UKH

In order to complete the Welsh 3 Peaks challenge you need to walk up Snowdon, Pen y Fan and Cadair Idris. Why isn't Aran Fawddwy classed as the highest in Mid Wales?

Because like Cadair, AF is also in North Wales. Really you should be going up Pumlumon Fawr if you want to the "highest in mid Wales". 

I guess like the Yorkshire 3 peaks it's not about the highest it's about an arbitrary selection of aesthetic hills.

Because it's an arbitrary list? Also, if you want a hillwalking challenge, why not do something that doesn't involve loads of driving? A traverse of cader and the arans from tywyn to llanuwchllyn would be pretty exciting.

The Welsh 3000's come to mind;

https://www.welsh3000s.co.uk/

"The Welsh Three Peaks Challenge is typically made up of three of the highest and most iconic mountains in Wales: Snowdon, Wales’ tallest peak and the highest point in Britain outside the Scottish highlands; Cader Idris, a spectacular peak at the southerly edge of Snowdonia National Park ; and Pen y Fan, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales."

Re-read the description. thanks all for the response. I guess AF isn't as exciting as CI

doing that next summer. looking forward to it.

Hey! Leave the honeypots alone, they are doing a super job. Aran Fawddwy has been an oasis of tranquility this summer compared to Cadair Idris - let's keep it that way.

I agree Ian, I consider Cadair and Aran Fawddwy/Benllyn to be North Wales mountains with Mid Wales starting south of Afon Dyfi but as Ric stated, it's iconic status rather than geographical accuracy that counts. 

The three peaks challenge also typically consists of trudging up the llanberis path and then the pony path. There's much better ways to get to the top of these two lovely mountains.

Cycle in-between. Still doable in a day.

I'm not a cyclist, but Google maps says that's 15 hours of pedalling, and for a fit walker time spent on the hills would probably be 6-7 hours. So yes, doable in under 24 hours, but it would take a level of athleticism I haven't noticed in the groups I've seen setting out from Ty Nant. It also seems like more of a cycling challenge than a hillwalking one.

Definately. The first rule of Aran Fawddwy club...

Google tends to overestimate biking times and send you on the slower routes, but it still ends up being more riding than walking, I reckon about 2/3 of the time cycling and 1/3 walking. Either way better a cycling challenge than a driving challenge surely.

Do you need to do it in 24 hours? Would be very enjoyable spread over say three days. Walk up a hill, cycle to the vicinity of the next one, stay over, repeat. 
 

Edit to add: pretty much universally great cycling and great walking. Even at a elusively pace I’d say a keen Walker would get up and down most of those three hills in 3-4 hours

Ssshhhhh - otherwise the masses will find out about the Rhinogydd and Arenig too. 

Or the Dyfi hills, Or....

I found a suggestion in an old John Hillaby book of walking down from Prestatyn, then pulling W to the coast at Barmouth. Only takes 5 seconds with a map to see how well the various ridges & hill groups align! Made for a lovely holiday.