The Berwyns from Llandrillo 2nd July 2016

Looking towards the Dee Valley from the Tegid Way.

Moel Ty-uchaf Stone Circle.

The Berwyn Skyline from the sopes of Moel Pearce.

Cadair Berwyn and Moel Sych from the cairn on Cadair Bronwen.

At the trig point on Cadair Berwyn.

At the trig point on Cadair Berwyn.

The descent over Foel Fawr.

Bog Asphodel in the Clochnant valley.

Final views of the Berwyns from the Llandrillo entrance to the Berwyn national Nature Reserve.

St., Trillo's Church at Llandrillo at the end of the walk.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.2 miles (12 for Mike), Climb: 2895' (3000' for Mike).

Time: 7 hours 59 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.3 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Mike.

Optimistically we would get only the odd shower, but the one on the final ascent across Moel Pearce felt a little like hail on our face, but thankfully didn't last long. Once on the ridge the wind was quite strong and we had to shelter behind a small outcrop of rock on the East side of Cadair Bronwen for lunch. Lyiing almost flat at times as I had lunch,  I noticed a sandwich box hidden in a gap below the rock. It contained a Memo book from the Rotherham Ramblers.

 After lunch we set off along the duck boards, down to Bwlch Maen Gwynedd and then the final climb to the top of Cadair Berwyn.

 Surprisingly as we approached the summit of Cadair Berwyn, two Common swifts flew in front of us, heading West.  At the trig point on Cadair Berwyn, I decided to set off the Llndrillo path while Mike stretched his legs on and bag Moel Sych too.

 The long boggy descent over Foel Fawr still gave good views towards Bala and the Arrenigs and I anticipated Mike catching me up near the direction post near the cairns on Pennant. However I had to wait for about twenty minutes at the sheepfold / sheep dip at the ford over Nant Cwm Tywyll.

 As we contoured around the western slopes of Carnedd y Ci that we saw a Red kite above us and surprisingly another Common swift.

  I had forgotten how awkward the fording of  the Clochnant and the climbing up its Northern bank was, but we made it safely. The upper banks here at lots of Bog asphodel, a delightful yellow star-like flower.

 The last hour of the walk seemed like a different day, with blue skies, warm sunshine and hardly any wind, a complete contrast of the weather we had experienced five hours earlier.

 We arrived back at the car having had along nearly eight hour walk to see another Red kite flying above the sports field near the car park.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Barn swallow, Common pheasant, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Goldfinch, Pied wagtail, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Common swift, House sparrow and Red kite.

 Mike decided that he fancied an ice cream, so we took a stroll into the village, taking a look in the fifteenth century St., Trillo's church at the same time.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Crown Inn, Llandegla, sadly no longer a Lees pub, but it did have one real on and served locally produced Rosie's Dee Cider too.