Rhinog Fach Circuit

QMD Walks

Rhinog Fach Circuit

Relevant OS Maps include: OS Explorer OL18 (1:25), OS Landranger 124 (1:50), Harvey Rhinogs Superwalker (1:25), Harvey Snowdonia South XT40 (1:40).

Demanding in places with some steep ascents/descents which can be slippery when wet. Can be extended into a long day by continuing onto Rhinog Fawr and back. Bit of a long boggy walk either in our out depending on which way you do it. I’ve put the walk in rather than out. Great campsite at Cae Adda SH691353. Small. Quiet. Great location.

Distance: 12 miles (using footpath descent off Rhinog Fach)

Going: Demanding. Some rough ground. Boggy in places. PRoW and FPs not always clear. Route finding necessary.

1. Park at CP on Graigddu Isaf road SH684302. Follow PRoW then TL at big JNCT SH674285 (still in forestry commission) onto forestry road to OA boundary at SH680278. TR to wall JNCT and after 200m TL along wall CB 145 to 407m ring contour SH682270. Continue to next wall JNCT and TR to 400m ring contour with crags SH681266. From here descend to track following rough CB 185. Continue to clear track at ruin SH678257 heading for Hafod y Brenhin SH676249, CB 200.

2. From Hafod y Brenhin follow PRoW on forestry track to where FP starts at SH679232, CB 280, at wall/fence JNCT. Follow path up to Diffwys summit SH661233. NOTE: FP goes to 688m ring contour and you need to TL to go up Diffwys, CB 228; alternative is to choose suitable point of departure from FP and route find up Diffwys.

3. From Diffwys follow FP across to Crib y Rhiw to Y Llethr SH661258, rough CB 358. From summit of Y Llethr follow FP down to Llyn Hywel SH665266. From Llyn Hywel follow FP up to summit of Rhinog Fach SH664270, CB 355.

4. From Rhinog Fach follow FP to major JNCT SH665274, CB 352. TR CB 092 and follow footpath down to flat place SH667276. Here FP BL on rough CB 330 down to PRoW SH664282. An alternative possible descent is to follow gully starting SH667276 and ending SH668281, CB 020 (GULLY NOT BEEN TRIED AT TIME OF WRITING DUE TO INJURY AT THE TIME). Join the PRoW at SH670285.

5. Follow PRoW back to CP.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE. Distance: 7.5 miles (using gully descent off Rhinog Fach).

6. Park at CP on Graigddu Isaf road SH684302. Follow PRoW then TL at big JNCT SH674285 (still in forestry) onto forestry road to OA boundary at SH680278. TR and handrail wall/fence (boggy) to JNCT at SH670269, CB 230. From here descend to Llyn y Bi SH670264, CB 175. A number of FPs and routes are available.

7. From stream re-entrant on Llyn y Bi SH671264 make way up ridge to wall heading for roughly SH668260, CB 220. There is a FP here than contours round Y Llethr (rough CB 240) and can be used to ascend. Or handrail wall, either side, and make way up ridge to wall JNCT (CB 290; grassy and slippery when wet) and TL to Y Llethr SH661257, CB 235.

8. From Y Llethr follow 3, 4, 5 above or do reverse, 3, 2, 1 above.

Glossary BL - Bear Left BR - Bear Right CB - Compass Bearing FB – Footbridge FP - Footpath. Usually marked on 1:25 but not on 1:50 JNCT - Junction (paths/tracks cross/join) OA – Open Access PRoW - Public Right of Way. Usually marked on 1:25 and 1:50 Quad bike track - Two parallel lines going across the fell made by continued use by quad bike RHS – Right hand side LHS – Left hand side TL - Turn Left TR - Turn Right Track - A wide track that looks suitably for 4x4 vehicles