The Rhinogydd Double Day 2: Diffwys & Y Llethr
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Join OutdoorLads for some epic hill walking though the most remote & wild mountains in Wales, with rocky peaks, glistening lakes and panoramic views.
This walk is part of a pair in the area, so please sign up to Part 1 if you want to make a weekend of it. The leader will be staying at Cwm Bychan campsite overnight; though if you prefer more glamorous lodgings, there are some lovely B&Bs in nearby Harlech. If you just want to do this walk, that's fine too.
The Rhinogydd is the closest to a wilderness the Welsh mountains has, with the majority of the range being designated an Area of Special Conservation. There's an abundance of rare wildlife and geological interest, and if we're lucky; otters, red kites, hen harriers, mountain goats, adders and slow worms are a selection of the species we may see.
Points of interest on the route:
Cwm Nantcol: We start the walk in this beautiful valley, where the Afon Cwmnantcol flows past. The valley gives great views up to all of the hills in the Rhinogs.
Llyn Hywel: As we ascend into the hills, we'll pass the beautiful Llyn Hywel, a natural lake with great views back to the mountain. The fish is home to wild trout and the cliffs by the llyn are home to some of the birds of prey that live in the range.
Y Llethr: At 756m, our first summit is the highest in the range and gives great views over the whole national park as well as the Irish Sea to the West. The mountains steep slopes are popular with the goats, so we may see them here.
Diffwys: At 750m, our second peak has more great views, particularly to the southern Eryri peaks like Cadair Idris.
Other Information:
Dog Suitability:
Dogs are always welcome on my walks, though their behaviour and safety is their owner's responsibility. This includes cleaning up after them, controlling their behaviour around other animals or people, and assisting them over any stiles or streams we may cross.
New Members
Please feel free to sign up as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to message me, or go to the "My First Event" section under "About Us".
If the event is fully booked, please join the waiting list as people frequently drop out during the week before an event, meaning you're likely to get a place on the walk.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
Image/photo credits: All leader's own images - with permission for OutdoorLads to use and reuse










What to bring
Water: bring plenty of water (~2 Litres)
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Footware: ideally designed for hiking, sturdy trail runners are OK too.
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproofs: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Food & drink
Please bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water (2-3 litres). There will be nowhere to buy food or drink on the route.