Aran loop

Peaks: Aran Benllyn, Erw y Ddafad Ddu, Aran Fawddwy, Drosgl
A very enjoyable Christmas Eve outing for Peter and I, despite the fact that our designs on a midwinter Rhinog traverse were thwarted by bad weather. We left Llanuwchllyn early morning, in rather grim conditions of low cloud and drizzle. But the conditions didn't get any worse, and we jogged slowly up to the top of the first rise before entering the always boggy gentler sections on the lower ridge. This is wet in mid-summer, so today was obviously a tad squelchy after weeks of near-constant rain. Neither of us felt especially good, so we maintained a very gentle pace to the top of the steep climb towards Benllyn. This peak is avoided by the race route, so we stuck to the top of the ridge today, taking in a misty Benllyn, then the broad summit of Ddafad Ddu before enjoying the rocky terrain up to the trig on Fawddwy. A quick bite of cake, then we continued down the ridge before breaking off to the east for superb running along to Drosgl. Poor viz throughout, but good fun. There followed a slightly illicit traverse under the eastern crags of the Aran ridge, with a climb up from Llaethnant to lonely Creiglyn Dyfi, one of Snowdonia's finest lakes, before another short and boggy climb through a little col to gain a superb descent down Cwm Llwydd and Cwm Croes to Talardd and the road to Llanuwchllyn. Perhaps 14-15 miles, around three hours of gentle running, so we even managed a pint in the Eagles before midday.