Ffridd Cocyn, GW/NW-063 - 313m ASL - SH 623 042 - OS Explorer OL23 - 1 SOTA point            

From Rhobell Fawr GW/NW-021 on Saturday 2nd March 2013, Jimmy directed me back down the A494 to Dolgellau. and then onto the A487 towards Minfford.  Here we turned right onto the B4405 towards Tywyn.  This was an enjoyable interlude for me.  The bright sunshine illuminated this beautiful valley as I recalled those happy camping and caravanning holidays of the 1970s.  We would either camp in a large family tent at Rhyd-yr-onen, or stay in my grandparents' static caravan on the Woodlands site at Bryn Crug.  The Talyllyn Lake sparkled magnificently as we drove by its side 

When Jimmy directed me into the caravan park within which we would commence the ascent, it was indeed the Woodlands site at Bryn Crug, on the B4405.  We drove up the winding ascending lanes in the caravan park, right up to the top.  By this time I was in 2m FM contact with Ricky MW6GWR, and he was talking me in to the correct start point.  We kitted up and made our way to the start of a track.  A very very steep track, mainly on leaves.  I didn't fancy it for the descent one little bit!

At the top of this steep section, there was a short level respite before stepping over the fence into the large field,  Our direction swung around to the right, and we made our way up the deceptively steep grass.  The shape and colour of the land here was very golf course like - but it wasn't!  As we turned towards the summit up even steeper grass, Ricky reported via the radio that he could see us.  He had descended a little way to a better vantage point over some of our ascent route.  We veered left so as to get better going underfoot on a disused slate tramway, but it remained very steep, especially on the section just below where Ricky was waiting.

It was good to meet Ricky MW6GWR, and after exchanging all the pleasantries, we set off up to the summit, which was just a little behind and above where Ricky's station was set up.  We prioritised getting the summit photos by the cairn, then got on with setting up our stations.  Jimmy made just the requisite four contacts on 2m FM, whereas I racked up 20 QSOs on 40m CW.  Ricky was very interested in my HB1B CW transceiver.  He had been on the summit for most of the day, and had made 50 contacts (in addition to the 119 made over the previous two days on the same hill!).

We were treated to a superb sunset on the West Wales coast, but that was a timely reminder that we needed to descend, and that we had the tricky final steep section yet to go.  Daylight ended as we reached the top of that section, but Jimmy still went ahead and descended it without a headtorch.  I was someway behind, gingerly edging my way down with tiny individual steps from my aching legs and walking poles.  Ricky remained with me, offering constant verbal encouragement and advising as to the best parts of the path to walk on at each stage.  I ran Ricky to his home QTH in Tywyn to save his mum an extra trip out to collect him, and then drove back up the A493 to Dolgellau for our last night in the town.

We dined at the hotel, and enjoyed the steak & ale pies washed down with Robinsons Cwrw'r Ddraig Aur (Green Dragon Ale).  It was then up to the room with a bottle of Old Tom ale, and the compulsory Saturday night viewing of Match of the Day.  One final sleep remained, ahead of one final summit - Foel Offrwm GW/NW-055.