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Cwm Cywarch (AN5)

The key to the ascent is the grassy nose that slopes down from Erw y Ddafad-ddu. This provides a quick way home for tired legs in the evening, raises quite a sweat in summer (there is nearly 900ft of it) and needs care in winter. Snow gives it a wicked innocence – witness the crags that buttress it N and E. Once up, you are virtually midway between Benllyn and Fawddwy.

Llaethnant route (AN4)

Instead of plodding up Cwm Llwydd you could leave the road to climb via the shoulder of Foel Hafod-fynydd, with splendid views all the way (ssss1).

The Llaethnant Valley walk, starting from the gate at the bend in the road at 905212, used to be a real charmer. However, on returning to it recently after a break of some years I was disappointed to find that the green path of old had given way to an ugly, grey, bulldozed road. It is still a beautiful walk, though sadly something irreplaceable has been lost. It begins in great style, hugging the slopes beneath the poetically named crags of Nyth-yr-eryr (nest of the eagle), and soon leaving the vivacious stream tumbling from chasm to chasm in its tiny gorge far below. Across the valley the hillside is fringed with crags and dappled with trees and gives a dazzling blaze of greys, greens and coppery reds when the bracken is at its height.