Saturday, August 27, 2022

Foel Goch (Bala)

Peaks: Foel Goch, Garnedd Fawr
Area: Arenig/Bala
An excellent choice for anti-social types on a Bank Holiday, these hills will never be crowded no matter how many staycationers arrive. Indeed, I have only been up them once before, and that was back in the 1990s. They are fairly unpleasant in places underfoot, although a decent bridleway runs north-eastwards from Pentre farm (gained by a quiet road from Cefn-ddwysarn). This is overgrown but civilised to the open hill, then becomes boggy and hard to follow below Orddu. As a result, I just ploughed directly north-west up the steep side of Foel Goch. I was trying to save energy so this wasn't ideal. Extensive views out to Arenig and over to the Clwydians, these are fairly isolated little hills. Yet another sunny and dry day - in a normal year the terrain would be even more arduous. An excellent path leads along the bumpy vague ridge to Garnedd Fawr, certainly one of Wales's more obscure summits! I missed out Moel Emoel in favour of a direct descent to Nant Cefn Coch, an untravelled and predictably boggy locale! A blend of deep tussocks and sinking bog eventually led to a track back to the farm and the quiet lane to Cefn-ddwysarn (1:45 for the morning loop).

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