978 185284 467 7
ISBN-10: 1 85284 467 1
First edition 1991
ISBN 1 85284 081 1
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
To David – my first companion on the hills
The hills are beautiful. They are beautiful in line and form and colour; they are beautiful in purity, in their simplicity and in their freedom; they bring repose, contentment and good health.
F.S. Smythe
1930s Everest pioneer
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Pam Boswell for preparing some early drafts before I had learned to use a word processor; Juliet Ryde for checking the whole draft; and Don Sargeant for drawing the original maps. Most of the photographs are my own, but I am also indebted to the following for permission to use some of their pictures: Steve Lewis, Kevin Richardson and Marion Teal.
Advice to Readers
Readers are advised that, while every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Please check Updates on this book's page on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk) before planning your trip. We would also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
Front cover: Bryn Brith over Llynnau Cregennen
CONTENTS
Lower-level walks and easier days
The Berwyns
The Black Mountains
The Brecon Beacons
The Cader Idris
The Carneddau
The Cwmdeuddwr Hills
The Dovey Hills
Appendix A: List of Peaks for Vols 1 and 2
Appendix B: Index of Peaks
Appendix C: List of Lakes
Pistyll Rhaeadr (BN 13)
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
The two volumes of Hillwalking in Wales are aimed at all those who derive happiness, challenge, excitement or peace of mind from walking in the Welsh hills. If you are as lucky as I am, you will enjoy all those emotions at the same time. I have tried to provide a comprehensive guide to walkers' routes up all the 2000ft mountains in Wales, at the same time indicating ways to view the mountain lakes they nurture. While it would be foolish to claim to have covered all the routes, I am not conscious of having omitted any of note.
Some of the routes are easy, others more strenuous. All tastes are catered for, from those seeking to capture something of the spirit of the hills in short half-day walks to real ‘tigers’ whose aims are to stride the long ridge walks or to bag as many summits as possible. Most of the routes cover the high ground over 2000ft, but there are lower-level expeditions as well. All are suitable for the hillwalker and no climbing skills are required. However, proper precautions are necessary in winter, as they are for any excursion into wild and remote places.
As someone who has walked the English and Welsh hills for upwards of 40 years I am often asked which I like best – Lakeland, the Pennines, Wales? To this question I always give the same simple answer: ‘I like them all best.’ Having said that, less has been written about the Welsh hills, and these books are an attempt to redress the balance.
There is another balance I would like to correct. The Welsh hills cover a vast area from the Nantlle