Carnedd Moel Siobad - Photo Gallery
It was another misty morning in Dolwyddelan but the sun came out again and it was soon clear and warm. I went to get some Factor 15 sun screen, I couldn't expose myself to another six hours of unfettered ultra violet rays. I found the car park near Pont Cyfyng on the outskirts of Capel Curig and I set off by myself thinking that my companions would catch me up soon enough. The map showed some stepping stones across the river so I walked back towards Betws-y-Coed for a little way until I found the gap in the wall and the footpath signpost.
The stepping stones were wet and mossy if they weren't submerged and it is too wide a river to jump so I had to walk back towards Capel Curig, past the car park to cross the river at the bridge. I saw my companions' cars, they had obviously set off and I probably had no chance of catching them if yesterday was anything to go by. I followed the tarmac road back in the direction of the stepping stones, eventually passing a group of buildings one of which looked very much like an old chapel.
Shortly afterwards I got to a signpost for the path leading back to the stepping stones so I realised that the path I wanted must be by the side of the chapel shaped building. Once past the buildings the road became a rough track bending through a deciduous wood and once through the trees it was a good, even track if a little wet and muddy in places. After a kilometer or so I came to a gate in the type of fence that feels like it is trying in vain to stop the forest from escaping.
I was hoping the forest tracks marked on the map were more accurate than the Lake District maps, being lost in a strange forest was not what I had in mind even if the trees were only half grown. In fact the map was very accurate, take the second track on the right and walk for half a kilometre until you come to a T-junction of tracks. Turn right again onto a very good track that goes slightly uphill and then completely disappears at a cleared area. There are full grown trees ahead and a stream blocking the way but a little bit of a closer look shows a faint path leading to some viable stepping stones.
The path leads into the forest and the way is obvious enough with very little fallen tree debris to have to clamber over. The path gradually gains height and soon I came to a waterfall just before reaching the boundary fence. This must be the path because there is a stile to save me having to climb over the fence. Moel Siabod is visible in the distance, a big dark shadow on one side suggests that it may not be the dull hill I was expecting.
Beyond the fence is a wide flat area of rough grass with lots of wet places, this is what I was expecting. Ahead I can see a ridge and in the absence of any kind of path I am going to have to find my own way up the hill. Once past the wet ground I started to climb more steeply over rough grass and heather, I can see my friends higher up the hill heading towards their scramble, I am not going to follow them. After continuing to climb through the strength sapping grass and heather I saw a number of walkers in the distance who had obviously found a better way up than I had.
I still had to make a beeline for the path they were on and eventually found more of a rake than a path, neat and surprisingly un-eroded sloping upwards at an acceptable gradient. The acceptable gradient didn't last long as the grass became steeper and the ground more broken until it was all boulders and rock outcrops, at least the steepness was easier with a firm footing. The final climb to the summit was a much more pleasant clamber over slabby boulders until I reached an impressively rocky summit.
As I got to the summit it was much busier than I expected having been by myself for much of the ascent and there enjoying the warm sun were my friends, better late than never. There were extensive views from the summit, I recognised Tryfan and other people were busy pointing out and naming many other hills for their own companions. From the summit the hill extends in a broad flat ridge in a north easterly direction, a very interesting walk having to clamber over slabs and boulders.
As well as the views of the hills there are a couple of good views down steep gullies of Llyn y Foel, the lake in Moel Siabod's cwm. At the end of the ridge the ad hoc descent, courtesy of Nick leading the way, was another interesting route between grass and boulders, occasionally very wet grass and perilously slippery boulders. The steepness ended as we got back down to the dull hill again, soon we found another good track leading all the way back to Pont Cyfyng.
It was still warm and sunny as we got back to the cars, a fine end to an excellent weekend.
Andy Wallace 20th March 2005