UKC

Has anyone any experience of scrambling in the Aran range, the igneous rocks ought to be suitable?Could be on Aran Fawddwy, Benllyn or in Cwm Cywarch.

In reply to pasbury:

I know there's a little climbing at Cwm Cywarch as I've seen people going off climbing and a climbing hut at the end of the valley, so something is there, but I'm not a climber so have no idea what.

In reply to pasbury:

IMHO, you're looking in the wrong place. While there's loads of proper climbing, there's virtually no scrambling in the accepted sense of the word on the Aran mountains. Basically, there's an absence of easy angled rock and no rocky ridges or friendly angled buttresses. There are, however, a number of quite small discontinuous outcrops on the hillside above and behind Bryn Hafod in Cwm Cywarch. From experience, you can definitely scramble up these, with sections of steep walking in between, but that's about it AFAIK.

In contrast to northern Snowdonia, there's very little 'proper' scrambling between the Afon Dwyryd and Afon Mawddach. There's one reasonably good scramble on Cadair Idris Tapia Llwydion (Grade-3) and there's also some limited stuff on both Rhinog Fawr and Rhinog Fach's south faces, but that's about it.

Sorry to be so negative.

Dave

In reply to Dave Williams:
How about Aero Gully Left Hand or is that just too desperate when not a winter route?

In reply to pasbury:

The one obvious one in the low Aran hills is Tap Nyth yr Eryr:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/687465
http://www.geologywales.co.uk/storms/spring08031.jpg

I've pondered whether there might be something on the high Arans but never found anything obvious. A determined explorer might find a devious route winding through the crags in Cwm Cywarch. Some of the streams in the area offer some scrambling. Additionally, I know of someone who did a fairly high grade scramble over the bwlch from Tap Nyth yr Eryr on Craig yr Ogof (but that's the Hirnants rather than Arans)
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1277301

In reply to Mike Peacock:

Tap Nyth yr Eryr looks rather interesting. I have the feeling that this area may offer up a few hidden bits and peices.

In reply to Dave Williams:

Well I'm going to be walking in the area anyway and camping high. If I manage to establish a camp at a civilised hour I'll have a bit of a poke about in the evenings and see what I find.

In reply to pasbury:

Yes, exactly. If you're willing to explore there are scrambles outside of the Glyderau/Snowdon/Carneddau. My obession has been gorges and streams, and mid Wales is chock-full of worthwhile watery scrambles. I suspect it could be possible to make a way up Aran Fawddwy somehow using rakes, gullies, rocks and grass:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3292694