A stroll up Craig yr Aderyn – Bird’s Rock

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon we were in the area with walking boots in the back of the car so thought it would be a good way to end the weekend by taking a leisurely stroll along the fast flowing river in the Dysynni Valley.

Taking in the breathtaking beauty that this area of Wales has to offer the landscape is dominated by lush green Welsh mountains, rolling hills and the crystal clear River Dysynni.
We tried to stay focused on our walk, spotting brown trout in the water, skimming stones and so on but there intimidating us for choosing the easy walk option stood Craig yr Aderyn (Bird’s Rock).


It’s not a monster of a climb by any stretch of the imagination but it was certainly more than we’d intended to tackle that fine sunny afternoon.

Craig yr Aderyn is an isolated hill rising to 258 metres (846ft) above sea level, and it’s rock face and green backed paths are home to a wide range of wildlife which has seen it designated as a site of special scientific interest due to the array of birds that nest there.
Craig yr Aderyn translates to “Bird’s Rock”.

Around 1% of the entire British Cormorant population nest on the rock and it is the only inland nesting site for them in Wales. It is also home to the Chough, a bird which is becoming increasingly rare in the United Kingdom, add to it other bird species that frequent the rock including Barn Owls, Redstarts, Peregrine Falcons, Wheatears, Linnets and Little Owls and it is easy to not just see how the rock got its name but also why it was designated as a special Protected area.

As we followed the trail named the “Wild Trail” the views became more and more spectacular the higher we got. It’s a fairly straightforward walk up and although the path is steep the need for any special equipment is not necessary although of course we would always recommend suitable walking boots, it’s certainly not flip flop territory!

There is a bench approximately half way up where you can catch your breath which will no doubt be taken away by the panoramas you’ll see. A quick rest and drink of water and we pushed on towards the rocks summit.
The path becomes somewhat less easy to follow but a simple scramble over some rocks plants you on top of this spectacular outcrop and boy how it’s worth it. The beauty of this place can not be overstated, gazing along the the Dysynny valley from the mountains to the sea is a sight to behold.

Craig yr Aderyn is also a popular spot with climbers and has some of the best climbing in Merionydd. I was quite surprised not to see anyone out on the rocks as the weather was fine and conditions near perfect.

The site is owned by the Snowdonia National park Authority and although there are great mountains such as Snowdon, Cadair Idris, Crib Goch etc that are under the same authority, Craid yr Aderyn ticks all the boxes for a quick ramble that can be completed easily in a couple of hours and yet will give you that sense of achievement and those stunning views.

 

Location: Snowdonia, Wales, Europe

Lat/Lon: 52.64272°N / 4.00651°W

Object Title: Craig yr Aderyn

County: Gwynedd

Activities: Trad Climbing, Toprope, Bouldering, Walking

Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Elevation: 846 ft / 258 m