Styles' way

In the absence of a natural or established name for this walk I have named it after the author (Showell Styles) of the book chapter of John Hillaby's 'walking in Britain' in which I found it. However the route is named it represents a fine route through some of the quieter hills on the edge of the Snowdonia national park.

The basis of the walk is to start in Prestatyn and then follow the ridges of hills as they naturally lead initially over the Clwydian range to Moel Famau before leading on to the summit ridges of the Berwyn's, the Arrans and finally Cadair Idris.

The following route summaries suggest a possible roughly week long route which takes the most direct route to most of the ridges. Having walked the last five days of this route it is fully recommendable with some wonderful scenery and better paths than I expected.

A report for a tent driven walk covering the same terrain as the final few days covered here (and great photographs) can be found at: http://v-g.me.uk/Trips/T0859/T0859.htm.

Roughly the days go:

Day1: Start in Prestatyn and follow Offa's dyke footpath over the Clywdian range until the summit of Moel Famau is reached. Divert either W or E to find accomodation.

Day2: Continue along Offa's Dyke path until Pen - y- styrt where you divert west over Llantysillo mountain and down into Llantysillo.

Day 3: Here the first of the three main mountain ridges on the walk is encountered - the main ridge of the Berwyns. The first stage of this walk is to get to the start of the main ridge. This should probably not be done directly but rather via the footpath running to the East of Moel Fferna before swinging W on the track just after Swch - cae - rhiw.

This leads to the main ridge and once this has been attained it can be followed over Cadair Berwyn and Moel Sych before dropping into Pistyll Rheadar's valley to have a look at the waterfall, and on to Llangynog.

Day 4: Llangynog - Bala. 25 km, 1500 meters ascent/descent

Leave Llangynog and head up the very steep sided Cwm Pennant, past the terrific waterfall. At the top of the valley find a way across heather to the main ridge of Cyraniau Nod where the main Arran ridge dramatically comes into view. (The author found the heather quite easy to cope with perhaps due to being tall. Others have not.).

Cross over to Foel Cedig where a shooting track (road!) can be picked up leading eventually to a minor road on the W slopes of Foel Y Geifr. From here if desired Foel Y Geifr and Foeld Goch can be ascended for better views of the Arrans or the road followed directly. Either way you eventually pick a route N then W into Bala.

Day 5: Bala - Dinas Mawddwy ~29km, 1650 metres ascent/descent.

This day follows the main ridge of the Arrans. Arran Fawddwy at 905 metres is the highest hill outside of the core of Snowdonia and were it slightly higher the Welsh 3k's would be impossible.

Historically there have been bad access problems in this area but it is now all access land so should be all right. The E side of the ridge is formed into a truly fierce sucession of crags.

The route is easy to describe - go down Lynn Tegid to the start of the ridge path at Garth - Uchaf and follow this over the tops. The measured route involves continuing the traverse over Glasgym before finding descending Foel Benddin. Several alternative routes exist - when I did this it was in bad hill fog and descended into Cwm Cywarch and along.

Day 6: Dinas Mawddwy - Dolgellau ~27km, 1400 metres ascent/descent

This route traverses the dovey hills. While these hills are not especially high they still possess numerous impressive looking crags as well as providing some great views of Cadair Idris.

On a map there is a clear route from Measglasse, round Craig Portas and thence on to Waun - oer. From there continue SW over Myndd Ceiswyn until a path is met descending westish. Follow this, with in good weather perhaps a diversion W onto Mynydd Fron - fraith for the views of Cadair. Continue to Dolgellau.

On the ground there is a clear path more or less all the way, with the views of Cadair nearer the end of the day being something of a highlight. Earlier some nice views of the Arrans appear. Maesglasse has an impressive waterfall.

Day 7: Dolgellau - Barmouth, ~25km, 1400m ascent/descent

This day features a very straightforward E - W traverse of Cadair Idris, ascending Gau Craig from the northern side (please check guidebooks for descriptions of how to do this) before following the main summit ridge all the way to the track W of Braich Ddu from where a route to the bridge over Barmouth Bay can be found into Barmouth itself.

In fact, put off by later morning mist, I contoured round Cadair's N flank at ~600 metres before climbing the pony path and heading W. This is also a wonderful walk.

The walk over the Barmouth Estuary provided a final highlight and the picture of Cadair below.