Moel Siabod

alan hesketh

09/07/2012 at 11:03

Me & my better half are going to see Sir Ranulph Feinnes this friday in Llandudno, staying overnight in a caravan nearby then heading into the hills saturday.

We`ve been neglecting Snowdonia as we prefer the lakes but I thought this would be the ideal opportunity to get stuck in.

I fancy Moel Siabod, weather permitting we`ll be camping up there too. Is there an "easier" route up? I`ve heard the words scramble & ridge being mentioned, just wondered if there`s a more gradual walk up?

Cheers

Miko

09/07/2012 at 11:38

I love this mountain as it affords great views across to the Snowdon Horseshoe. I ran up from Capel Curig - its a steady climb not too challenging. You can then decide whether to start the final ascent along the rocky ridge from NE to SW (which can be challenging if you don't have a head for heights) or keep to the gentle path to the top. Either way a great walk with plenty of secluded bits you could camp in - maybe descending down to the small Llyn at her base Good Luck!

Miko

alan hesketh

09/07/2012 at 11:45

I don`t have a head for heights at all... Cheers!

Friend of a Friend

09/07/2012 at 12:09

Take the ridge, I've done this route with a friend who is petrified as soon as he steps up a curb, and he got up there with only a little encouragement. The ridge itself is pretty wide and you can avoid going near any edges. It just looks a little daunting before you start.

Either way, tis a great mountain and you'll have a brilliant time.

geekinthesticks

09/07/2012 at 12:18

Probably the most satisfying circular route is to start at Capel, near the Bryn y Glo cafe. You can then ascend via the Ddear Ddu Ridge and then descend via the SE ridge back to Capel. The Ddear Ddu Ridge can involve scrambling, but if you keep well to the left you can avoid the rocky bits.

I like camping on the summit and you can see three trip reports with photos here:

http://ian-barton.com/mountaineering/blog/backpacking/2010/04/16/night-on-moel-siabod.html

http://ian-barton.com/blog/mountaineering/backpacking/2011/08/14/zephyros-on-moel-siabod.html

http://ian-barton.com/blog/mountaineering/backpacking/2012/04/22/moel-siabod-summit-camp.html

Laura Guy

09/07/2012 at 13:59

geekinthesticks wrote (see)

Probably the most satisfying circular route is to start at Capel, near the Bryn y Glo cafe. You can then ascend via the Ddear Ddu Ridge and then descend via the SE ridge back to Capel. The Ddear Ddu Ridge can involve scrambling, but if you keep well to the left you can avoid the rocky bits.

This is exactly how I went up in Feburary, fantastic route, the ridge on ascent really isn't that bad, especially as said if you keep left. The views from the top of Snowdon and the Glyders were amazing in the snow. The path around Llyn y Foel can be boggy I've been told, but it was all frozen when I was there so can't comment on tha, though I imagine if you kept higher away from the water edge you'd miss most of it.

alan hesketh

09/07/2012 at 14:31

I`ll get my map out and read comments when I get home

Thanks

geekinthesticks

09/07/2012 at 14:41

The bit around Llyn y Foel is almost always very boggy. You can avoid most of the worst bits, but there is a fair chance of having to plod through some splodge.

That bastard Skip

09/07/2012 at 16:14

Ask Metric Kate - she walked up there from our Snowdonia meet in the Bryn Brethynau Climbing Barn near Capel Curig back in February this year. In meet thread she posted:

Metric Kate wrote (see)

... Moel Siabod via the fun Daer Ddu ridge by myself in wonderful weather...

Metric Kate

09/07/2012 at 16:55

Agree with the boggy comments about Llyn y Foel! You can contour round and avoid the worst bits though.

I kept to the right going up the ridge when I did it in Feb where it's more of a scramble than a walk with a few rocky bits, so couldn't really advise on how easy the left side of it is, I gather more of a walk; there didn't seem to be any exposure on the left side - you had to go some way right to get that. On the upper half the left hand side looked very straightforward, and I suspect you could find a virtually rock-free route on the grassy slope.

Mike Peacock

09/07/2012 at 19:34

I'll add another vote for the Daear Ddu Ridge. However, for descent I always find the path to Capel a bit boring. Provided the weather is good a descent down the west ridge is worth doing instead. When you reach Clogwyn Bwlch y Maen head NW to the Pyg Inn. It's a bit boggy though. You can then hitch/get a bus back to Capel - or if you have energy to spare for an extra 4 miles then there is a path back to Capel on the north side of the road. It isn't marked on the map but there are occasional waymark posts.

geekinthesticks

10/07/2012 at 08:15

Just to complete the list of possible descents, you can also take the path that leads down to Plas y Brenin. You can then follow a path through the woods on the Moel Siabod side of the river, that eventually brings you out opposite Cobdens Hotel in Capel.

alan hesketh

10/07/2012 at 08:56

All sounds good! Just hope the weather sorts itself out!!

Weevil

10/07/2012 at 22:24

i have heard it is the biggest mountain in Wales. Is this correct?

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