Day 44 Trawsfynydd to Llyn Du

Sunday: Up 07:30 away 10:20

Late start today while I laid out tent and sleeping mat to dry out in the sun.

Inspired by Dave Taylor's suggestion (of Barmouth walking festival) that I might beat the forecast Tuesday rain if I walked to Llyn Du (Black lake) beneath Rhinog Fawr today. This distance I had taken me two days in 2022 when I walked the Cambrian Way in the opposite direction. The only cost was, I arrived very late to pitch. But it was worth trying.

Hike began with a hard climb up Moel Gyrafolen. I back tracked a few times crossing bog land between SH 68001 35911 and ladder stile at SH 67372 35846 also on the final ascent through billberry bushes where the path became indistinct. Once on the top relatively easy straightforward walk across Diffwys, Foel Penolau, Ysgyfarnogod and onto Llyn Du. With only the ascent and descent of Foel Penolau being steep. Llyn Du had been my original objective, but with it being only 15:00 there was plenty of day for more progress.

Next 0.37 miles to Llyn Corn Stwc was challenging taking 55 minutes. Back tracked a few times to avoid boggy land and to navigate around higher ground.

Just south of Llyn Corn Stwc stopped to make supper at 16:00. Generally I would make supper after pitching. On this occasion my thinking was, eating earlier would allow me to recover some strength and gain some energy for the remainder of the hike.

Route down to Bwlch Gwylim and on down to Cwm Bychan was long but straightforward except for the final ¼ mile steeply down to Cwm-bychan farm. I do not think the route I followed was on the path, which was unclear.

At Cwm Bychan I filled up my water bottles from the stream via the excellent Grayl Ultralight filter bottle that my daughter Angharad had loaned to me.

Final section was up the Roman steps, which were not as well laid as I had thought I remembered them. Except for a few short sections laid was steps the rest were boulders, grass and bog.

Last time I was at Llyn Du I pitched in the north west corner of the lake which required a traverse over lakeside boulders. As it was late and I was tired, I pitched on the east side, near where I arrived at the lake. This turn out to be a successful location.

Arrival and departure times from features visited today.
10:20 left campsite
12:20 Moel Gyrafolen
Diffwys
13:40 Foel Penlau
14:15 Ysgyfarnogod left 14:43
16:00 Llyn Corn Stwc left 17:13
17:52 Bwlch Gwylim
19:10 Cwm Bychan left 19:20
20:48 Reached right turn towards Llyn Du
21:17 Llyn Du
19:28 Arrived pitch

7.9 miles and 3264ft of ascent from Cae Adda campsite to Llyn Du lake below Rhinog Fawr completed at end of 44th day of walking.
Total miles so far : 420
Miles in 2026 : 10
Weather : hazy sunny morning, full sunshine in the afternoon. Occasional breeze but generally no wind all day.
Number of people passed : 5
Objective tomorrow : Ascend and desend Rhinog Fawr then Rhinog FachRead more