Area: Berwyn
The Berwyn in winter is a boggy place: you don't expect dry feet. This route really maximises Cadair Bronwen and avoids the worst of the bog by taking the famous Wayfarer's Pass up to Bwlch Llandrillo. I've been up here before, but it must have been decades ago: it is well over 6km of gentle, continuous climbing from Llandrillo up to the Bwlch. Muddy throughout, but as an unclassified 'road' it is much more comfortable than my usual 'direct' route up Bronwen. I got to the bwlch in around 44 minutes: it is actually called Nant Rhyd Wilym, but to be fair it has had its English nickname for decades and the memorial to 'Wayfarer' at the top is bilingual. From here, a small boggy path leads over lumpy terrain towards Cadair Bronwen. This is a surprisingly long haul and was made much harder today by a fierce headwind. This became really problematic for a while, although generally speaking I got the weather exactly right with a late start (midday), the forecast clearance after a dreadful morning materialising bang on time. A steep and boggy final climb leads to the summit of Bronwen in fierce winds which continued down to Bwlch Maen Gwynedd. Fortunately it dropped a bit as I contoured the valleys across to Moel Pearce. I had the option of shelter (but bog) descending the valley or exposure (with less bog) by taking my usual ascent route towards the superb Moel Ty Uchaf stone circle. I opted for the latter, still boggy, and was rewarded with sunshine which lit the stone circle to perfection. Back to Llandrillo in around 1.55 for the round.
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