| GW/SW-004 Waun Rydd. Literal translation is "Isolated moor". 769m – 6 points. Only been activated twice before – last time in Aug `03, so here's my route. Parked at the official car park at SO105210 just north of Tal-y-bont Reservoir. SW-013 Tor-y-Foel at 556m was generating hill fog which did not bode well, Waun Rydd was not visible from this location, but set off, and followed signs "To the Hill". The first 600m of route are tarmac road, so those wishing to conserve their energy can park at SO103209 – room for 2 cars at a push. Signs change to "To the Open Hill" and "Carn Pica". It is a well-walked mud path with many boot prints. On entering the open at SO098206 the obvious path is off to the left. I've been suckered like this before so stayed close to the right hand fence and wall like on OL12 map. As I left the fence and wall behind I joined a well-walked path again – probably the one that went off left earlier but I can't guarantee it. At about 500m approaching Twyn Du I took a level(ish) path to the south of Twyn Du quickly covering a mile of open ground, then it's climbing again. The cloud started at about 600m, and passing Carn Pica at 750m visibility was down to less than 50m. Counted off paces for the right sort of distance, and set up shop at what I thought was SO065201. Stayed there for over 2 hrs, and as the cloud lifted, discovered I was closer to the official SOTA summit than I thought. I had actually set up at SO063204. It's all pretty much flat on the top. Not a lot to aid navigation, but the path is well worn with many deep ruts. The path continues on to Fan-y-Big (no sniggering please), Cribyn and Pen-y-Fan. I returned the way I came. Round trip on my pedometer 14,443 steps, 6.61 miles – I guess you have to take that distance with a pinch of salt because it mostly a climb from 150m up to 760m. Took just over 2 Hrs to walk there, and about 75 mins to get back down. 73's Mike de G(W)0WZY |
| Waun Rydd GW/SW-004 769m ASL SO 062206 |