Members present: Bob Kelly, Dave Bone, Jim and Sandy Gregson.

Guest: Selina Li (First meet as prospective new member).

It rained the day before and overnight, but the forecast was for it clearing out to give a largely dry day so I set out from Manchester in hope picking up Selina from the convoluted recesses of Eccles. The Welsh rivers looked very full, but we arrived at the car park where Bob was ready - the Gregsons soon arrived, and all got ready.

Waited in vain past the appointed time and then set off up the road. Daylight could just be seen under the first footbridge and then proceeded steeply up-hill in 5 minutes of warm sunshine - the longest spell of the day. Stiles had to be negotiated with extreme care - they were teflon coated on this stretch. A bit of a squelchy wander through the woods, over, around and straight through the forestry logging and finally out onto the open pasture at the crest of the ridge, where the apparent warmth was replaced by a chilling breeze and dark scudding clouds. Sunshine was about but never seemed to be on us - the central Berwyn being particularly favoured and Snowdonia was in a far worse state.

Some rickety gates and a fence or two had to be escaladed - poor Selina finding one particularly difficult and an awkward fall. A bit of a dance over the low wet ground, then up the cleared way in the heather to emerge on the bald pate of Foel Goch. The team strode along the ridge in single file following the "path", heather and tussocks on all sides, directing Bob to each high point for his collection of 609m (2000ft) hills. A coffee break at the Trig point of Foel y Geifr was delayed in favour of a bit more shelter found at the pass at the junction with the road. This was cut short by a sharp shower so we set off at a steady pace generally east along the track winding its way round the high ground. After proceeding over one Nuttall with Bob, he left us at the turnoff for the next - with further tops to collect and the out and backs in the heather adding a further ~2.5mi, we weren't to see him for the rest of the walk.

After lunch trackside we turned off for the last easy top of Y Groes Fagl with its solitary marker post, and the trackless wastes linking us to the final top of Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd. This seemed to take less time than feared despite only finding the sheep track quite late, though the ladies with shorter legs had tougher going. I had a bit of complaint (politely put of course) about that. Then the homeward stretch via the forest side, skirting the fields round the farm and down the road with its splendid array with very tall firs. With the rest of the day only receiving occasional short light showers, but only fleeting sunlight, arrival at the cars at ~4:15 was greeted by a more significant shower. At this point we were caught up by Bob - he'd rejoined the track but missing out our final top had descended direct through the forest fearing benightment. Quite reasonable conditions for a wild walk - I remember only one other walker. Thanks to all those who came - hope you recovered soon.

This will be the last WWW in the series. Perhaps not 'wild' but it covers some ill-frequently ground with some good views in the right conditions, and it may be of interest to peak baggers too. The Hirnant area of Wales near Bala has been a tricky one to explore - there are plenty of paths on the map, but not necessarily on the ground. There are large Alien Forests and some tough ground, but I've found a decent circuit that has limited encounters with such evils, and you're not likely to meet other walkers. There's potential for some testing navigation!

You will need Landranger map No. 125 (Bala) - Explorer map OL23 may help with the tricky bits. Start point is the Aberhirnant Forestry Car park and picnic site at GR957327. If coming from Bala on the B4391, as you head up the 1st hill, take the right turn to "Rhos-y-gwaliau, Lake Vyrnwy". Through R-y-G over bridge, after 2¼ mi look for picnic tables on the right. This takes about 1hr 50 from S. Manchester.

Walk start time 9-45am. Don't forget the clocks have just gone back, and a torch will be advised as well as the usual Welsh Hill gear. A quick start up the road and turn off right over the 1st rotting footbridge for a steep ascent of the hillside. This eases at the forest and the navigation starts. Tracks, overgrown paths and a bit of brash should see everyone emerge at the hill pasture at 938311, though it may look a bit different since tree felling was in operation at the last visit. A grassy rise leads to a boggy col and an easier than it looks (thanks to sheep mainly) pull up to the first 600m peak of Foel Goch. A good ridge walk (in single file on a squelchy trod) deposits one on the grassy summit of Foel y Geifr - good view of the Arenigs over the right shoulder and the Arans ahead - the forests have retreated. Then sweep down to the road at the pass, 3 hills down.

We now take the track that heads East around the hill tops passing over one or two with minor diversions. Good time should be made here. The peak collectors will find that several other tops are out there and could be collected with out and backs. However, they'll have to run (that should get the cameras out), as it's unlikely the non-peak collectors will wait long! When the track turns sharp left for the forest, if on time and going OK, head for a pole on top of Y Groes Fagl (659m). Flinch at the forthcoming prospect. So far you will have had only minor encounters with heather - the next 1.5miles has quite a bit. Take courage, reinforce the soul and in true Ice Breaker mode, steam north into the trackless waste - the downhill bit is done at a charge and isn't so bad. The middle bit has traces of a sheep track, if it can be found again. The last bit is a bit sapping, but after an hour the trig point of the last hill, Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd (English translation is a bit boring) is the reward. It has an excellent view.

Now turn W and rapidly descend (short heather is easy in descent) to the overgrown footpath crossing the range. For once it is actually a path that here can be followed on the ground, with the odd post in the middle of nowhere, so good time can be made following the northern edge of the forest. The path improves markedly crossing the flanks of Rhiwaedog-is-afon and we turn left onto the track at Bwlch y Fenni. The farm is avoided by a permissive path round the field edges to the right, picking up the side road further on. A speedy ½mi drop returns us to the car.

Total Distance ~12.5miles, ascent 850m. Those short on puff will spot a variety of escape options down forest tracks for shorter walks, and late starters could join us at the pass. Hope you join in! Please organise yourselves so as to minimise the number of cars - let me know if you are coming so I can arrange lifts if necessary (I will have 3 spaces from Withington).