Craig y Merched, Rhinogydd: Access Information

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 Dave Williams 14 Sep 2019

Craig y Merched

REVISED ACCESS INFORMATION

In recognition of the fact that access issues had markedly reduced footfall to one of the Rhinogydd's most well-positioned outcrops, BMC Cymru, (in partnership with Coed Cadw/Woodland Trust (landowners) and the Snowdonia NP), has carried out much improvement work on the path to this once extremely popular crag over the past 18 months. Most recently, a waymarked path has been cut back/cleared by a specialist contractor all the way from the forestry to the foot of Craig y Merched's Rhino's Buttress. This has now literally halved the time taken to walk up this final section of path and, overall, makes for a much much easier walk-in.

Note that a stile, over the first (lower) stone wall, has yet to be installed. This will be done ASAP. In the meantime, ignore the path which has been cut back right up to the point where the stile will cross the wall and deviate down and left as before to the gap in the wall. Do not climb over the wall other than at the currently waymarked gap.

Full access details can be found by following the above link to the crag, but in summary:

Approach as for all Cwm Mynach crags via the steep minor road heading north from the junction at Borthwnog on the A496 (OS Ref SH 689 191). Park just short of the gated, narrow stone bridge (OS Ref SH 683 209), where a Coed Cadw forestry road heads off rightwards. Ensure to park courteously and considerately and do not block any gates as access may be required at all times. On foot, follow the gently rising forestry road for about 2 kilometers to reach a staggered cross-road at OS Ref SH 687 229. Now take a smaller and less well-used forest track which strikes off to the right. Follow this track for about 100 metres until it turns right to rise gently uphill and take the sign-posted path leftwards through trees. Follow the waymarked path steeply up the heathery hillside, through an area of dense scrubby growth, towards a dry stone wall and stile*. [ * Yet to be installed.]

Beyond the wall, marker posts continue to indicate the line of the path as it skirts the left side of a more open area until it finally peters out on reaching the block scree at the foot of Rhino’s Buttress. Allow about 50-60 minutes from the parking area.

Finally please note that the parking and the approach description in the Meirionnydd CC guide is now obsolete as the local farmer has withdrawn permission to cross his land past Blaen Cwm Mynach. This was never a public ROW and has always been a permissive path. Climbers' vehicles must now be parked and access made as detailed above, heeding the instructions on the BMC Cymru/Coed Cadw sign.

Finally, a free, fully updated interim guide for Craig y Merched will soon be made available on the Steep Stone website. It is hoped that this, together with the access improvements, will encourage more visitors to seek out some of the Rhinogydd classics on this excellent little crag. 

Dave Williams (BMC Cymru Mid Wales Local Access Rep)

Elfyn Jones (BMC Cymru Access & Conservation Officer (Wales))

Post edited at 13:10
OP Dave Williams 14 Sep 2019
 Myfyr Tomos 14 Sep 2019
In reply to Dave Williams:

Hope to get the stile to the "general vicinity" tomorrow Dave.

OP Dave Williams 14 Sep 2019
In reply to Myfyr Tomos:

Excellent.

Diolch o galon.

OP Dave Williams 17 Sep 2019
In reply to Dave Williams:

Bump


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