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Name:Esgair Ddu
Hill number:2173
Height:464m / 1522ft
RHB Section:31A: Aberystwyth to Welshpool
Nuttall/Wainwright area:Cadair Idris
County/UA:Powys
Catchment:Dovey
Class:Marilyn, Hump, Tump (400-499m), Clem
(Ma,Hu,Tu,4,Cm)
Grid ref:SH 87328 10645
Summit feature:no feature
Drop:222m
Col:242m  SH891083  
OS map sheet(s):(1:50k) 124 125
(1:25k) OL23E
Survey:Abney level
Change log:show changes for this hill entry
GPS data:show GPS entries for this hill

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N.B. Some hill summits are on private property or on land where there is no public right of way.  Permission should be sought from the landowner where access to a hill summit is through private land.
Please report via the contact page any logs you see below which describe or encourage acts of trespass.  Please quote the hill number and hill name.

Logged Descriptions  (logged by 169 users, only the latest 50 shown - Show all)ByDate of Ascent
Parking at SH893106 without blocking the farmer’s working access is quite a challenge. I managed to squeeze in beside the ford. Bryn-glas is an easily overlooked ruin. The RoW to Craig For is not waymarked. Much easier to use the ATV tk, NW, from Bryn-glas, then make your own way to the top as the RoW seems to have been obliterated by ATV tx. NB escaping the valley, N, meant a 1st gear, full throttle, bash, culminating in a tyre-skipping gradient and, thankfully, a 1 in 6 landing place big enough for one vehicle only, before trying to exit onto the A458, so make sure there are no other vehicles on this section of the hill before you take your run at it, or you’ll have to reverse back down (brown trouser job) and start againIsbjorn03/02/2024
From East, across bridge then up track to near Bryn Glas. Followed another track through the pheasants to access land and easily up to top. Back same way.PeterD03/09/2023
Parked on the road opposite the ford (newly remade) and followed the track to the old ruined farm building. The bracken was intermittently chest high and was unpleasant but only for a short distance before a ridge is reached. From here just try and pick a line to the summit.Peterb02/07/2023
Completed section 31 with Gmac. Go to end of track and head up to the tress on the far side of the fence. Trig point through on other side of trees. But no that’s not the summit. Cow trampled land and the sea of wet sphagnum moss to be conquered. Views good though and walk through valley pretty.elizyanne08/07/2022
Easy ascent from Pont a'r Byllfa to north east (just room to squeeze one car in) then track through Collfryn, which is a permitted path. Dreary weather today but would be good scenery on a nice day.Wycombe Wanderer23/01/2022
From lay-by opposite farmhouse at Pengwern. Through 2 gates on PROW through farm (there were calfs in the farmyard but no problem), then out onto open track. This good track leads all the way through the woods and up onto the ridge to meet bridleway heading towards summit, then for final 0.5km on animal tracks to summit. Descended from Esgair Ddu to trigpoint on Llechwedd Mawr. Retraced steps back towards fence then headed down towards corner of forest at 875095 (not too wet). Then up onto 442m Tump and along windfarm track all the way to Moel Eiddew at end of ridge. Backtracked a short distance then took path back to Cemmaes. End to end walk 8.8 miles 3hr 30 walking time. 1hr to summit of Esgair Ddu. With KeithByTheC.JulieB01/01/2022
From A470 at Blaenplwyt Uchaf. 2/3 car spaces by double-garage. Joined bridleway via track that leaves road by postbox. Where bridleway leaves track through gate on r to Pengwern, went straight up hill on excellent track. Joined RoW at 859104. KeithByTheC01/01/2022
parked to east near ford over bridge past pheasant cages, to unoccupied Craig For farmhouse up Nant Ffordd mawn to trig then point 464 return NE to good tractor track 8797 1114 which was not on my mapunderhill31/07/2021
7.50 grassy unmarked summit a few hundred metres north of the trig pillar that is four metres lower and At southern end of a small bit of pine copse. Final Marilyn of 31a section, compared to only 2 of9 done in 30f to the west. Easy ascent via zig zag tracks from the A470 to the west.vegibagger22/07/2021
From the east. Tracks to Bryn Glas then unmarked track NW up to plateau. The right of way west of Craig For is overgrown with bracken and leads up to wet ground.Topographer5715/07/2021
From road to E as others; followed RoWs/ new track to Craig For from where the climb out was almost hidden by bracken. In a litlle valley- now grassy- it became futile trying to continue on the RoW. I followed a little ridge- breeze on a hot day- to pt. 460 then across some bog to the HP. Returned along the fence to 881111 onto a new hill track I'd spotted, back via Bryn Glas- a much easier, more pleasant way and the key to bagging this hill and seeing some interesting butterflies and moths on the way. Sunny.pwheeler15/07/2021
From spot height 167 at track end, solo walk to my last Marilyn to complete all of the Mid-Wales summits. Steep section for a while from Craig-For (unoccupied farmhouse). Summit is plateau. Operated ham radio for SOTA on summit using short wave and Morse Code. Twisted ankle on track on my way back to the car stopping me hillbagging for six weeks... fortunately this was my last full day of a delightful week staying near Dolgellau.G4OBK (Phil)18/06/2021
As others east approach, limited parking/pull in near ford just beyound track bridge. Up track, then field and path, there is a new trackover the stream on the right. Dry so didnt use, clear views.N.Morters25/09/2020
#670 W-3 From the minor road to the East. Up the track, (partially shown on new 1:50K), right at the tee junction towards Bryn-y-glas where it heads NW up into the access land eventually crossing the stream at 87949 11136. SW across open land gets you to the top with dry feet.tim74717/09/2020
From the minor road to the East. Fortunately there is an old wooden vehicle bridge over the stream. I don't like hills with no feature summits. For my third Marilyn of the day it remained dry after a very wet morning.NormanW13/03/2020
Esgair Ddu from Cwm Tafaolg. Soaking grass and regular showers. Boots wet through! 5.3km with 220m ascent in just over an hour.silveracorn_alan05/08/2019
From Glan-yr-Afon on new tracks then via fence up north ridge. Returned more directly NE across easy ground to tracks.Winterfloodian08/07/2019
Approach from approx 893105 (P over a ford). 1:25K map incredibly does not show a couple of useful tracks which are better to follow than the mapped ROWs. Lots of pheasants about.ger26/09/2018
With: hb; Parked easily by roadside at SH893108. Followed bridle track over bridge up to Craig For ruined farm, then up valley of Nant Ffordd-mawn to ridge above. Easy route across bog direct to summit then across to wood by trigpoint. Returned along fence then down ridge N to rejoin outward path.Ian Baines15/03/2018
With: ib; Helen Baines15/03/2018
A good, interesting walk up the bridleway, a vehicle track alongside the river to Craig-For, a ruined farm, and then a grassy path up the steep hillside beyond, easy going and good views. Somewhat boggy above. Alex C engineered a visit to the trig on the pretext of avoiding the bogs, and then across to the summit. No need to avoid the bogs, they are pretty much OK if you walk on the reeds.Gill17/02/2018
Standard ascent up on the track to the east. Feels very much like a little visited area. Very enjoyable hill to round the day out with.Alex C17/02/2018
From the east as described by others then across bog.Lionel Bidwell29/10/2017
Like a previous bagger I had the cockerel alarm call at the Dinas Mawddwy camp site. Parked to the east then up track disturbing loads of pheasants. Gets steep after the abandoned farmhouse. Lots of sheep so dog on lead whole time. Red kite hunting above farm fields then barn owl in wood at top were the highlights along with excellent views. Did trig point first then up to the high point after cutting through narrow section of wood.Father Ted13/08/2017
2/7 (Mynydd y Cemmaes/Esgair Ddu/Moel Eiddew/Mynydd Waun Fawr/Disgwylfa/Moel Bentrych/Galt Yr Ancr)Fergalh05/08/2017
With Trefor. Parked at ford to the east. Direct route up, looped to the north on the way down. Pheasants by the thousand. Weather fine. My 100th Welsh Marilyn.mike.hoult13/10/2016
From east as others Nice walk apart from the last pathless bog trot to the summit Great viewsMark Sims26/07/2016
trudge up to and around the forestry from east. WHAT A VIEW!!! from Plynlimon to Aran Benllyn! the Tarrens look superb from here. trig in vgc. The transit to the summit was by far the worst bit of the walk. I opted to pretty much straight line it from trig to top. Passing through the narrow bit of forestry wasnt too bad but coming out the other side I was greeted with my nemesis.. tussocky reedy and obvious soggy as hell. A few moments of shin deep squelching and then onto more solid ground for the unmarked summit. 1230 (80 mins ascent including trig visit). Descent back to track just below old farm which was partially pathless. Enjoyed it far more than I thought I was going to.stig_nest14/02/2016
Pleasant walk up from the East via the trig. Red Kites in abundance.jenx13/11/2015
With Jenx from narrow lane to east. Parked in small space at GR893105. No need for the ford pre-mentioned - bridge over river. Then lane to old farm, left at junction and interesting track up hill to crest over the top. Out to trig via woods edge and then to the stated summit, a poorer top. Back same way in two hours.nordicstar13/11/2015
From Cwm Llinau (plenty of room to park van at SH84953308002). Route and write-up at: http://gayleybird.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/a-short-week-in-wales-tuesday.htmlGayle13/10/2015
My 100th Welsh Marilyn. Difficult to park on A470, so parked on the B road towards Aberangell. A lovely quiet walk, mostly on a wide track/path, with good views of Cadair and the Aran.huwthomas29/08/2015
Parked at 893106. Friendly farmer. An easy one and a half hour return walk with GB.bolton12/05/2015
Parked on minor road alongside ford at 893106 – Over bridge & followed good track to farm buildings – Up faint zigzag track to plateau & then approximately 400m across trackless moor to unmarked summit. (PM)gerrybowes12/05/2015
After a frosty camp at Dinas Mawddwy (cockerel alarm clock was no extra charge)we parked at Bleanplwyf Uchaf on the A470. Walked up the ROW to the coll and then NE to the grassy summit. A cold clear sunny windless morning with the sheep in the farm giving birth to lambs.mindlessflogger22/03/2015
Another fine little Marilyn, they just keep coming!thenomad21/05/2013
SH8732810647Anton23/04/2013
Ascended from the east side like most hillbaggers up the farm access track but found that at the junction to Craig-For farmhouse I could go right and left onto a newer access track that traversed the north side of the stream to 881111. From there it was eM0YDH20/04/2012
petey04/10/2011
Parked by bridge at 893106 (13:00). Walked up farm track, disturbing hundreds of pheasants, then followed path past old workings to plateau. Cross-country to unmarked top. Fine, windy day. Back to car 14:45.dbb10/10/2010
Family used to have a caravan at Bryn uchel isaf and I'd walked the bridleway years ago to 'do' Davies' Mountain, now adorned with wind turbines. If only I'd turned left then it would have saved me the trek today! Dull but painless describes this one!signyred20/06/2010
Park beside ford then used sleeper bridge to walk up farmland track from east. Direct ascent of hillside before track turns towards farm buildings. Lovely warm afternoon, wall to wall sunshine.Dugswell217/04/2010
From Bryn-glas on snow covered track initially.Eddie24/02/2010
From the east. Slightly unnerving as I walked through a pheasant shoot. I ended up on the 460m hill just south as paths are a bit confusing. Nice hike but no definite spot as summit.clivevilla22/10/2009
Alan, Otis. Linda and DagnesGlenford09/08/2009
From E, very unexciting. Summit a bit vague too, took a stone in the grass as being 'it'. Walked back skirting the wood, and visited trig on Llechwedd Mawr.Aye Jimmy02/06/2009
From East pleasant walk.destaylor12/05/2009
drove most of the way up and made a dash for the summitDARRENG16/02/2008
up from cwm llinau then along the cemmaes ridge with the wind turbinesgigglejon22/10/2007
Parked @ end of road in Cwm Llinau and followed RoW up to below trig, then straight up steeply to trig, then across to top. Scared s**tless by F15s low level flying only 200m above head - god they're loud. Saw no one. Good hill.robphys30/05/2006