Moel Siabod-The Hard Way

[G0MHF]

I recently had my annual ascent & activation of Moel Siabod, GW/NW-010, a popular 8-pointer in North Wales. Instead of the usual Tourist path from the Plas y Brenin outdoor centre, which is an unrelenting trudge, I took the southern path.
Leaving the Bryn Glo car park & walking alongside the Afon Llugwy:-

I followed the road then track until the mountain came into view:-

Walking past a small lake there is a rather eccentric sign:-

Onwards past old quarry workings & buildings, past a small pool:-

By now I had been overtaken by about 20 Scouts & their leader & my lunch beckoned.
The path took me nearer to the foot of the south east ridge called Daear Ddu, seen here in silhouette:-

I’ve been up this ridge a few times in my pre-SOTA days & it is an easy Grade 1 scramble. However I was due to fly to Crete on holiday in a few days time, so I didn’t want to take any chances & continued around the back of the ridge & upwards-not a good decision!
The almost non-existant path became steeper & rougher & crossed several boulder fields:-

At last it ended & I came up onto the western ridge/slope to see a glorious sight, the wonderful Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa Horseshoe which made all the effort worthwhile:-

I then plodded a short distance to the summit area. The small shelter was full of Scouts who had gone up the ridge, so I set up shop nearby on 2m fm via my FT65 firing into a flowerpot on my 4m pole. 13 contacts followed including a S2S over to the North Pennine area:-

By now it was getting chilly even with a down jacket, so I packed up. I didn’t fancy any more rocky rambles so set off down the Tourist Path & went via forest paths to get back to the ‘little car’ at the Bryn Glo car park:-

So a fairly long day which I could have made shorter if I’d taken a longer bypass around the boulder fields which I later remembered I’d done maybe 10 years ago.
Anyway the result was 8 Activator points, 14 S2S & 6 Chaser points, so not a bad haul.
Here’s the route I took:-

73 John G0MHF
Edited-I found it rather hard going today, whether it’s due to age, medications or general unfitness, I don’t know. I plan to go up Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa later this month via my favourite route, the South Ridge, so I’ll see how that goes. Then Bonus Season next month!

[G8ADD]

There is a less well-known route that would have saved you a lot of time. In your second photo, in line with the clump of reeds on the right hand side of the track, you can just make out parts of a track that goes straight up by a ridge of outcrops. When you pass the fence just before the quarry walk up the grass to the right for ~50-100m and the path will show up. When you reach the skyline you can either follow the path across the grassy fields (stiles over the wire fences) or do a mild scramble along the summit ridge.

I remember Daear Ddu, its good fun! The path up the cwm to the right of it is downright miserable! Incidentally, one of the row of holiday cottages just after the steep bit used to be the hut of the Mercian Climbing club, before the estate decided to renovate them, as a member I became very familiar with Moel Siabod!

[MW0WML]

Nice report and lovely weather/pictures. One of my favourite hills too. Thanks for sharing.

[G0EVV]

Many thanks for an excellent report John. Great inspiring photos. Well done with a good catch of Chasers as well. There are great views over Snowdonia on a clear day from Moel Siabod.

[G0MHF]

Thanks for your thoughts, Brian. It must be 50 years or so since I went up your suggested way with Mrs MHF, in the snow, I think.
I’ve gone down over the pinnacles that way, but I didn’t fancy more rock-hopping after those boulder fields earlier.
Yes, what a place to have a climbing hut! I never climbed there, though I had a much older cousin who climbed there in the 1950s.

[G8ADD]

There are a few rock climbs there, but they are a bit scrappy and not to be recommended. I miss the hut, there was a superb view across to NW-13 and 28, and a couple of decent pubs within stumbling distance! A most enjoyable mountain.

[M7SDO]

Great report John. Moel Siabod is great hill and it looks like you had excellent weather. Well done!