hi all, just a quick one as off to school fete...ok, i did post about wild camp earlier but had a thought, cadir idris... ive done snowdon every way possible, hebog, siabod, arrans and nevis etc etc so anything goes but, ... is cadir a bit boring of are there routes to challenge?? hoping to camp on or near it too so any tips or routes guys ?? cheers in advance, ok, fete now , never mind, i guess the ankle biters will be in a pair of salomons and doing mountains with me soon enough. mrs will never see us then
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 Definitely worth doing! If you just want a day trip then imo the approach from the south into Cwm Cau is best and you can make a great circular route by following the ridge east as far as Mynydd Moel before descending south again. But if you've time to make an overnighter of it and fancy a summit camp... TR: Snowdonia - Cadair Idris the long way 
Off out to Snowdonia now.
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There are several good camp sites around Dolgellau. There is also a camp site at Ty-nant, next to the start of the Foxes path. You can start here and follow the route up the valley below Cader to Llyn y Gadair. This would make a good camping spot, but it's popular, so you would probably want to arrive late.
If you want a bit of a challenge there is the Cyfrwy Arete above the lake. The full version is VDiff, but you can avoid the hard part by starting up the gully to the left, which brings you out on top of the Table. The rest is a grade 2 or 3 scramble.
If you want something easier there is an easy scramble to the left of the horribly eroded route above the lake. Having gone up the eroded path last year, I wouldn't recommend that way to anyone. Once on top you can take in as much of the ridge as you want and descend the Foxes Path back to the car park.
You can see some photos from our walk at http://ian-barton.com/mountaineering/cyfrwy-arete-cadair-idris.html (sorry can't do proper link as OM's Javascript seems broken on both Firefox and Chrome).
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 Yes the route marked on the OS maps by Llyn y Gadair really is nasty. Another very rational alternative there is to divert over onto the pony path. Its easy to do and will be faster. As for whether the hills worth it, its got what 2 miles of continous, large cliffs? And a couple of the best cym's going.
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 It certainly is worth doing. Another good scramble is Tapia Llwydion in Cwm Cau. It went in Scrambles and Easy Climbs in Snowdonia as a climb, but there's actually a grade 2 way: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikepeacock/4759562123/ Do that and descend the Minffordd Path. Great day.
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 Cadair Idris is a mountain of monumental historical, social and mythological significance. It is from this mountain that the giant Idris threw the rocks which made the northern ranges. It is through comparison with this mountain that Dylan Thomas depicted Llareggub Hill. It is a complex, muscular geological structure. The question is not whether Cadair Idris is worth climbing but whether we are worthy of climbing it. Hope you enjoyed the fete.
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absolutely fantastic tips routes and advise with plenty of pics thank you, even with the slightly over philosophical end  , i will let you know what i decide, if you are intrested. thanks again guys
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 Go, its one of the best mountains in Wales, honest!
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just been looking at pics and routes from above and thought i better say i will be taking my brother who isnt happy with anything over a grade 1 scramble so maybe the approach from the south into Cwm Cau will be my best route for this one, thanks
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 I've just seen your other thread asking about a suitable mountain for a wild camp in North Wales and, although I don't know the area well, I immediately thought of Cadair Idris. I walked it earlier this year and it is indeed a beautiful mountain. Be warned, however: if you spend a night on the summit, you will be either a poet or mad by morning...
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 wibble
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 Cadair Idris is a cracking Hill. I think I will do a traverse up the Eastern Ridge and over to Tall-y-llyn
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wibble So you're a poet then?
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 Definitely worth the stroll. In a list of Welsh hills worth doing this would be in the top ten, and in my book some way above Snowdon. Or - In a list of Welsh hills worth doing again ... What made you do Snowdon so often?
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| Edited: 11/07/11 11:32 |
Its poor Craig-y-llyn I feel 'sorry' for. I mean its a real hill with a proper Cym, lake and all but must be so, so quiet. Suppose that the full traverse is thing you'd(certainly me) really like to do, but then you miss the Cwms etc. Oh well! The Cicerone hillwalking in wales books points out Cym Amarch (7110) as a very quiet route up.
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