thesweetcheat

The central cairn (or eastern of the western pair), looking towards Tyrrau Mawr. Our descent route from Craig-y-llyn can just be seen on the far right, parallel and to the left of the drystone wall.

Looking down on the two western cairns during the stupidly steep descent from Craig-y-llyn.

Carnedd Lwyd cairns are prominent on the skyline, centre. Seen from the upper slopes of Craig-y-llyn to the southwest.

Pared y Cefn hir centre, above Llynau Cregennen. Diffwys (Y Rhinogydd) rises across the Mawddach behind, with a distant Yr Wyddfa on the skyline. The Hafotty-fach cairns are in the flat ground to the lower left of centre. From the summit of Craig-y-llyn, Cader Idris.

Looking SSE between the two rounded summits of the Tarrenau mountains. Tarrenhendre with its own cairn(s) is on the right. In the distance between the two is Pumlumon.

The magnificent high-level view of Cader Idris.

Looking north, the hills of the Lleyn Peninsula form the skyline.

Damage to the centre aside, this is a well-preserved cairn.

Looking southwest. The Ceredigion coast stretches away in the distance.

Looking west across the scooped out cairn. Craig-yr-Aderyn hillfort is below on the far left.

Tyrrau Mawr to the left of centre, Craig-y-Llyn on the right. The lovely lake is Llyn Cyri.

The cairn is at the right hand end of the summit ridge, at the top of the slope. Cader Idris on the left, the lake in Llyn Cyri. Seen from Braich Ddu across the head of the Arthog valley.

The cliffs and jutting summit of Tyrrau Mawr (centre), with the cairns just to the right. The summit of Cader Idris rises on the right, Craig-y-Llyn to the right of that again. The upper valley of Afon Arthog falls away below the viewpoint on Braich Ddu.

Pared y Cefn hir in sunshine in the mid-ground, rising above Llynnau Cregennen. The backdrop includes Diffwys, Y Garn, Arenig Fawr, Rhobell Fawr, the Aranau, with Tyrrau Mawr in shadow to the right. The viewpoint is Braich Ddu at the western end of the Cader Idris range.

Zoomed in from Bwlch y Llan. Yr Eifl/Tre’r Ceiri to the left.

Castell Llanaber, flat-topped in the centre of shot. From Bwlch y Llan to the southeast.

Mynydd Moel is the lefthand of the three summit making up the central mass of Cader Idris. Seen across the Mawddach estuary from the south ridge of Mynydd Egryn at the tip of Y Rhinogydd.

Diffwys top left, looking a long way away now, from the south ridge of Mynydd Egryn. The Aranau are the mountains on the far left skyline. Cerrig Arthur stone circle is somewhere below.

Looking back towards the cairn from the ridge to the south.

The base of the cairn is formed of some very substantial boulders.

Looking south. There are still some ups and downs between here and Barmouth.

Detail of the substantial cairn, looking towards Moel Hebog and the Nantlle ridge.

Looking back on my route, from Moelfre on the left and Diffwys on the right, with Llawlech central. Yr Wyddfa can be seen far left skyline.

Looking across the Mawddach to Cader Idris from the cairn.

The cairn from the northwest, wrecked but still impressive.

Looking down on the cairn from the lower slopes of Mynydd Egryn. The cairn is in front of the point where the two walls meet. This was the wrong side of the wall to ascend though, as I realised when I met a series of high walls!

The pass offers views across to Yr Eifl and the top of the Lleyn peninsula, at least when it’s not foggy!

Looking down on the whole cairn, bisected by the wall. The nearby ladder stile gives a bit of much-needed elevation to see the whole thing.

The northwestern rim of the cairn.

Looking down on Bwlch y Rhiwgyr from the slopes of Llawlech to the northeast. The hill beyond in Mynydd Egryn, topped with a very sizeable cairn.

The wonderfully prominent hill seen from near Llawlech cairn on the ridge to the south. Yr Wyddfa over on the righthand skyline.

Looking southwest towards Mynydd Egryn.

Exposed stone pile on the cairn – much of the original footprint is under turf.

Towards becairned Moelfre, with Yr Wyddfa in the distance on the right.

Looking across the fertile lowlands of Ardudwy towards the hills of the Lleyn peninsula on the horizon.

Looking from the cairn towards Nantlle ridge, Yr Wyddfa and Y Llethr.

The cairn is underfoot, although I didn’t know that.

The summit and cairn is far right. Looking over the Mawddach to Cader Idris.

Taking break on the northeastern shoulder of the mountain before the climb to the top.

Diffwys, a majestic cone when seen from the slopes of Y Llethr. Cader Idris has temporarily been hidden by the breath of the Brenin Llwyd, left skyline.

Rhinog Fawr to the left of centre with Yr Wyddfa in the distance behind. Rhinog Fach to the right, with Llyn Hewel below. The viewpoint is Y Llethr, in a reverse of one of Gladman’s images from Rhinog Fawr.

Rhinog Fawr, centre, seen from the upper slopes of Moelfre. Rhinog Fach and Y Llethr to the right.

Despite the stone-stacking and central scooping, this survives as an excellent monument in a wonderful location.

Detail of the base of the cairn, looking south towards Llawlech and Llyn Irddyn. Cader Idris rises above it all, left skyline.

The cairn hasn’t escaped the attentions of stone-stacking idiots, sadly.

Looking northeast towards Rhinog Fawr and Rhinog Fach, with Y Llethr under cloud to the right.

Looking towards Yr Wyddfa, trailing wispy cloud.