in Wales, at the same time indicating ways to view the mountain lakes they nurture. While it would be foolish to claim to have covered all the routes, I am not conscious of having omitted any of note.
Some of the routes are easy, others more strenuous. All tastes are catered for, from those seeking to capture something of the spirit of the hills in short half-day walks to real ‘tigers’ whose aims are to stride the long ridge walks or to bag as many summits as possible. Most of the routes cover the high ground over 2000ft, but there are lower-level expeditions as well. All are suitable for the hillwalker and no climbing skills are required. However, proper precautions are necessary in winter, as they are for any excursion into wild and remote places.
As someone who has walked the English and Welsh hills for upwards of 40 years I am often asked which I like best – Lakeland, the Pennines, Wales? To this question I always give the same simple answer: ‘I like them all best.’ Having said that, less has been written about the Welsh hills, and these books are an attempt to redress the balance.
There is another balance I would like to correct. The Welsh hills cover a vast area from the Nantlle ridge in the west to the Radnor Forest in the east, from the Carneddau in the north to the Brecon Beacons in the south. Yet it is probably true to say that 90 percent of all the hill-miles walked in Wales are within a 5-mile radius of the top of Snowdon. There is thus a whole universe of new peaks waiting to be discovered, more days in the hills to be enjoyed. So whilst denying nothing to the peaks of Snowdonia, my aim is to cover all the Welsh hills equally thoroughly.
One final point on access: please remember that all the land in Wales belongs to someone and that the legal situation is complex. Put simply, the only legal right of a hillwalker is to be on a public footpath. Many of the routes in this book extend well beyond the range of public footpaths, and though no problems on access usually arise with well-behaved parties, it is as well to remember that such access is a privilege and not a right. It should not be taken for granted. Therefore if you are ever in doubt as to whether a right of way exists or not, always seek permission from the local farmer first and then, if he agrees, please adhere to the Country Code.
Good luck and happy rambling!
Peter Hermon, 1991
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
Hillwalking is ever more popular by the year, and so I am delighted to be able to introduce a second edition of this well-used guide. Although I have updated a few routes the bulk of both books remains the same. Everything else may change but the hills are eternal! However, there is one major improvement: the replacement of black-and-white by full-colour photographs that bring out the beauty and grandeur of the hills as monochrome never could.
I have two small requests. Please keep to trails (where they exist) and try not to widen them by walking round the edges. The National Park authorities and various local bodies are doing a wonderful job in combating erosion, but they will be fighting a losing battle unless we all help. Secondly, please take out everything you bring in. If carrying a can of juice up a mountain causes no pain surely we can find the strength to take the empty container down again, instead of leaving it to rot round the summit cairn.
Now well into my 70s I am savouring the hills as much as ever. If those of you who follow in my footsteps derive only a fraction of the enjoyment the hills have given me you will be fortunate indeed. So, as before, good luck (fine days!) and happy rambling.
Peter Hermon, July 2005
INTRODUCTION
For ease of description I have divided the mountains into 21 groups arranged alphabetically in two volumes. Each is the subject of a separate chapter, starting with a list of the 2000ft peaks and mountain lakes in its area. Rather than invent yet another definition of what constitutes a 2000ft peak, I have relied on existing lists (between which there are, in any case, only minor variations).
In doing this I have included every peak that a hillwalker would recognise as a genuine 2000-footer in its own right. Also included are a few peaks that just miss the magical 2000ft barrier but which are obviously real mountains and fun to climb. On the other hand I have sometimes omitted mere tops that might qualify technically by the quirk of some contour line, but which on the ground clearly lack the presence one expects from a separate mountain. When all is said and done I do not think my lists will cause many surprises. (I use the terms ‘peak’ and ‘top’ more or less interchangeably and without any technical significance.)
Looking north from Dduallt's E flank to Moel y Llyfnant and Arenig Fawr (AG23)
The lakes present a more difficult problem. What exactly is a mountain lake? Clearly there is no simple answer. Some of the prettiest tarns and lakes are too small for inclusion on the map; others come and go with the weather, or even with successive revisions of the OS maps! I have therefore had to rely heavily on judgement in my treatment of lakes, and have in any event restricted myself to those in the immediate vicinity of each mountain group that have an altitude of at least 1000ft. It would be pedantic in these circumstances to aim for consistency, but I hope that any anomalies which may have crept in are not serious.
Cribin from Pen y Fan (BB10) (photo Marion Teal)
The Main Routes
I begin with an overview of each group before getting to the heart of the matter with descriptions of all the routes up each peak that are likely to be of interest to hillwalkers. An interesting route in this context can mean several things: it may be a route with fine views or good scrambling; one that is useful as a link in planning a longer multi-peak expedition; or simply one that gives a quick way home at the end of a long day.
Most of the routes I describe are direct ones which do not cross any other summit en route to the top. Non-direct routes – such as those along connecting ridges – are usually included as part of the high-level walks. However, there are a few cases where the lie of the land would make it artificial to follow this guideline exclusively. Most routes are described as ascents, but as every hillwalker knows there are some routes which intuitively seem more natural as a way down. Where this is so they are described as descents.
Once the routes for individual peaks have been given, the way is clear to introduce more varied expeditions. First come high-level walks, by which I normally mean routes taking in more than one of the 2000ft peaks. Many of these are ridge walks of the sort that give the very best days in the hills. Sometimes, however, the high ground is too broad for the term ‘ridge’ to be appropriate; in other cases there may be a pass to be crossed. To keep this section within reasonable bounds my suggestions are restricted to combinations falling wholly within one of my defined mountain groups. Thus I do not cover more ambitious walks such as expeditions stretching over both the Berwyns and Arans, or straddling the four south Wales groups, or serious challenges like climbing all 14 of the Welsh 3000-footers in a single day.
Lower-Level Walks and Easier Days
Next come the lower-level walks, which are generally easier than the high-level walks. However, a few of them are quite exacting as my definition of ‘lower level’ is simply any walk that does not cross one of the recognised 2000-footers! This still leaves some pretty stiff – but at the same time excellent – expeditions, especially in the foothills surrounding the main ranges.
Not even the hardiest walkers always feel like tramping the tops, so I also give some suggestions for easier days. (In many chapters, where it is difficult to draw a distinction, the lower-level and easier day sections are combined.) These generally keep to lower ground and are suitable
