After
much debate down the brewery, a campsite recommended in the Mid Wales Climbing
Guide was selected for the trip. Cwmrhwyddfor Farm is located just south of
Cader Idris. The campsite was not busy and the facilities were good. On Friday
night we were however kept awake by the baaing of a particularly desperate
ewe. Over breakfast the possibility of mutton stew was discussed. The presence
of sheep was felt in other ways, Simon C holds the record with seven sheep
tick bites!
On Saturday, with very good conditions for Wales, Simon, Carmen, Peter and
Gordon climbed Will o' the Wisp (VDiff 310 feet) on Craig Cywarch near Dinas
Mawddy. It took a long time to locate the climb from the description and diagram
in the guidebook because the lower part of the crag was very vegetated. The
latter pitches which traversed the crag were much more interesting with some
airy moves and made the route. The climb took rather longer than we anticipated
and we finally got back down to the bottom for 4pm.
Whereupon after some deliberation and in a moment of madness we decided to
walk up Aran Fawddwy (with rucksacks filled with ropes and climbing hardware).
The effort was worth it because the views across Mid Wales were superb.
Sue, Tom and Don, having brought their mountain bikes, went for a ride south
of Cader Idris along a valley near to Tywyn. Despite becoming directionally
challenged within twenty yards of the start, the route was regained after
a ride up steep grass.
On
Sunday Simon, Carmen, Peter and Gordon climbed on Bird Rock. The crag was
once a sea cliff and is still a nesting site for cormorants, hence the name.
The crag is best climbed in the afternoon/evening once the shade has lifted,
as those climbing in T shirts found out. Two routes were climbed, The Buttress
(VDiff) and The Rockery (S), both are to be recommended.
Sue, Tom and Don cycled on a green lane north of Lake Bala, known as the Wayfarer
Route. Tom managed to cycle all the way from the campsite to the start of
the route and still caught the others who has gone ahead by car!