These are some of my favourite hiking routes in Wales, where I have headed out with the intention of bagging Nuttalls. Whilst also keeping away from some of the busier areas. To find that little bit of peace in the mountains, whilst also ticking mountains off my list.
Waun Fach
The Dragons Back, is a great hiking location. Nestled amongst the Black Mountains that straddle the Welsh/English Border. This hike takes in a few different Nuttall Summit as it follows the dragon back up. A slightly steeper ascent shared with the sheep. Then taking the ridge path south you end up with a view of the surrounding rolling hills. The longer and gentler descent then heads back through farmlands. This was a longer hike and still I only managed to tick off a third of the Nuttalls in this range. It was one of those beautiful days when the trail took me in and out of the clouds as they clung to the mountain tops.
Moel Siabod
This is a slightly more popular one, although still considerably quiet when compared to some of the hiking routes deeper into the Eryri National Park. There are a few options to get to the summit on this mountain. My route takes a bit of a circular, going around the bottom before taking on the main ascent, if it was a calmer day, wind wise, I may have taken on the shorter, steeper, scramble route. Since the wind was out in force though I went a little further behind the mountain.
It was still a steepish route up and a little scrambly in places. Also in the poor visibility it was not always the easiest to follow as it twisted between boulders. I wasn’t lucky enough to get a view from the summit on this one, although the legends speak of it offering astounding views of the Snowdonia National Park, on a clear day.
Cadair Berwyn
Again we are only just crossing the border into Wales on this one. It is a stunner though and well worth the visit. Starting with the Pistyll Rhaeder waterfall, where I suggest you arrive early to avoid to crowds. It follows a path up into the forest before conintuing in the valleys created by the fingers of the Berwyn Range. There is a fair few Nuttalls to take in upon the ridge, and I didn’t bag all of them here as I know a return visit is still on the books, plus it would have been a long day. Now as you’ll see from my route map in the post below I did turn around a couple of times.
Rhos Fawr
In the heart of central Wales there is a small cluster of tall hills. Tall enough to fit the Nuttall classification, but far away from any busy National Park or Landscape. This hike which takes you through the Radnor Forest was particular beautiful thanks to the early morning fog. Which clung to the valleys throughout this hike looking particularly spectacular.
After a few years of hiking, I have found some of the busier places in Wales not for me. So I prefer to find these lesser known spots. The ones where you can really sit in peace and your not ever considering a queue for the summit.
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