A difficult route in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: Car park, Blaenau Ffestiniog (SH 701 458)
Terrain: Quarry tracks, steep paths, wild walking sections (pathless), old tramways, disused inclines, boggy ground, very steep descent. IMPORTANT: This is a complex walk with significant wild walking sections requiring good navigation skills. The slate quarry landscape can be disorienting.
This is an outstanding but challenging circular walk through the dramatic slate quarry landscape around Blaenau Ffestiniog, taking in three Hewitts. The route requires good navigation skills with significant wild walking sections across pathless terrain with long grass. The slate industry heritage is evident throughout - old quarry works, tramways, inclines, and the dramatic destruction visible at Manod Mawr North Top provide a stark reminder of the human impact on these mountains. Moel Penamnen offers wonderful views across Blaenau, while Manod Mawr rewards with amazing 360-degree panoramas. The boggy, indistinct paths through disused quarries add to the adventurous character. The very steep wild walk descent from Manod Mawr provides excitement, and the winding descent via the old incline offers a fascinating glimpse into the area's industrial past. A complex but immensely rewarding walk combining mountain summits with industrial archaeology in one of Wales' most distinctive landscapes.