The Forgotten Ridge of Snowdonia

Moel Siabod

This is a fine ridge walk, just on the outskirts of the main Snowdonia mountains, up the highest point in the Moelwyns. It is a shortish walk. We took our time, as usual and it took us about 6 hours. We like to enjoy our walks, taking in the views, stopping to take photos and sip from our flasks; others may complete the walk far more quickly.



Looking down the ridge towards Llyn y Foel

There is parking for 3 or 4 cars on the lane from where the track leaves up towards Moel Siabod; if these are not available then parking could be found on the main road. The start of the walk gradually ascends and avoids a farm, also bypassing holiday cottages. The walking is easy, following a good track past the old quarry and onwards to an old tip. The remains of the quarry are not really noticed until you are on your way down. The tips, on the other hand have a lot of interesting remains, including a pool which I imagine is very inviting on a scorching summer's day.

Looking up towards the old tips

There is a slight climb, following a stream, onto rough, boggy ground where we found a way onto solid ground, heading towards Daear Ddu, around Llyn y Foel. Daear Ddu is an imposing ridge, standing proud against the skyline, protecting Llyn y Foel from the west.



Some of the harder moves on Daear Ddu

We had read that the rocks on the ridge can be slippery but we found them to have good friction, even as we climbed them on a wet, showery day. We started to climb near the very bottom of the ridge. The scramble was exactly how I like them; there were some quite difficult steps to make, the climbing was interesting and challenging and there could be some exposure as we climbed above the steep slopes to the Llyn below. However, I chose to make the difficult moves and to have the exposure. There were plenty of easier scrambling options and if you so chose, you could avoid the scrambling altogether and follow a path on the south-west side of the ridge. This would have the added bonus of also avoiding the exposure, if that's what you would prefer.



Good scrambling on 'sticky' rocks

Admittedly some of the moves were a little too hard for us but there was so much variation that you could make a scramble of any grade up the majority of the ridge. I enjoy having the option to take it easy if the scrambling gets a little too difficult; picking the hardest route up an easy scramble is preferable to struggling to find the easy route up a hard scramble, in my eyes. We enjoyed the scrambling and as we headed up the cloud also rose and we would get glimpses of the summit. The snow showers eased and the remainder of the route surrounding the north-west side of Llyn y Foel became clear.

Looking up towards the summit of Carnedd Moel Siabod

The gradient of the ridge changed and instead of a pleasurable scramble the route became more of an awkward walk, picking our way through boulders, finally finding the slippery rocks mentioned earlier. Eventually we reached the trig point at the top of Carnedd Moel Siabod, at 872 metres. Again, this was an interesting way uphill and before you know it, you are at the top. Here there was snow lying from the previous weeks, with cornices still threatening to fall into the cwm below. We stopped for lunch and then headed along the ridge to return to the old tip passed earlier in the walk. This part of the ridge, like the first can be scrambled, with a feeling of exposure if you look down to the Llyn. However, you can also descend towards Plas-y-Brenin; taking a gently sloping path down an easy angled hillside.

Picking our way through the boulders to the summit trig point in the background

If you choose to follow the ridge; you will find it looks similar to such Scottish greats as Liathach and Suilven. There are blocky steps if you follow the crest with small but interesting scrambling steps. Eventually you need to come off the rocky ridge line to pick up the path back down to the farm. This path is quite eroded and has some awkward steps to negotiate but it is in no way difficult. You can also choose to follow the ridge more directly and stick to grassy slopes. Eventually you reach a stile and are soon back on the track with a view of the mine that was hidden on the way up. It is now just an easy stroll, retracing your steps around the farm and back to the car. All in all a very pleasant route; easy to get to and with the options to make it as hard or as easy as you like.

Liathach-esque ridge on the descent