Llwytmor, Foel-fras & Drum: A hike in the Northern Carneddau
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Join Outdoor Lads for a spring hike in the north of Eryri National Park, ascending the mountains of the Northern Carneddau.
Points of interest on the route:
Llyn Anafon: During our ascent, we'll follow the Anafon River to Llyn Anafon. The river itself is a habitat to many freshwater invertebrates and fish. The llyn is currently the site of a rewilding project to restore it to a more natural state, encouraging the growth of native water plants and the reestablishment of a thriving trout population.
Llwytmor: Standing at 849m, our first hill translates to English as the 'Ash Sea', due to its flat grey boulder strewn summit. From the top, we'll have panoramic views over Anglesey, The Irish Sea, and even The Lake District and Isle of Man should the weather be clear.
Foel-fras: At 944m, our highest point during the walk translates to 'Broad Hill'. We'll again be greeted by stunning sea views to the North, as well as views of the Carneddau to the South. The mountain is also of ornithological interest, being one of the best places in Wales to see Dotterels on their spring migration, which also peaks the interest of upland raptors such as Peregrine Falcons.
Drum: At 771m, our final summit translates as 'Ridge', despite it being a very rounded hill. From here we'll get more sea views and mountain panoramas as we make our descent.
The Carneddau Ponies: During the walk, we may come across the wild ponies that inhabit the mountains. The ponies have lived here for hundreds of years, surviving by feeding on the native upland plants. If we do see them, make sure not to approach too closely, as they are wild and shouldn't be frightened.
Aber Falls Distillery: At the end of the walk, we can visit the local distillery, which has a cafe, selling cakes, hot drinks, and of course, whiskey.
Other Infomation:
Dog Suitability
Dogs are welcome, though will need to be controlled if we pass any livestock or wild ponies. There are also several stiles they may need lifting over.
New Members
Please feel free to sign up as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to message me, or go to the "My First Event" section under "About Us".
While you're in the area, consider making a weekend of it and joining our friends on Saturday on Cnicht and the Moelwynion.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
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Image / photo credits: All leader's own images - with permission for OutdoorLads to use and reuse.
What to bring
Water: bring plenty of water (~2 Litres)
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Footware: ideally designed for hiking, sturdy trail runners are OK too.
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Head Torch: Please bring a head torch, we'll likely be descending partly in the dark.
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproofs: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Food & drink
Please bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water. As the weather may be cold, you may want to bring a flask with a hot drink or soup too. After the hike, there is a local pub where we can go for post walk refreshments.