The Berwyn Horse Shoe
Summits
Mynnydd Tarw
2234ft (681m) 125-113324 SJ
Foel Wen South
2254ft (687m) 125-103330 SJ
Foel Wen
2267ft (691m) 125-099334 SJ
Tomle
2434ft (742m) 125-085335 SJ
Cadair Bronwen
2575ft (785m) 125-077346 SJ Optional
Cadair Berwyn
2713ft (827m) 125-072327 SJ
Unnamed Peak
2723ft (830m) 125-072324 SJ
Moel Sych
2713ft (827m) 125-066318 SJ Optional
Moel yr Ewig
2280ft (695m) 125-081318 SJ
Godor North
2215ft (675m) 125-089311 SJ
Godor
2228ft (679m) 125-095307 SJ
Parking
There is a small parking area by the bridge on the lane that
leads from Tyn-y-ffridd to Llanrehaeadr-ym-Mochnant about 100 metres down from
the telephone box.
Maps
Landranger 126
Explorer 255 Langollen & Berwyn
The Berwyn’s have often been described as the boring
Berwyns, hills of heather and bog. Yet here is Britain’s answer to Roswell, the
site of an alleged UFO crash landing back in the 1970s. An area of odd shapes
in the forests and strange lights in the sky.
It is also an area of outstanding beauty untouched by the
hoards of visitors that Snowdonia has to endure. On these hills you will find a
peace and tranquillity that is rarely found elsewhere in Wales.
Llanrehaeadr-ym-Mochnant also played host to one of the
oddest films with one of the longest names, “The Englishman who went up a hill
and came down a Mountain” Starring Hugh Grant in a delightful romantic comedy
that is set in Wales during the First World War. The film is based around two
surveyors working for the Ordnance Survey and centres on how they become
entwined in the strange quirks of Welsh names and Welsh customs of that period.
The rolling hills and the delightful countryside below the
Berwyn Mountains are most pleasing to the eye. 
This is primary sheep country
and sheep dominate man a hundred fold in numbers. Throughout the valleys that
lead up to the Berwyn’s there are numerous pretty villages and quaint hamlets
along with an ample supply of hill farms.
The Berwyn Mountains are a large group of hills dominated by
thigh sucking heather and peat bog. Although most of the hills do tend to blend
into one another the Berwyn Horseshoe is a delightful walk of around ten miles
encompassing the Best that the Berwyn’s have to offer.
This Route is so easy to follow. However the same rules
apply with any trip on the hills and mountains, be equipped and always carry a
map and compass. Please refer to the Mountain Safety page on this site.
The Berwyn Horseshoe Route.
From the small pull in by the bridge crossing the Afon
lwrch, walk back up to the hamlet of Tyn-y-ffridd. On reaching the telephone
box on the right hand side walk up the steep lane that runs directly through a
small farm. After walking through yet another farm at Maes and watching out for
medley of animals in the farm yard, continue up the lane until the lane turns
right. On the corner is a metal gate with a small information sign on the left
post. Go through the gate and diagonally across the field to the gate at the
top. Turn right and follow the edge of the forest until you get to the top. On
reaching the top you will find a large
cairn turned into a wind shelter just
over the other side of the fence. This is the summit of Mynydd Tarw. Enjoy the
extensive views all around this summit as it is an excellent vantage point to
view the entire walk ahead.
Now use the fence heading North West away from the forest
and towards the main Berwyn ridge has a handrail. Follow the small path along
the left hand side of the fence along the ridge to the next high point, passing
some impressive stone crags on your left. Take care at the base of these as the
ground here is often wet and boggy; just pick your way through until you start
going up the next summit on the route. Once gaining the high point you have
completed summit two, Foel Wen South. Continue along the fence down the dip and
up a short sharp gradient on the other side. On top of this you have completed summit
three, Foel Wen.
Continue your march north west along the fence down to the
bottom of the dip. Here the fence turns to the left up a long steady gradient,
turning sharp right about half way up. Follow the fence to the top and a small
pile of white quartz marks summit four. Tomle.
From here continue to follow the fence down to the next col,
picking your way through the large gullies carved in the peat. On reaching a
metal gate with a large upright marker stone by the side of it, you now have a
choice.
You can either climb onto the main Berwyn ridge by taking
the gradient directly in front of you and bypass Cadair Bronwen. Or you can
turn right and go through the gate, following the track until it reaches
another gate at the bottom of the col between Cadair Bronwen and the main Berwyn
ridge. Here turn sharp right and take the steep gradient to the top of Cadair
Bronwen and your fifth summit. The top is marked by a large cairn of rock.
Once rested retrace your steps south, back down to the gate
at the bottom of the col. Go straight past the gate and head directly up the
gradient in front to gain the main ridge of the Berwyns. At the top you will
rejoin the path that you would have been on if you by passed Cadair Bronwyn.
Follow the ridge for about half a mile south until you reach the trig point on
Cadair Berwyn. This is the sixth summit but not the highest, due to confusion
on earlier versions of Ordnance Survey maps that gave Moel Sych and Cadair
Berwyn joint ownership of the honour of being the highest point, the actual
highest point was left unnamed. This is your next port of call and it is the
next rocky outcrop along the ridge just above a huge wind shelter carved out of
an ancient cairn. To be honest most walkers visiting this ridge have always
been convinced that this unnamed summit was higher than its two brothers on
either side.
You are well over half way through the walk and the wind
shelter is an ideal location to have lunch.
On leaving, head south along the ridge away from the unnamed
top. At the bottom of the next col you have the option of either turning left
down a small track that leads of the main ridge, or continuing up the gradient
in front to claim the eighth summit of the day, Moel Syth, marked with a stone
cairn. Once reached retrace your steps back down to the bottom of the col and
take the small track that heads east. This is the only point on the walk were
you need to take care, the path has quite a steep drop on its right hand side
down to the little lake, Llyn Lluncaws.
The path drops down onto the ridge that joins the Berwyn’s
at a right angle from the East. Here follow the
fence on your left heading
directly east until you reach the next high point. This is a rather confusing
summit as the area is extensively an area of featureless moor land and can be rather
confusing in poor visibility. This is Moel yr Ewig and the ninth summit of the
day.
Continue east along the fence until you reach the right hand
bend. You now have a choice, you can cross the fence and follow the faint path
through the heather or in very poor visibility you can follow the fence right
until it is joined by a fence on the left. Then follow that fence east until it
joins the faint path. In effect by following the faint path you have
effectively made a short cut.
If you do take the faint track be careful when crossing a
couple of deep peat gullies, these can be difficult to cross in very wet
weather.
Either way the track along the right hand side of this fence
will lead you to your tenth summit, Godor Northwest.
On reaching this summit continue east along the fence down
the dip and up the next gradient, this gives you your final and eleventh
summit, Godor.
From here follow the fence down towards your left until you
come to a metal gate. Go through the gate and follow the fence on your left to
the next gate. You are now in sheep pasture and it’s a case of using the gates
at the bottom of each pasture field as targets to aim for. Your point to head
for is a clump of old fir trees towards the base of the hill and just above a
small lane. Please ensure you close any gates that you actually open. Once you
have past the old fir trees you will see an un-surfaced lane. Turn left on the
lane and follow it until it reaches the first road it comes too. Turn left on
the road and after walking a hundred yards or so down a steep gradient you will
have returned to where you parked your car.
Remember this is sheep country and all gates you open must
be closed afterwards to insure the safety of stock. Also dogs must be kept
under strict control and at certain times of the year (lambing in spring) They
may be banned altogether off the pastures that lead to the Berwyn tops.
This guide is free
but if you wish to make a donation of any kind please give it to any of the
Mountain Rescue teams around the UK.
THEY GIVE UP THEIR FREE TIME TO HELP YOU IN
YOUR HOUR OF NEED AND RELY ON THE GENEROSITY OF THE PUBLIC TO RUN THE SERVICE.
For excellent walking guides www.cicerone.co.uk Or look on
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